2024 RULES FOR THE ONCE MORE INTO THE BREACH FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Note: All times are expressed in Eastern Time unless otherwise specified.
1.0 COMMISSIONERS:
1.1 The league will be run by three owners, who will each act as commissioner.
1.2 Commissioners will have the ability and responsibility to step in for each other. The commissioners will rule on issues regarding the rules cited here, by majority vote of the three, and any ruling can be overruled by a vote of 9 owners or three-quarters of the league). New rules can also be proposed and added during the season with the consent of 9 owners (or three-quarters of the league), or after the season by majority vote. Commissioners for the 2024 season are as follows: Roger Simpson, Graham Newell, and Henry Coggins (Buddy Ruck is an alternate). If a vacancy in the commission is created during the season, the league owners may elect a replacement by a majority vote.
2.0 FINANCES:
2.1 Each team will pay an up-front total of $53 for a single season, due on or by draft day, plus the apportioned cost of the league website, if any ($7 for 2023). Of this, $43 is the league entry fee, and will be placed into the prize pool, $10 will be credited to the team's transaction fees, and is nonrefundable, and any remainder will be used to pay for the website, if necessary, with any surplus be placed in the prize pool. Each roster move will cost $1 per move, per owner. Drops are free, but all non-trade roster additions will be charged. For example, each free agent added by an owner will cost $1, which will go into the prize pool. It will cost $1 to acquire a replacement for a player on IR (see rules below). Trades are free.
2.2 If an owner owes the league $10 or more at any time, the commissioners may freeze his/her roster until payment is made. Payment must be made to a commissioner or other designated recipient and documented on the website to be official.
2.3 Prizes will be paid out as follows: There will be a $5 prize awarded for the highest scorer of each week during the regular season (Weeks 1-13), after tiebreakers. Six teams, as outlined in section 3.2, below, will compete in a 3-week playoff during weeks 14-16, for the 1st-3rd place prize money, and six teams, also as outlined in section 3.2, will compete in a 3-week playoff during weeks 14-16 for a consolation prize. Prizes will consist of 50% of the pot (less $70 for weekly high score winners), for 1st Place, 30% for 2nd Place, less $10, and 20% for 3rd Place, less $15, rounded up for the higher place and down for the lower place. Fourth place through sixth place does not win anything. The consolation playoff winner receives a flat prize of $50.
3.0 SCHEDULE/STANDINGS:
3.1 The league is divided into three divisions of 4 teams each, which will be chosen at random prior to the establishment of the draft order for the season. Teams will compete in a head-to-head schedule, playing one or two teams per week for 14 weeks, including 8 double-headers in which at least one non-division opponent will be played at the same time as a division or non-division opponent, for a total of 22 games. Each team will play each other opponent twice, on a randomly-generated schedule.
Guidelines for scheduling are as follows:
The combined score of the starters chosen for the week will be the score for the team. Division standings are determined in the following order: Overall winning percentage, head-to-head record, total overall points, and head-to-head points. The first place team in each division will be designated division champion, and will compete in the playoffs, and will be seeded 1 through 3. Three “wild card” teams will be designated, and will be the three teams in the league, not winning a division, with the best overall record, and will be seeded 4 through 6. Wild Card standings will be determined as follows: Overall winning percentage, total overall points, head-to-head record, and head-to-head points. If there is still a tie after all specified criteria, there will be a "virtual" coin toss to determine the standing.
The remaining six teams will compete in the consolation playoff, and will be seeded, based on the criteria above, from 7 through 12.
3.2 Championship Playoffs: The top two seeds will have a bye in week 15 and will not play. The #3 seed will play the #6 seed, and the #4 seed will play the #5 seed, in week 15. In week 16, the highest remaining seeded team will play the lowest remaining seeded team, and the remaining two teams will play each other, in the semi-finals. The winning teams will then play for the championship during week 17, while the losers of the week 16 games will play a consolation game for 3rd place. Teams who finish 5th and 6th do not play in week 17.
