We Americans fancy ourselves as a nation of risk takers. Those who act boldly and defy conventional wisdom are lionized as visionaries when they succeed. We pay far less attention to the risk takers who fail miserably, and when they do come to our attention, they are not looked upon with sympathy. “They got what they deserved,” we cluck to ourselves. “What a stupid idea.”

Fantasy football often punishes the risk takers. Oh, sure, bold strokes are occasionally rewarded. Those who picked up Chargers WR Danario Alexander a week or two ago despite the fact that his knee ligaments are made of fettuccine (and not even al dente fettuccine, mind you) were rewarded when he went for 134 yards and a touchdown last week. But fantasy owners who take extravagant risks, particularly in the early rounds of their drafts, are usually punished for their temerity. “They got what they deserved,” we tell other league members in gossipy conversations. “What a stupid draft pick.”

Some of the bold visionaries within our leagues are reaping lavish rewards this season. They are playoff-bound, perhaps title-bound. They defied logic and made a daring investment that many deemed foolish, and it has worked out marvelously. And so I pose a question to these courageous American risk takers:

What on earth were you thinking when you drafted Adrian Peterson?