Fantasy Football Ethics Question

BillBrasky · Dec 9, 2008

I would appreciate your views on the following situation:

12-team league, with 4 playoff teams. 3 teams have clinched (Teams A, B and C, 1-3 in that order). Teams D and E are battling for the last playoff spot, but Team F theoretically has a chance. Team F has to win and outscore Teams D and E by 63 points to get in.

Team A prefers to matchup in the playoffs against Team C, instead of D or E. Therefore, he sits his entire lineup in order to lose and score no points so he will matchup against Team C. Team A is also playing against Team F who is competing for a playoff spot (albeit barely). No one suspects that Team A is doing this for any reason other than to improve his playoff matchup.

Is this move ethical in the following situations:

1. Ever, even if Team A does not affect other teams playoff berths?
2. In the existing situation, where Team F is an extreme longshot?
3. If team F was either close to or ahead of Teams D & E?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

tooran · Dec 9, 2008

1. Ever, IMO

I hate guys like that. It's probably not illegal, but it's poor sportsmanship. It's not like the real NFL where playoff-bound teams rest their stars.

Possibly a smart move by A, but I hope it backfires on his ass.

primetime21+ · Dec 9, 2008

100 percent not ethical.

FairWarning · Dec 9, 2008

Make a rule that disallows this - "If a team fails to turn in a lineup, last week's lineup is automatically used"

Karma is a bitch, and Team A will get a healthy dose of it.

fhmesq44 · Dec 9, 2008

Legal, but completely lame. that d-bag would not be welcomed back the following season were he to do that.

FW also has a good suggestion, but I'm not really down with changing rules mid-season.

BillBrasky · Dec 9, 2008

Would like to hear a few more thoughts

OTK · Dec 9, 2008

I don't see anything wrong with it, in fact I wouldn't hesitate to do this myself. If I felt teams D and E are both better than team C and that it is going to improve my chances of winning in the semis to play team C why not do something about it to increase your odds? I say good management by team A, clearly out thinking his opponents.

I guess it depends though on how much you play for. If it's just a small league for fun I guess you can whine unsportsmanlike (lamest thing in all of sports), but in leagues like mine where we play for some good money I'm going to do whatever I can to improve my chances of winning, and if people are going to bitch about it they can go ahead.

FairWarning · Dec 9, 2008

fhmesq44 said:
Legal, but completely lame. that d-bag would not be welcomed back the following season were he to do that.

FW also has a good suggestion, but I'm not really down with changing rules mid-season.

You make the change after the season.

BillBrasky · Dec 9, 2008

$500 buy in... I believe payouts are $3500 $1500 and $1000 no money to 4th

FairWarning · Dec 9, 2008

Serious coin there.

theDude24 · Dec 9, 2008

Rules must be made before the season b/c things like this happen!

We had it happen last year where a guy clinched #1 seed in like week 10.
To be cocky he sat his whole team the last few weeks.

He played against a team vying for a playoff spot which is just unfair.

fhmesq44 · Dec 9, 2008

We give some money to the total points leader, which goes through the final week of our Super Bowl (week 16, even if you are out of the playoffs, you continue to set lineups in contest of the total points). Minimizes the likelihood someone plays a shit lineup since they are harming their chances to win total points (we go 60% super bowl winner and 40% total points).

FairWarning · Dec 9, 2008

fhmesq44 said:
We give some money to the total points leader, which goes through the final week of our Super Bowl (week 16, even if you are out of the playoffs, you continue to set lineups in contest of the total points). Minimizes the likelihood someone plays a shit lineup since they are harming their chances to win total points (we go 60% super bowl winner and 40% total points).

We award for the total points leader and season high game score. The rule I suggested is a must though.

HarryCaray · Dec 9, 2008

Have each team throw an extra $150 at the beginning; $100 payout to the highest scoring team each week.

Keeps everyone starting their best lineup through to the end.

FairWarning · Dec 9, 2008

HarryCaray said:
Have each team throw an extra $150 at the beginning; $100 payout to the highest scoring team each week.

Keeps everyone starting their best lineup through to the end.

Still doesn't stop this guy if he has a chance of winning $3k+

fhmesq44 · Dec 9, 2008

FairWarning said:
We award for the total points leader and season high game score. The rule I suggested is a must though.

Not sure if that option is available on sportsline, but it is a good suggestion. What happens if he submits an illegal lineup; i.e., 3 RBs when he can only start 2? You get 0 points for that lineup in our league. Or does illegal lineup also revert back to the last legal lineup? Or is just something the commissioner can go back in and change retroactively? I know I can change lineups on sportsline retroactively.

OTK · Dec 9, 2008

BillBrasky said:
$500 buy in... I believe payouts are $3500 $1500 and $1000 no money to 4th

See for good money like this I don't think anyone can complain about him doing his best to ensure a payout. Doing this could be the difference between $3.5 k and $0.

HarryCaray · Dec 9, 2008

FairWarning said:
Still doesn't stop this guy if he has a chance of winning $3k+

True. But it keeps teams starting their lineups if they're mathematically eliminated for the season, and top guys will even start their lineups unless it's a "no-brainer" not to. Even if team A decides to not start his team in the final week, at least it is extra dead money in the pool that week for non-playoff teams. :toast:

quinnsft34 · Dec 9, 2008

That is not right. League rules should be in place for this. In our league if you submit an illegal lineup or one with players that aren't playing (bye weeks, or out from injury) you go to the bottom of the draft the next year. This is a keeper league so it is pretty serious when you don't pick early in the round. Our total pot ends up around 750 so its not as big as yours but people won't do that in my league because I refuse to play with people like that and I'm the commish so I get the final say on new people.

FairWarning · Dec 9, 2008

fhmesq44 said:
Not sure if that option is available on sportsline, but it is a good suggestion. What happens if he submits an illegal lineup; i.e., 3 RBs when he can only start 2? You get 0 points for that lineup in our league. Or does illegal lineup also revert back to the last legal lineup? Or is just something the commissioner can go back in and change retroactively? I know I can change lineups on sportsline retroactively.

I have Sportsline too. I believe it will revert to the last legal lineup. The commish can always change it on the site.