League Bylaws

(1a) The object of FF Webmaster League (ffWM) is comprising of 18 National Football League player/special teams, in order to participate in a weekly head-to-head match with a fellow league member. Each week, 9 of the 18 player/teams are activated, whereby, based on actual active player scoring, a win, loss or tie is determined for that week’s results. Following a regular season consisting of 13 weeks, those teams qualifying enter the head-to-head playoffs to determine the league champion.

(1b) [also found in New Member Applicant requirements] ffWM Owners whose sites are about offering information, rankings, advice, etc; those contents must be kept fresh; updated a minimum of twice monthly from June 1 through December 31* of each NFL Season. Those not keeping their fantasy football website content updated and fresh will be subject to discharge from the league. 

2. TEAMS and ROSTERS

There are 14 teams in the league, comprising of 18 players/special teams (assigned to a position qualified as set forth by the Commissioner, see section 4 below.)

3. THE DRAFT

(3a) The Draft is an 18 round draft; time and place to be determined; The owner of the  #2 draft pick will have 12 hrs from the time posted of the #1 player chosen. Each owner is asked to email the next person-or the group by email once his pick has been posted, to help keep the draft moving. As in the past, each owner has 12 hours to post his selection to the board. The two owners involved in making two picks in a row at each end of the draft order will have a total of 12 hours to make BOTH of their picks. If the pick is not posted within the 12-hour time limit, then that owners selection is postponed until the end of that particular round.

4. POSITION ELIGIBILITY

(4a) The Commissioner will list a player only at the primary position which he is openly recognized to play. Such recognition will come in  the form of printed rosters in the online source located at  NFL.com.)

(4a1) Recognition DOES NOT come in the form of a player lining up at a different position during a game, ie. Kordell Stewart.

(4a2) The Commissioner may amend the position designation if a player’s true position changes during the course of a season.

5. SCHEDULE and STANDINGS

(5a) The ffWM is an 14 team head-to-head league. Based on a schedule created by the Commissioner and provided during Draft day before the draft, each team shall play 13 games of head-to-head play from which a win, loss, or tie shall be determined, based on scoring methods presented in section 6 below. Such won/loss/tie record shall be the sole determining factor in standings (see tiebreaker procedures described below in section 5b). Starting Sunday September 3, 2000 each team will turn in one line-up each week, for a total of 13 regular season games/weeks.

(5a1) The ffWM consists of two divisions, TARKENTON and UNITAS, with 7 teams in each division.

(5a2) Following the regular season of 13 games, a 3 week playoff shall commence as follows:

1) The six (6) teams with the best overall records will go to the playoffs; the two division winners and four wild-card teams. The two divisional winners gain the first two seeds automatically, (best record of the two champs is seeded #1)  and they both receive a first round BYE week. The rest of the playoff teams will be seeded from 3 to 6 by won-lost records. (In the event of any tied W-L records, see next section below)

2) The two division winners will receive a first-round BYE. First-round playoff games (NFL Week #14) will feature the #3 seed vs. the #6 seed, and #4 will play #5.

3) The Semi-final playoff round (NFL Week #15) will have the #1 seed playing the lowest seed remainng, and the #2 seed taking on the highest seed remining. The winners of this round advance to the Fantasy Bowl.

4) The TITLE GAME will occur during NFL Week #16 and is deemed the FFwebMASTERS Super Bowl. 

(5b) For playoff seedings and transactions, all ties in the standings shall be broken as follows:

TIEBREAKER FORMULA:

3.25 for each Divisional Win

2.50 for each Head-to-Head Win

2.25 down to 2.12 for Total Points For rankings (best Total Points For gets 2.25, then 2.24, and proceed downward for as many times needed) ***

2.00 for each Regular Season Win

1.50 to 1.37 for Total Points Against rankings (highest Total Points Against gets 1.50, then 1.49, and proceed downward for as many times needed) ***

1.00 for each Tie

If a tie still exists after using this formula, then all ties will be broken by Total Points For (TPF). If TPF does not break the tie, then all ties will be broken by Total Points Against (TPA).

*** Teams that tie in any category share the designated points for that slot. Then ranking slots are skipped according to the number of teams tied. An example is if two teams have the best Total Points For, then both teams receive 2.25 points while 2.24 is skipped. The next best Total Points For gets 2.23 points.

I would like to add a footnote for the inclusion of Total Points Against in the formula. Due to its’ randomness (as with Total Points For), it would help prevent ties. Someone could be doing very well all season, but each week running into teams who are having career weeks. Thus instead of being ranked as a higher seed, the team falls in the rankings and possibly into a tiebreaker situation due to this. If you were one of the highest scoring teams in the league with 1700 Total Points For but had a record of 7-6, Total Points Against is a definite reflection on your season. Yes, there is the argument that you draft only your team on draft day and that someone else’s roster decision-making is out of your control, but it still affects your season drastically.

