RADIO
Danny Boily explains what FAAB is for fantasy football and why it is outdated and superior over a rolling waiver wire system.
In the ever-evolving world of fantasy football, there are few constants. Players rise and fall, stars get injured, and standings change. One thing that should remain constant, however, is the method by which we acquire those free agents each week.
Enter the FAAB system—an acronym for Free Agent Acquisition Budget. If you haven't adopted FAAB for your league's waiver wire settings yet, it's high time you consider it.
Let’s examine FAAB and why it is the gold standard for free-agent acquisitions in fantasy football.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
Rolling Waiver Wire: A Relic of the Past
First, let's address the elephant in the room—the rolling waiver wire system. This system gives waiver priority for the uninitiated based on the inverse of the standings or on a rotational basis. The team with the lowest standing or that didn't make a waiver claim the previous week gets the highest priority. Sounds fair, right? Not quite.
Rolling waivers can turn your league into a battle of attrition rather than skill. Imagine your star running back goes down, and you're first in line for that juicy backup. But wait—your waiver position is dead last because you snagged a wide receiver three weeks ago. Meanwhile, the team sitting in last place, who hasn't touched their waiver priority all season, swoops in and steals your backup. Frustrating, isn’t it? The rolling waiver wire doesn’t reward proactive management; it rewards inactivity and sometimes mediocrity.
CJ Stroud
⁃ 23.4 Fantasy Points Week 3
⁃ 20/30, 280 Yards, 2 TDs
⁃ 3 Rushes, 14 Yards
⁃ Current QB12If you roster…
⁃ Fields
⁃ Prescott
⁃ LawrencePick up and stash Stroud, who now has back-to-back games as a Top 13 QB…
— Joe Orrico (@NoExpertFF) September 26, 2023
FAAB: The Game-Changer
Now, let’s talk about FAAB. The FAAB system allocates each team a budget (typically $100 to $1,000) to bid on free agents throughout the season. Managers submit blind bids, and the highest bid wins the player. Here’s why FAAB reigns supreme:
Equal Opportunity: FAAB levels the playing field. Whether in first or last, you have the same shot at landing that breakout player. It’s no longer about your waiver position; it's about how much you’re willing to spend.
Strategic Depth: FAAB introduces a layer of strategy that rolling waivers lack. Should you blow a significant portion of your budget early on a hot prospect or save it for potential late-season gems? Every bid becomes a calculated risk, turning the waiver wire into a game within the game.
Engagement: FAAB keeps managers engaged throughout the season. Even if your team is struggling, you’re still on the hunt for free agents. The thrill of bidding wars can motivate managers, fostering a more competitive and interactive league environment.
Rewarding Skill: FAAB rewards the savvy and the strategic. It encourages managers to research, stay informed, and make reasonable decisions. Rolling waivers, on the other hand, often reward mere luck and passivity.
⁃ 31.5 Fantasy Points Week 3
⁃ 11 Catches, 145 Yards, 1 TD
⁃ 14 Targets
⁃ 24% Target Share
⁃ Great Schedule: MIN DET MIA
⁃ Top 36 WR moving forwardAndy Dalton to Thielen is a thing.
25% target share for Thielen Weeks 2-3.
Flex!
— Joe Orrico (@NoExpertFF) September 25, 2023
Why FAAB is Superior
Consider this scenario: It’s Week 2 last season, and Kyren Williams put up 28 fantasy points. Under rolling waivers, whoever has the highest priority claims him, regardless of merit. With FAAB, every manager has to decide how much of their budget he is worth. It’s a high-stakes auction where only the most informed and strategic managers thrive.
If your league is still stuck in the archaic age of rolling waivers, it’s time for a revolution. FAAB is not just a waiver system; it's a game-changer. It rewards strategic thinking and keeps every manager engaged from the first snap to the final whistle. Embrace FAAB, and watch your fantasy league transform into a battlefield of strategy, wit, and relentless competition.
I REALLY don’t understand the Kyren Williams pessimism in the fantasy football world right now🤷🏻♂️🤯
When have we ever had an RB accomplish as much as Kyren Williams in their sophomore SZN in the NFL but still get doubted in a major ways the next year?
- THE ONLY RB OTHER THAN… pic.twitter.com/HOSlmLFpRZ
— PPRFantasyTips (@PPRFantasyTips) June 10, 2024
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
