1. 2020 Elite FFL FANTASY FOOTBALL RULES.
1.1 These rules are established to protect this fantasy football league, team owners and their Elite FFL franchise
2. RESPONSIBILITIES.
2.1 Commissioner (Michael Richey): Provides oversight for all league operations.
2.2 Co-Commissioner (Paul Miranda): Assists the Commissioner as needed.
2.3 League Oversight Committee: Commissioner and Co-Commissioner
2.3.1 The Oversight Committee handles all disputes not covered by the existing rules and all recommended rule alterations after commencement of the season. This includes rule interpretation when needed.
2.3.2 Any member of the Oversight Committee who has a direct interest in the outcome of an Oversight Committee ruling will have no vote in the matter.
2.3.3 The time frame for Oversight Committee rulings will generally be 24 hours, but may be extended or shortened at the discretion of the Commissioner, based on league needs and time constraints. If a committee member fails to respond within this time frame, the votes shall be tallied without their input.
2.4 All Team Owners are responsible for managing their team, following NFL injury and player reports, replacing bye week players when required, submitting starting line-ups, activating players from IR in a timely manner and monitoring/reporting other team owners not in compliance with Injured Reserve, Transaction and Lineup rules.
3. OFF-SEASON ACTIVITY.
3.1 The off-season begins the day following the completion of week #17 of the current NFL season. Players and draft picks can start being traded as soon as our off season begins.
3.2 This is a keeper league. We are able to keep four players going in to the next year's fantasy draft which will be the Sunday before Labor day weekend at 8 pm eastern time.
3.3 All players must be off IR by, the Friday,11:59 eastern time, before the current NFL Playoffs. Any player on IR once the NFL playoff start will be dropped and available in our draft next year.
3.4 All owners will need to reduce their rosters to 10 players before this season's NFL Super Bowl. Any team with more than 10 players on their roster, after the deadline, it will be reduced to 10 players by the commissioners at his discretion.
3.4.1 One week after the NFL Super bowl payouts will be made. The keeper deposit of $50 will be withheld from payouts and those who do not have enough to cover will need to bring their balance up immediately or risk losing their team There is a waiting list for this league..
3.5 League fees of $150 plus $50 transaction deposit due (keeper deposit will automatically convert to the transaction deposit) and the optional NFL Pick'em entry fee of $50 are due two Fridays before our live draft.
3.6 Rosters will need to be reduced to 4 players by 11:59 pm eastern time, two Saturdays before our live draft.
3.7 The winner of the toilet bowl will need to select their draft position by 11:59 pm eastern time, one Sunday before our live draft.
3.8 Our live draft will be the Sunday one week before Labor day weekend at 8 pm eastern time.
4. DRAFT DAY/STARTING LINEUPS (See Draft Board for draft order)
4.1.2 The draft will consist of 12 rounds.
4.2 The draft order will be determined by results of the previous Elite FFL Keeper season with the Toilet Bowl winner choosing his draft spot.
4.3 Upon completion of the draft, teams must have sixteen (16) players on their rosters, as follows:
OFFENSE (REQUIRED TO START 9 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS, MAY ONLY START 9 PLAYERS)
DEFENSE (REQUIRED TO START 1 DEFENSIVE TEAM)
4.4 Should an owner start too many players at one position, the player(s) in that position who scored the least amount of points will have their points deducted and no other player may be substituted in their place.
4.5 If a team owner wants to challenge their opponents roster (or any other team's roster), the challenge must be made prior to the conclusion of the last game of that particular NFL week.
4.6 If you have insufficient players to fill a position in your starting line-up, you will receive no points for that position.
5. WAIVER WIRE / FREE AGENTS / INJURED RESERVE / MISC PLAYER STATUS
5.1 Each team may use waivers to add up to 2 player and place up to 3 players on IR each week during the FFL Season. This does not preclude an owner from acquiring more players, above the two waiver wires transactions, during the Free Agent transaction period. Free Agent transactions are unlimited. This rule supersedes the rule which states an owner may place a player on IR at any time. (SEE RULES BELOW FOR WAIVER WIRE TIMES)
5.1.1 Starting 2024 season we will be using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) system for waiver wire and Free Agent acquisitions.
5.1.1.1 Waiver wire additions will be awarded to the highest blind bid for the particular player
5.1.1.2 In case of a tie the owner with the worst record will be awarded the player
5.1.1.2.1 To reduce the possibility of a tie owners will start with $1,000 FAAB.
5.1.1.2.2 Once an owner has exhausted his budget he will no longer be able to acquire players via Free Agency or Waiver Wire Claim. Players my only be acquired via trade at that point..
