Here are some questions to consider for our 2009 season. The title gives a summary of the problem, 'Options' gives the possible options, 'Call' gives a single possible option we are considering and the rest of the stuff is an explanation of the 'Call'.
1. Keepers
1.1 No of keepers for the 2009 season
Options: 1 or 2 keepers this season.
Call: 1-keeper for 2009 season.
QN: Before the start of the last season, we had agreed on 1 keeper per team. During the last season, you started about increasing the number of keepers to two and trying to create various methods to make it amenable for everyone. After some distressing discussions from both sides no conclusion was reached. Why this new change of heart?
Ans: Since a few teams (read: Ram, Lil) would become super-duper powerful and sort of kill all the other teams, the "more than one keeper" lobby has silently dropped the plan and is hoping no one notices. Oh well.
1.2 Additional keepers per season
Options: 1 keeper per season, 2 keepers per season going forward
Call: 1 keeper per season.
Qn: Why another keeper? Haven't we had enough already?
Ans: The idea of the fantasy league is to eventually build into a dynasty league where each player can have his/her own team. We are starting off with one player in the first season, so we could stay with a maximum of one new keeper every season.
Qn: So I get to keep one additional keeper every year? What if my current keeper goes the Shaun-Alexander-way?
Ans: To put it in other words, you can have a total of 1 keeper at the start of 2009, 2 at the start of 2010, 3 at the start of 2011 and so on. It _does not_ have to the same keepers as long as you are under the keeper maximum for that season.
Qn: Now what is this new Keeper Maximum thingy which you are throwing at us?
Ans: Read the next question.
1.3. Maximum cap on number of keepers
Options: 3,4,5 keepers per team
Call: 3 keepers per team
Qn: Okay, so what _are_ Keeper Maximums?
Ans: With a 9-member roster, each team has to have a specified number of keepers which they cannot exceed. That way, the draft still stays meaningful and the league will be a combination of drafting _and_ keeping skills.
Qn: Why 3?
Ans: Keepers at 3 would keep the ratio at 1/3rd of starters. A player could have one third of his team as keepers and the two thirds to to built every year using the draft. (Nod to Gautham)
1.4. Maximum cap on keeper positions
Options: No cap on keeper positions, 1 player per position, 2 players per position, 1 player for certain positions, 2 players for certain positions.
Call: Maximum of 1 QB/RB/WR/TE/Def or K
Qn: What now? A Position-Maximum? How do you even come up with these things?
Ans: Just like we have a position-maximum in our roster, it makes sense to have a position-maximum for our keepers list too.
Qns: Did you pick the numbers out of a hat? They are just plain random.
Ans: Originally, we started off with 2 RB/WRs and 1 of QB/TE/D/K since a player starts at least 2 WRs/RBs and 1 each in all the other roles. However, some members suggested that keepers could make the league one-sided. Hence, in an effort to be conservative, the keepers are restricted to a maximum of 1 per position.
Qns: What if I want to keep a player forever? After all, I drafted him.
Ans: You can choose to keep one player after making him a franchise player at the new value for a new contract. For reference, this player would be called "Dynasty Player". This would allow every player to build their team around one solid player much like in the NFL.
1.5. Maximum cap on keeper contracts
Options: 3,4 or 5 years as keeper with/without some combination of franchising a player.
Call: 3 years as keeper, option to make him Dynasty in the fourth year after paying current market value.
Qn: Wait. You are getting all mathy on me here. Why do I need all this?
Ans: Even in the NFL, a typical rookie contract usually expires in 4 years with an option to franchise the player for the next year (ie, pay something more). Similarly, our league would allow a player to be part of the team for 4 years plus an additional year as a franchise player by "paying more". The compensation would be {(draft position + ADP for that season)/2}. This allows player to retain the benefits of their draft for sometime and also ensures that they become free agents eventually.
2. Scoring
2.1 Additional scoring changes
2.1.1 Return yardage
Option: Include return yards as part of player scoring. 1pt every 20 yards.
Call: No changes in scoring
Qn: Now wait a second. You are making a scoring change that will vastly affect Keeper decisions for this year.
Ans: Um, yes.
Qn: Come on, not all KR/PRs play offense.
Ans: Um, yes.
Qn: So how come this gets passed as a proposal.
Ans: As always, am just documenting all the opinions I hear from folks. If there are folks who don't like any changes to something as sensitive as scoring changes, we could drop this. As of now, I have not added this in the scoring and will add only after I hear from folks just like any of the previous proposals.
3. Important Dates
3.1 Draft Order - To be announced right after the Memorial day weekend.
In 2009, May 26.
3.2 Keeper Choices - To be announced right after the Independence day weekend.
In 2009, July 6.
3.3 Draft - To begin after MNF of Preseason Week #3 and end before Labor Day weekend.
In 2009, Aug 24 to Sep 3.
3.4 Draft Day Trades - Draft day trades for draft picks can happen as long as the teams involved in the draft are okay with it. The teams would continue to pick at their positions, but would trade the players as earlier agreed at the end of the draft.
Qns: Okay, you said a player who was traded off cannot be a keeper. Now, what if I pick a player as the result of a draft day trade?
Ans: A player drafted through traded draft picks is eligible to be a keeper. A player traded outside of draft day is not eligible to be a keeper.
Qns: What if I make a trade and then claim that it was part of a draft-day agreement?
Ans: The trade will be announced to the entire league before the first pick of that trade is made. If a player has made his pick, that pick is not eligible to be a part of a draft-day trade.
Qns: Great, can I trade my 2010 first rounder this year?
Ans: Draft picks can be traded only for the current year. Future draft picks from following years are a no-no.
Qns: Now, you know about our league. You know how draft offers work (saidrik penshan for eightrian fetarsan). Do you really expect anyone to do a draft-day trade?
Ans: Read the shawshank redemption.
Qns: So what if I give up two picks for one pick and end up with 15 players on my roster?
Ans: When the FA pool opens up, go ahead and pick one or place a waiver claim before it opens up.
4.0 Draft Order
The draft order is as follows
1. Siva
2. Tejus
3. Kesavan
4. Praveen
5. Gautham
6. Bak
7. Ram
8. Lil
9. Arun
10. Rishi
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