In fantasy basketball, keeping track of a team is tough. Keeping track of all the terms and relevant acronyms is even tougher. Though seasoned owners might have a good idea of how to understand everything, there are still some terms that might seem a bit odd.
One such example is matchup acquisition. That phrase is not something that comes up a lot, and it’s something that fantasy owners might not know. This guide covers what it means, and why it’s relevant in many situations.
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Picking Up at the Right Time
To understand what matchup acquisition means, it’s important to first break down the different parts of the phrase itself. An acquisition in fantasy basketball is defined as any player that gets added to a team’s roster through either free agency or waivers.
From there, the matchup part of the term obviously refers to a game. More specifically, the game that you’re currently playing during that week. Putting them together, the entire phrase refers to any pickups you make throughout one specific contest and at no other time.
The Difference Between Weeks and Games
In game-based fantasy leagues, players face off in a weekly head-to-head matchup. It is during those seven days that owners are able to make moves by picking up or releasing different players. However, teams aren’t allowed to just add or drop whoever they want. There are limits.
Depending on the league you’re in, most teams have a maximum number of matchup acquisitions that they can make each game. Sometimes that’s set for the entire seven-day span, and sometimes it’s set per day. Always pay attention to that distinction.
For example, certain leagues might make it so the weekly limit is set at 7, but the daily limit is set at 1. In that situation, owners can only make seven acquisitions a week, with one during each 24 hour period. If there is no daily limit, they could make all seven right away.
Once a team hits the acquisition’s limit, they are not allowed to add any more players until their next matchup begins. At the start of the next game, their acquisition number goes back to zero and they’re free to bring on anyone they wish.
Picking at the Right Time
Getting new players is a key part of any fantasy league. Though it would be ideal to just play the entire season with your first squad, that’s not the reality. Many events happen throughout the year that forces acquisitions to occur.
However, you can’t just add whoever you want to your team. Not only do you have to obey the matchup acquisition limit, but waivers are important as well. That refers to how long a player must wait until they can be added to a new roster.
Most are frozen for a day or two, which enables everyone in the league to bid on them. Then, whoever is highest on the waiver wire gets to bring them on. That move counts as an acquisition and is often how most teams add new faces to their team throughout a week.
Remember, the bigger your league, the more important acquisitions will be. In smaller leagues, almost everyone is loaded with talent. In larger ones, however, role players are much more important. Don’t be afraid to use your maximum and bring on new faces who put up good stats.
Final Words
Matchup acquisitions are a critical part of fantasy basketball. Not only do they help solidify your team and ensure you always field the best roster, but they enable you to react to adversity. As long as you know the limit and watch the waiver wire, you’ll be fine.