5.1.1.2.3 League fees also apply to these acquisitions. See fee schedule rule 8.2.
5.1.1.2.4 Free Agents acquired via free agency will cost $1 FAAB along with league fees. See fee schedule rule 8.2.
5.1.1.2.5 FAAB is only available for the season issued and will not roll over into the following year. All FAAB not used will expire and new $1,000 FAAB will be issued after our draft.
5.1.1.2.6 No FAAB is need to place a player on or activate a player off IR but league fees still apply. See fee schedule rule 8.2.
5.1.1.2.7 No FAAB is need to trade players but league fees still apply. See fee schedule rule 8.2..
5.2 After the Waiver Wires are over, use the ADD/DROP feature under the "Teams" menu to pick-up free agents only limited by the amount of FAAB that owner has available.
5.2.1 Free Agent transactions may be done any time prior to the start of the final game of the week as long as the affected player(s) games have not begun. The affected players include both the player to be added as well as the player to be released or placed on injured reserve, regardless if they are a starter or reserve player.
5.3 Up to 3 players who are listed on the RTSports website as either: Questionable (Q), Doubtful (D), Out (O), Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), COVID or On IR (X) may be on IR at any one time. NOTE: Day-to-Day injury (T) status does not meet IR requirements.
5.4 Once the player on IR is no longer listed on the RTSports injury report as either Questionable (Q), Doubtful (D), Out (O), Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), COVID or on IR (X), you will have to decide whether to release the replacement player or retain the replacement player and release another player from your roster before the start of their next game.
5.5 If a required IR removal is not conducted by kick-off of the player no longer eligible for IR game starts, the player on IR will be RELEASED. It is expected that any team owner who sees a roster violation, will contact the owner with the violation and advise them of the illegal roster. This will allow the owner of that player an opportunity to correct their roster without arbitrarily losing a player who might have just been removed from IR.
5.6 If a player is suspended and he is currently on IR or is also listed as injured, the SUSPENSION SUPERSEDES the players injury status and the player will be removed from IR immediately.
If a player takes a voluntary leave of absence, is placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list, or is placed on any other form of administrative leave (on or off the field conduct, any civil or criminal proceedings or any combination of the above) his status will be considered SUSPENDED and he shall be treated accordingly.
5.6.1 The team owner may keep or release the suspended player, however, if the suspended player is kept, he must be placed on the team owner’s roster and not on IR. If the team owner does not take the player off IR prior to kick-off of the affected player(s) games the suspended player will be released by the Commissioner.
5.7 If you acquire a player who is ALREADY listed as Questionable (Q), Doubtful (D), Out (O), Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), Covid or on IR (X), the player cannot be placed on IR until 24 four hours after the acquisition (not to include trades where an injured player is acquired is already on IR).
5.7.1 If the acquired player is not listed on the Injury Report, then is downgraded to Questionable or worse, the player may be placed on IR and another replacement player may be selected. There is no minimum time to wait to place a player in this circumstance on IR and pick up a replacement player.
5.8 If a player is listed as Q, D, PUP, Covid or O during the week prior to his bye week, and was placed on IR by the Fantasy Football team owner during the permitted time (during the week prior to the bye week), the player on IR may remain on IR during his bye week.
5.8.1 If a player was listed as Q, D, OUO, Covid or O during the week prior to his bye week, and was NOT placed on IR by the Fantasy Football team owner, the player may NOT be placed on IR during his bye week. During a bye week, there is no immediate necessity to fill that position because the player's absence was expected during his bye week and the injury status did not create his absence.
5.9 RTSPORTS will generally be utilized to determine a player’s eligibility to be placed on IR. If you can provide proof of a players injury status that qualifies him for IR placement from one of the following sources; USA Today, CBS Sportsline, ESPN.Com or NFL.Com etc., then the player may be placed on IR other than on his bye week.
5.10 Placing a player on IR when his injury status did not qualify him for IR placement in our league will result in a $5.00 fine.
5.11 If a player is a holdout, benched, cut from his NFL team or is suspended, you simply lose his services for that period of time. You may waive him during the waiver period or he may be traded following the trade guidelines. He may not be placed on IR.
6. TRADE GUIDELINES.
6.1 All elements of the trade must be conducted through the league site. There will be no exchange of money, property, FAAB or other agreements which are not disclosed to the league.