3.21 Consolation Playoff: The #7 and #8 seeds will have a bye in week 15 and will not play. The #9 seed will play the #12 seed, and the #11 seed will play the #10 seed, in week 15. In week 16, the highest remaining seeded team will play the lowest remaining seeded team, and the remaining two teams will play each other, in the semi-finals. The winning teams will then play for the 7th place prize during week 17, while the losers are eliminated. There is no consolation game for this bracket.
4.0 DRAFT:
4.1 At the end of the season, all rosters will be cleared. No players will be protected, and all players will be in the draft pool the following year. The draft order for each season will be determined randomly, by a method to be determined by the commissioners. If possible, the drawing for position will be weighted based on teams’ draft positions for the previous two seasons. Each team will have a number of chances in the drawing equal to the combined draft positions for their teams (example: a team which drafted 6th in Year 1 and 9th in Year 2 would have 15 chances for the top pick in Year 3, while a team which drafted 1st in Year 1 and 4th in Year 2 would have 5 chances in Year 3). Teams which have only competed in one season will have a number of chances in the drawing equal to their previous draft position plus seven, and new teams will have thirteen chances in the drawing.
4.2 The draft date for 2022 is Monday, August 29th, at 7:30 PM, through the league website, and on a video communication site to be determined (Zoom). The league will use a standard "serpentine" draft, in which the second round begins with the #12 team, and so on, reversing each round.
4.21 If an owner is not able to be present at the draft, the owner must notify the commissioners in advance. The owner may elect to have a substitute draft for him. The selected substitute must not be another active league owner.
4.22 If an owner is not present at the draft, does not have a substitute draft for him, and has not made other prior arrangements with the commissioners, that owner’s team will be drafted by consensus pick by the commissioners, based on the most current rankings at a predetermined site, and the available players at the appropriate draft slot. If the owner did not notify the commissioners in advance, the commissioners may elect to sell the team and all franchise rights to a new owner.
4.3 The 2024 draft order was determined on July 29, 2024, as follows:
4.31 The 2024 divisions were determined on July 2029, 2024, as follows:
Red Division:
Blue Division:
Gold Division:
4.32 Previous draft order & divisions:
5.0 PERSONNEL:
5.1 Each team will carry a roster of 15 players. Each team must carry enough players at each position to field a legal lineup (1 Quarterback, 1 Running Backs, 2 Wide Receivers, 1 Tight End, 2 “Flex” Players – RB, WR, or TE - 1 Kicker, and 1 Defense/Special Team). The remaining six roster slots can be filled with any combination of positions.
5.11 Rosters cannot exceed the league maximum of fifteen players, unless one or more players is designated on Injured Reserve (see section 5.4, below), but each team is only required to carry enough players to field a legal starting lineup.
5.2 Following the draft, until the end of the season, trades are allowed without commissioner review, except during the weekly “freeze-out period,” and may be for an uneven number of players, as long as each owner subsequently ensures their roster is legal. Trades may include draft positions (prior to the draft), and any portion of a team’s waiver budget. Each trade may be reviewed and retroactively cancelled prior to the weekly transaction cutoff, by a majority vote of either the league or the commissioners. A unanimous vote by the commissioners may override cancellation by league vote.
5.21 The weekly cutoff time for transactions is Sunday at 1:00 pm Eastern, and all pending player requests must be processed by that time (rosters are frozen at this time, so requests made after the cutoff do not take effect until the games are concluded for the week).
5.22 An owner may request that a commissioner make a transaction for him/her, but that transaction is subject to the availability of the commissioner, and such requests do not, by themselves, take precedence over actual website transactions.
5.3 During the preseason (after the draft has been conducted and the rosters loaded, but prior to the first game of the season), each owner may begin dropping, adding, and trading players as desired. Once the season begins, each owner may claim, drop, add, and trade players as desired, subject to website requirements, beginning at 11:59 PM each Monday. Owners may make an unlimited number of free agent acquisitions each week, or for the year. Owners may not acquire a player once the player's own game has started, regardless of transaction deadlines. However, owners may release a bench player after the player's game has started. Players who are dropped are considered free agents.
