Drop Add Rule Dispute

Q: We have an issue that we need to resolve.  The question is about making
uneven trades and roster limits.  We have a rule of 16 maximum players on
the roster but no minimum.  Actually our website has a minimum of zero
players and this was an oversight by us.  The dispute is that one team made
a 3-1 trade and now has only 14 players.  We have 4 add/drop transactions
per season and this team thinks he can pick up two free agents to fill out
the 16 man roster without dropping any players.  This should not be allowed
because this makes the trade uneven at the end.  That team should stay with
14 players because you should be able to go under the maximum roster limit.

Yes, each team can make up to a maximum of four add/drops during the entire
season.  The owner was expecting to use the add/drop method to pick up two
players but without dropping any.

A:  Ok, let’s first address the question of whether or not the trade should be allowed.  Can you trade multiple players for one player?  If your league website allows such a trade to be initiated and completed as it seems to in this case, then the answer is absolutely yes. As a law, when your league has not specifically agreed upon a rule that address the issue at hand, defer to the standard rules of your league website - whether it be Yahoo, Sportsline, etc.

With that settled, lets discuss the drop/add policy.  I don’t agree with the argument that the owner in question should not be allowed to pickup two players without dropping anyone.  As you stated, right or wrong, this does not violate your current settings for roster max and mins.  The fact that this owner is only adding - and not dropping - any players is a technicality that should have no bearing on the outcome.  Again, if your league website allows an owner to add a player, without dropping one, then this is clearly not a violation.

I’m sorry if this isn’t the response you were looking for but this owner is absolutely operating within the rulebook you’ve established.  I also think that your rule - only 4 add/drop transactions allowed per year per owner - is affecting your opinion.  Four transactions is a VERY low number and severely restricts all of your league members ability to improve their teams.  With such a premium on transactions I’m betting there is some significant talent available in the free agent pool and now that this owner is forced to use two of his four transactions - it makes the trade look all the more favorable to that owner.  You should consider increasing the number of transactions allowed considerable - or making them unlimited and charging money on a per transaction basis.  Finding the “diamonds in the rough” so to speak on the waiver wire is one of the most exciting aspects of fantasy football and really helps separate the good owners from the bad.