Interesting COVID Roster Delimma

[jcc6fd]

With the Steeler/Titans game postponed, Sleeper (and I presume other platforms) gave all players from those teams the COV distinction, which allows them to be put on IR. We implemented a rule in our league that allowed for unlimited COVID IR spots, which I think a lot of leagues also did. I agree with this in principle. If you lose a player in this season for multiple weeks due to COVID, being able to roster additional players seems like an equitable response.

However, this game cancellation has revealed a new set of factors and probably unintended consequences. All players for both of these teams, regardless of their individual health status (no major offensive players for the Titans that I know contracted COVID) are allowed to be put on IR per our rules. Presumably next week the designation will be lifted but this means, for one week, each owner in our league is given additional roster spots equal to the number of Titans/Steelers they roster. I own AJ Brown, thus last night my immediate reaction was to put AJB on COVID IR and submit a waiver claim ($0 FAAB) for Jamaal Williams. My intention was to pick up the best available backup RB to hedge against an injury, knowing I would have to cut a rostered player as soon as next Wednesday. I got him this morning.

My actions and the potential actions of my league mates (one owner has 5 Titans/Steelers) is forcing me to ask, is the reality of a single suspended game that is essentially equivalent to each team's regular bye week cause the COVID designation to give an unfair competitive edge to players who happen to roster the affected teams? And is this situation not in line with the intention of granting extra roster space to teams who lost production from individual players who contracted COVID?

In redraft, with limited roster space, having the spots makes sense to me. You likely need to replace those players to fill your roster. But in our dynasty league there isn't a single player on waivers that anyone would start above their existing bench options. All owners could have theoretically claimed any player currently on waivers in place of an existing bench player prior to having extra bench spots. And if you own Derrick Henry (or any startable Titan/Steeler), you don't actually lose a single week of his production due to COVID. It's not on the week you anticipated, which could cause problems, but stashing another player doesn't impact his week 4 absence either way. However, if Aaron Jones tears his ACL on Monday I have just picked up a valuable in season player I would not otherwise had. These were the rules for everyone, but of course not everyone rosters a player for the Steelers or Titans, and some clearly rostered several.

This could amount to nothing, and I'm not overly concerned about it. All of the players on our waivers are their for a reason. But I do think it's an interesting an unintended facet of how COVID is impacting fantasy.

[Orenthal Shames]

I don't see much of an issue. Losing a starter is a bigger disadvantage than gaining a one week roster space is an advantage.

[jcc6fd]

I don't see much of an issue. Losing a starter is a bigger disadvantage than gaining a one week roster space is an advantage.

You're not actually losing a starter because it's taking the place of their bye week. Unless a game is actually lost from the season from either team or individual players are impacted, I don't see how this is too hurtful to a dynasty team. That is unless you made roster construction decisions based on bye schedule, which I find highly unlikely in dynasty.

[FantasyFreak]

MFL treated as a bye, as they should. Sleeper is making a blunder, and putting you in a predicament.

[abloom]

NO NO NO NO NO! Under no circumstances should the players be considered on COVID lists. While the NFL has not announced when the game will be played, it is (as of now) most likely to be played week 7 or 8 (i forget which) and week 4 will become the two team's bye week.

Players should be treated on bye unless they are specifically put onto the COVID19 list.

[jcc6fd]

NO NO NO NO NO! Under no circumstances should the players be considered on COVID lists. While the NFL has not announced when the game will be played, it is (as of now) most likely to be played week 7 or 8 (i forget which) and week 4 will become the two team's bye week.

Players should be treated on bye unless they are specifically put onto the COVID19 list.

MFL treated as a bye, as they should. Sleeper is making a blunder, and putting you in a predicament.

I'm inclined to agree with both of you. Just debating whether it's important enough to bring it up to our commissioner. It's a friends league and I'd like to avoid making a stink out of it if possible.

[Orenthal Shames]

NO NO NO NO NO! Under no circumstances should the players be considered on COVID lists. While the NFL has not announced when the game will be played, it is (as of now) most likely to be played week 7 or 8 (i forget which) and week 4 will become the two team's bye week.

