My favorite game for any sport is the NFBC Postseason Holdem Contest. It combines player evaluation and game theory, along with keeping it fair for those wanting to enter a single lineup. Unlike other contests, you can replace players on teams that get knocked out of the playoffs.
Check out the complete set of rules and scoring HERE. I'll review enough to discuss possible strategies.
One of the charms of the contest is the NFBC waits until the Division Series to begin. Like many of you, I have best ball teams drawing dead since I drafted a few early ones with Houston Astros and New York Mets.
Another feature is that you are required to roster at least one player from every team still active in the playoffs. Moves are allowed between the Division Series and Championship Series, then again between the Championship Series and World Series. Stacking teams is paramount, but there are minimums and maximums for each round.
Each entry consists of 16 roster spots:
- C: 1
- 1B: 1
- 2B: 1
- 3B: 1
- SS: 1
- OF: 4
- UT: 1
- P: 6
Division Series: Max of three per team, min of one
Championship Series: Max of six per team, min of two
World Series: Max of 10 per team, min of six
Here is the catch, rendering this contest like no other. Players carried over from one round to the next have a multiplier applied to their points (the "Holdem" aspect of the contest).
For example, players on
My favorite game for any sport is the NFBC Postseason Holdem Contest. It combines player evaluation and game theory, along with keeping it fair for those wanting to enter a single lineup. Unlike other contests, you can replace players on teams that get knocked out of the playoffs.
Check out the complete set of rules and scoring HERE. I'll review enough to discuss possible strategies.
One of the charms of the contest is the NFBC waits until the Division Series to begin. Like many of you, I have best ball teams drawing dead since I drafted a few early ones with Houston Astros and New York Mets.
Another feature is that you are required to roster at least one player from every team still active in the playoffs. Moves are allowed between the Division Series and Championship Series, then again between the Championship Series and World Series. Stacking teams is paramount, but there are minimums and maximums for each round.
Each entry consists of 16 roster spots:
- C: 1
- 1B: 1
- 2B: 1
- 3B: 1
- SS: 1
- OF: 4
- UT: 1
- P: 6
Division Series: Max of three per team, min of one
Championship Series: Max of six per team, min of two
World Series: Max of 10 per team, min of six
Here is the catch, rendering this contest like no other. Players carried over from one round to the next have a multiplier applied to their points (the "Holdem" aspect of the contest).
For example, players on the DS rosters get 2X their points in the CS round and players remaining on the roster through to the WS get 3x their points in the final round.
Player picked up in the CS round, then carried over to the WS round earn 2X points.
Players dropped after the DS but picked up for the WS do not get the multiplier. To get the multiplier, players must be rostered for consecutive rounds.
The elegance of the contest is not only do the best entrants correctly identify the teams that will move on, but they also optimize points by carrying over the right players. This eliminates the need to be too contrarian with player selection. The chance of having multiple entries with the same players carried throughout the three rounds is minimal. Those looking for an against-the-grain edge can focus on teams the oddsmakers expect to get knocked out. It's not necessary to find a "low-rostered" player to differentiate your lineup.
Actually, there are other ways to be contrarian. Let's say you expect the Mariners to get knocked out in the ALDS. You still need to choose one of their players; many will select Cal Raleigh. If you're backing the Yankees (if they advance) though, having Ben Rice on your initial roster instead of Raleigh in that C spot would count as contrarian, since others with three Yankees may opt for Aaron Judge, Max Fried and Giancarlo Stanton (or Jazz Chisholm, David Bednar, Carlos Rodon, etc.). Entries expecting the Brewers to play in the World Series could have William Contreras behind the dish. Phillies supporters could use J.T. Realmuto as the backstop. You should primarily look for players with plausible pathway to being one of the top points producers on the team regardless. For example, if Detroit prevails in their Game 3, Dillon Dingler is not a sage contrarian choice, even if you think they'll advance past the ALDS.
Unlike other contests, you don't have to commit to your World Series favorites at the onset, though that may influence who you target as potential multiplier plays.
I was selfishly hoping for each Wild Card Series to be a sweep, so we know the eight teams heading into the Division series early. Oh well. As such, the rankings below will include all the teams still alive. After the Wild Card round, I'll remove the teams no longer in the postseason.
