Fantasy Football: Mano Y Mano Style

I was lurking in a pro football forum where a couple of guys got into a heated debate over rookie running backs. Both were passionate in the defense of their studs.

The debate segued into a heated exchange regarding fantasy football. They fired salvo after salvo of digital dung at each other. Disparaging the fantasy prowess of the other, while extolling their own Zen like fantasy abilities.

Wagers were offered. Counter-challenges were made.

Sound familiar?

This is where I put in my two cents. I suggested that they form a two man fantasy league. The running back controversy could be handled by each selecting his stud RB as a mandatory first-round pick.

There would be 17 rounds. The owner who makes the first selection in the second round would be followed by the other owner, who then would make the next two picks. The two pick process would continue until the end of the draft.

The owners would have a limit as follows:

Five running backs (including the mandatory first round rookie stud).

Five wide receivers.

Two tight ends.

Three quarterbacks.

One team defense.

One team special team.

There would be no free agents. No trades. No replacement of injured players. If your stud rookie misses four games due to injury, the rookie running back wager would be a wash.

Each week, each owner will assign the following starters: Two running backs, two wide receivers, one quarterback, one tight end, along with the team defense and special team squads.

Both antagonists now turned on me. One argued that a two man fantasy league was not doable insofar as there was the “my stud” vs. "your stud” mentality that stifled all in-depth analysis.

My counterpoint was that in a two-man league, your draft analysis would need to be more fine-tuned. You really have to watch those bye weeks, as you do not want both tight ends sitting out the same week. Your ability to make match-up projections throughout the season will be severely tested.

The other guy argued that in any fantasy league, anyone can win with luck. I countered that in a two-man league where both owners are self proclaimed experts, luck would not play a part.

Who has an advantage? The owner with the first pick in the second round, or the owner who has the next two consecutive picks? I’d argue that it’s a toss up.

In any event, I think that the two man fantasy league is a good vehicle for settling these arguments, and wagers.

What do you think?