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As we know, the sport of football is physical, violent, and dangerous to the body of every player who steps onto the field. This results in countless injuries all season long which is problematic for the actual players, but also challenging for us as Fantasy managers.
While we're safely sitting on our comfortable couches watching games on TV, injuries to players across the NFL greatly contribute to the success or lack of success of our Fantasy team each week.
It’s brutal when our top players go down with season-ending injuries or get put on the injured reserve list for four weeks or more. Yet, as hard as it is on our Fantasy team when a player is declared “out,” we're able to move on from them because it’s clear they won’t be available anymore. We know we can’t count on them and we shift our attention toward another player.
What might be even more frustrating for Fantasy managers is dealing with what are considered minor injuries. Every week some guys are deemed “questionable” with a sprained ankle, tweaked hamstring, sore groin, or bruised ribs. The reports go back and forth all week on where players stand with their health, and we are led to believe that questionable players have a good chance to play.
This confuses us though because we don’t know for sure if the player will be available for our Fantasy lineup or whether or not the team will still commit to his normal workload if he's on the field.
It comes down to the wire as to whether or not the players who are “game-time decisions” will be ruled active for the game. Trying to decide what to do with them right before kickoff is very stressful for us as managers, especially when ultimately they are declared inactive.
On the other hand, we love having players on our Fantasy team who are reliable, healthy, and committed to play, and we know we can rely on them to be out on the field. Of course, they too can get injured at any time, but it's clear there's a difference between them and the players who are consistently designated as questionable.
When looking at the players with a “Q” next to their name on our roster, it makes it tough to trust them and count on them to start in our Fantasy lineup. Ultimately, what we want to know about our players is, are you in or out?
When it comes to our own lives, are we the type of people who are always “questionable” or are we reliable, committed, and available for others? Are people able to count on us to show up, deliver, be there for them when they need us, and come through when we say we will? Or, do we lead people on all week long and then back out and let them down at the last minute?
More importantly, when it comes to our commitment to Jesus, are we in or out?
Jesus says in Matthew 12:30 (NLT), “Anyone who isn’t with Me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with Me is actually working against me.”
Are we going to be active in our faith or are we going to be inactive? Is our character questionable or consistent? Do we leave people wondering where we stand regarding our faith? Are people confused about what we believe and there seems to always be a “Q” next to our name? Are we committed to going to church or are we regularly a "game-time" decision? Are we clearly following Jesus and serving Him or are we going back and forth all week?
In the Old Testament, Joshua talks to the tribes of Isreal about who people will choose to serve: “So fear the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15; NLT).
None of us are perfect, but if we want to truly follow Jesus, we need to be committed to Him and available to be used by Him. Instead of being indecisive, wishy-washy, or sitting on the fence, we need to declare without any questions, that "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
Let's stand firm in our faith and be someone who can definitively be counted on to "be there for the team." This happens when we truly love God and are fully devoted to Him as described in the following verses:
“Therefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as [you are doing] today” (1 Kings 8:61; AMP).
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5; ESV).
“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38; ESV).
Let's drop the "questionable tag" in our lives and commit to being available and all-in for God and others.
What players on your team so far this season have caused you issues because they've been questionable?
Who are some players that always seem to be questionable, every week, every year?
Who are some players that you can really count on because they are reliable?
How do you handle people in your life who aren't willing to commit and how important is commitment to you?
Do you think you are a reliable person?
What "injuries" or attitudes and behaviors are causing you to be "questionable" in your faith?
If you have committed yourself to following Jesus, how has your life changed?
What areas of your life would you like to demonstrate more commitment instead of being questionable?
"Are we going to be active in our faith or are we going to be inactive? Is our character questionable or consistent? Do we leave people wondering where we stand regarding our faith? Are people confused about what we believe and there seems to always be a “Q” next to our name? Are we clearly following Jesus and serving Him or are we going back and forth all week?" - Bryce Johnson, Fantasy Football Fellowship
In 2022, the four most common players found on championship rosters in ESPN leagues were Christian McCaffrey (22.8% of teams), Patrick Mahomes (22.2%), Austin Ekeler (22%), and Travis Kelce (21.4%). - ESPN.com