We are getting down to it now. For those of you in leagues with two-week playoff matchups, this is the second-to-last regular season showdown. Trade deadlines have either passed or are coming. 

Major decisions need to be made.

Are you a seller? Are you a buyer? Do you need to replace an injured player or will you risk that they return when you need them most?

Using the waiver wire appropriately is crucial at this time of year. You need a plan and you need to understand what your goals are. If you’re selling, and in a keeper league, this would be a good time to peel off a hot veteran in hopes of parlaying them into something - even mid-round picks are useful down the line. Conversely, you could be using this time to load up on prospects to give yourself some more flexibility in the offseason. Packaging them up, deciding which to keep and which to throw back. There are options.

The contenders have a clear mindset. Get as good as possible for today at the expense of tomorrow. Sometimes you simply have to sacrifice the future for a shot at glory. Because the old adage is true – banners hang forever.

With all that in mind, let’s take a spin around the wire and see what intriguing options are out there for everyone. A reminder that this column usually features players who are owned in fewer than half of all Fantrax leagues. I break my own rule constantly though so be warned.