The 5 Non-Negotiable Weekly Tasks
Fantasy football is won by consistency. Do these 5 things EVERY week and you'll beat 70% of your league.
Miss even one, and you risk losing a matchup you should've won.
This checklist takes 20-30 minutes total per week. That's it.
Task #1: Check Injury Reports (Friday-Sunday)
When: Friday afternoon, Saturday evening, Sunday morning
Injuries are the #1 reason people lose fantasy matchups they should've won.
What to Do:
• Friday 4 PM ET: First injury report drops
• Saturday 6 PM ET: Updated injury report
• Sunday 90 min before games: Final injury report + inactives list
Where to Check:
• Your fantasy app (notifications)
• Twitter/X: Follow @AdamSchefter, @RapSheet, @FieldYates
• Sleeper app: Best real-time injury notifications
What to Look For:
• Your starters listed as "Out" or "Doubtful" = bench them
• Your starters listed as "Questionable" = have a backup ready
Pro Tip:
If your 1 PM player is Questionable, consider starting a 4 PM player instead. Gives you 3 more hours to get info.
Task #2: Submit Waiver Claims (Tuesday Night)
When: Tuesday 6-11 PM (before waivers process at midnight)
The waiver wire wins championships. Missing this weekly task is inexcusable.
What to Do:
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Check who's available at each position
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Prioritize injured starter replacements
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Target breakout players from Sunday's games
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Submit 2-3 claims (in priority order)
-
Drop your worst bench players
Who to Target:
✅ Backup RBs whose starter got injured
✅ Players who had 15+ touches or 8+ targets
✅ Defenses with good matchups next week
✅ Streaming QB if yours is on bye or injured
Who NOT to Waste Claims On:
❌ Players with one lucky TD
❌ Your 4th QB
❌ Handcuffs for players you don't own (unless elite backup)
Pro Tip:
Submit claims early Tuesday (like 7 PM). Don't wait until 11:59 PM and forget!
Task #3: Set Your Lineup (Sunday Morning)
When: Sunday 11:30 AM ET (30 minutes before noon games)
Seems obvious, but you'd be shocked how many people forget.
What to Do:
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Open your fantasy app
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Check your starting lineup
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Verify no one is on bye
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Verify no one is injured/out
-
Make any last-minute swaps
-
Hit "Save Lineup"
Double-Check These:
☐ All starting slots filled (no empty spots)
☐ No players on bye week
☐ No players listed as "Out"
☐ Flex spot has your highest-projected bench player
☐ Thursday night players are locked in correctly
Common Mistakes:
❌ Leaving a player in who's on bye
❌ Starting a "Questionable" player in the early game
❌ Forgetting to move a player from bench to starting lineup
Pro Tip:
Set a recurring phone alarm for Sunday 11:30 AM: "SET YOUR FANTASY LINEUP NOW!"
Task #4: Stream Defense/Kicker (Tuesday-Wednesday)
When: Tuesday night (waiver claims) or Wednesday morning (free agents)
Holding the same defense/kicker all season is leaving points on the table.
What to Do:
For Defense:
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Look at next week's schedule
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Find the worst offense (32nd ranked, backup QB, etc.)
-
Claim the defense playing AGAINST that team
-
Drop your current defense (don't hold 2)
For Kicker:
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Check weather forecasts
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Find games in domes or good weather
-
Claim kicker on good offense in that game
-
Drop your current kicker
Where to Find Streaming Advice:
• Reddit r/fantasyfootball: Weekly "Defense Streaming" thread
• FantasyPros: "Streaming Options" article
• Subvertadown: Statistical defense projections
Pro Tip:
Prioritize defense over kicker. Defense can swing 20 points. Kickers are 90% random.
Task #5: Review Next Week's Matchups (Wednesday)
When: Wednesday afternoon (5-10 minutes)
Being proactive wins leagues. Reactive managers always lose.
What to Do:
-
Check next week's opponent
-
Identify which of your players have byes next week
-
Plan ahead for streaming options
-
Check your players' upcoming schedules (next 3 weeks)
Questions to Ask:
• Do I have players on bye next week?
• Will I need to stream a QB/TE/Defense?
• Are any of my players facing brutal schedules?
• Should I make a trade before it's too late?
Pro Tip:
If your QB/TE is on bye next week, grab their replacement THIS week on waivers before everyone else does.
Bonus Tasks (Optional but Helpful)
Monday Morning: Review Your Loss/Win
• Did you lose because of injuries? Bad luck? Poor decisions?
• Learn from mistakes
Wednesday Afternoon: Check Trade Opportunities
• Who in your league is desperate?
• Can you sell high on anyone?
• Can you buy low on anyone?
Thursday Evening: Thursday Night Football Decisions
• Do you have players in Thursday's game?
• Start them or bench them? (Usually start your studs)
Saturday Night: Final Injury Check
• One more check before Sunday morning
• Have backup plans ready
The Full Weekly Timeline
Tuesday Night (15 min):
☐ Submit waiver claims
☐ Drop bench dead weight
Wednesday Morning (5 min):
☐ Check if you won your claims
☐ Grab free agents if needed
☐ Review next week's matchups and byes
Friday Afternoon (2 min):
☐ Check first injury report
Saturday Evening (3 min):
☐ Check updated injury report
Sunday Morning (10 min):
☐ Check final injury report
☐ Set your lineup
☐ Double-check everything
Sunday-Monday (0 min):
☐ Watch games and enjoy (nothing to do)
Total Time: 35 minutes per week
That's it! Follow this checklist and you'll never miss anything important.
What Happens If You Skip These Tasks?
Skip Task #1 (Injury Reports):
You start a player who's Out. You get 0 points. You lose by 5 points.
Skip Task #2 (Waiver Claims):
Your opponent grabs the hot waiver pickup. He scores 25 points against you. You lose.
Skip Task #3 (Set Lineup):
Your WR1 sits on your bench. Your bench WR starts. WR1 scores 30, bench scores 5. You lose.
Skip Task #4 (Streaming DST):
Your defense faces the Chiefs. -3 points. Streaming option would've gotten 12. You lose by 10.
Skip Task #5 (Plan Ahead):
Your QB is on bye next week. You forget to stream a replacement. Wednesday morning, all good QBs are gone.
The Pattern:
Every skipped task = a lost matchup. Don't skip tasks.