What does GB mean in fantasy football?

August is a busy month in the world of football. Players are competing for roster spots in training camp for their respective NFL teams. The preseason games are in full swing.


Another group of people who are very busy during this time are the fantasy football managers. Their offseason begins as the Super Bowl ends, just like any NFL team. After months of planning and strategizing, the managers will now be calculative as they prepare for the fantasy football draft.


As the football season goes one of the important concepts to understand is that of GB. This plays a crucial role in roster formation.


So what is GB and why is it important?


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GB in Fantasy Football

GB refers to games back. This is an important statistic which tells you how far back you are from the table leader.


For example, if your team is 3-3 and the table leader in your fantasy league is 4-3, then you are one game back. The reason why it is one game back is because if the leader loses and you win, you will have caught up with them in the standings.


In fantasy football, the term GB refers to the number of wins they are behind from the top position in the standings. This allows the fantasy managers to understand where they stand in context of the league and gives them an idea of how far the table top is.


Being one game behind means that you need to win a game and the table leader has to lose a game for you to claim the top position.


It is important to note that the GB remains the same in cases where you win your next game and so does the table leader. Bigger GB represents a higher number of steps to climb to the top while lower BG represents a lower number of steps. Steps here are the wins.


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Impact of GB fantasy football


Games Back helps in decision making. It allows the fantasy managers to check the GB and analyze the roster and make changes accordingly.


A fantasy football manager has a different approach based on the games back from the table leader. Certain managers tend to make robust changes while some play the game in a calculative manner. If your team is off to a bad start, you can make changes to your roster by dropping a few players and adding a couple and adjusting your starting lineup.


Also Read: What does D/ST mean in fantasy football?


How to use GB at the trade deadline?

GB is an important statistic to consider during the trade deadline when making the run for the playoffs. Trade deadlines are an important juncture for your fantasy team as you decide on making moves that will potentially lead you into the playoffs or rebuild for the next year.


If your GB is less, then as a fantasy manager you may want to go all in and compete for a championship. If the GB is higher, you could wrap your season and start planning for the next season.


Games Back allows flexibility. If your team is off to a bad start, you can make changes to your roster by dropping a few players and adding a couple and adjusting your starting lineup.


Also Read: What is IDP in Fantasy Football?


FAQs

Q. What is GB in fantasy football?

A. GB stands for games back. It explains how far behind you are from the top position in your league.

Q. How does GB impact your fantasy football team?

A. GB can help fantasy managers make decisions that will eventually help them make the playoff run. GB offers flexibility.

Q. What does one GB mean?

A. One GB means that you are one win away from tying with the table leader. Note that you’ve to win a game and the table leader has to lose a game for your team to take the top spot.

Q. When do fantasy football playoffs start?

A. It usually depends on the league. But in general, fantasy football playoffs start in Week 14 and the Championship happens in Week 16.

Q. Can you trade your best player?

A. This can be tricky. Other fantasy managers are looking for your best player for a reason. Instead of trading him away, you should look to gain as much as possible in return with a counter offer. Fantasy football managers will over pay, if they really want a player badly. You’ve to be calculative.