Alright, guys, so it’s Week 16, and I wanted to share my process for updating my IDP rankings. It’s not rocket science, but it does take a bit of time and focus. Here’s how I went about it:
Gathering the Data
First things first, I pulled up all the stats from the past week’s games. I usually have a few websites I rely on that have all the tackles, sacks, interceptions, you name it. I like to look at a couple of different sources, just to make sure I’m not missing anything obvious.
- Checked the usual stat sites. You know the ones.
- Cross-referenced to make sure I wasn’t getting bad info.
Watching the Highlights (and Lowlights)
Then, it’s time to watch some game footage. Stats only tell part of the story. I wanted to see how guys were making plays. Was a linebacker consistently shedding blocks and making tackles in the backfield? Was a defensive back getting burned repeatedly, even if he had a couple of lucky tackles?
I try not get too excited from the game footage, because the stats is my major source.
Updating the Spreadsheet
Next, I opened up my trusty spreadsheet. This is where the magic happens. I have all my players listed, and I started plugging in their stats from the week. I also have columns for season-long stats, so I updated those too.
Making the Tough Calls
This is where it gets tricky. Based on the stats and what I saw on film, I had to decide who was moving up, who was moving down, and who was staying put. It’s not always easy. Sometimes a guy has a great game, but it’s against a weak opponent. Sometimes a guy has a quiet game, but he was going up against a tough matchup.
- Looked for trends. Was a player consistently performing well, or was it just a one-week fluke?
- Considered upcoming matchups. Does a player have a favorable schedule coming up?
- Trust my gut. After all the data, I made a lot of decisions.
Finalizing and Publishing
After a few hours of tweaking and second-guessing, I had my updated rankings. I gave them one last look, made a few minor adjustments, and then hit “publish.”
It’s always a good feeling to get the rankings out there. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also something I really enjoy. I know I’m helping people out, hopefully letting other folks dominate their fantasy leagues, and I hope my hard work helps other people.
And that’s basically it! Rinse and repeat each week. It’s a grind, but a fun one. Hopefully, this helps give you a peek behind the curtain of how I do things. Let me know what you think!
