The unique thing about Head-to-Head leagues is that at the end of the week, none of the statistics you accrued in that matchup really matter anymore. Sure, it contributes to your players’ values going forward but that is about it. You get a Win or a Loss, and it is as if your players’ stats are wiped clean. On to the next one. This is unlike roto leagues where your statistics accumulate day by day, week by week, over the whole season. Every stolen base, save, and home run stays with your team for the whole year. It doesn’t really matter when your players collect those statistics because it looks the same at the end of the year.

This is not the case for H2H leagues. The end of the year statistics are obviously important, but the raw totals don’t matter as much as in roto leagues. Instead, your season essentially comes down to winning as many one-week match-ups as you can. This means that you want to add the players that give you the most consistent production throughout the year. Guys that are notorious for being streaky and susceptible to slumps can be a burden in H2H leagues. Their end of the year totals make look pretty decent, but the key here is finding players that will give you constant production. Health is the other huge factor. Your player can’t be giving you consistent production if they are not consistently on the field. Of course you want consistency in any format, but it is especially imperative in H2H leagues where each matchup is only a week long.

Looking at the past few years as well as their potential for this season, I’ve created a list of “H2H Heroes” and “H2H Heartaches”. Just because someone is a H2H Hero doesn’t mean that they are a surefire stud and will win you your league. Nor does it mean that they are not valuable in a roto league. They are guys that I give a boost in H2H leagues due to consistency and/or some other reason. On the flip side, a H2H Heartache doesn’t mean they’re a dud and you should avoid them at all costs. They are just guys that I see to be more of a burden when it comes to weekly matchups and get downgraded in H2H formats.