How to Lose With Class in Fantasy Football

December 2, 2020

Dom Petrillo advises fantasy football players who won't be winning a championship on steps to being a good sport and losing with class as well as advice for commissioners to avoid tanking teams.

We have all seen it before. The person in your league who gives up halfway through the season. They act like a petulant five-year old who does not get their way, taking their ball and going home.

There are many reasons why someone may choose to cash it in early. Injuries have ruined their team. They have had unnecessary disagreements with league mates (guilty). Or even just out of sheer boredom. The only reason to give up on a league should be a legitimate long-term emergency. Anything else is just an excuse someone uses to make themselves feel validated. Sorry, you are not validated. You are the worst type of player - a sore loser, even in a fantasy sport. This is often the same type who cannot admit when they are wrong on a player. Oh, and please do not take the victory lap over your one right call of 99 which missed. Then you really are that person.

So then, how can you avoid becoming the dreaded manager that kills the fun for others and nobody wants back next year? As a commish, how can you make sure this doesn't happen in your league without looking like a tyrant? Let us look at some easy steps to follow.

Advice for Commissioners

Have a loser's consolation bracket - Many leagues make the mistake of handing the first pick of next season to the team with the worst record. This encourages tanking in real-life even with potential financial and PR consequences. In fantasy, there is no incentive not to tank in this situation. Leagues should have a secondary playoff in the final weeks pitting the also-ran against each other. Not only does it keep them involved, but it also gives them a reason to try to win to secure the best pick for the following season.

Have consequences - If you really need to make sure people do not quit, have consequences when they do. If you feel they have not set a fair lineup more than once, let them lose but disqualify them from the consolation bracket. Or better yet, do not let people who do this back into your league. All it does is ruin morale and therefore the league itself.

Know when to stand back - In one of my leagues this season, the commissioner was so upset that someone waived Michael Thomas after sitting on him for six weeks that he refused to let the transaction stand. He stated that Thomas should be on the non-cut list, no debate. It took a lot of hurt feelings and hours of my time to try to convince him that we all agreed that the platform, not the commissioner, decides the non-cut list. His contention is Thomas is too good of a player and should not be allowed to be cut.

In a normal season, sure. But not when he misses six weeks and is still out for two more. So, do not be afraid to drop or trade someone who is underwhelming. And please, do not say "Well, I drafted Thomas in the first round. So, I deserve a first-round talent in return." Trade equity should be performance-based not name-based.

How to Be a Good Sport in Fantasy

Play the game - Simple. Finish the season regardless of your record. Do not get upset about an injury to your early draft pick. It happens to everyone. How many people had Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley this season and felt sure they were a contender? How many took Michael Thomas as a top-five pick? It happens. Fantasy football is meant to be fun so don't pout about it.

Do not tank - This is different in dynasty leagues of course. Those are truly marathons and rebuilding is a smart strategy. In re-draft, it is just petty. Not only does it affect you, but it also affects others in the league as well. Just because you decide you don't care anymore, do not ruin it for others who still care and want to enjoy it.

Make roster moves - If you have players on bye or IR and you cannot fill out a lineup, do not just leave it alone. Make waiver moves to fill your lineup each and every week. This means all positions. Not just the ones you deem important and the weeks you happen to care.

Make trades - Even if you cannot win the title, you can still have fun with roster construction in your league. Make trades up until the deadline. This is the worst part about my earlier Michael Thomas story. The commissioner stated the other person should have tried to trade him. I told him, I am a Saints fan and I would not even take him this year. He said he would have traded for him which is a complete lie since there are only three people in the league who have made trades in the past three seasons. And guess what? He is not one of them.

Do not make trades just for the sake of making them. Try to improve your team, even if the goal is just to reach .500 by season's end. Even if you cannot win the title, it will be fun beating your league rival and knock them from the playoffs too. Or you could fight for that Toilet Bowl trophy and possibly secure the top pick next year!

Have fun! - Remember it is all about fun. We are here for a game to take our mind off whatever may be swirling around us. If this is lost on some people, they need to go. Finding a great group of league mates is key to enjoyment. So, make sure to find the right ones for you and your league.

If you cannot commit to a lot of time, find a league with limited transactions allowed or best-ball leagues. If you love making moves and talking smack, find an active league and stay active. Not all people fit all leagues. But there is a right league for everyone as long as you play the right way.

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