With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases consistently rising, the risk of getting over 100 players and personnel in a stadium at the same time in close proximity continues to decrease. What do we do if the 2020 NFL season is canceled?
As fantasy football commissioners, it’s our job to have plans in place for any situation that may arise. This article will explore some possible ways to handle what may come with a canceled season.
What Do You Do if the 2020 NFL Season is Canceled
Redraft Leagues
This is the easiest situation to deal with. Return everyone’s buy-in and take up a new hobby for a while. Maybe take up woodworking? Pottery classes? Or you could do as @BeardedShotgun references below:
I have spoken with some guys who are doing a home league have said they might be using my Madden sim as there base's for fantasy purposes
— Bearded-Shotgun (@BeardedShotgun) June 24, 2020
Keeper Leagues
This situation is also fairly easy, but you could add a layer of strategy to your league. The easy scenario would be to just set keepers next year when we actually have a season.
If you want to spice up your league, think about making keepers due for the 2021 season now. This adds an extra layer of strategy and thought into a bleak situation. If your league is up for the challenge, this could be a change that sticks for years to come.
Salary Leagues
There are two options you could employ in salary leagues, and they both revolve around your contract lengths. On one hand, you could roll over the exact contract seen now. If you signed Michael Thomas to a three-year deal, you’d still have three years on the deal going into 2021. Simple solution, right?
Well, what if you sign a veteran to a three-year deal knowing by the end of it, he’ll be retired anyway? Or what if you have a veteran on a big contract and now you have to pay a large salary to a player one year older? It might be beneficial to deduct a contract year as if the player was paid their 2020 salary.
This might be a situation that can be answered by the NFL. If players are paid out their 2020 salaries and contract lengths don’t roll over, we should match our fantasy leagues to what the NFL does. However, given the choice between these two options, it’s probably best to put it to a league vote.
Dynasty Leagues
This is where we’ll really see the most impact of a canceled 2020 NFL season. There are two main avenues of improving your dynasty team: trades and the rookie draft. Without a season, how do we decide the rookie draft order for 2021?
Keep the same order as 2020
The easiest idea. This will help those rebuilding teams really stockpile talent and could create some nice parity to your fantasy league.
Make it a competition
If you’re in close proximity to your league mates, set aside a day and compete in various events. Anything from cornhole to darts to physical competition would work. This could bring you closer together as friends and might scratch the competitive itch that will be lost without football.
For long-distance relationships, this doesn’t stop you from employing this idea. However, you could maybe set up an online Madden league or bet on horse racing, but whatever you choose, this will add an extra layer to your league that you never knew you wanted.
Switch to an Auction
Push the money off a season and hold a rookie auction. Everyone gets the same amount of cash since there wasn't a season. Nominations go in reverse order of previous years standings
— Tyler Makings (@TPM_Sports) June 24, 2020
The teams at the back of the draft could really be hurt by sticking with the same order used in 2020. By switching to an auction like @TPM_Sports references, this will give every team the opportunity to get players they covet.
You could allocate dollars based on last year’s draft order. Additionally, another solution would be to make it a competition like we mentioned above. No matter what you use, you could switch to a rookie auction, and never go back.
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