The Fantasy Football Fanatic: Basic Rules (Part 2)

By Dan Watson

Hello Fellow Fantasy Football Friends! This week I will conclude the basic rules of a typical Fantasy Football league. I hope that you’ve been enjoying this column.

Why are quarterbacks given fewer points for yards (and sometimes for touchdowns) compared to running backs and receivers?

Generally, quarterbacks gain more yards and touchdowns (through passing) than running backs or receivers (through rushing or receiving), so the scales are usually slanted to help even out the totals.

Can receptions count in fantasy leagues?

Some leagues award one point per reception for running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.

What are bye weeks?

Even though the regular season is 17 weeks, each team plays only 16 games and gets a one-week break. That rest week is called a bye week. Every team is assigned one bye week between Weeks 4 and 10. If a player is owned on a team with a bye week, then his fantasy owner must replace him with another player who is active that week. Otherwise, the owner will receive zero points for that player on a bye week.

How do the fantasy playoffs work?

Similar to the NFL format, the teams with the best records advance to the playoffs and compete in a bracket. For example, if the league is divided into two divisions of five teams, four teams may advance to the championship bracket. The fantasy playoffs are generally during the last weeks of the NFL season. The winners of the semifinal games advance to the championship game which will determine the league title.

Are there other ways to set up the fantasy playoffs?

Some leagues set the playoffs for Weeks 14-16 and eliminate Week 17. That's because in the real NFL, playoff-bound teams often rest their starters late in the season to negate the chance of injury in a meaningless game, or losing teams shake up their rosters because their fate has already been sealed. By avoiding Week 17, the chances are reduced for these late-season quirks having a negative effect on your fantasy playoffs. Otherwise, owners will be faced with starting players who may only play part of the game or find bench players who are starting in place of starters.

What is the free-agent pool?

After the draft, all the undrafted players are put in a free-agent pool where owners can replace players they drafted with available players they think might provide better results. Owners may want to change out players because they're disappointed in their performance or cannot play them because of injuries or suspensions. Generally, leagues do not allow players to be picked up while they are playing. In addition, players who are released from fantasy teams during the season are put into the free-agent pool where other owners can claim them.

What is the waiver system for the free-agent pool?

Instead of being able to pick players at any time, leagues can elect to institute a waiver system. Each team is assigned a waiver wire order and can pick up players based upon its waiver position. Owners can begin to claim players (usually on Tuesday) after the games for that week are completed. Fantasy teams make claims and wait for the waivers to clear (usually on Thursdays). If more than one team claims a player, then the player goes to the highest-ranking owner on the waiver list. After a claim is successful, an owner will drop to the last spot until another owner's successful claim. After the waivers clear, owners are free to claim remaining players until their game starts.

What are other ways you can change players?

Trading allows owners to exchange a player from their team for one of their opponent's. Interested owners can go after players they covet and offer to exchange players they are willing to let go. Many times trade conversations start with a proposal. An owner can choose to accept or reject the proposal, or make a counteroffer.

Hopefully this gives you a better idea of what fantasy football is and why millions of fans are taking part. Go join a league and have fun! Kickoff is just around the corner.