6.2 All trades are subject to Commissioner's Approval. The Commissioner can only veto a trade if there is collusion.
7.1 Weekly Line-Ups will consist of the following: (10 Starters)
OFFENSE
QB: Start 1
RB: Start 1
WR: Start 3
TE: Start 1
K: Start 1
SUPERFLEX: Start 1 additional QB, RB, WR, OR TE
FLEX: Start 1 additional RB, WR, OR TE
DEFENSE (REQUIRED TO START 1 DEFENSIVE TEAM/SPECIAL TEAMS)
DEF/ST: Required to Start 1
7.1.1 There will be a $10 fine each violation of: Starting a player on bye, Starting a player designated out the evening before their game, Leaving a starting roster spot empty or Any other action of fielding a non-competitive lineup for a week other that your team just sucks.
7.2 If a late line-up change is required and you have no access to the site or the line-up feature is not working properly, notify your opponent AND the Commissioner or Co-Commissioner of the transaction before game time either by posting a message on the message board or by other available means. The commissioner will then make the necessary change as soon as possible.
8. LEAGUE FEES / FINES.
8.1 The $50 Keeper deposit is due at the time of payouts from the previous year.
8.1.1 The league entry fee is $150. due two Fridays before our live draft. Payment will be made through the league's Treasurer, Mark Salinas via Venmo @Mark-Salines-27 (last four digits of his cell number - 1439) or other approved method.
8.1.1. Optional participation in NFL Pick'em entry fee of $50 due due two Fridays before our live draft.
8.2 PLAYER ACQUISITIONS ARE: $1.00 per Trade per Elite FFL team. $1.00 per Free Agent pick up $2.00 per Waiver pick up. $2.00 per Player placed IR.
8.2.1 If at the end of the season, a team owner has a balance due because of transactions fees, fines etc. An additional payment covering those expenses must be made through league's Treasurer, Mark Salinas.
8.3 If you negotiate a trade and part of the negotiation is for one team to absorb the transaction costs, both teams must inform the commissioner of this and the transaction will be adjusted.
8.3.1 FAAB can not be traded or exchanged.
8.4 If a player is suspended for any reason and any amount of time, the team owner will be fined $5.00 (This fine will only be imposed if the player remains on the team's active roster as of kick-off of the player in question and for each week this is the case.)
8.5 If a team fails to release or activate a player by an established deadline regarding roster minimization, the team will be fined $1 per day per player.
8.6 Imposed transaction fees / fines will be re-distributed evenly between 1st through 6th place.
9. COMPILING OF POINTS.
9.1 Points and statistical data will be obtained from the RTSports web service. In the event the RTSports site is compromised, the USA Today Sports section will be used for manual calculation. Injured Reserve and player information will also be obtained through RTSports.
9.2 The statistical service is responsible for tallying weekly stats. However, it is highly encouraged for all to keep up with the information.
10. SEASON PLAY.
10.1 The league will be divided into three Divisions, with four teams in each Division.
10.2 The Elite FFL regular season will run from NFL Week #1 through NFL Week #14.
10.2.1 Weeks 1 through 14 will consist of single games
10.2.2 There will be no double headers.
10.2.3 Total games played will be 14.
10.3 Division opponents are played twice (6 games).
10.4 Each team in the other divisions are played once (8 games).
11. PLAY-OFF STRUCTURE (Super Bowl).
11.1 Seven teams will enter the play-offs. Seeding will be determined based on record/tie-breaker criteria. Starting 2024 season only Six team make the playoffs.
11.1.1 Each division champion (3 teams).
11.1.1.1 The top winner based on record/tie breaker criteria will receive a 1st round bye (NFL Week 15). Starting 2024 season the top 2 will receive the 1st round bye.
11.1.2 The four teams with the next best record (Wild Cards) Starting 2024 the 3 teams with the next best records will be the wild cards.
11.2 If teams have the same Win-Lose-Tie record, the tie will be broken in the following order:
· Division Record
· Head to Head Record
· Head to Head Points
11.3 To avoid ties in the play-offs, ties will be broken by awarding the higher seed ( i.e 1st seed is higher than the 2nd seed) entering the game, with the win.
11.4 A three point "Home Field advantage" will be awarded to the team with the higher seed enter each game in the playoffs and championships.
