MOTML Rule Changes and Ideas

[BearsFanInMN]

Hi All. Thought would be good to have a spot for any potential ideas about changes. Basically this is the IE repository

For example since this is a dynasty should there be a trade deadline?

[dplank]

There should definitely be a trade deadline IMO, tanking sux

[BearsFanInMN]

I see what you’re saying from an in season standpoint. I guess what Im thinking is February to August we can’t make a deal until we get to cut date seems weird. Most dynasty is year round. It’s all for fun so no big deal either way. Just throwing it out there.

[dplank]

I'd follow the league schedule. Trade deadline runs October 31st through the Super Bowl. Open season to do whatever after the Super Bowl and up until the next trade deadline.

[BearsFanInMN]

So do we want to keep same number of roster spots, number of keepers, and 5 rounds? I think we said we'd see how league looked like with 15 teams and make a decision. Just putting it out there.

[IE]

I don't mind the tanking - it tends to happen in dynasty leagues. I can't remember if this league has a snake draft - but it should.

On the subject of what the league needs, there are still a bunch of things needed to pull it out of the stone age:

- Add a RB slot, or at least an additional FLEX slot. A one RB league is sort of nuts.
- We went to 15 last year but the goal was 14 teams - and we were there until one person came back to play after being out of communication. I think that should still be the goal - 14 teams max. It just leads to better quality teams and at least some quality free agents being available during the season.
- I'd like to shitcan the kicker and defense and add IDP positions and IDP scoring. Getting rid of two positions and adding 3 IDP would probably justify adding two more roster spots.
- IR should have at least 2 slots
- It would be nice to have a small Taxi squad for first and second year players

I've been making recommendations on changes for a few years. The reduction in teams and keepers was a good start. But there are more changes that would make it more fun and more competitive.

Getting this group to change seems a huge challenge though in general.

[dplank]

So do we want to keep same number of roster spots, number of keepers, and 5 rounds? I think we said we'd see how league looked like with 15 teams and make a decision. Just putting it out there.

Well, someone else wanted in to the league, so we could go back to 16 teams. Otherwise I'd just keep it like it was.

[Arkansasbear]

I don't mind the tanking - it tends to happen in dynasty leagues. I can't remember if this league has a snake draft - but it should.

On the subject of what the league needs, there are still a bunch of things needed to pull it out of the stone age:

- Add a RB slot, or at least an additional FLEX slot. A one RB league is sort of nuts.
- We went to 15 last year but the goal was 14 teams - and we were there until one person came back to play after being out of communication. I think that should still be the goal - 14 teams max. It just leads to better quality teams and at least some quality free agents being available during the season.
- I'd like to shitcan the kicker and defense and add IDP positions and IDP scoring. Getting rid of two positions and adding 3 IDP would probably justify adding two more roster spots.
- IR should have at least 2 slots
- It would be nice to have a small Taxi squad for first and second year players

I've been making recommendations on changes for a few years. The reduction in teams and keepers was a good start. But there are more changes that would make it more fun and more competitive.

Getting this group to change seems a huge challenge though in general.

What is an IDP? Individual Defensive Player?

[IE]

I don't mind the tanking - it tends to happen in dynasty leagues. I can't remember if this league has a snake draft - but it should.

On the subject of what the league needs, there are still a bunch of things needed to pull it out of the stone age:

- Add a RB slot, or at least an additional FLEX slot. A one RB league is sort of nuts.
- We went to 15 last year but the goal was 14 teams - and we were there until one person came back to play after being out of communication. I think that should still be the goal - 14 teams max. It just leads to better quality teams and at least some quality free agents being available during the season.
- I'd like to shitcan the kicker and defense and add IDP positions and IDP scoring. Getting rid of two positions and adding 3 IDP would probably justify adding two more roster spots.
- IR should have at least 2 slots
- It would be nice to have a small Taxi squad for first and second year players

I've been making recommendations on changes for a few years. The reduction in teams and keepers was a good start. But there are more changes that would make it more fun and more competitive.

Getting this group to change seems a huge challenge though in general.

What is an IDP? Individual Defensive Player?

Yes

[dplank]

What is an IDP? Individual Defensive Player?

Yes

That would be fun, better than team defense IMO

[IE]

Yes

That would be fun, better than team defense IMO

It is fun to have 3 - a DL, DB and a LB. All my IDP leagues have 6 - the 3 positions and then 3 additional flex defensive positions. Scoring for all the fun stuff - tackles, TFL, Sacks, INT, passes defended, FF, FR and TD. In my IDP leagues, the defensive players can easily win games for you, and sometimes the LB score as much as RBs and WRs in a PPR. I like it because it is more like having a full team, and also more ways to be competitive.