5.31 Once the weekly “freeze-out” period begins, free agents are considered “restricted,” and team owners acquire free agents only via the waiver wire process until unrestricted free agency resumes. After the weekly waiver wire, team owners may acquire free agents anytime within league transaction times. The waiver wire exists during the fantasy season only, starting in Week 2. The waiver wire uses blind bidding, against a season cap of $100 (not actual money, and unrelated to fees). There is a $0 minimum bid for a free agent. The maximum bid for a free agent is $100. If bids are tied, the first bid submitted will be awarded the player. Owners may acquire up to 20 players per waiver wire. Since the NFL can potentially postpone games to Tuesdays, the deadline for waiver wire picks, beginning in Week 2, is Wednesday at 4:00 PM. Unrestricted free agency, subject to website restrictions, begins 4 hours later, at 8:00 PM on Wednesday.
5.4 Except as noted in 5.41, up to two players per team (not including Defensive Teams) can be placed on Injured Reserve and temporarily replaced at any given time. There is no transaction fee for placing a player on Injured Reserve, but the owner will incur the normal transaction fee for adding a replacement. The replacement can be dropped at any time, and the IR'd player reactivated, for no additional fee.
Additionally, except as noted in 5.41 below, to be eligible for IR, a player must meet one of the following conditions:
Players previously so listed, but currently on a bye (and therefore not listed on the current injury list) remain eligible for IR during the bye week unless their status is updated to an ineligible status. Players who are listed as suspended, placed on the “exempt” list, or otherwise deactivated for non-injury reasons, are not eligible for IR.
5.41 As long as the NFL has Covid-19 protocols (or other such pandemic rules that may be implemented), each team will have one additional IR slot for the season, which can only be used for players on the NFL’s Covid-19 list. Players must be on the official list to be so eligible, and must be removed from the official list to be activated.
5.5 Each week, each team must field a lineup of 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 “Flex” Players (RB, WR, or TE), 1 K, and 1 DT. It is the owner's responsibility to go to the website at any time during the week, starting Tuesday morning, and select a lineup. Each player locks once their own game for the week begins; until a player locks, they can be moved in or out of the lineup.
5.51 In order to be considered legal, all players in the lineup must be on their team’s active roster for the week in question, and not on a bye week (if there is a valid substitute on the roster).
5.52 If the owner did not select an initial lineup prior to Week 1, then the commissioners will insert a lineup based on the draft order (1st QB selected, 1st RB/WR/TE, etc.), which will then become the default until the owner changes it.
5.53 If an owner does not submit a lineup during the week, the most recent lineup will remain in place. If a lineup is not legal, the commissioners shall make the necessary lineup changes for an owner to make the lineup legal. If a commissioner is required to change an owner’s lineup in this manner, the owner shall be issued a warning on the first occurrence. The owner will be fined $3, to be added to the league pot, on the second occurrence, and $5 for each occurrence thereafter.
6.0 SCORING:
6.1 Each team will designate an “overtime” player from their roster, who is not in their starting lineup, each week. Ties between two teams on any week are resolved by comparing “overtime” players between teams, with the higher scoring OT player winning. If there remains a tie, it will be resolved by totaling all points by the reserves for the week, then by highest score at the starting QB position, then RB, then WR, then TE, then PK, then DT. If a score still remains tied, a virtual coin toss will determine the winner. There are no ties.
6.2 Scoring by individual players is determined as follows:
6.3 Scoring by defensive/special teams is determined as follows:
Points only count if the Defense/Special Team is on the field at the time of the score.