6. SCORING

(6a) Each week’s head-to-head match shall be determined by the following scoring method. Where applicable, points are scored by those players/teams on the ACTIVE roster, as outlined in section 7 below.

(6a1) QUARTERBACKS: 4 points awarded for each TD pass thrown. 6 points for a rushing TD. 6 points for a TD reception. 1 extra point for each 25 yards passing; 1 point per 10 yards rushing; 1 point per 10 yards receiving.

(6a2) RUNNING BACKS, WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS:6 points are awarded for each TD scored, either by running or catching a pass. 4 points are awarded for each TD pass thrown. 1 extra point for each 25 yards passing; 1 point per 10 yards rushing; 1 point per 10 yards receiving.

(6a3) PLACEKICKERS:  3 points for field goals up to 39 yards; 4 points for FG's of 40-49 yards; and 5 points for 50 yards and over. 1 point for each PAT kick. 1 extra point for each 25 yards passing; 1 point per 10 yards rushing; 1 point per 10 yards receiving.

(6a4) ADDITIONAL SCORING:  If a two-point conversion is scored by running, 2 points are awarded to the runner. if a two-point conversion involves a pass, the passer is awarded one point and the receiver is awarded two points. 

(6a5) DEFENSES: 6 points for defensive and special teams TD scored, 2 points for a safety, and 1 point for each sack (no half points), 1 point for each turnover recovered. A conversion after a TD does not count as a special team score nor does a fake FG.

(6b) Only ACTIVE players (as defined in section 7 below), regardless of positioning (ie. PK can score a receiving TD), can score as follows:

Passing TD and Yardage
Receiving TD and Yardage
Rushing TD and Yardage
Punt TD
Kickoff TD

(6c) Defensive Tds can only be scored by ACTIVE team defenses on a:

Defensive Fumble Recovery
Interception
Blocked Punt

(6d) Head-to-head matchups that end in a tie, shall remain a tie and be recorded as such for the purpose of REGULAR SEASON standings. During the PLAYOFFS, a tie shall be broken as follows:

TIEBREAKER FORMULA:

3.25 for each Divisional Win

2.50 for each Head-to-Head Win

2.25 down to 2.12 for Total Points For rankings (best Total Points For gets 2.25, then 2.24, and proceed downward for as many times needed) ***

2.00 for each Regular Season Win

1.50 to 1.37 for Total Points Against rankings (highest Total Points Against gets 1.50, then 1.49, and proceed downward for as many times needed) ***

1.00 for each Tie

If a tie still exists after using this formula, then all ties will be broken by Total Points For (TPF). If TPF does not break the tie, then all ties will be broken by Total Points Against (TPA).

*** Teams that tie in any category share the designated points for that slot. Then ranking slots are skipped according to the number of teams tied. An example is if two teams have the best Total Points For, then both teams receive 2.25 points while 2.24 is skipped. The next best Total Points For gets 2.23 points.

I would like to add a footnote for the inclusion of Total Points Against in the formula. Due to its’ randomness (as with Total Points For), it would help prevent ties. Someone could be doing very well all season, but each week running into teams who are having career weeks. Thus instead of being ranked as a higher seed, the team falls in the rankings and possibly into a tiebreaker situation due to this. If you were one of the highest scoring teams in the league with 1700 Total Points For but had a record of 7-6, Total Points Against is a definite reflection on your season. Yes, there is the argument that you draft only your team on draft day and that someone else’s roster decision-making is out of your control, but it still affects your season drastically.

7. ROSTER MAINTENANCE (TRANSACTIONS/WAIVERS PROCESS); 
& STARTING LINEUPS-(also see #9 & #10, below)

(7a) Each owner shall be required to activate Only 8 offensive players and 1 special teams / defense. This will leave 9 inactive players each week. Your starting line-up each week will consist of one quarterback, 2 running backs, 3 receivers, 1 tight end, 1 placekicker, and 1 special teams / defense. Only these 8 players/team shall be considered ACTIVE for scoring purposes (score points for a given team that week).

(7b) For any starting position that contains an illegal number of starters, a zero score for that entire position will be forthcoming. Example: If an owner submits a starting lineup containing two tight ends instead of the above mentioned requirement of one, both tight ends will receive a zero. If there are 2 wideouts instead of the required 3, all three wideout positions will receive a zero for that week. 

(7a1) Starting lineups will not be due until 5 minutes before gametime for each starting player.

