Fantasy Football FAAB Budget Management: Handling Your Money Late in the Season

We are entering Week 13; that means over 70% of the regular season and 86% of the fantasy football regular season are gone.

Most fantasy leagues start their playoffs in Week 15, two weeks from now, and that’s how I will operate in this piece (while understanding there are folks who do it differently). Adjust accordingly for your own purposes.

In Free Agent Auction Bid leagues (FAAB), owners are running out of time to use their budget on the waiver wire. Some have blown their wad by now and wait until the free agent pool on Wednesday; that’s the way the season plays out sometimes.

For those who still have dollars to spend, though, it’s probably a good idea to make a plan or at least plot a few paths forward to make sure your budget actually goes to use. There’s a difference between spending your whole budget productively and throwing $12 at a kicker and defense the last week of the season to make sure you end at zero.

Let’s look at some ways for owners in FAAB leagues to spend money in different situations depending on remaining budget, status in the standings, and roster construction. Nothing below will be catch-all, but it presents ideas you can build off for your own situation.

Lots of Money Remaining

If you’re in this group, you’re hoarding your money like Scrooge McDuck, swimming in your riches. Time is running out, though, and there are very few times that you shouldn’t start bidding on waivers.

One such instance is if you are cruising to the playoffs and have a complete, solid roster. If you’re not making moves, there’s no way to spend money. Maybe you put a few bucks on a streaming defense here or there. Otherwise, this is a rare time when you can keep that money for a rainy day…or a high-ankle sprain.

Otherwise, owners with a lot of cash can start thinking about weak spots on their roster and putting excess dollars to work to increase production.

Playoff Lock

I mentioned the “cruise control” scenario above, and teams who are locked into the playoffs with a few weeks left are able to build their roster for the postseason.

If there is any position that is a little weak, you can target a few high-upside guys who might raise your ceiling. A good example is if your team is a little weak at running back and has a roster slot available: Jonathon Brooks made his debut this week for the Panthers after recovering from a major knee injury suffered late in 2023.

Brooks only had two rush attempts for seven yards, but he’s a high-upside guy who could move into big usage on a bad team. Brooks isn’t a guy to count on, but he’s a fun lottery ticket.

Fighting for the Playoffs

There’s no better time than the present to make use of your surplus dollars. Attack a weakness. If you don’t have a weekly quarterback, a guy like Anthony Richardson is available in about half of leagues and has a big ceiling.

You could also use a few extra dollars each week to ensure you get the streaming quarterback of your choice, but that always leaves the choice someone could sneak in and outbid you.

This is a chance to fortify your team, the way a professional team does at the trade deadline. There is no fantasy life in a few weeks if you don’t win now; don’t let that money burn a hole in your pocket.

Out of the Race

I’m a proponent of staying out of waivers once you are no longer in the playoff race. Waivers/free agent bidding are for everyone, so I can’t fault an owner who still wants to add to their team, but I’d rather let those who are still in the hunt for the championship have waiver priority and add to my team once free agency starts.

Modest Budget Remaining

Your roster dictates your way forward at this level more than any other. A team that is fighting for the bottom playoff spots can make a big splash or add several players, while those locked into playoff position can save that money and/or build around the edges to fortify their team.

Playoff Lock

A lot of the points from the previous "Playoff Lock" section also apply here:

• Fortify any weak position
• Grab high-upside players
• Plan ahead with streamers, especially at QB, TE, DEF, and K

Those owners cruising can again hold tight and wait for a disaster or sudden star to emerge.

Fighting for the Playoffs

This depends on your roster: If there is a major weakness on your team, spending this money now to upgrade for the final push is a necessity. If there is no one on the market that can upgrade your lineup, it’s better to make a play for a high-upside guy.

I brought up the Colts’ Richardson before; he’s a high-ceiling fantasy player who also presents a low floor. A fantasy owner without a solid quarterback but strong at every other position can put a big portion of their remaining budget toward Richardson in hopes he can hold down the position.

The other option is to use a few of those dollars every week on a streamer, a very viable option that gives a higher floor.

Out of the Race

I said above that I like sitting out of waivers when I’m out of the championship hunt. There are two situations in which that is not the case, though, and one of them is if the non-playoff teams battle for some sort of real consolation prize or draft position next season.

In a fantasy league with college friends, we had the four teams who missed the playoffs play their own mini tournament to decide the top four picks the next year; it’s a way to keep everyone involved until the end.

Almost Out of Money

You’ve either made a few big moves or have spent consistently throughout the season. Either way, being low on funds limits your options on the waiver wire. Spending it all on one player is probably the best move for most owners, but using those dollars for streaming might be feasible also.

Playoff Lock

You probably have enough for one move at this point. If you’re still looking to stream, the best thing to do is save your few dollars for the playoffs to make sure you get your guy. You can also plan ahead by grabbing your preferred player now if there’s no effect on your playoff outcome.

If you’re waiting to make that one big move, don’t miss it when it appears. You don’t have to force it now; waiting until the playoffs is just fine. If you want to take a shot on Carolina’s Brooks, though, now would be the time to spend the last of your budget, even knowing it will leave you out of the waiver game the rest of the way.

Others will understandably just keep their money for the playoffs, ready to use it at the most important time. I like that idea, too.

Fighting for the Playoffs

Spend that money now! You don’t have much anyway, so using it to push to the playoffs is your best bet. Either add a player (or two) at a weak position or grab a high-upside guy who can raise your ceiling.

If there’s truly not a move this week, you can wait for Week 14. Don’t put it off too long, though, or you might be knocked out without using all your resources. It’s like going home with an idol in your pocket on Survivor; you can only mock the person.

Out of the Race

I said there were two situations in which working the waiver wire when out of the championship hunt was acceptable. The second, and most important, is if your league has a punishment for the last place team.

If you are headed for the losers’ bracket and must fight to avoid embarrassment, save your dwindling dollars for the playoffs. Don’t pass up on a true upgrade if a star comes available, but otherwise make sure you can make your team as strong as possible at the most important time. Your shame may depend on it.