Fantasy Question

[Zeradul]

So this is a question I have for my other league.  It is a unique question that I'm very interested to hear opinions about, which is why I'm asking you guys.

This coming weekend is the last weekend in the regular season, and NEXT weekend is the first round of the playoffs.

This is a very competitive league with my college friends.  I've never been this lucky before, and all of my top picks have had stud years, (Lynch, Portis, Marshall, T Jones, C Johnson, H Ward, T Gonzalez and Kurt Warner)  I'm tied for the lead at 9-4 with one other guy, and we have both clinched.  The third place team is 8-5, but has been extremely lucky all year.  (last in points)  4th place is a 4 way tie at 7-6.

Here's where it gets interesting.  I play the guy at 8-5 this week, and I'm a massive favorite.  If I beat him, he will likely miss the playoffs, as most likely at least 2 of the 4 teams at 7-6 will win and pass him because he's lose any point tie breaker.

However, if I throw the game, (and he beats me) he is guaranteed a playoff spot, and very possibly (50% chance) that he'd face me in the first round of the playoffs, and I like my chances.  All of the teams tied in 4th place have much more potent rosters than he does (his top five players are (Roeth, Boldin, Welker, D Williams, and Larry Johnson)

So, is it unethical to throw a game if it means giving yourself a better chance in the playoffs?

[Zeradul]

I bet this happens in the NFL all the time.  I mean, it's going to be disguised as "we're resting our players" but, if your playoff spot cannot worsen or be improved, then it seems the next thing you'd look at is the playoff picture, and if winning means you get to play a team you'd RATHER play in the playoffs, I bet that team tries hard, just the same as if losing ensures a team you would like to see in the playoffs, then you "rest" your players.

I doubt any Coach would admit that as a motive, but its all about the trophy, right?  And if losing a late irrelevant regular season game means a more favorable matchup in the playoffs, you do it.

[-Spectre-]

I know this rule does not directly apply but I would still infer it to what you are stating:

All league-related transactions will be executed with the intent of improving the owner's team and/or its standing within the league.

I have the same dilema on the other league I'm playing. We are playing for $$$ and I am currently ranked first. It's a 4 person playoff and the guy whos is 4th has had bad luck but he is the highest scorer. I think I might lose against him on the first round, it would be 1st vs 4th, therefore I tought about throwing away games to finish 2nd and get a more suitable matchup against the 3rd ranked person.

Applying the above rule that I quoted and the lessons learned with all the drama here I think it is in my best interest to keep playing the best players instead of trying to get a more favorable matchup. I might lose but I'd rather have a clear conscious and say that I went down with fair play and good sportsmanship.

In the end the decision will be your and how you feel about it.

[rue]

It's unethical but you wouldn't be a terrible human being for doing it. 

Chances are all or at least one of the 4 teams tied for fourth place have incurred a loss or losses to you earlier in the season.  Then, it was impossible to accurately predict what the playoff picture would be headed into the last week.  Those guys got your best effort and lost.  This 8-5 would get the least of your effort and win.  It's actually a more egregious offense than NFL teams (but it is in the same mold, I agree) throwing games at the end of the season, because NFL schedules aren't round robin like Fantasy Football schedules.  Dissecting all other considerations, the crux of the moral dilemma is that throwing the game would mitigate the skills and efforts of the four 7-5 teams. 

There's a loophole here, though, using the same argument.  You could make the case that your own attentiveness and forecasting is a factor of your skill and therefore should be fair game.  However, the reason I still must call it unethical is that there's no counter.  i.e. someone can match their skills and wits against yours through 13 weeks of FF matchups and keep you from succeeding, but no one can use either of those to stop you from throwing a game. 

[joel]

I say it's unethical simply for the fact that it's borderline cheating. I understand that it is legal, the question is more whether you can live with yourself for doing it.  This is fantasy and among the most important things in life that we have. 

[Zeradul]

Wow, great responses, and QUICK!

I almost wrote this in the original post, but in the interest of keeping it simple, I left it out.  I agree with what you guys have hinted at.  Its not necessarily what IS against the rules, but more importantly it is what would be VIEWED as shady or underhanded, etc.

These are my college friends, and given that this league has been so close all year, (the highest scorer is ranked 8th) I was hesitant to do this from the moment I had the idea, but that's why I asked about it here.

You all made great points, and I appreciate your sarcasm joel,    , but do you really think this is "borderline cheating" ?

And DD: "but no one can use either of those to stop you from throwing a game."  That's true, and if it meant harming my team, and unfairly benefiting another team (at the expense of my team) that would be a legitimate argument, but if it improves my odds, then it seems like a good way to go.  Hmm, I guess it does unfairly benefit another team kind of.  Now the question becomes, if an unfair benefit to another team ALSO benefit my team, is this a fair move.  If I can afford to throw the game, then is it not mine to throw?

[Zeradul]

the crux of the moral dilemma is that throwing the game would mitigate the skills and efforts of the four 7-5 teams. 

I either missed this sentence or didn't fully comprehend it the first time I read your post DD.  Yes, you are exactly right.  Not that it REALLY changes anything, BUT I did play the 8-5 team already, in week5, and beat him.  Only one of the 7-6 teams I played twice, and we split the games 1-1.

[QB3RT]

I was the only one that defended Spectre for his shit he pulled a few years ago.

So thats easy.  I would let everyone know i was doing it.  And i would laugh about it and tell everyone to suck my balls.

And after i won the league i would rub my balls in everyones face because of my brilliant coaching maneuver.

That reminds me... Ruck i fucked you hard that last game.  And it felt good.

----

On the flip side...  it's fantasy football...  you don't really control shit and its all luck anyway

[-Spectre-]

I was the only one that defended Spectre for his shit he pulled a few years ago.

So thats easy.  I would let everyone know i was doing it.  And i would laugh about it and tell everyone to suck my balls.

And after i won the league i would rub my balls in everyones face because of my brilliant coaching maneuver.

That reminds me... Ruck i fucked you hard that last game.  And it felt good.

----

On the flip side...  it's fantasy football...  you don't really control shit and its all luck anyway

Best post on this thread!

[Ruckus]

That reminds me... Ruck i fucked you hard that last game.  And it felt good.

How can you find love in a man's hairy ass ?

[QB3RT]

knowing that you were hurting was joy enough

[Ruckus]

hahaha you homosexual

[Zeradul]

FWIW:

I started my studs.  I beat the 3rd place 8-5 guy, and lucky for me, only one of the four teams at 7-6 won, which means that team jumped ahead of the 3rd place team, and so the weak team I beat today, I will face again next week in the playoffs, because I won the tie-breaker with the other team tied for first, (who also won today)

So the outcome couldn't be better.  Also, if you were wondering how the lowest scoring team could make it to 8-5, one of the reasons was that this team got two "freebie wins" when his opponents left bye week players in their roster, and would have won otherwise, had they adjusted their roster.