Rulebook

House rules — the things we do that ESPN doesn’t enforce on its own.

See a rule you disagree with and want to change? Try winning the league or submit your feedback with our easy-to-use form - we value your suggestions.

Scoring & rosters

Synced from ESPN for the 2026 season. The scoring list below is just the rules the league has tweaked over the years — see ESPN for the full scoring settings.

Keepers

Teams may keep a single player from their rosters to be on their teams the following year at the cost of two rounds earlier than the player was drafted the previous year. Trades or drops do not affect this cost. Undrafted players cost a 13th-round pick. Players taken in the 1st and 2nd rounds are ineligible for keepers.

Rule implemented in 2022, first year of keepers was 2023.

Example: If a player was drafted in the 5th round, they can be kept for a 3rd round the following year.

FAAB Waivers

New in Season 13!

Players start with $1000 at the beginning of the year and can use that budget to bid on free agents every week.

When waivers process, the manager who placed the highest bid gets the player. The winning bid amount is permanently subtracted from your remaining budget. Losing bidders keep their money.

$0 bids are allowed and regular waiver periods apply so you can still add players for free if they’ve been on waivers for long.

Blow your load early, or stay pent up?

Every team has an equal shot at a major breakout player every week, regardless of their place in the league or some imaginary “priority order”. It’s literally capitalism in fantasy football form - the wealthiest players will have their way, while the poor will be forced to feed on scraps.

Will you blow all your money early to get the hot, young stud or save it for a strong and satisfying finish later in the year?

The Shiva

The league championship. Winning the title makes you the reigning Shiva until someone takes it from you. The Shiva may add a rule to be implemented in the league.

The Sacko

Last place. Finishing last earns you the Sacko — the mark of shame that lives on forever.

Punishment: A beer or milk mile. If the punishment is not completed by draft day the next year - with video proof - the league selects your 2nd round pick. Additionally, the Sacko’s team for the entire following year will be named by the Shiva.

Schedule

Every year the regular-season schedule is a full round-robin where everyone plays everyone at least once, plus three rematch weeks that give each team exactly three opponents twice. Only who plays whom, and when changes, and it’s drawn at random before the season.

Playoffs

Six teams make the playoffs. The top-5 are placed by record. The 6th seed is given to the team with the highest remaining Points For. First-round byes are given to the top 2 seeds. Second rounds are re-seeded.

The bracket is double-elimination. Winners advance and losers play for consolation places. The 5th–8th place finishes are decided the second-to-last playoff week.

Sacko bracket

The six remaining teams miss the playoffs and are placed in the sacko bracket. The 11th and 12th seeded teams are given byes with less chances to win to get out of the Sacko bracket.

Losers “advance” closer to the Sacko. Winners play for consolation places.

Co-championship

If the championship game ends in an exact tie, the title is shared: both managers are co-champions and each is credited with half a Shiva.

Dues & payouts

You guys aren’t paying money every year?

Rule changes

History of rule changes, pulled from ESPN each offseason.