Setting Up a New League at the Office - Best Setup? (1 Viewer)

[The Full Nelson]

I started a new job in March and when my coworkers found out that I play fantasy football, they asked if I would set up a league for the office.  All the leagues I am currently in have been around for ten years or more.  I have not set up a new league in at least that long.  So, I am looking for some advice on scoring system, web site, any other considerations I am missing. 

The group seems moderately experienced but not hardcore.  It will probably be a redraft league with 8-10 owners.  I prefer an auction but this feels more like a draft.  (Third round reversal, anyone?)  Any suggestions or referrals to posts that have already covered this question would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks and best of luck this season!

 

[JoeSteeler]

I started a new job in March and when my coworkers found out that I play fantasy football, they asked if I would set up a league for the office.  All the leagues I am currently in have been around for ten years or more.  I have not set up a new league in at least that long.  So, I am looking for some advice on scoring system, web site, any other considerations I am missing. 

The group seems moderately experienced but not hardcore.  It will probably be a redraft league with 8-10 owners.  I prefer an auction but this feels more like a draft.  (Third round reversal, anyone?)  Any suggestions or referrals to posts that have already covered this question would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks and best of luck this season!

Free league or pay?

 

[The Full Nelson]

Good question.  Probably free or very low stakes.

 

[JoeSteeler]

Good question.  Probably free or very low stakes.

Would definitely agree with free or very low $, because you don’t want to cause any issue with your co-workers. Sometimes the commish has to make rulings and it can definitely get sticky in a work league.

I started a redraft league at my work 2 years ago and play for free. Mix between experienced  and very little experience. I thought it was best to keep it on the simple side, standard snake draft, no crazy scoring rules etc. it has worked very well and has been a lot of fun. Maybe after the first year you can get a gauge on everyone and possibly make it a pay league, add super flex etc.

Bottom line , with the mix of experience I would keep it simple and a free league, at least for year one. Now if all the owners agree  it should be a small stakes pay league from he start, that is another matter. 
 

 

[Gally]

Go as simple as possible and make it more about trash talking and comradery than anything else.  I would have a modest entry fee because you have to play for something.  I would also look into getting a perpetual trophy of some sort that is company centric that the winner gets to keep at his desk for the year.  I started a work league like this when I first started up at a company many years ago.  Here are some of the things that helped keep it going:

• Low dollar entrance fee ($20)
  
• Simple scoring but put it on the high side.  Every likes their players scoring points.  It keeps interest
  
• Simple snake draft (no 3rd round reversal).  Everyone understands the simple snake.  Keep it simple.  
  
• Simple lineups (QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, TE, 2 Flex, Def, K, 5 bench spots, 2 IR spots) - this keeps the waiver wire flush with players so people can make moves easily.
  
• This is a key and some won't like it but EVERYONE MAKES THE PLAYOFFS.   This is essential when you are dealing with people that are novices in a work environment.  You want everyone to stay involved and if you only take the top 4 for the playoffs then someone that loses the first couple of games will lose interest and become stagnant.  This is very bad for a work league that isn't serious.  By having everyone make the playoffs it doesn't matter if you go 0-8 you still have a shot at the trophy. 
  
• Depending on how many teams you get (12 is ideal) you make sure everyone plays every team at least once.  By having 12 teams you can have 11 regular games (everyone plays each other once) then week 12 is a "position" week where 1st vs 2nd; 3rd vs 4th, etc.  Then roll into playoffs after that.  You can have the top 2 or 4 teams earn a bye (based on weeks available for playoffs) and let it roll
  
• Create a League Trophy that is company based.  My company was a manufacturing company so we made a trophy that included one of the items we manufactured as the topper and went to a trophy store for a wood base and nameplate.  It was was awesome.  Every year the Super Bowl winner got their name engraved on the trophy and got to keep it at their desk for the year.  It was great for team building at the company
  

Enjoy.  It was a great addition to the company mix for us.