Rankings are less relevant than usual in a competition of this nature. The game theory of choosing which teams to stack, and which players to set up for multipliers, drives your selections. Not to mention, the length of each series is obviously unclear; more games mean more points.
Even so, it helps to have a foundation from which to compare. What follows is an overall, and then by position, ranking for all the postseason players. Their final regular-season stats are converted to fantasy points per game and ranked. Please note that the Postseason Contest scoring is different than the NFBC Best Ball and Cutline scoring.
Overall
Catcher
Rank | Player | Team | POS |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Cal Raleigh | SEA | C |
2 | William Contreras | MLW | C |
3 | Ben Rice | NYY | C,1B |
4 | Alejandro Kirk | TOR | C |
5 | Austin Wells | NYY | C |
6 | Dillon Dingler | DET | C |
7 | J.T. Realmuto | PHI | C |
8 | Danny Jansen | MLW | C |
9 | Reese McGuire | CHC | C |
10 | Tyler Heineman | TOR | C |
11 | Mitch Garver | SEA | C |
12 | Jake Rogers | DET | C |
13 | Tomas Nido | DET | C |
14 | Dalton Rushing | LAD | C |
15 | Eric Haase | MLW | C |
16 | Rafael Marchan | PHI | C |
17 | J.C. Escarra | NYY | C |
18 | Miguel Amaya | CHC | C |
19 | Austin Barnes | LAD | C |
20 | Moises Ballesteros | CHC | C |
21 | Carson Kelly | CHC | C |
22 | Ben Rortvedt | LAD | C |
First Base
Rank | Player | Team | POS |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bryce Harper | PHI | 1B |
2 | Freddie Freeman | LAD | 1B |
3 | Cody Bellinger | NYY | 1B,OF |
4 | Vladimir Guerrero | TOR | 1B |
5 | Josh Naylor | SEA | 1B |
6 | Michael Busch | CHC | 1B |
7 | Spencer Torkelson | DET | 1B |
8 | Ben Rice | NYY | C,1B |
9 | Alec Bohm | PHI | 1B,3B |
10 | Andrew Vaughn | MLW | 1B |
11 | Rhys Hoskins | MLW | 1B |
12 | Otto Kemp | PHI | OF,1B,3B |
13 | Paul Goldschmidt | NYY | 1B |
14 | Colt Keith | DET | 3B,1B,2B |
15 | Ernie Clement | TOR | 1B,2B,3B,SS |
16 | Carlos Santana | CHC | 1B |
17 | Ty France | TOR | 1B |
18 | Jake Bauers | MLW | OF,1B |
19 | Enrique Hernandez | LAD | 2B,1B,3B,OF |
20 | Luke Raley | SEA | 1B,OF |
21 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 2B,1B,3B |
22 | Andruw Monasterio | MLW | 1B,SS,2B,3B |
23 | Justin Turner | CHC | 3B,1B |
Second Base
Rank | Player | Team | POS |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jazz Chisholm | NYY | 2B,3B,OF |
2 | Brice Turang | MLW | 2B |
3 | Jorge Polanco | SEA | 2B |
4 | Gleyber Torres | DET | 2B |
5 | Nico Hoerner | CHC | 2B |
6 | Bryson Stott | PHI | SS,2B |
7 | Caleb Durbin | MLW | 3B,2B |
8 | Tommy Edman | LAD | 3B,2B,OF |
9 | Jose Caballero | NYY | OF,2B,3B,SS |
10 | Colt Keith | DET | 3B,1B,2B |
11 | Willi Castro | CHC | 2B,3B,SS,OF |
12 | Davis Schneider | TOR | 2B,OF |
13 | Ernie Clement | TOR | 1B,2B,3B,SS |
14 | Javier Baez | DET | 2B,OF,3B,SS |
15 | Edmundo Sosa | PHI | 2B,3B,SS |
16 | Amed Rosario | NYY | 3B,2B,OF |
17 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 2B,1B,3B |
18 | Ryan Bliss | SEA | 2B |
19 | Andres Gimenez | TOR | SS,2B |