11.5 WILD CARD ROUND/NFL Week 15.
11.5.1 Wild Card Game #1: #2 Seed vs. #7 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
11.5.2 Wild Card Game #2: #3 Seed vs. #6 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
11.5.3 Wild Card Game #3: #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
Starting 2024 season:
11.5.1 will be replaced with Wild Card Game #1: #3 Seed vs. #6 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
11.5.2 will be replaced with Wild Card Game #2: #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
11.6 DIVISIONAL PLAY-OFF ROUND/NFL Week 16.
11.6.1 #1 Seed vs. The lowest remaining seed from the Wild Card Round. Winner advances to Championship Round.
11.6.2 The two remaining from the Wild Card Round will play each other. Winner advances to Championship Round.
Starting 2024 season:
11.6.2 will be replaced by #2 seed will play the remaining team from the Wild Card Round. Winner advances to Championship Round.
11.7. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND/NFL Week 17.
11.7.1 Winners of Divisional Play-Off Round play each other.
12. TOILET BOWL PLAY-OFF STRUCTURE.
12.1 The five teams not making the Super Bowl Playoffs will enter the Toilet Bowl playoffs. Seeding will be determined based on record/tie-breaker criteria. Starting 2024 season Six team not making the super bowl playoffs will enter the toilet bowl playoffs.
12.2 If teams have the same Win-Lose-Tie record, the tie will be broken in the following order:
· Division Record
· Head to Head Record
· Head to Head Points
12.3 To avoid ties, ties will be broken by awarding the higher seed ( i.e 1st seed is higher than the 2nd seed) entering the game with the win.
12.5 ROUND ONE/NFL Week 15.
12.5.1 Round One Game #1: #11 Seed vs. #12 Seed. Winner advances to Round Two.
Starting 2024 season:
12.5.1 will be replaced with Wild Card Game #1: #9 Seed vs. #12 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
and 12.5.2 will be add with Wild Card Game #2: #10 Seed vs. #11 Seed. Winner advances to Divisional Play-Off Round.
12.6 ROUND TWO/NFL Week 16.
12.6.1 #8 Seed vs.The Winner of Round One. Winner advances to Toilet Bowl.
12.6.2 #9 Seed vs. #10 Seed. Winner advanced to Toilet Bowl.
Starting 2024 season:
12.6.1 will be replaced with #7 Seed vs. The lowest remaining seed from the Wild Card Round. Winner advances to toilet bowl Championship Round.
12.6.2 will be replaced by #8 seed will play the remaining team from the Wild Card Round. Winner advances to toilet bowl Championship Round.
12.7 TOILET BOWL ROUND/NFL Week 17.
12.7.1 Winners of Round Two play each other.
13. Elite FFL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS. Based on 12 teams with entry fees of $150 ($1,800 total)
13.1 Super Bowl Champ - $660.00
Super Bowl Runner up/NFL Week 17 Loser - $290.00
13.2 The following will be awarded based on final playoff standing, not on seeding:
PLAYOFF ROUND/NFL Week 16, 2 Losers play week 17. Winner (3rd place) - $175, Loser (4th place) - $150.
13.3 Weekly High points Winner $25 x 17 weeks ($425 total)
13.4 Toilet Bowl winner gets to pick their draft position in the next years draft.
13.5 All remaining funds (including transaction fees and fines) collected throughout the season, minus the cost of the RTSports, Web Manager, statistical service (which will be prepaid by the commissioner prior to the draft) and any other fees incurred by the commissioner to run this league, will be divided evenly between all 7 teams making the Championship playoffs. Starting 2024 season: it will be divided between all six teams making the Championship playoffs.
14. Elite FFL NFL Pick'em awards. Based on 7 participating teams with entry fees of $50 ($450 total)
14.1 NFL Pick'em season champ - $120
NFL Pick'em runner up - $50
14.2 Weekly NFL Pick'em winner $10/week x 18 weeks ($180 total)
15. Payouts
15.1 All winnings earned throughout the year will not be paid until completion of the NFL SUPERBOWL /Elite FFL PLAYOFF LEAGUE and after all team owners have settled any balances due.
15.2 A $50 deposit will be held from all payouts for this year's winnings. The deposit will be refunded when a replacement owner is secured if you decide not to return. If you do not have $50 in winnings any balance will need to be paid before any payouts can happen.
