2025 Rule Proposal Debate Forum
Proposal #1: Starting Lineup Compliance
Originator: Zer
Details: Rosters must have enough players to fill a starting lineup. Bye weeks and injuries do not affect this minimum threshold.
Note: I believe this rule was created in response to a rebuilding team last year that just didn’t roster any of one position (example – zero tight ends on the roster, so couldn’t start one).
Argument (From Zer): Fantasy football etiquette. The main argument is keeping people engaged, especially when they are tanking or their season is a lost cause. Not making an attempt to set a starting lineup hands the opposing team a free win. I understand if a team has ass players on their roster but not making any attempts to have a starting lineup or a filled out roster of at least “long shot” players does not help with integrity or longevity of Shadynasty.
Counter Argument (From Brunt): I don’t mind the basis of this rule, however, there are two primary reasons why I’m against it…
- If I’m that tanking team that doesn’t have a starting tight end, but I’m forced to start one for the sake of “competition”, why wouldn’t I just pick up a practice squad or free agent tight end that will get zero points?
- Forcing an owner to start a player at every position adds yet another layer of manual oversight, and Jim is sure to somehow fuck it up and be reprimanded again.
Ultimately, the team doing this is taking a risk in order to get a top pick when they could potentially find a diamond in the rough, and I think that’s fine.
Proposal #2: Moving Trade Deadline
Originator: Fuzz
Details: Push trade deadline back one week to Week 13
Argument (From Fuzz): Gets us away from the trade deadline being Thanksgiving, which can be a pain in the ass to deal with all the family stuff and juggle multiple trade offers. Not to mention, a noon game start time.
Counter Argument (From Brunt): I don’t feel strongly about this one, but I’ll do my best to counter argue. First and foremost, how dare you fuck with tradition? Who made you king of the trade deadline? Just send your shitty trade offers to Darren the week leading up to Thanksgiving instead of waiting until day of.
My real argument against this is it pushes the trade deadline closer to the playoffs (Week 15). In my opinion, an earlier deadline forces teams to make a decision to either push for the playoffs or concede and trade off competing assets. Having only 2 regular season games remaining after the trade deadline allows for that picture to be more clear, and will likely result in less competitive final weeks.
Proposal #3: Boobie Feaster
Originator: Brunt
Details: If (when) Boobie Feaster goes to the NFL, whichever team has 1.01 that year must take him.
Argument (From Brunt): It’s Boobie Feaster… its funny. Making this a rule could be fun since tanking teams might actually try and compete for 1.02.
Counter Argument (From Erk): This fucks over 1.01 pretty hard, and screws over a team in full rebuild.
Proposal #4: Turd-Bowl Comp Pick
Originator: LGR
Details: Winner of the turd-bowl gets a “complimentary” (logger-ism for compensatory) 3rd round pick
Argument (From LGR): Essentially give bottom of the league an extra dart throw to get better.
Counter Argument (From Brunt): That’s dumb.
Proposal #5: Eliminate The “Dynasty” Rule
Originator: Brunt
Details: Eliminate the following rule… Dynasty: If at any point someone wins three titles in four years, they win the amount of money in the treasury ($5 addition to yearly fees) and we redraft the league. Each team gets to keep 2 of their players from their current roster.
Argument (From Brunt): My primary issue with this rule is I’m concerned it could lead to some level of collusion. I’ve even heard someone say that they were rooting for Fuzz this year so the league would reset, with them not knowing Fuzz didn’t win for 2 years between championships, so it wouldn’t happen anyway this season.
Counter Argument (From Zer): You win 3 out of 4 seasons. Dynasty achieved, congrats! I doubt collusion will outwardly happen, as it would be pretty glaringly obvious and the commish can shut that shit down.
Proposal #6: ???
This one is a doozy, and will have it’s own separate post soon.