| Although it doesn't happen often, collusion in | | | | Aaron Rodgers (GB) in the 7th round. You could |
| fantasy football leagues is known to take place, | | | | keep him in next year's draft for a 5th round |
| and when it does, it often causes a lot of | | | | selection. Players who found a good player with a |
| problems. Collusion is when it appears that a | | | | late round pick are more likely to hold onto them |
| couple teams are working together to give one | | | | for next years draft rather than trade them |
| of their teams the best chance to win the | | | | away. |
| fantasy playoffs. Typically this takes place | | | | 3. Charge a fee to make a trade |
| between a team that is having no luck winning | | | | This doesn't have to be anything substantial, and |
| and a team that is doing very well (for example, | | | | may not defer a whole lot, but can keep players |
| a 2-6 team helping a 7-1 team after Week 8). | | | | to picking their trades wisely. For example, in our |
| The 2-6 team might trade away one of their | | | | league, it costs $1 to make a trade, no matter |
| better players to the 7-1 team for one of their | | | | how many players are involved. That dollar goes |
| lower ranked players. Whether this is due to | | | | towards our end of the year party. Sure, that |
| personal friendships or some sort of | | | | dollar isn't much, but for someone on the "giving |
| under-the-table offer, it can be unfair to the other | | | | away" end of the trade, why should they pay to |
| teams in the league who see the trade as | | | | help out their buddy when they'll receive little in |
| unequal. In most leagues, the commissioner has | | | | return. |
| the power to veto trades to avoid collusion such | | | | 4. Set up a committee to deal with collusion |
| as this, but in doing so can create dislike between | | | | Pick a couple players before the season starts |
| some of the teams in the league towards the | | | | and if any collusive trades arise, they decide as a |
| commissioner and make for an unhappy rest of | | | | group if there is a problem with the trade. This |
| the season. | | | | way, it's not one person making the final veto |
| Although there is no way to completely rid | | | | decision, and you can avoid unhappiness towards |
| leagues of the possibility of collusion, there are | | | | one specific player in the league. |
| some ways to help lessen the chances. Here are | | | | 5. Create a early trade deadline |
| a few of them: | | | | Make your league's trade deadline somewhere |
| 1. Create a weekly prize for high points | | | | between Weeks 7 and 9. This way, players who |
| Some leagues will take some of the entry fee | | | | may still have a chance to make the playoffs if |
| from each team and divide it into end of the year | | | | things go right (even though they are 2-5 or 3-4 |
| prizes and weekly prizes. Then for the team that | | | | at the time) are less likely to trade away better |
| has the highest points every week, they receive | | | | players. Also, players who are playing well in |
| a monetary prize. Some leagues will even award | | | | Week 7 or 8 may not be playing the same in |
| prizes to the 2nd and 3rd places each week. By | | | | Week 13 or 14 when playoffs start, so the |
| doing this, every team has a chance of making | | | | definition of "good player" at that point is less |
| money each week and those who aren't | | | | conclusive. A trade that may seem collusive in |
| consistently winning may want to hold onto their | | | | Week 8 may turn out to be the opposite in |
| better players in hopes of winning. | | | | Week 12 due to injuries or the team's matchups. |
| 2. Make your league a keeper league | | | | I will say it again, collusion doesn't happen often, |
| A keeper league means that the following year, | | | | and I'm not trying to make it sound like it's |
| teams have the option of keeping a few of their | | | | something you should constantly be looking out |
| players if they follow a set of guidelines. For | | | | for in your leagues. I am merely saying that the |
| example, in the league I'm in, I can keep a player | | | | possibility exists, but there are ways to lessen the |
| who was drafting in rounds 4-18 as long as a use | | | | chances and allow for your league to have a |
| a draft pick 2 slots up from where I drafted him | | | | more positive experience without having to be |
| this year in next years draft. Say you drafted | | | | concerned about these possibilities. |