Rules to Live By Aug 15, 2008 | More

Procrastinators, your time has come!   If you have not finalized your league rules yet, it’s about time to make that final push to the end zone and finish your preparations for the big draft.   As a bonus for those of you who have patiently waited this long to put the finishing touches on your league, here are five rules to consider (or re-consider) to make your league the best it can be:

1. Gotta Catch Em’ All

Are you down with PPR?   A points per reception (“PPR” to the sharks out there) rule awards owners a delicious additional point for each reception made by their players.   This rule spices up the draft and league play by (somewhat) evening the playing field between running backs and wide receivers (and to a lesser extent, tight ends).  With a PPR in place, drafting at least one possession receiver like TJ Houshmandzadeh becomes critical in creating a fantasy juggernaut.   Proud Wes Welker PPR owners enjoyed the spoils of his 112 completions last season, if you catch my draft (Sorry, I just couldn’t resist).   

The rule may also have a surprising impact on running back values.   Reggie Bush, who had 73 receptions in 2007, suddenly becomes strong second round consideration.   In contrast, Laurence Maroney, who somehow only managed to complete four paltry receptions in 2007 suddenly doesn’t look so appetizing until maybe the fourth.   Take the plunge and you’ll never go back to standard scoring.   Get the point?   (The puns are growing on you, I can tell.)

2.   Don’t Be So Defensive

It’s 3 and 6 on Minnesota’s own 20 yard line, and Tarvaris Jackson throws a lollipop that is intercepted and ran back for a touchdown.   You curse the heavens as your stellar Viking Defense and Special Teams are penalized for allowing seven points.    But should they be?   No way!   Many leagues like CBS Sportsline have the option to choose “Defensive Points Against” instead of “Points Against, Total Points Scored.”   This subtle change can truly highlight the skill of powerhouse defensives.   You just better hope that when the quarterback of your Defense throws a pick, it gets run in for the score instead of falling short a few hash marks from the end zone!

3.   Fraction Control

We’ve all been there.   With less than two minutes to go, you are dripping with sweat.   The offense is running out the clock, and your running back is one yard away from receiving a possible game-deciding additional crucial point.   But he doesn’t get it.   You stare at your laptop with disgust.   89 yards?!   Was one more lousy yard so much to ask for?   Apparently it was.   Then, you wonder, why should a guy who rushes for 89 yards receive the same number of points as another who rushes for 80?

He shouldn’t.   You can fix this with a rule change, and you don’t even need a PhD in quantum physics to make the adjustment.   For running and receiving, adjust your standard 1 point for 10 yard to .1 point for 1 yard.   Then to get your quarterbacks in on the action adjust your standard 1 point for 25 passing yards to .04 points for 1 yard.   Voila!   Your fourth grade math teacher would be proud.

4.   Waiver of Love

I have never understood rules designed to award failure.   In most leagues if you are the cellar dweller, you get first crack on the waiver wire.   That means if you are the top team in your league each week, you get the absolute last pick every waiver period.   In one league last season I watched my first place team starve for improvements while lowly chum nabbed every top delectable free agent I had my eyes set on.   Don’t get punished just for being shark!   Set your waiver resets to “Never, Also Based on Prior Waver Runs” and give all owners the option to get the best available free agents.   If you think this is too coldblooded, maybe there is fantasydolphins.com site more to your liking.  

5.   Last But Not Least

As I indicated in my August 1^st, “Show Me the Money Column,” I love playing in fantasy money leagues.   If you’re the kind of shark who likes to take the plunge, you may have found yourself frustrated with owners who pack it in as soon as they realize they are mathematically eliminated from playoff consideration.   Don’t let these guys off the hook so easily!   Institute a pricey penalty for finishing in last place and keep the owners in your league honest.   At the very least, it will add a little green to the final pot.    

Do you have a rule suggestion that other sharks might be interested in implementing?   Talk about it in our forums.