Fantasy football is one of the most popular games in the United States, with millions of people joining leagues each year. If you’re running your own fantasy football league, you may be searching for some ways to make things more fun for those involved. Changing things up every once in a while, can keep things interesting and a more enjoyable experience. Below, we offer some simple ideas you can use to improve your fantasy football league and make it a game that everyone looks forward to.
Try Different Formats
The first thing you can try is switching up the format of your league. There are many other formats available besides the standard weekly head-to-head competition. For instance, you could start small and switch up the scoring system in your league. Opting for a PPR (point per reception) league changes the dynamic and forces people to change up their drafting strategy.
You could also make larger changes, such as switching to a dynasty or vampire league. With a dynasty league, members keep players from year to year, making your draft picks much more meaningful. In a vampire league, one member (the vampire) doesn’t draft a team but instead forms their team from the players remaining after the draft. Then, each week, if the vampire wins their matchup, they get to select a member from the opponent’s lineup. It’s a fun new twist that adds another layer of strategy.
Add More Members
A simple way to improve your fantasy football league is by adding more members. More members mean lesser-known players on rosters, more opportunities for trades, and more competition. If you’re currently running a league with eight or fewer players, try adding a few more to make things more competitive. While leagues with more than 14 players can become a little difficult, it also adds more complexity to the season.
Use Rewards or Punishments
A common way to add more excitement to a fantasy football season is through the use of rewards and punishments. The most common reward is a cash prize, where each member enters the league with a small fee, and the winner takes the prize money at the end. Some leagues also have fees for waiver wire additions, further increasing the jackpot.
If you don’t want to do a cash prize or you want to have another reward, consider creating some custom trophies. You could have a trophy for the champion, the regular season winner, last overall, and more. These trophies can travel from member to member across the seasons, adding some continuity to the league and another prize to aim for.
Lastly, some leagues like to have punishments for the person who finishes last. Some of these punishments have gone viral, such as having to stand by the side of a busy road announcing their defeat or having to spend an entire day inside a Waffle House. Creative punishments encourage everyone to stay engaged throughout the season to avoid that last spot.
Outline Clear Rules
Before your fantasy football season starts, it’s a good idea to make sure everyone understands all the rules. A common issue in fantasy football leagues is when one person doesn’t understand the rules and has a problem midway through the season. For instance, maybe they didn’t know about the trade deadline date or that the regular season ends on a certain week. Have all league members review the rules before the draft so that you can make any changes recommended by the group before everyone selects their team.
Schedule Get-Togethers
Fantasy football can be a lot more fun when you’re watching the games with the other members. Try to schedule some get-togethers throughout the season where everyone, or at least some of the league members, can hang out. For instance, maybe you conduct the draft live, with everyone in the same room when making their picks. Or pick a Sunday each month when you meet at a local bar to watch the games together. Fantasy football is, after all, a social game, so look for more ways to do things in person.
Keep a League History
Finally, if you have the same members from year to year, try to keep track of your league history. Record the number of championships, who had the highest-scoring team each season, the number of playoff misses, etc. This will help to create a sense of community around your league and encourage people to keep coming back each year. Many of the popular fantasy football websites keep track of these stats for you, but if yours doesn’t, record them yourself and share them at the end of the season.