You have a team, you have your starters and you have your first opponent. There are no games this week, real or otherwise. So there's nothing to do but admire your awesome lineup and wait for week 1, right?
Actually, you have plenty of work to do. Week 0 is underway (I'm stealing the term from college football, mostly because it sounds cool) and you need to re-evaluate your team(s) before the first matchup.
No matter when you drafted, the NFL has changed since then. Players you thought would make a team were cut, other guys you didn't expect were kept, and players you selected might be on a new team, sitting on a practice squad or waiting for a phone call. Or, in the case of Marshawn Lloyd, you might have an unexpected starter. You have clarity you didn't have before, as well as continued confusion when it comes to guys like Jeanty, Egbuka and Pacheco.
Odds are you don't have an official practice squad, but in a way you sort have one: The guys at the end of your roster. They're kind of on your team, but also kind of on their way out. They might get called up to the starting lineup or let go for a different prospect. And if the NFL teams take those spots seriously, I think you should as well.
You need to take the time this week to evaluate all of the players on all of your teams. If you only have a couple of teams it shouldn't take long. But if you went a little overboard with leagues this year, you have some work to do. Because every team deserves your full attention and commitment to its maintenance. Yes, even the ones you joined last minute and don’t really know all the managers. Every player on every team should be evaluated, and now's the time to do it.
You might be surprised by what you find. Some late-round gambles already didn't pay off, or maybe some guys on the waiver wire look like better bets today. Use this time to bolster the roster from top to bottom. Ditch the dead weight and replace it with either stronger performers, or at least guys who still have a shot at helping you win games. You can make your team better as you wait for the games to begin.
The weird part is that some of your fellow managers simply won't bother. They have a week of anticipation, and they'll spend it admiring their early draft picks and dreaming about titles they haven't earned. They'll pat themselves on the back for taking Bijan Robinson, as if it was a shrewd move with one of the first two picks. Or they'll imagine the brightest possible future for their mid-round selections, as if each one will find their way to stardom.
Meanwhile, you'll be doing some maintenance based on final cutdowns, trades and practice squad moves. Maybe these guys don't carry you to a title. Maybe none of them end up having much fantasy impact. But if even one does, and you make your roster that much stronger, it will be time better spent than sitting around waiting for next Wednesday to arrive. Check your roster, check the waiver wire, and see if your tea is the absolute best in can be before week 1.
Are you making any moves ahead of week 1? What recent NFL transactions have affected your fantasy team? Are you doing anything else to prepare for the start of the season? Share your thoughts below.
