I’m not someone who rails against rules changes. As long as they don’t produce disastrous results, I’m fine with it. I don’t mind the new kickoff rules, for example. It will take away some electric returns because lanes won’t be opening up. But it’s likely safer since players are much more likely to get concussed on a special teams play as opposed to an offensive or defensive play. So for me, it’s fine.
I do not feel the same way about the new onsides kick rules. I hate them. But all 32 teams will abide by them, because they have no choice. If they ignore it, they’ll get penalized. And the same goes for the rules in each of your leagues. So you’d better get to know them now, instead of next month.
I can’t express how dumb the onsides kick rules are now: No attempts until the fourth quarter, you have to be losing the game, you can only try twice in one game, and you have to announce when you’re attempting it. I’m surprised you don’t have to ask the other team’s permission to try it. Remember when Jacksonville tried it against Kansas City a couple years ago to start the game? That was completely unexpected, and a fun start. How about when the Saints did it to open the second half against the Colts in the Super Bowl? It shocked everybody on the league’s biggest stage. Now, neither would be possible. There are so few attempts each year (just 41 last season, with two successes), it can’t be a safety issue. And now there can’t be any strategy where teams have to plan for its possibility during the game. It’s only available in the fourth quarter, and the opponent will let you know if they’re trying it. Absurd.
Still, every team will play by those rules, whether they like them or not. And you need to do the same in all of your leagues. When it comes to each league’s rules, most managers worry about just a few main things:
Is the league a PPR or not?
How many points for a passing touchdown?
What’s the weekly lineup look like?
What’s the cost to play, and what are the payouts?
If you know that stuff, you probably know 75 percent of what you need to play in the league. Unfortunately, that other 25 percent can sink your season. You need to look at each league’s rules. I mean really look at them. You’ll find things that can affect you on draft day and beyond. Here are just a few:
Are there position minimums or maximums on draft day?
What determines the waiver wire priority, and when does it run?
Are there penalties for an incomplete lineup, or one with a bye-week player in it?
What other unusual rules does the league have?
That last one is critical, because it will hit you out of nowhere. A league might have a significant bonus or penalty if the player loses their game. There might be milestone bonuses for passing, rushing, and receiving that are so inflated, it could affect your draft strategy. It could be touchdown heavy or light, which also affects your draft strategy.
I’ve played in a league with inflated scoring, and kickers could score 50+ points on their own. I incorporated it into my strategy. I’ve played in a league where you could use the waiver wire 24/7, including during games. It was the Wild West of player acquisition, but I dealt with it. I've played in a league with no waiver wire and a very large roster, and I made it work.
A league might have head-to-head competition for money, but playoff spots are determined by points. Or vice-versa. A 12-team league might have four playoff spots, or six, or even eight. All rosters might lock with the start of the early games on Sunday.
You might like some of these rules, or absolutely hate them. The point is, if you’re playing in the league, you need to understand the rules. All the rules.
Is that difficult if you’re in 12 leagues? Sure. But you chose to be in that many leagues, so the least you can do is take the time to pay attention to every nuance in their rulebooks. It only helps you, because many managers won’t bother. They’ll get the basics down, and then deal with it during the season. But it’s August, and we’ve only seen one incomplete preseason game. Now is the perfect time to give yourself an advantage and go over the rules of your leagues. You might be surprised what you find there.
Have you ever been burned by an obscure rule you skipped over? What’s the weirdest rule you’ve ever seen? How do you feel about the new NFL rules for this season? Share your thoughts below.
