Playoff Waiver Strategy - Am I Playing Dirty or Smart?

[GobblerVT]

So I'm up against a tough opponent this week and notice that he has both Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs, both of whom look likely to sit out this week. His only other two RBs are Tashard Choice and Warrick Dunn. So I promptly pick up the only viable RB options off the waiver wire: DeShaun Foster, Maurice Morris, and Ladell Betts. My only intent is to stash them on my bench, I have absolutely no intention of starting any of them.

So what do you think? Is this type of "defensive" waiver pickup strategy a viable option in the playoffs, or just a dirty trick?

[treat24]

Smart. I'm highly against churning... say if you were going to drop them on Saturday night or Sunday morning so that your opponent couldn't get them. That would be a big no-no... But Foster and Betts should be on teams in your league. If you have the roster space, you should be grabbing them. They might come in handy next week... you never know if one of your studs gets an injury this week.

[deluxe_247]

its a smart play. ive done that before when i have roster spots and its an important matchup.

[A Fleshner Fantasy]

I've done this before. Smart strategy. Don't churn them, but doing this is fine.

[ampant]

Nothing wrong with that. Same reasoning behind why the Packer's didn't trade Favre to the Jets . . . they didn't want to have to face him.

You aren't breaking the rules, you are taking advantage of the rules in a way that helps your team directly by decreasing the strength of your opponent's options and increasing your chances of winning.

You snooze you lose.

[Matthias]

+1 to consensus. Picking up to hold is ok; picking up to drop and freeze on waivers is horse puckey. I just picked up Danny Ware in one league, although I'm not sure if I'm going to use him or not.

[PuntinFool]

If it makes you feel any better, I'm in a roto league and used my waiver position to scoop up two guys (Carlson and Sproles) who might've been taken by others. You do what you gotta do. Well done!