I'm in like 7 leagues now - 2 redraft and 5 dynasty. One of the dynasty is best ball which is super easy because you don't have to set your roster it is just how your team does overall at all spots.

[Arkansasbear]

I’d prefer to keep defenses over individual players. I like it to be fun distraction not something that I need to spends hours figuring out each week.

[dplank]

I’d prefer to keep defenses over individual players. I like it to be fun distraction not something that I need to spends hours figuring out each week.

This is fair - particularly for a free league...

[BearsFanInMN]

So do we want to keep same number of roster spots, number of keepers, and 5 rounds? I think we said we'd see how league looked like with 15 teams and make a decision. Just putting it out there.

Well, someone else wanted in to the league, so we could go back to 16 teams. Otherwise I'd just keep it like it was.

I’m down with them joining and taking us back to 16. Just think that would require an expansion draft, etc.

[The Kaiser]

For a Dynasty league, this league is seriously lacking in trade activity. I believe the reason for that is our trade interface which in this league is primarily this forum. Running trade discussion though a web 1.0 message board app is not effective. We need to be seriously thinking about a mobile first solutions.

The ESPN app does not actually offer a good option because you can't bundle draft picks. Either we need to adjust the settings or consider moving to an alternative app like Sleeper which is MUCH better for overall dynasty management with a mobile first interface.

[dplank]

For a Dynasty league, this league is seriously lacking in trade activity. I believe the reason for that is our trade interface which in this league is primarily this forum. Running trade discussion though a web 1.0 message board app is not effective. We need to be seriously thinking about a mobile first solutions.

The ESPN app does not actually offer a good option because you can't bundle draft picks. Either we need to adjust the settings or consider moving to an alternative app like Sleeper which is MUCH better for overall dynasty management with a mobile first interface.

I'm ready to go trade crazy - make me an offer! I have the 4th overall pick.

[dplank]

Man...I went in there and someone had a trade offer that I never saw and it timed out lol...my bad Swerski! I re-started the trade if you want it.

[IE]

For a Dynasty league, this league is seriously lacking in trade activity. I believe the reason for that is our trade interface which in this league is primarily this forum. Running trade discussion though a web 1.0 message board app is not effective. We need to be seriously thinking about a mobile first solutions.

The ESPN app does not actually offer a good option because you can't bundle draft picks. Either we need to adjust the settings or consider moving to an alternative app like Sleeper which is MUCH better for overall dynasty management with a mobile first interface.

One of the reasons there isn't heavy trading has been the roster size and folks hoarding players hoping to make a killing (trade-smashing expectations). Also because half the league is hardlly engaged.

I'd recommend porting the entire league to the Sleeper platform (which is really great), along with some other changes (E.g., Superflex, IDP, TE premium). And then that change will encourage change and technology-averse folk to drop out & get it down to 12 like it should be. It might evsen get to 10, leaving some openings.

But there is serious inertia and too many folks just hanging on out of tradition & aren't really engaged to get a critical mass for a change. If we could get 8 people to agree to duplicate their exact teams & move, we could force the issue. Actually if only 8-10 folks went to the new league and a few new folks joined, it would make sense to decrease keepers to like 4-5 players and let the new joiners draft 4-5 rounds from available vets prior to a broader startup/rookie draft.

[The Kaiser]

For a Dynasty league, this league is seriously lacking in trade activity. I believe the reason for that is our trade interface which in this league is primarily this forum. Running trade discussion though a web 1.0 message board app is not effective. We need to be seriously thinking about a mobile first solutions.

The ESPN app does not actually offer a good option because you can't bundle draft picks. Either we need to adjust the settings or consider moving to an alternative app like Sleeper which is MUCH better for overall dynasty management with a mobile first interface.

One of the reasons there isn't heavy trading has been the roster size and folks hoarding players hoping to make a killing (trade-smashing expectations). Also because half the league is hardlly engaged.

I'd recommend porting the entire league to the Sleeper platform (which is really great), along with some other changes (E.g., Superflex, IDP, TE premium). And then that change will encourage change and technology-averse folk to drop out & get it down to 12 like it should be. It might evsen get to 10, leaving some openings.

But there is serious inertia and too many folks just hanging on out of tradition & aren't really engaged to get a critical mass for a change. If we could get 8 people to agree to duplicate their exact teams & move, we could force the issue. Actually if only 8-10 folks went to the new league and a few new folks joined, it would make sense to decrease keepers to like 4-5 players and let the new joiners draft 4-5 rounds from available vets prior to a broader startup/rookie draft.

I'm with you here.

This league, like the Bears, needs to modernize. The Bears are changing and so should we. Let's do it folks. Who's in?

