The answer is 35 but what does this mean and how does it relate to fantasy football?  As fantasy football players we wait 35 weeks to play fantasy football again.  For those hardcore fantasy footballers that is 35 weeks of off-season research.

All of us know that feeling when it’s time to start doing pre-season mock drafts.  You’re trying to position yourself and get some sort of feeling who will go in the first few picks and who you can possibly steal in the late rounds.  We go through the first few weeks of the regular season and all we talk about to anyone with an ear is stats and fantasy points.  We’re asked who our favorite NFL team is and we reply with Tomlinson, Braylon Edwards, and the Pats DST.All of this hype – all of the excitement – all of the hard work.  35 weeks of off-season anticipation only to cut our fantasy season by one week.  Why?  So our studs can play and win us the game?  Blasphemy! 

What about the waiver wire and the ability to prepare for the playoffs.  Why is that not considered an element of crowning your league’s champion?

Well it should and I do it in my league.

Anyone can draft well but the waiver wire is a skill that everyone is after and you should prove you are worthy before being crowned.  There were plenty of players to pick up in week 17.  Quinn Gray had 30 points.  Pierre Thomas had 32 points.  Bobby Wade has 22 points. Joe Klopfenstein had 11 points.  Morten Andersen had 14 points.  Cardinals DST had 35 points.  Go look at your league’s week 17 performances and you’ll see that with a little research you can find players that will help you win while your studs are sitting the bench.

The off-season is long enough.  We can’t afford to decrease our fantasy season because people are afraid of the waiver wire.

Help keep week 17 alive.  Spread the word and don’t let it die.