Revisiting Playoff Expansion + Lottery?

[Flaxwless]

Last year we had a big ordeal regarding keeping teams from tanking and it fell apart largely to Mike and others who opposed the idea. With a new change of ownership I was thinking what everyone thought about this subject.

I've outlined my opinion before but I would like to re-expand the playoffs back to 6 teams and possibly have instead of a strict rookie draft based on finals standings perhaps a lottery for the 1st pick in the draft with the bottom 3 teams.

They could be separate proposals but I think it tandem it would be beneficial for the league.

Proposal 1) Expansion of playoffs - 3 division winners/3 WC spots, shorten regular season by 1 week (can play double header 1 week to even number of games - preferably double up a non-division game) or hold championship into Week 17.

Rationale: More playoff spots... wider field, more competition. More teams will still be in the playoff hunt that everyone will be more active in FA, trade market, and will truely try to win each week. Look at the standings right now:

The East has 7-1, 6-2, 6-2 the Central and West have division winners who are 2 games ahead of 2nd place with 5-3 and 6-2 records. With only 4 teams playoffs only these teams are realistically looking at playoff births.

However, expand it to 6 teams and we have teams that are 4-4 and 3-5 (3 teams) battling for the final playoff spot. If teams know they have a chance at playoffs the activity in the league will pick up, Right now these teams are what I would call as "mailing it in." I guarantee league activity will increase with this measure alone.

Proposal #2) Lottery for the 1st spot - What will happen is we'll put the bottom 3 teams in a lottery for ONLY the 1st spot in the draft with the #2 and #3 being determined by record.

How will it work? The bottom 3 teams each have a 1/3 chance to win 1st place. If the worst team gets the 1st pick then they pick in 1st/2nd/3rd. If the 2nd worst team gets 1st pick then they pick: 2nd worst/1st worst/3rd worst. If the 3rd worst team gets the 1st pick then they pick: 3rd/1st/2nd.

Rationale: Prevent late season tanking by bottom place teams as having the worst record will not guarantee the 1st overall pick. However, the worst team can do no worse than 2nd if they don't get the 1st pick. This is the perfect measure to curb teams from late season tanking.

Again I think both these measure would greatly improve the competitiveness and activity of the league. More teams have a chance of winning the Championship and less incentive to tank games. It seems like a no brainer solution to me. Thoughts?

[Burt the Butcher]

I'd have to chew on this...my first instinct is a lottery could mean more teams might tank to get into the drawing.

The only way I would like to see 6 playoff teams is if top 2 teams get a 1st week bye. Otherwise you water down the push for best records, seeing how FF is NOT real football, and you have no control over how your players do. I would be for expansion that way.

Also, I don't like the double header in one week idea. If you have a really good week, or a really bad week, it gets ampliphied.

[Flaxwless]

Anyone else? What does the lack of responses mean?

[Philadelphia Freedom]

I missed this until now (lack of response for me was b/c of that). As a 6-2 team I would happy to see the playoff expanded this year as it likely that a team with 9 (possibly 10) wins will not make it.

I am not huge on a playoff lottery but if it had to go with the playoff expansion I could live with it.

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

I'm not in favor of a draft lottery.
As for expanding the playoffs... hmmm... the regular season is so tough. It's really a reward to make the playoffs. I kind of like it where it is. But my opinion's not set in stone.

[Philadelphia Freedom]

I agree about it being a reward but I think I have the best all play record in the league and at this point I don't think I would be in the playoffs. I guess you will always lose a qualified team (or two) but it would be nice to have a little more leeway (ie a couple of extra wildcard slots).

[Flaxwless]

I'm hoping to get playoff expansion implemented more so than the lottery. Like I said both would be separate proposals and I really feel strongly that 6 team playoffs would be beneficial for the whole league.

Sure it's a struggle now with only 1 WC spot but at what expense? It kills all activity for teams that are 1 or 2 players away from even trying to get better b/c a very good team can't even make it anymore. You need to be an elite team.

Again the best team will usually win anyways. If a 6th seed wins the Championship then they earned just the same as a 1st seed.

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

Originally Posted by Flaxwless

If a 6th seed wins the Championship then they earned just the same as a 1st seed.

Actually, I disagree here. In the 10+ years I've been playing fantasy football, I've come to see over and over again how underdog teams can pull playoff upsets when the "regulars" have one bad game down the stretch (or backups start to shine, due to a team resting starters for their playoff run). I know it's a part of the game. And personally, I always cheer for the underdog. However, when it comes to a long & grueling season of fantasy football, it's been kinda neat to have this league where only 4 teams make it, as it really does feel like a "reward" for making the postseason.

Again, I'm not adamantly opposed to it... so if the league votes for it, that's fine. I just will probably vote against. Nothing personal.

[Flaxwless]

Originally Posted by Royal Hawaiian Opihi

Actually, I disagree here. In the 10+ years I've been playing fantasy football, I've come to see over and over again how underdog teams can pull playoff upsets when the "regulars" have one bad game down the stretch (or backups start to shine, due to a team resting starters for their playoff run). I know it's a part of the game. And personally, I always cheer for the underdog. However, when it comes to a long & grueling season of fantasy football, it's been kinda neat to have this league where only 4 teams make it, as it really does feel like a "reward" for making the postseason.

Again, I'm not adamantly opposed to it... so if the league votes for it, that's fine. I just will probably vote against. Nothing personal.

So what about this season when it looks like the 3 best teams are all in the Eastern division? Looks like a Top 3 team will get the shaft after "long & grueling" regular season.

But I'd like to here thoughts from the other teams in the league that are not In the Eastern Division or named Burt.

[Urza's Ragers]

I'm not Burt , I can see it both ways but I do like the idea of more activity down the stretch. More activity = more fun and we are all here to have fun, I would definitely stick with the 4 teams if it was for money but it's not a money league. I'm problem in favor of expanding the playoffs and not too crazy about the lottery thing. Of course this should not happen this year right?

Edit: I mean not happen this year.

[Flaxwless]

Originally Posted by Urza's Ragers

I'm not Burt , I can see it both ways but I do like the idea of more activity down the stretch. More activity = more fun and we are all here to have fun, I would definitely stick with the 4 teams if it was for money but it's not a money league. I'm problem in favor of expanding the playoffs and not too crazy about the lottery thing. Of course this should not happen this year right?

Edit: I mean not happen this year.

Of course. It's a for next season.

I like your rationale and agree with you. This is a semi-free league (only MFL and Trophy costs) and we play for fun so I think more activity during the season is more important than having an elite playoff showdown.

[Burt the Butcher]

Originally Posted by Flaxwless

Of course. It's a for next season.

I like your rationale and agree with you. This is a semi-free league (only MFL and Trophy costs) and we play for fun so I think more activity during the season is more important than having an elite playoff showdown.

It really not important what you think..what's important is that Urza is not