Ares Fantasy Football League Constitution
1. Overview
The Ares Fantasy Football League (AFFL) is a 12-member dynasty contract league hosted on the Sleeper platform. Drawing inspiration from ancient mythology, our league is themed after the Greek gods, embodying their timeless grandeur and powerful narratives in our competition.
The Greek pantheon is known for its epic tales of valor, cunning, rivalry, and perseverance — qualities that reflect the competitive spirit and strategic thinking required in our league. Ares, the god of war, signifies the fierce competition, strategic battles, and the test of endurance that our league represents.
Being part of this league is not merely about managing a fantasy football team, it's also an experience of being part of an epic saga, echoing the stories of mighty Greek gods. It's about challenging yourself, making bold moves, and ultimately striving to ascend to the football Olympus.
Every battle on the field mirrors the clashes of titans, every player a potential hero, every season a new chapter in our own epic mythology. This Greek god theme sets the AFFL apart, making it a uniquely engaging, dynamic, and, above all, a profoundly bad ass experience.
2. Governing Body
At the start of each season, the league appoints a Commissioner, who is responsible for efficiently managing the day-to-day operations of the AFFL and interpreting the appropriate course of action based on the terms outlined in this Constitution and the rules of the Sleeper platform.
The Commissioner does not have autonomous rule over the league and can be removed from office through a unanimous vote.
2.1. League Commissioner
Jason Ferguson
2.2. Deputy Commissioner
Daniel Leslie
Note
If you are unable to reach the league commissioner, please contact the league deputy commissioner. Contact information can be found on the AFFL Tracker.
3. Entry Fee and Deadline
Each team must pay an entry fee of $200 before the start of the season. Payment of these dues must be made in full no later than 14 days prior to the live auction. No exceptions will be made to this rule.
Failure to comply with this payment deadline will result in your team being replaced. Please ensure that your dues are paid on time to secure your participation in the upcoming season.
4. Dynasty and Contract League
The AFFL is both a dynasty and a contract league, meaning teams retain many of their players from year to year and sign players to contract terms of up to four years.
5. Roster and Lineup Format
Each team must set their rosters in the following format each week:
| Position | Number of Players |
|---|---|
| Total Roster Players | 17 |
| Bench Players | 8 |
| Quarterback (QB) | 1 |
| Running Back (RB) | 2 |
| Wide Receiver (WR) | 3 |
| Tight End (TE) | 1 |
| Flex (RB, WR, or TE) | 1 |
| Individual Defensive Player (IDP) | 1 |
Note
As of the 2023 season, we've made an important change to the roster composition: the kicker position has been removed and replaced with an additional wide receiver slot.
6. Live Auction and Pre-Auction Ceremony
The AFFL season begins each year with a live auction, as opposed to a draft. All team managers are expected to attend this auction in person, with exceptions made only in special circumstances.
Before the auction commences, we will hold a ceremony to honor the previous year's champion and to present the trophy. This ceremony is not just a time for recognition, but also a platform for constructive discussion. Members are encouraged to bring forth issues or suggestions on how we can improve the league experience.
Each team is allocated a specified budget, often referred to as cap space, to utilize during the auction. However, due to the limitations inherent to the Sleeper platform, managers must ensure to fill out their rosters completely during the auction itself.
7. Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB)
FAAB is a system designed to regulate the acquisition of free agents, which are players not currently rostered by any team.
7.1. FAAB Budget Allocation
Before the start of each season, every team is provided with a FAAB budget of $100. This budget is exclusively used for acquiring free agents throughout the season.
7.2. FAAB Bidding Process
The process for bidding on free agents is automated and facilitated by the Sleeper platform:
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Bid Submission: Teams can place bids for available free agents.
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Bid Amount: When making a claim for a free agent, each team specifies the bid amount in whole dollar values.
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Bidding Deadline: Bids must be submitted before a predetermined deadline, typically set before the start of the first NFL game of the week. Sleeper handles the timing and processing.
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Automatic Processing: After the bidding deadline passes, Sleeper automatically processes the FAAB bids and assigns free agents to the highest bidders.
7.3. FAAB Tiebreakers
In situations where multiple teams submit identical bids for a free agent, the tiebreaker is determined by waiver wire priority, which operates as a rolling waiver system.
7.3.1. Waiver Wire Priority
The initial priority is determined by the most recent auction order, with the team holding the first overall pick having the lowest priority and the team with the last pick having the highest. Successful claims push the successful team to the end of the priority list, while other teams move up in the order. Free agent acquisitions do not affect this priority order.
7.4. Waiver Period
Players placed on waivers remain locked for a period of 1 day. After this waiver period expires, they become free agents, and teams can acquire them without the need for bidding.
7.5. Allocation of Remaining Auction Budget
At the conclusion of the live auction, any unused auction budget is automatically added to a team's FAAB budget. This allows teams to bolster their FAAB budget based on the funds not spent during the live auction.
7.6. Trading FAAB Budget
Teams have the flexibility to trade their FAAB budget at any time before the designated deadline. These trades can involve the exchange of FAAB budget for players or other assets, providing strategic opportunities to strengthen their roster.