7.0 CONCLUSION:
7.1 These rules can be viewed on the league website under "League - Rules." Any issues that are not specifically addressed in this manual will be ruled on by the commissioners. Additionally, the commissioners have the power to take actions not specified in these rules, including, but not limited to, changing lineups which include players known to be out for the week in question, if acting in the best interests of the league and its competition. Any such action(s) by the commissioners can be overruled by a vote of 9 owners, or three-quarters of the league owners. New rules can be proposed by any owner in midseason, if seconded by any other owner, and added with the consent of 9 owners, or three-quarters of the league owners, or if approved by unanimous vote of the commissioners.
7.2 All owners have an obligation to compete fairly to the extent possible each week. Any owner determined to have engaged in conduct detrimental to the competitive balance of the league, including, but not limited to, collusion, deliberately losing, violating league rules for personal gain, failing to update lineups, etc., can have his/her franchise vacated by unanimous vote of the commissioners, or else by a vote of eight league owners, or two-thirds of the league owners.
7.3 SEASON CONTINGENCY RULES
7.31. If the league is unable to complete at least half of the regular fantasy season (11 games), and it is not possible to play the fantasy playoffs, the season will not be considered complete, and league entry fees (minus nonrefundable expenses such as website fee) will either be refunded or applied to the next season, at each owner’s choice.
7.32. If the league does complete 11 games or more, but is unable to complete the fantasy playoffs, final standings will be determined per normal rules, and teams will be seeded based on standings, as if there were playoffs. The championship, and other order of finish, will then be decided by each team’s regular season “all-play” record against the other five teams in the playoff bracket.
7.33 If a portion of the season is canceled by the NFL, the commissioner will use double- and triple-headers (or more) as necessary to make up as many games as possible.
7.34 The playoffs will take place as the NFL schedule allows. The final week of the NFL season will only be used, if the playoffs could not otherwise be completed.
7.4 WEEKLY CONTINGENCY RULES
7.41 Any game that is rescheduled before Wednesday will count towards the current week. Any game rescheduled to Wednesday or beyond will be moved to a different week, consistent with league website restrictions.
7.42 In the event that a game is in danger of being cancelled or postponed during the current week, for each player in their starting lineup may designate a contingency player for each player in such a game. Contingency players must be posted in public on the league website, before kickoff for games of all players involved. If the game in question is moved to Monday or Tuesday, nothing happens. If the game is cancelled and rescheduled for another week, the contingency player or players take the place of the player designated (backup must be specific to be counted). This does not impact players who are scratched, injured, or otherwise miss the game if it occurs; it only applies if the game is rescheduled.
7.43 In the event that an owner has not specified a contingency player, and a game as indicated in 7.4.2 above, is cancelled or postponed to another week, the commissioner will review their roster as follows:
Min | Max | |
---|---|---|
Quarterback | 0 | 10 |
Running Back | 0 | 10 |
Wide Receiver | 0 | 10 |
Tight End | 0 | 10 |
Kicker | 0 | 10 |
Defense/Sp Team | 0 | 10 |
Quarterback | 1 | to | 1 |
Running Back | 1 | to | 1 |
Wide Receiver | 2 | to | 2 |
Tight End | 1 | to | 1 |
Kicker | 1 | to | 1 |
Defense/Sp Team | 1 | to | 1 |
Flex ( RB WR TE ) | 2 | to | 2 |
Week 1 | Fri Mar 1 12:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 9 11:59pm ET |
Week 2 | Tue Sep 10 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 16 11:59pm ET |
Week 3 | Tue Sep 17 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 23 11:59pm ET |
Week 4 | Tue Sep 24 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 30 11:59pm ET |
Week 5 | Tue Oct 1 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 7 11:59pm ET |
Week 6 | Tue Oct 8 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 14 11:59pm ET |
Week 7 | Tue Oct 15 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 21 11:59pm ET |
