One of the keys to being successful at fantasy football is knowing how points are scored in a given format so you can construct your team accordingly. You only get bench points while a bench player is on the field; runners’ scores from benches will not give your fantasy team a point.
But that doesn’t matter unless they are in your starting lineup because their stats, despite being stellar inside of real-life games, don’t do a damn thing for the fantasy score you see on Sundays.
As this always goes with fantasy football, it is just as much about who you pick as when you decide to play them. It can help determine a win or loss in your fantasy matchups based on who to start and sit.
In this article, we will break down the intricacies of bench players and how they fit into fantasy football scoring anecdotally (from personal experience) and generally.
Bench Rules for Fantasy Football
Bench Basics
For fantasy football, every team has a roster by design starters and bench players. Starters contribute points to your fantasy score based on their real-life game performance. These points stem from various on-field accomplishments, including touchdowns, yards gained, and receptions.
They are your reserves compared to bench players. Sure, they may be piling up yardage on the field game-action, but those stats are meaningless unless you have them in your starting lineup.
Strategic Bench Management
How you manage your bench is an essential strategy in fantasy football. This involves making sit/start decisions every week based on match-ups, injuries, and bye weeks.
For example, your starting quarterback is facing a known tough defense, so you bench him and let him play his backup, who has a better matchup. This decision-making process requires staying up-to-date with NFL news, player statuses, and weekly matchups.
Season-Long Strategy of Bench Players
Long-Term Value
In fantasy football, bench players always have significant long-term value. They also give you the coverage you need when injuries and bye weeks are part of your season. A good bench can be your bedrock to a promising fantasy season, providing versatility and choices as the year progresses.
Smart Roster Moves
Regularly Evaluating Bench Performance and Potential: The best fantasy owners are always searching for the “next big thing” on waivers to supplant an underperforming player at the end of their bench. This will help you stay ahead of the curve and constantly develop a solid team to navigate through an NFL regular season.
Generally, my life experience and tips from pros
My Strategy Over the Years
I have been playing fantasy football for over ten years, and one big lesson I learned was that what you do with your bench is what finds the most success. Well, I had a season in which, luckily, the injury bug only hurt here and there, but what happened exactly was one of my starters got injured in the playoffs for each round! I started doing it from there on, keeping a solid bench, and it has benefitted me multiple times during critical stages in the season.
Expert Advice
I’d suggest using your bench for more than a secondary team for fantasy football novices. Use it as a strategic tool. Keep an eye out for player trends, remain hot on the waiver wire, and do not be afraid to risk if one of your bench players seems ready to break free.
The Oliver Miller-Kerry Kittles Oilers are holding on for dear life, and they are only a couple of sound off-the-field decisions (aka 100-points-per-weekers) away from the Albert Haynesworth–era Production Problems’ basement.
Conclusion
Many starter players are one thing, but bench champions can win — even sitting on the sidelines and earning zero points for your team. They’re your injury and bye week safety nets, and determining when to utilize them can be season changers.
Watch how they perform in real life and be willing to mix up your lineup. A good use of your bench can pay off in a big way, so make sure you are utilizing them properly. Good luck, and may your fantasy team live forever!
FAQs
Has a player ever scored points for you in your fantasy league while on your bench (without being active)?
No, if a player is on your bench, they do not score points for the team to which you add them. It would help if you manually started them for real-life performance to affect your fantasy output.
When do I make roster moves between my starting lineup and bench?
This is the time to reassess, review who you have available from game to game, and adjust your daily lineup if needed every week. Remember to analyze player performances, matchups, injuries, and bye weeks. These could make the difference between winning or losing your week, so staying on top of those changes can be critical.
What if an alternate bench player keeps playing well in the actual games?
If a bench player is consistently playing well, move them to your starting team (always if someone being started over is not doing well or has a bad matchup). There is a simple key: stack teams likely to win multiple games and ride the hot streaks.
How crucial is it to monitor the injury statuses of your bench guys?
It’s essential. This allows you to keep track of your players’ health and not get left out in the cold by starting a player only for him to be ruled inactive at game time. Always have a backup ready so your team continues working without any performance issues.
What’s the best strategy for using my bench during the playoffs?
In the playoffs, there is only so much to do with your starting lineup that you fine-tune it and start filling in positions on your bench who are facing cupcakes or have all of a sudden hit some stride. This way, you can adjust for any changes in player availability or performance trends at the last minute.