8. Contracts
Contracts in the AFFL can range from 1 to 4 years. Each team can sign one player per position (not including flex) each off-season. However, a team cannot have two players at the same position under contract, even if the contracts were signed in different off-seasons.
Contract costs are added to the player's salary from the previous season as follows:
| Contract Length | Cost Increase |
|---|---|
| 1 year (option) | Same as previous salary |
| 2 years | + $5 per year |
| 3 years | + $10 per year |
| 4 years | + $15 per year |
8.1. Franchise Tag
Teams may also apply a franchise tag to one player. This limits the annual cost increase to only $1. The tag can be cancelled, downgrading the contract to a regular one, but the team must pay the difference as a penalty.
Info
The franchise tag can only be applied at the time a contract is signed and cannot be applied to an existing contract.
9. Breaking Contracts
In the event that a team breaks a player's contract, a penalty will be enforced, affecting the auction budget for the subsequent year. This one-time penalty constitutes a percentage of the player's salary, which is rounded down to the nearest whole number:
| Contract Length | 1st year | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 70% of salary | 50% of salary | 30% of salary | 0% of salary |
| 3 years | 70% of salary | 50% of salary | 0% of salary | - |
| 2 years | 70% of salary | 0% of salary | - | - |
| 1 year | 0% of salary | - | - | - |
Note
If a team decides to break the contract of a player with a franchise tag, there is no additional penalty for cancelling the tag itself.
Note
Players on 1 year contracts can be released with no penalty.
The contract of a player who is released is voided, and the player becomes eligible to be signed by another team.
10. Trades
Trades are allowed in the AFFL, with each team allowed to trade players, FAAB dollars, and future auction dollars up to a cap of $30M. Contracts are also tradable, with the receiving team inheriting the remaining terms of the contract.
11. Collusion
Collusion, or cooperation between teams to cheat or gain an unfair advantage, is strictly forbidden in the AFFL. It's crucial for the integrity of the league that each member competes independently and fairly.
11.1. Reporting Collusion
If a member suspects collusion, they must report it to the Commissioner immediately, providing detailed information to facilitate an investigation.
11.2. Investigation Process
The Commissioner, in collaboration with the Deputy Commissioner, will conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the reported collusion, involving a review of trades, communication logs, or other relevant information.
11.3. Examples of Collusion
- Unfair Trades: Trades that don't show a good faith effort by both managers to improve their teams. While unbalanced trades aren't always a sign of collusion (e.g., a top-ranked QB for a practice squad WR), context and rosters must be considered.
- External Exchanges: Exchanges involving goods or services outside of the game.
- Handshake Agreements: Agreements for the exchange of in-game goods or services not included in the official trade.
- Incomplete Transactions: Trades that cannot be completed in one transaction, indicating potential under-the-table agreements.
11.4. Decision and Action
If collusion is confirmed, the Commissioner, in consultation with the Deputy Commissioner, will determine the appropriate action, ranging from warnings to nullification of trades and more severe penalties.
11.4.1. Severe Penalties
In cases of egregious or repeated collusion, penalties may include forfeiture of the season, loss of all potential winnings and bonuses, and possible expulsion from the league.
11.4.2. Right to Appeal
Members subject to penalties for collusion have the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Commissioner within a specified timeframe.
The AFFL expects all members to maintain the highest standards of fairness and sportsmanship. Collusion undermines these principles and will be dealt with firmly to preserve the integrity and competitive balance of the league.
12. God of War - Bonus Money
Teams can earn extra cap money for the next season through the following achievements:
| Achievement | Bonus |
|---|---|
| QB throws for at least 500 yards and scores at least 3 TDs, or runs for at least 150 yards and scores at least 3 TDs | $5M |
| RB, WR, or TE goes for at least 200 yards in either receiving or rushing and scores at least 2 TDs | $5M |
| IDP records at least 4.0 sacks or 3 INTs or 3 FF or 20 tackles in one game | $5M |
| Weekly winner beats 2nd place by more than 50 points | $5M |
| RB WR, or TE scores 40 points in a week, or QB scores 50 points in a week | $5M |
Warning
The God of War bonus only applies during the regular season and does not extend to the playoffs, which begin in Week 15.
13. Playoffs and Prizes
13.1. Ares Championship
The Ares Championship represents the culmination of the fantasy football season within the AFFL, where teams compete in a structured playoff format to win the league title and corresponding prizes.
13.1.1. Format
- Commencement: The playoffs begin in Week 15.
- Participants: Involves the top three teams from both the Hera and Zeus divisions, along with two wild card teams.
13.1.2. Seeding and Matchups
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Quarter Finals:
- 1st seed vs 8th seed
- 2nd seed vs 7th seed
- 3rd seed vs 6th seed
- 4th seed vs 5th seed
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Semi Finals:
- Highest remaining seeds vs lowest remaining seeds.
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Finals:
- Winners from the semi-finals compete for the championship.
13.1.2.1. Ares Championship Bracket
13.1.3. FAAB Claim Restrictions
- Teams eliminated from the Ares Championship are barred from making FAAB claims for the remainder of the season.