Week 8 | Tue Oct 22 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Oct 28 11:59pm ET |
Week 9 | Tue Oct 29 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 4 11:59pm ET |
Week 10 | Tue Nov 5 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 11 11:59pm ET |
Week 11 | Tue Nov 12 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 18 11:59pm ET |
Week 12 | Tue Nov 19 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Nov 25 11:59pm ET |
Week 13 | Tue Nov 26 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 2 11:59pm ET |
Week 14 | Tue Dec 3 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 9 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 1 | Tue Dec 10 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 16 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 2 | Tue Dec 17 7:00am ET | thru | Mon Dec 23 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 3 | Tue Dec 24 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Dec 29 11:59pm ET |
Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
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Week 1 | |||||
Week 2 | |||||
Week 3 | |||||
Week 4 | |||||
Week 5 | |||||
Week 6 | |||||
Week 7 | |||||
Week 8 | |||||
Week 9 | |||||
Week 10 | |||||
Week 11 | |||||
Week 12 | |||||
Week 13 | |||||
Week 14 | |||||
Playoff Week 1 | |||||
Playoff Week 2 | |||||
Playoff Week 3 |
Week 1 | Fri Mar 1 12:00am ET | thru | Mon Sep 9 10:20pm ET |
Week 2 | Wed Sep 11 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Sep 16 11:59pm ET |
Week 3 | Wed Sep 18 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Sep 23 11:59pm ET |
Week 4 | Wed Sep 25 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Sep 30 11:59pm ET |
Week 5 | Wed Oct 2 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Oct 7 11:59pm ET |
Week 6 | Wed Oct 9 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Oct 14 11:59pm ET |
Week 7 | Wed Oct 16 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Oct 21 11:59pm ET |
Week 8 | Wed Oct 23 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Oct 28 11:59pm ET |
Week 9 | Wed Oct 30 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Nov 4 11:59pm ET |
Week 10 | Wed Nov 6 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Nov 11 11:59pm ET |
Week 11 | Wed Nov 13 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Nov 18 11:59pm ET |
Week 12 | Wed Nov 20 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Nov 25 11:59pm ET |
Week 13 | Wed Nov 27 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Dec 2 11:59pm ET |
Week 14 | Wed Dec 4 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Dec 9 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 1 | Wed Dec 11 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Dec 16 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 2 | Wed Dec 18 8:00pm ET | thru | Mon Dec 23 11:59pm ET |
Playoff Week 3 | Wed Dec 25 8:00pm ET | thru | Sun Dec 29 11:59pm ET |
Offseason | Wed Jan 1 8:00pm ET | thru | Sun Jan 5 11:59pm ET |
Week 1 | Fri Mar 1 12:00am ET | thru | Sun Sep 8 1:00pm ET |
Week 2 | Tue Sep 10 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Sep 15 1:00pm ET |
Week 3 | Tue Sep 17 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Sep 22 1:00pm ET |
Week 4 | Tue Sep 24 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Sep 29 1:00pm ET |
Week 5 | Tue Oct 1 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Oct 6 1:00pm ET |
Week 6 | Tue Oct 8 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Oct 13 1:00pm ET |
Week 7 | Tue Oct 15 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Oct 20 1:00pm ET |
Week 8 | Tue Oct 22 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Oct 27 1:00pm ET |
Week 9 | Tue Oct 29 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Nov 3 1:00pm ET |
Week 10 | Tue Nov 5 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Nov 10 1:00pm ET |
Week 11 | Tue Nov 12 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Nov 17 1:00pm ET |
Week 12 | Tue Nov 19 7:00am ET | thru | Sun Nov 24 1:00pm ET |
General | |
---|---|
League Entry | $43 |
Wins and Losses | |
Losses | $0 |
Ties | $0 |
Wins Credit | $0 |
Roster Moves | |
Each Player Acquired | $1 |
Each Player Acquired via Waivers | $0 |
Each Player Acquired via Free Agency | $0 |
Each Player Released | $0 |
Each Player Placed on I/R | $0 |
Each Player Activated from I/R | $0 |
Lineup Moves | |
Each Player Started | $0 |
Each Player Benched | $0 |
Trades | |
Each Trade | $0 |
Each Player Traded Away | $0 |
Each Player Traded For | $0 |