A 26-week fantasy season is an exercise in perseverance and patience. Negligence, poor decisions and bad luck can land even your draft-day can’t-miss team in the cellar early, but if you remain in contention to win your fantasy league, pay attention. Implementing the following strategies in the final month of the season can have great effect on your ultimate finish. After all, it’s a lot smarter than praying the rest of your league has moved on to football.
Keep an Eye on Callups.
On the first of September, seats in every Major League dugouts will become prime real estate, as active rosters expand from 25 to 40 players. Teams who have fallen out of the playoff race use this opportunity to provide valuable Major League experience to top prospects, while contenders cross their fingers that the next David Price - the Rays 22-year-old secret weapon in 2008 - is on the next flight to the big club. In both cases, a prospect who goes on a September tear could be a catalyst for your fantasy team, so pay attention to top names getting the call and the playing time they’ll receive. If Xander Bogaerts or Kolten Wong can enjoy half as successful a two-week stretch as Yasiel Puig, serious points are up for grabs.
Break Emotional Ties with Fantasy Has-Beens.
If you’re targeting a potential callup on the waiver wire, you’ll need to free up roster space. Unfortunately, this means breaking ties with players who may have contributed to your early success, but due to injury or second-half decline, are no longer productive. It’s time to take a long, hard look at your roster and cut the likes of Bartolo Colon, Albert Pujols and B.J. Upton. You have 2014 to make amends, and to anticipate rebound performances from the players you part ways with now.
Focus on Specific Statistical Contributions.
This is a good time to see where you stack up against your league in all hitting and pitching categories. Is there any one or two statistics - be it home runs, stolen bases, saves or WHIP - that you are within a few points of claiming a top spot? When weighing available free agents - or potential trades if your league still allows - consider a player’s ability to contribute to a statistical category, rather than their fantasy value as a whole. This is a drastically different strategy to take than on draft day, and makes a player like Billy Hamilton an attractive pickup, as the likely call-up could provide a huge boost in the steals department even in a pinch-running role.
Watch Inning Counts for Rookie and Rebounding Pitchers.
Raise your hand if you remember the “Stephen Strasburg IP Watch” of 2012? The Nationals ace, in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, was on a strict innings count as Washington worked to protect the gem of their system from further injury. Emphasis on innings pitched - especially when it comes to rookie starting pitchers and those returning from injury - is a hot topic in the game today. If you’ve heard whispers of a guy on your roster potentially being shut down in mid-September, or on a strict 180- or 200-inning limit, you’ll need to search for other options to fill the void. A pitcher who can’t pitch - regardless of if he’s Matt Harvey or Jose Fernandez - holds no fantasy value.
Consider Streaming Starting Pitching.
If your ace is slated to be shut down for the sake of preserving his prized arm, you’ll need to find substitutions. The practice of streaming - picking up pitchers on the waiver wire for temporary use - is one that could rack up pitching points for you in the final weeks, assuming you play your cards right. If your league allows it, peruse the waiver wire for starting pitchers with these criteria in mind: the pitcher’s upcoming schedule and matchup(s), their recent trends of success within statistical categories, and their potential for a two-start week (which could net you twice the points.)