- FAAB claims processed during the playoffs cannot be retained for future contracts.
13.1.4. Prizes
From the total entry fees of $2400, the following prizes will be awarded:
| Place | Prize | % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ares Championship Winner | $1210 | 51.05% | $1210 |
| Consolation Prize | $540 | 22.78% | $540 |
| 3rd Place | $200 | 8.44% | $200 |
| Weekly Winner | $420 | 16.96% | $420 |
Info
The team with the highest score each week receives a weekly prize of $30. Over the course of the 14-week season, this totals $420. However, it's important to note that $200 of the Championship prize money is withheld for the next year's dues. The remainder of the prize money will be paid to the winners within 7 days of the end of the season.
Warning
Weekly winner prizes will be held for the following year's dues. However, in the event that a league member leaves the league, the weekly winner prize money will be forfeited unless the departing member successfully finds an adequate replacement who agrees to take over both the team.
Info
An amount of $30 has been earmarked specifically for the purpose of trophy engraving.
13.2. Hades Championship
In the spirit of competition and to offer an incentive for those teams that might not have made the playoffs, we introduce the Hades Championship. This is dedicated to the bottom four teams, named after Hades, the ruler of the underworld in Greek mythology.
The Hades Championship provides these teams an opportunity to earn additional cap money for the next season. This incentive replaces the traditional benefit of receiving high draft picks. The Hades Championship, although smaller in scale, mirrors the structured seeding format of the Ares Championship, with some adjustments due to the fewer number of teams.
13.2.1. Format
- Commencement: Begins concurrently with the Ares Championship in Week 15
- Participants: The bottom four teams not qualifying for the Ares Championship.
13.2.2. Seeding and Matchups
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Semi Finals:
- 1st seed vs 4th seed
- 2nd seed vs 3rd seed
-
Finals:
- Winners from the semi-finals compete for the Hades Championship title.
13.2.2.1. Hades Championship Bracket
13.2.3. FAAB Claim Restrictions
- Teams eliminated from the Hades Championship are also barred from making FAAB claims for the remainder of the season.
- FAAB claims processed during the playoffs cannot be retained for future contracts.
13.2.4. Prizes
| Place | Auction $ |
|---|---|
| 1st | $ 15 |
| 2nd | $ 10 |
| 3rd | $ 8 |
| 4th | $ 6 |
14. Creating New League Rules
When a league dispute arises which has not been addressed in the league constitution, a discussion will ensue on possible resolutions to the dispute. Based on these discussions, the Commissioner will create an online poll so that owners can vote on an appropriate course of action.
The league will follow the course of action based on a plurality of league votes. Also, we will create a new rule in the league constitution based on the result of the league poll so that similar disputes will be resolved in the same manner.
15. Penalties for Roster Oversights
If an owner has a roster slot open (either due to bye week or simple oversight), but has a backup player (not on bye, or OUT) available on their bench, then the Commissioner must insert the available player in the open roster slot. If two eligible bench players exist then the player with the highest average projected point output for that week should be inserted.
The commissioner will not make a substitution for a player who is OUT, regardless of when they were declared out. The one exception is when a roster is illegal, in which case substitutions must be made by the league commissioner.
Team owners are allowed to have one open roster slot on their team during any given week, assuming that they make it known to the comissioner that they are purposefully leaving that roster spot open. If one roster slot is open then the team owner will receive 0 points for that single roster spot.
No team owner may have more than one open slot on their roster during a given week. If more than one position is left open on a roster, and there are no viable substitutes to fill in for those players, then the owners team will receive 0 points for the entire week and a loss.
16. Member Expectations
The Ares Fantasy Football League (AFFL) is a community of mature and responsible individuals. As such, each member is expected to exercise autonomy, due diligence, and integrity in managing their respective teams.
This league is not for the faint-hearted or those in need of constant guidance. There will be no hand-holding; every team owner is responsible for their team's performance and compliance with the league's rules and procedures as outlined in this Constitution. The Commissioner's role is to ensure the smooth running of the league in accordance with this Constitution, not to provide constant oversight or micromanagement.
Members are encouraged to understand the rules fully, ask clarifying questions when necessary, and actively participate in league activities and discussions. Respect for each other, the spirit of the game, and the rules that govern our league is paramount.
An additional expectation within the league is that members respond to trade requests in a timely manner. Prompt and considerate responses, whether to accept, decline, or negotiate trade offers, are essential for maintaining active engagement and respect among league members. This practice facilitates a dynamic and interactive league environment, ensuring fair and efficient transactions.
We trust that our members, as mature adults, will uphold these expectations, contributing to the vibrant, competitive, and respectful environment that defines the AFFL.
17. Game Outcome Resolution
In the event that a game within the league cannot reach its conclusion due to unforeseen circumstances, technical issues, or any other reasons, the league will defer to the decision of the platform (Sleeper) regarding the outcome of the game. Sleeper's determination will be considered final and binding for all affected matchups. This decision aims to maintain fairness and integrity in situations beyond our control.