20 | Hyeseong Kim | LAD | SS,OF,2B |
21 | Leo Rivas | SEA | 2B,SS |
22 | Weston Wilson | PHI | 2B,OF |
23 | Andruw Monasterio | MLW | 1B,SS,2B,3B |
24 | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | TOR | 2B,3B,SS |
25 | Andy Ibanez | DET | 3B,2B |
26 | Miguel Rojas | LAD | 3B,2B,SS |
27 | Miles Mastrobuoni | SEA | 2B,OF,3B |
28 | Cole Young | SEA | 2B,SS |
29 | Jorbit Vivas | NYY | 3B,2B |
30 | Enrique Hernandez | LAD | 2B,1B,3B,OF |
31 | Jon Berti | CHC | 2B,3B |
32 | Donovan Walton | PHI | 2B |
33 | Alex Freeland | LAD | 2B,3B,SS |
Third Base
Rank | Player | Team | POS |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Eugenio Suarez | SEA | 3B |
2 | Max Muncy | LAD | 3B |
3 | Addison Barger | TOR | 3B,OF |
4 | Zach McKinstry | DET | 3B,SS,OF |
5 | Caleb Durbin | MLW | 3B,2B |
6 | Tommy Edman | LAD | 3B,2B,OF |
7 | Otto Kemp | PHI | OF,1B,3B |
8 | Matt Shaw | CHC | 3B |
9 | Jose Caballero | NYY | OF,2B,3B,SS |
10 | Colt Keith | DET | 3B,1B,2B |
11 | Ryan McMahon | NYY | 3B |
12 | Willi Castro | CHC | 2B,3B,SS,OF |
13 | Ernie Clement | TOR | 1B,2B,3B,SS |
14 | Joey Ortiz | MLW | SS,3B |
15 | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | TOR | 2B,3B,SS |
16 | Enrique Hernandez | LAD | 2B,1B,3B,OF |
17 | Matt Vierling | DET | 3B,OF |
18 | Andruw Monasterio | MLW | 1B,SS,2B,3B |
19 | Javier Baez | DET | 2B,OF,3B,SS |
20 | Andy Ibanez | DET | 3B,2B |
21 | Ben Williamson | SEA | 3B |
22 | Oliver Dunn | MLW | 3B |
23 | Max Muncy | LAD | 3B |
24 | Edmundo Sosa | PHI | 2B,3B,SS |
25 | Miles Mastrobuoni | SEA | 2B,OF,3B |
26 | Alex Freeland | LAD | 2B,3B,SS |
27 | Justin Turner | CHC | 3B,1B |
28 | Amed Rosario | NYY | 3B,2B,OF |
29 | Jorbit Vivas | NYY | 3B,2B |
30 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 2B,1B,3B |
31 | Jon Berti | CHC | 2B,3B |
32 | Anthony Seigler | MLW | 3B |
33 | Jace Jung | DET | 3B |
34 | Oswaldo Cabrera | NYY | 3B |
Shortstop
Rank | Player | Team | Pos |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Trea Turner | PHI | SS |
2 | Bo Bichette | TOR | SS |
3 | Mookie Betts | LAD | SS,OF |
4 | Dansby Swanson | CHC | SS |
5 | Bryson Stott | PHI | SS,2B |
6 | Zach McKinstry | DET | 3B,SS,OF |
7 | J.P. Crawford | SEA | SS |
8 | Anthony Volpe | NYY | SS |
9 | Jose Caballero | NYY | OF,2B,3B,SS |
10 | Willi Castro | CHC | 2B,3B,SS,OF |
11 | Ernie Clement | TOR | 1B,2B,3B,SS |
12 | Javier Baez | DET | 2B,OF,3B,SS |
13 | Edmundo Sosa | PHI | 2B,3B,SS |
14 | Andres Gimenez | TOR | SS,2B |
15 | Leo Rivas | SEA | 2B,SS |
16 | Joey Ortiz | MLW | SS,3B |
17 | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | TOR | 2B,3B,SS |
18 | Miguel Rojas | LAD | 3B,2B,SS |
19 | Cole Young | SEA | 2B,SS |
20 | Alex Freeland | LAD | 2B,3B,SS |
21 | Hyeseong Kim | LAD | SS,OF,2B |
22 | Andruw Monasterio | MLW | 1B,SS,2B,3B |
23 | Trey Sweeney | DET | SS |
Outfield
Utility
Rank | Player | Team | Pos |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Shohei Ohtani | LAD | UT |
2 | Kyle Schwarber | PHI | UT |
3 | Tyler Black | MLW | UT |
4 | Luken Baker | LAD | UT |