Here Be The Monsters : Lessons from a Monday Morning Gamble

There’s a certain madness in fantasy sports that pretends to be courage. 



You tell yourself you’re making a bold, calculated move, when really, you’re chasing an edge or potential you see that others may not. 



That was me on Monday morning, the last moments before lockout, staring down the choice between the safe play and the gamble.



The safe play sat there, reliable and dull. 



Cedric Coward ($6 580 000 +$1.3 [+$2.1m]) on the season. 



A current Supercoach “darling”, if you will. 



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The gamble? Quenton Jackson, a flicker of promise in Indiana’s rotation, who in his last 2 starts in Week 2 provided 19 and 40 SC points respectively. 



Both team highs. 



The 40 especially popped out against a proven Golden State Warriors outfit. 



QJ is unproven but intriguing. 



Four games ahead. 



A gut feeling said he’d continue to deliver via the playmaking that the Pacers so desperately need.



So I started him.



Twenty minutes later, the screen told a familiar story: INJ. Jackson limped off, the box score froze, and my optimism followed him down the proverbial tunnel. 



Three games left in the week, a confirmed hamstring strain, and ruled out on Wednesday already against the lowly Nets. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Quenton Jackson tonight: 25 PTS (career-high) 10 AST (career-high) 3 STL 10/16 FG 3/4 3PM +20 Pacers win their first game of their injury-ridden season. <a href="https://t.co/CN54Zqfw6t">https://t.co/CN54Zqfw6t</a> <a href="https://t.co/c8QMhqCbU3">pic.twitter.com/c8QMhqCbU3</a>&mdash; ᴛᴀʜᴊ ♛ (@simplyballup) <a href="https://twitter.com/simplyballup/status/1984808008283799937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Hamstring injuries can linger, and the early exit suggests he won’t be making a miraculous return to my team for the Pacers’ back-to-back games later in the week.



I laughed, because what else can you do? 



The injury monster I warned of just the day before in my last article had come to find me and let me know that they are very real indeed.



And yet, even the wreckage offers lessons. 



Because every injury, every failed gamble, leaves behind a kind of wisdom. 



So, here are my takeaways:



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">VJ Edgecombe among rookies: — 1st in points — 1st in assists — 1st in steals — 1st in field goals — 2nd in threes — 2nd in plus/minus — 3rd in free throws — 5th in rebounds ROTY? <a href="https://t.co/bcq4zxmWjq">pic.twitter.com/bcq4zxmWjq</a>&mdash; StatMuse (@statmuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1985340938328457412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Four Ways to Live With the Monsters</h3>



1) Depth is your lifeboat.



Avoid loading all your cash into stars. 



Strong mid-price options keep you afloat when disaster hits. 



A dependable bench player is worth their weight in sanity.



2) Follow the schedule like a compass.



Look ahead. 



Which teams are the focus, not just next week, but the next three to four weeks? 



Which players rest on back-to-backs? 



Who is nursing an injury and may be forced to sit out at least one game against a lesser opponent. 



All considerations for a Supercoach. 



Plan your trades around opportunity, not just name value.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">RYAN ROLLINS DUNKS OVER PASCAL SIAKAM. 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/lGzrAuw5OF">pic.twitter.com/lGzrAuw5OF</a>&mdash; Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1985524600483254515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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3) Hunt for hidden treasure.



When one player falls, another rises. 



Keep a watchlist for cheap replacements or those ready to rise and generate cash. 



Yes, even the Quenton Jackson’s of the world, despite the cruel twist of fate. 



We can’t predict injuries. 



So let’s not act like we do. 



Instead, be ready to react and grab players like QJ or another SC breakout Ryan Rollins when they occur.



4) Trust your gut… but check the map.



Instinct makes the game fun. 



But pair it with data, form, and context. 



A good hunch is only great when it’s informed. 



I’d make the same move again, truth be told.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nikola Jokić was stellar vs. the Kings tonight! 🃏 34 points 🃏 14 dimes 🃏 7 boards<a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> move to 4-2 to start the season 👏 <a href="https://t.co/Dbe36EwqHv">pic.twitter.com/Dbe36EwqHv</a>&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1985582030839742867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Taking My Own Advice



So I’ll take the lesson. 



Patch the hull. 



Watch and lament the week. 



And sadistically hope others go down (just not others on my team) to level the playing field. 



Truly, it’s the NBA. That will happen over our long season. 



There will be more Quenton Jacksons, players who promise gold and deliver heartbreak, but that’s the nature of the voyage.



The season is young. 



The map continues to be drawn. 



Each trade, each gamble, each injury is another mark on the chart. 



And maybe, just maybe, by season’s end I (see: WE) will have learned how to navigate these borderlands, injury monsters and all.



By Matty G

Here Be The Monsters : Lessons from a Monday Morning Gamble

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