Players should be treated on bye unless they are specifically put onto the COVID19 list.

MFL treated as a bye, as they should. Sleeper is making a blunder, and putting you in a predicament.

I'm inclined to agree with both of you. Just debating whether it's important enough to bring it up to our commissioner. It's a friends league and I'd like to avoid making a stink out of it if possible.

As long as the league isn't a shallow bush league, I'd lean towards doing nothing. If the waivers have actual talent on them, then I could see it being an issue.

So this is a Sleeper-specific issue?

[moishetreats]

My friends league (redraft) runs like yours; my serious leagues (dynasty -- with much deeper rosters) consider this a bye.

[abloom]

Update: Steelers titans game to be played week 7.

https://www.nfl.com/news/postponed-stee ... for-week-7

Week 4 will be their bye week.

[jcc6fd]

NO NO NO NO NO! Under no circumstances should the players be considered on COVID lists. While the NFL has not announced when the game will be played, it is (as of now) most likely to be played week 7 or 8 (i forget which) and week 4 will become the two team's bye week.

Players should be treated on bye unless they are specifically put onto the COVID19 list.

MFL treated as a bye, as they should. Sleeper is making a blunder, and putting you in a predicament.

I'm inclined to agree with both of you. Just debating whether it's important enough to bring it up to our commissioner. It's a friends league and I'd like to avoid making a stink out of it if possible.

As long as the league isn't a shallow bush league, I'd lean towards doing nothing. If the waivers have actual talent on them, then I could see it being an issue.

So this is a Sleeper-specific issue?

It's sounding that way. MFL apparently treated it as a bye. I'm also on ESPN and Yahoo, and both appear to have treated this as a bye week.

It is a 10 team league meaning there is certainly rosterable talent on waiver, but I'd say our owners are pretty knowledgeable and rosters are decently deep. Notable waiver pickups I've seen are J Williams (me), Gabriel Davis, and extra defenses (likely in anticipation for future weeks). There are still some rosterable RB backups available (and some people haven't filled all of their spots) but nothing egregious there. DJax is somehow on waivers but I don't really want him either.

[Orenthal Shames]

I'm inclined to agree with both of you. Just debating whether it's important enough to bring it up to our commissioner. It's a friends league and I'd like to avoid making a stink out of it if possible.

As long as the league isn't a shallow bush league, I'd lean towards doing nothing. If the waivers have actual talent on them, then I could see it being an issue.

So this is a Sleeper-specific issue?

It's sounding that way. MFL apparently treated it as a bye. I'm also on ESPN and Yahoo, and both appear to have treated this as a bye week.

It is a 10 team league meaning there is certainly rosterable talent on waiver, but I'd say our owners are pretty knowledgeable and rosters are decently deep. Notable waiver pickups I've seen are J Williams (me), Gabriel Davis, and extra defenses (likely in anticipation for future weeks). There are still some rosterable RB backups available (and some people haven't filled all of their spots) but nothing egregious there. DJax is somehow on waivers but I don't really want him either.

Seems like unnecessary headache created by Sleeper. I'd still let it be. If someone in the league has a major issue, they'll make it known.

[Ruggenater]

I think FleaFlicker is treating it the same way as Sleeper. I have a few TEN/PIT players in one league there that all appear to be IR-eligible. Not sure if it’s a setting that could vary league-to-league.

[killer_of_giants]

i was told sleeper was good. first season using it and it looks pants. players on a bye considered as IR eligible... cool mascots tho (no they're fookin terrible)

[abloom]

i was told sleeper was good. first season using it and it looks pants. players on a bye considered as IR eligible... cool mascots tho (no they're fookin terrible)

Who told you it was good? Never used it but everyone that I hear talk about it have nothing but bad things to say about it.

[AussieMate]

The only argument against just treating it like a bye is the one week notice, usually you can plan your bye weeks in advance. It's just going to be one of those years where things will just not be how everyone wants it to be.