(7a2) Starting with the upcoming 2000 season, only players involved in any early (before Sunday games) games will be required to be turned in before Sunday.

(7b) If a correct ACTIVE roster is not presented prior to CLEARING TIME, the previous week’s ACTIVE roster shall be assumed. Furthermore, if by game time of a Thursday game, an owner has not presented any players for that game, but his previous week’s roster included a player that is playing in the Thursday game, then that player will remain ACTIVE for his team for the current week. Errors on starting lineups turned in will be voided. Zero points if you start a player on a BYE week, etc.

(7c) Any player not submitted prior to a game before Sunday is ineligible for the week whether a roster is handed in on Sunday or not.

(7d) Draft picks may be traded, for current playing season ONLY. (No future years picks).

• Each week the ffWebMasters league will conduct two draft rounds for waivers. The first round takes place on Tuesday nights and the second round takes place on Wednesday nights. The draft order will be 1-14 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The order is decided by the worst won/loss record year-to-date. The first tie-breaker will be the least amount of Points For year-to-date. The second (and extremely rare) tie-breaker is most Points Against year-to-date. All waiver requests are to be forwarded to me at vipstorm@yahoo.com. The waiver process on RTSports.com website (inactive on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) will be activated on Thursdays at 12:30am ET. At this point, all waivers will be free-for-all until Saturday at 12:00 midnight ET. No waivers are allowed after Saturday night 12:00 midnight ET.
  
  For those participating in the Tuesday and Wednesday waivers, please submit multiple choices for each pick that way if your first choice is taken, you have other options.
  
  Starting lineup submittals are allowed up to the first game on any given day except Mondays. Players in early weekday games are locked kickoff time of their game, other players are locked at the first game on Sunday (including all Monday night players).
  

(7e)  TRADING OF WAIVERS SLOT POSITIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED, IN PRE-SEASON OR REGULAR SEASON.

(7f)  FREE AGENT claims posted on the MFL tranny board with a timestamp of past midnight eastern of Saturday each week will be removed and deemed INVALID. The commish will appoint/ask a group of 6 (six) owners to form a rules & judgments committee, (see at top of page) to rule in the case of any unforeseen free agent and/or scoring discrepancies. 

(7g) The final day of free agent activity for the final regular-season fantasy week (NFL #13) will be midnight, Saturday of that week. 

8. TRADES

(8a) Any franchise may make unlimited trades, beginning after the posting of the final pick on the draft board. Trades of current year's draft picks are allowed. Any trade can be revoked if deemed not in the best interest of the league. [See (8b)] TRADING DEADLINE is NFL Week #12, or final trading date of Saturday, November 23 at Midnight,  EASTERN. TRADES are to be made official during the period of 7am ET each Tuesday through Midnight, ET each Saturday.  TRADES are not allowed between Midnight ET Saturday and 7am ET Tuesday.

(8b) The Commissioner and /or ffWM Rules Committee may void any trade if such trade is deemed to be improper and/or not in the best interest of the ffWM. Any trade that becomes challenged will result in the trading owners involved being asked to comment, with explanation, on the trade before being put to a vote.

(8c) No owner is bound by any trade offer/discussion/negotiation until such time as said owner posts a transaction announcing the trade. Once such an announcement is posted, it MAY NOT be withdrawn although the other owner(s) are not bound to follow suit.

(8d) There is no limit as to the number of trades a team may make with fellow owners in any given week before the CLEARING TIME of WEEK #12.

(8e) TRADING OF WAIVERS SLOT POSITIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED, IN PRE-SEASON OR REGULAR SEASON.

9. WAIVERS also see section 7, above

(9a) Any team may waive any player/team on its team and claim a replacement player/team from the free agent pool with regard to TIME and
TRANSACTION LIMITS. Such a waiver, once posted is IRREVOCABLE.

10. FREE AGENT ACQUISITIONS also see section 7, above

(10a) Starting with the upcoming 2000 season, there will be no Free Agency following the final regular season week.

(10c) Transaction rules and limits (section 7) must be strictly adhered to or the player/team will become a Free Agent once again.

11. OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER

(11a) ALL ffWM happenings are subject for Commissioner’s approval and may be REVOKED if deemed to be improper and/or not in the best interest of the ffWM. Commissioner, along with Rules & Judgements Committee will resolve all disputes!

(11b) 2005 Rules & Judgements Committee: Emil Kadlec, David Grey,  Larry Cedar, Terry Cannon, Michael Nazarek, Kirk Bouyelas, RJC Chairperson and Commissioner Tom Simons

(11c) Please remember, even though things can get a little "competitive" at times, this league exists for FUN.