Stick with your studs

FANT AS Y football is a fickle mistress. One week, she teases with new options while shunning the old. Then the next, she throws away the new like yesterday’s hotel receipt.

Keeping her happy is hard, which is why no one approach works all the time. Week 15, she was wearing her “play your studs” shoes, even if she had on just a touch of her “don’t ignore the matchups” perfume.

And by “matchups,“we’re not talking about the completely random “pops.” Rob- ert Turbin, Derrick Henry, Kerwynn Williams? Those are “no-second-date” type options. These are not guys you consider playing in a regular week, much less in the fantasy playoffs.

By matchups, we’re thinking Ty Montgomery. We knew he was going to get more carries this wee k , but could we count on him resuming his brief midseason role? And he was facing a Bears defense that had been stingy versus running backs. We were high on Bilal Powell, regardless of Matt Forte playing or not. But would we have started him over LeGarre tte Bl o unt , or S pencer Ware, or Latavius Murray — all closer to “stud” status and in better matchups?

You won those gambles. But if you elected to sit Drew Brees, it cost you. Sure, he had two straight bad games. Of course, he was facing a top-three defense against fantasy QBs. Yes, Brees on the road is different than Brees at home. But 389 yards and four TDs later. ... If you sat him for a better matchup guy (Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor, anyone), then it didn’t pan out.

You never will win them all. But more often than not, good players play “gooder” than bad ones. Stick to the “studs” approach, but don’t be easy about it. Make sure your list of studs is a short one.