16. Amendments to the Rules
16.1 Polls can be introduced by any owner of the Elite FFL from draft day through end of the final week of the fantasy football regular season (Week 14)
16.1.1 All polls must include the option to leave the rules as is.
16.1.2 For a poll to pass it must get a majority of all the Elite FFL owners to agree to it.
16.1.2.1 If a poll gets half the all the owners to choose the option to leave the rules as is the rule will not change.
16.1.2.2 If there is more than one option to change from the current rule and the option to leave the rules as is does not receive half the votes there will be a run off of the top 2 vote getting options. This would include the option to leave the rules the same if it was one of the two options getting the most votes.
16.2 Rules can be introduced by the rules committee through out the off season.
16.2.1 The rules committee will compose of the commissioner, the co-commissioner. In case of a deadlock all final decisions will be decided by the commissioner.
16.3 There must be a 3/4 vote of the all the owners not the subject to a possible expulsion for and owner to be expelled from Elite FFL.
Min | Max | |
---|---|---|
Quarterback | 0 | 3 |
Running Back | 0 | 11 |
Wide Receiver | 0 | 11 |
Tight End | 0 | 5 |
Kicker | 0 | 3 |
Defense/Sp Team | 0 | 3 |
Quarterback | 1 |
Running Back | 1 |
Wide Receiver | 3 |
Tight End | 1 |
Kicker | 1 |
Defense/Sp Team | 1 |
Flex ( QB RB WR TE limit 1QB ) | 2 |
Week 1 | Wed Sep 4 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 9 8:15pm ET |
Week 2 | Thu Sep 12 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 16 6:59pm ET |
Week 3 | Thu Sep 19 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 23 6:59pm ET |
Week 4 | Thu Sep 26 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 30 6:59pm ET |
Week 5 | Thu Oct 3 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 7 6:59pm ET |
Week 6 | Thu Oct 10 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 14 6:59pm ET |
Week 7 | Thu Oct 17 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 21 6:59pm ET |
Week 8 | Thu Oct 24 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 28 6:59pm ET |
Week 9 | Thu Oct 31 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 4 6:59pm ET |
Week 10 | Thu Nov 7 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 11 6:59pm ET |
Week 11 | Thu Nov 14 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 18 6:59pm ET |
Week 12 | Thu Nov 21 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 25 6:59pm ET |
Week 13 | Thu Nov 28 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 2 6:59pm ET |
Week 14 | Thu Dec 5 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 9 6:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 1 | Thu Dec 12 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 16 6:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 2 | Thu Dec 19 9:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 23 6:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 3 | Thu Dec 26 9:00am ET | thru | Sun Dec 29 6:59pm ET |
Week 1 | Fri Mar 1 12:00am ET | thru | Sat Sep 7 11:59pm ET |
Week 2 | Tue Sep 10 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Sep 14 11:59pm ET |
Week 3 | Tue Sep 17 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Sep 21 11:59pm ET |
Week 4 | Tue Sep 24 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Sep 28 11:59pm ET |
Week 5 | Tue Oct 1 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Oct 5 11:59pm ET |
Week 6 | Tue Oct 8 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Oct 12 11:59pm ET |
Week 7 | Tue Oct 15 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Oct 19 11:59pm ET |
Week 8 | Tue Oct 22 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Oct 26 11:59pm ET |
Week 9 | Tue Oct 29 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Nov 2 11:59pm ET |
Week 10 | Tue Nov 5 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Nov 9 11:59pm ET |
Week 11 | Tue Nov 12 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Nov 16 11:59pm ET |
Week 12 | Tue Nov 19 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Nov 23 11:59pm ET |
Week 13 | Tue Nov 26 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Nov 30 11:59pm ET |
Week 14 | Tue Dec 3 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Dec 7 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 1 | Tue Dec 10 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Dec 14 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 2 | Tue Dec 17 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Dec 21 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 3 | Tue Dec 24 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Dec 28 11:59pm ET |
Offseason | Mon Dec 30 7:00am ET | thru | Sat Mar 1 12:00am ET |
General | |
---|---|
League Entry | $150 |
Wins and Losses | |
Losses | $0 |
Ties | $0 |
Wins Credit | $0 |
Roster Moves | |
Each Player Acquired | $0 |
Each Player Acquired via Waivers | $2 |
Each Player Acquired via Free Agency | $1 |
Each Player Released | $0 |
Each Player Placed on I/R | $2 |
Each Player Activated from I/R | $0 |
Lineup Moves | |
Each Player Started | $0 |
Each Player Benched | $0 |
Trades | |
Each Trade | $1 |
Each Player Traded Away | $0 |
Each Player Traded For | $0 |