These fantasy football league types bring fun and competition among friends.
Are you new to fantasy football, or want to explore other league types? Look no further, as The League Winners have the information you need to explore these new formats. Let’s dive in!
Redraft Leagues
Redraft is the beginner league for those who want to get into fantasy football. Managers draft a full team every year and have to set their lineup each week. This setup is nice because if a manager has a bad season, they are not penalized the following year. There is a set number of starters that will consist of QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, and sometimes kickers or team defenses. All redraft leagues are different in terms of scoring rules and positions to start.
Some leagues start one quarterback or have the option to start two. There are also different settings where players get points for catches (PPR) or even leagues you only get points for touchdowns. The options are limitless. This is the most common fantasy football league type, with many players starting and participating in these formats.
Keeper Leagues
The next step up from redraft would be a keeper league. In this setup, managers do not start entirely new each year. Instead, they get a set amount of players to keep on their team every year. Usually, the standard is keeping three players, although that can vary. In some keeper leagues, managers just pick their three keepers and it does not affect their draft picks. In others, keeping a player could mean losing the draft pick based on where a player was selected.
For example, managers who drafted Lamar Jackson in the second round would need to give up their second round pick. Or, you can keep Jared Goff for a sixth round pick. Most people would agree that Jackson is the better fantasy player, but managers have to decide if the difference is worth giving up that draft pick. That is the added part of strategy in this subset of keeper leagues.
Dynasty Leagues
Dynasty leagues are for those who’ve enjoyed keeper leagues but want to control who is on their team every year. This is where leagues have an initial draft that is much longer than typical redraft drafts. It also consists of more players that will be on team rosters.
Unlike redraft leagues, managers do not get a new team each year. However, they will carry this team year to year. In this format, fantasy football managers are essentially playing franchise mode in Madden.
There’s a rookie draft each year, where the pick order is (usually) based on how the teams finished the previous season. Managers get to cut or add players, as well as trade players or upcoming rookie draft picks. Dynasty is truly for those who love football year round, because these managers constantly have to scout for drafts or player movement to improve their team. This type is not for the faint of heart.
Devy Leagues
Devy leagues are for those who’ve tried dynasty, enjoy scouting rookies, but may want to go deeper. This fantasy league type are for those who love watching college football and who the next NFL star could be. This is where Devy leagues come in.
Devy leagues have everything that dynasty leagues offer, with an added component of a “Devy” draft each year. This is where managers select college players who are not eligible for the upcoming NFL draft class. Once they are drafted, these players stay on their team even after they are selected in the NFL draft. Do you wish you could have Marvin Harrison Jr. on your team but you do not have a top three pick? Well if selected him in the Devy draft, he’d be on your team by the time the rookie draft comes along.
Some Devy league types have a mixed draft, where managers can choose an incoming rookie or a college player. There are other leagues that have separate drafts altogether, with the Devy draft usually occurring in the spring before the actual NFL draft. This is another step into full obsession of football, but can be incredibly fun. This league type also helps managers get ready for other leagues by scouting players before they come to the NFL.
C2C (Campus 2 Canton)
This is where it gets overwhelming for some fantasy football players. In this league type, managers have a NFL team and a college team. While Devy leagues have college players that are selectable, they do not accumulate points. Managers are just waiting for them to get on your roster. However, in C2C leagues, there are two different leagues that managers are trying to win – the “Campus” side, and the “Canton” side..
Once a college player on the “Campus” side goes to the NFL they go to your “Canton” side. These leagues have massive drafts that take a considerably long time. The NFL draft is very watered down and there is a supplemental or freshman draft for the “Campus” side each year.
The good part about C2C leagues is that there is so many different strategies to implement. Managers could focus on winning a specific league, or compete in both at the same time. The trading of initial draft picks is incredibly fun. C2C leagues are truly a year round format. This is because managers must keep up with college recruitment and what players in the transfer portal. It can be overwhelming, but for those interested they can check out Campus2Canton or reach out to Felix Sharpe on X (formerly Twitter).
IDP Leagues
IDP stands for individual defensive player. These fantasy football league types can be both redraft and dynasty leagues. They can also feature offensive players, as well. Primarily, IDP leagues will feature multiple defensive players in each team’s starting lineup. While points can vary depending on the position, sacks and interceptions tend to generate a lot of points. In IDP leagues, targeting the best players isn’t exactly the right gameplan, and instead managers should be targeting players who are actively involved in plays regardless of overall talent level.
Auction Leagues
Auction formats can be both redraft and dynasty leagues. Managers must enter this type of league with a plan beforehand. Each team is given a budget to fill their roster. Instead of a normal draft, each team takes turns nominating a player and then bidding takes place for the player who was nominated. These drafts do not allow managers to spend their budget without filling their roster. For example, if the budget is $250 and the roster minimum is 20, you could not spend $250 on just two players. There would need to be at least $1 for the other 18 players.
Best Ball Leagues
Best ball leagues can be both redraft or dynasty leagues. Instead of setting your lineup, it is automatically based on who scores the most points each week at their respective position. For example, if teams must start three wide receivers it will pick the top three scorers to calculate a team’s weekly score. This type of league focuses around a different strategy than others. Instead, consistent players aren’t necessary. Players that have high variance can be better in this type of format.
For example, a Gabe Davis type of player that can have two touchdowns one week but only two catches the next is beneficial to roster in this type of format. This league is perfect for those that want to be in leagues but don’t want to worry about setting lineups consistently.
Guillotine Leagues
Guillotine leagues and more of a niche type in the fantasy community. In this type of league, the lowest scoring team each week is eliminated and their season is over. This type of league is fairly simple, yet holds higher stakes than most.
Empire Leagues
Empire leagues are a mix of dynasty and redraft. It initially starts as a dynasty league, where each team is the same year after year. The catch is half of the winner’s pot is set aside each year until there is a back-to-back (or three-time) champion. Once that happens, the victor wins that entire pot and the league starts over. This is where the redraft portion begins, as a new draft starts afterward.
Brandon Haye
Brandon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a health insurance data analyst. He has no children, but two fur babies - Squirt and Brownie. He and his wife, Katie, spend their time playing poker and enjoying time with their pups. Brandon is a huge Michigan Wolverine and Jacksonville Jaguars fan. He at one time was in 77 fantasy leagues and loves the game of football. Brandon started writing for The Leauge Winners in 2021.