[The Kaiser]

While we're on the subject, another problem with this league which we need to fix once and for all:

Equating owners names, to team names, to BFOL handles. It's super frustrating and really shouldn't be this hard. I'm trying to contact one owner and for the life of me, I can't figure out what his BFOL username is.

[BearsFanInMN]

While the site is doesn't have the bells and whistles of ESPN, MFL is a site that I've done multiple dynasties on over the years and the architecture is really designed for dynasty. ESPN is really more of a redraft site unless you pay. I'm open to improving everywhere as I think there's been a lot of good ideas that have been floated. I think having multiple platforms for communication, etc due to owners not on BFOL is definitely problematic. I think we at least look at the low hanging fruit as far as improvements.

[Arkansasbear]

So I’m for whatever changes you guys want to make. I prefer a simple sleek format that doesn’t require a ton on my time but I’ll do whatever the majority wants to do.

[Arkansasbear]

So I’m for whatever changes you guys want to make. I prefer a simple sleek format that doesn’t require a ton on my time but I’ll do whatever the majority wants to do.

[IE]

So I’m for whatever changes you guys want to make. I prefer a simple sleek format that doesn’t require a ton on my time but I’ll do whatever the majority wants to do.

Have you seen Sleeper? It's really nice. Also there is at least one fantasy vault site integrated where it tracks payments as well - makes collections and payments independent and reliable.

[dplank]

We need our commish involved with this discussion

[Arkansasbear]

So I’m for whatever changes you guys want to make. I prefer a simple sleek format that doesn’t require a ton on my time but I’ll do whatever the majority wants to do.

Have you seen Sleeper? It's really nice. Also there is at least one fantasy vault site integrated where it tracks payments as well - makes collections and payments independent and reliable.

I don't care about the platform, it's just trying to figure out what value needs to be given to IDP compared to other spots and when to draft them. It also requires more time following what IDP are doing to make adjustments to the roster.

I not going to walk away if me make changes like that, but it just seems the more "moving parts" you have the more it favors people you are "all in" to winning it. To me it's a fun distraction but I don't want it to be a massive part of my life.

[dplank]

Same here Ark...I'd prefer to keep it simple and fun, I know I won't put time into keeping up with it super closely and the level of effort required now is good.

[IE]

Have you seen Sleeper? It's really nice. Also there is at least one fantasy vault site integrated where it tracks payments as well - makes collections and payments independent and reliable.

I don't care about the platform, it's just trying to figure out what value needs to be given to IDP compared to other spots and when to draft them. It also requires more time following what IDP are doing to make adjustments to the roster.

I not going to walk away if me make changes like that, but it just seems the more "moving parts" you have the more it favors people you are "all in" to winning it. To me it's a fun distraction but I don't want it to be a massive part of my life.

The value of IDP players is dependent upon the scoring. It can be conservative and just add a small amount of points, or it can try to normalize scoring across positions so any given position can really be your bread & butter (which I prefer). I hate one-QB leagues where the people with Mahomes, Hurts, Allen and such have a big positional advantage over folks who aren't fortunate enough to have a top 4-5 QB. I like leagues that offer more parity so people stay involved & excited. I'm in one league where IDP scoring (plus TE and RB scoring) is premium, it elevates highly productive defensive players into the same level as starting RBs or WRs. I thought it would be a lot to pay attention to, but in reality it expands the excitement. For example if a high productivity LB like TJ Edwards has a 12 tackle, 1 PD, 1/2 sack or INT game he could propel you to a win in a close game. The scoring projections on the site tell you who will be higher scorers, so it isn't really that much more work. It is a *little* more work for a LOT more interesting games (there's a reason why superflex and IDP are becoming standards).

[Atkins&Rebel]

From my perspective
-extra RB slot would be bad as some of us struggle to fill the position.
-Superflex and IDP just make it a hassle to prioritize non premium positions for the sake of generating more points. If you really like those leagues, that's fine, but you can't take an existing league and convert it just to try and level the playing field. We've all drafted and traded for many years to try and build our teams according to old rules.

[dplank]

From my perspective
-extra RB slot would be bad as some of us struggle to fill the position.
-Superflex and IDP just make it a hassle to prioritize non premium positions for the sake of generating more points. If you really like those leagues, that's fine, but you can't take an existing league and convert it just to try and level the playing field. We've all drafted and traded for many years to try and build our teams according to old rules.

I defer 100% to the person who created and/or managed the league for so long. I’m new to it and not gonna come in making all sorts of demands for changes. Like Ark, it’s not something I take seriously at all - I do it for fun and to occasionally needle people here on the board (most often myself cause my squad SUX)