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League Overview
Franchise League Football is a contract-based keeper league where each franchise manages a roster of players with varying contract statuses.
Players can be under one of three contract statuses:
Multi-year contract
Free agent
Restricted free agent
Salary Cap
Each franchise operates under a $100mm salary cap, which applies only during the pre-season auction.
There is no salary cap during the regular season.
Keeper Designation
Prior to the pre-season auction, franchises must designate between 6 and 9 players to keep on their roster.
These designated players will remain under their current contracts heading into the new season.
Pre-Season Auction
Franchises will participate in a multi-round auction to build a 13-player roster (14 players if kickers are included).
Auction Process:
Restricted Free Agent Round:
The first round focuses on restricted free agents.
The highest bid determines the new player salary, and the original team has 24 hours to match the contract.
Subsequent Rounds:
Franchises nominate one player per round.
All franchises can bid on available players. The highest bid becomes the new player contract.
Player Contracts
All contracts are initially for three years, with the salary determined during the auction.
Third-Year Options and Extensions:
In the third year of a contract, franchises can:
Drop the player.
Retain the player for the same salary for one final year.
Extend the player’s contract for additional years at a fixed price increase per year.
Example:
If Saquon Barkley is signed for $24mm, he can be:Kept at $24mm for the second year.
Extended in the third year for $2mm per additional year (e.g., 5-year extension = $34mm salary).
Regular Season Roster
Franchises will have:
14 regular roster spots filled during the auction.
2 reserve roster spots available during the season.
Reserve Roster Rules:
Players placed on reserve prior to Week 12 must remain there for at least 6 weeks or be dropped.
Reserve spots may also include college players (see below).
College Player Draft
After the pre-season auction, a one-round college player draft is held:
Franchises can draft any college player or retain their previous draft pick if still in college.
College players take up one of the reserve roster spots and can be dropped during the season.
If a drafted college player enters the NFL the following season, they can:
Be kept as one of the 6–9 designated players.
Start on a $1mm contract in Year 1, $2mm in Year 2, and become a restricted free agent in Year 3.
Trades
Trades are allowed until Week 12 of the regular season.
Trading resumes after the playoffs conclude.
Regular Season Gameplay
Franchises compete in traditional fantasy football matchups using the following starting lineup:
1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex (RB/WR/TE), 1 DST (optionally, 1 Kicker).
Injury Replacement Rule:
If a starting player is declared out mid-game, their designated bench backup will replace their points for subsequent quarters (e.g., backup scores from Q3 onward if the starter exits at halftime).
Playoffs
Four Playoff Teams:
Determined based on league-specific criteria.
Playoff Format:
The four playoff teams compete in a three-week round robin tournament during Weeks 15–17.
If no team finishes 3–0, the champion is determined by total points scored in the round robin.
Non-Playoff Teams:
Compete in a three-week tournament to determine the draft order for the next college player draft.
Scoring
Standard fantasy football scoring applies.
Injury replacement scoring is implemented once technologically feasible.