Match your football strategy and sports management skills with friends, family and co-workers. Determine through weekly FFL scoring who drafts and manages the best professional football team. Points are awarded based on actual scores made by NFL players during the regular NFL season. Play head-to-head against other FFL team owners all season long until your own FFL league champion is crowned.

LTFFL Franchises will be open for a owner or owners to buy. Each owner gives his/her franchise a name that will be used throughout the NFL season. Each team will consist of 16 players but no team can can draft more then the following player maximum in each slot:

Prior to the start of the NFL season, franchise owners will hold a draft. Date and Time to be determined.  Those franchise owners that are unable to attend should select a representative to draft for them, or provide the commissioner with a list of preferred players to draft.  Each franchise will draft each of the above positions based upon a reverse draft format.  The teams will draft in the order, that was established in the draft lottery.  Each round the order will reverse. For example:

12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

The same format will follow for all 16 rounds. The order of the draft will flip-flop every round. The team drafting first in the first round will draft last in the second round and first again in the third round.

In order to keep the draft time reasonable the following time limits must be enforced:

1. Sixty seconds allowed per pick.

2. If time expires the next team in order will pick. At the end of that round the owner that had time expire on him/her will be given another opportunity to pick.

3. Two minutes will be given to the first and last selecting teams when they're in position to make two consecutive picks.

4. If time expires before the owner can make both picks he/she must wait until the end of the next round before making his/her picks.

5. Should an owner leave the draft FOR ANY REASON the draft will continue. He/She will will need to  make other arrangements for his/her picks in the draft.

6. Should a team not attend the draft or leave before the draft is completed they must make arrangements to have someone draft for them.

7, Owners may select injured players, but they cannot be placed on Injured Reserve until the following week's meeting.

Each franchise submits a starting lineup to the commissioner prior to the first game of the NFL week (Date and time to be determined in owners meeting.) If no starting lineup is submitted then the commissioner will assume the franchise has no line-up changes. The starting lineup consists of:

• 1 QB
• 2 RBs
• 2 WRs
• 1 TE
• 1 K
• 1 DT/ST

As with real NFL teams, franchise owners can trade or transfer one or more NFL players from one franchise to another. Players cannot be traded for defensive/special teams. Trades must be finalized in time for the weekly lineup exchange by the commissioner and any franchise owners involved including costs associated with trades, (see franchise fees). No trades are allowed during the last 4 weeks of the regular season. All trades must be confirmed by the league commissioner, and will be considered for fairness and sportsmanship.

A franchise owner may also waive a player on his/her current roster and add a non-roster player from the Available Players List throughout the season. Waivers must be finalized in time for the weekly lineup exchange by the commissioner and any franchise owners involved including costs associated with waivers, (see franchise fees).

A franchise owner may place a valued NFL Player from his team on Injured Reserve only if the real NFL player is listed on the NFL’s IR. The franchise owner may then draft another player at that position from the Available Players List. Once the NFL team takes this player off the IR, or plays in an NFL game,  the franchise owner must do so as well. The owner must then decide whether to keep the formerly injured player or the replacement player.

As of 2001 there is no IR for the LTFFL.  You can have injured players on your team and hide them on the bench if you can afford them.  But they will count to your 16 player team maximum.

FFL Scoring is based on actual plays and performances made by NFL players each week during the NFL season. Only players listed as starters for each franchise receive points for that franchise. A basic scoring summary is as follows:

Offense:
Quarterbacks (QB), Running Backs (RB), Wide Receivers (WR), Tight Ends (TE)
6 pts per rushing or receiving TD
4 pts per passing TD
2 pts per rushing or receiving 2 pt conversion
2 pts per passing 2 pt conversion
1 pt  per 10 yards rushing or receiving
1 pt  per 25 yards passing
-2 pt per fumble
-1 pt per interception

Kickers (K)
5 pts per 50+ yard FG made
4 pts per 40-49 yard FG made
3 pts per FG made, 39 yards or less
2 pts per rushing, passing, or receiving 2 pt conversion
1 pt  per Extra Point made

Defensive/Special Teams (D)
10 pts per shutout
7 pts for 2-6 points allowed
4 pts for 7-13 points allowed   (note: team defense is responsible for all points allowed)
1 pt  for 14-17 points allowed

3 pts per defensive or special teams TD
2 pts per interception
2 pts per fumble recovery
2 pts per safety
1 pt  per sack

League will run for 12 weeks with playoffs starting on week 13. The top 8 teams in each league will be included in the playoffs with the final game being between the overall winners. (The regular season and playoff schedule listed here is with 12 teams participating, and will adjust with lesser or greater numbers.)

Each franchise owner will receive a owner packet that will contain the NFL Schedule, NFL Roster, complete list of rules, scoring rules, and franchise fees. Each week the franchise owners will receive a newsletter containing:

• The Weekly Winner
• Complete league rosters of every franchise
• The past week’s scoring results, team by team
• Year-to-date league standings
• Weekly head-to-head schedules
• Any league business (trades, roster changes, etc.)
• Any rule interpretations

An additional Commissioner’s Picks Newsletter will be available to all franchise owners for an additional fee of $2.50. 

LT’s Fantasy Football League is a non-profit endeavor set-up only to create interest, enjoyment and a diversion from the everyday routine. It is not intended to reward big cash prizes for performance in the league. The fees involved serve two purposes, first they are only to cover costs of software, statistics, and prizes, and second, they will hopefully weed out those that are not truly serious about participating. The fees are not meant to be a hindrance to the franchise owners.

Franchise purchase $35.00
Fee Agent Signing $ 1.00*
Player Cut $ 1.00*
Trade $ 1.00*
Place on I/R: $ 0.00*
Take off I/R: $ 0.00*

*Misc. Fees will go to the comissioner’s pocket. (Misc. Fees will be waived during the 1^st and 2nd  week of the season)

A. Owners may select a General Manager to represent them for any or all league functions. This move must be okayed by the commissioner and made public to all team owners. IT IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS/HER GENERAL MANAGER HAS KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE LTFFL RULES.

B. Owners will be held responsible for all official league information posted or provided to franchises.

C. All owners are expected to act in a mature and sportsman-like manner. If in the opinion of the Commissioner an owner is detracting from the league and the enjoyment of other owners he/she will be warned. The LTFFL is run for the enjoyment of all of the league owners.

If disruptive, un-sportsman like or abusive activity continues the owner will lose his franchise with no refund of any entry fee.

D. While owners are not required to participate in all league meetings, for the enjoyment of league members, we reserve the right to revoke ownership of a franchise from owners who miss three consecutive league meetings or who are frequently absent. League Leaders will be responsible for reporting meeting attendance to the Commissioner.

1) Practice makes perfect - Every year that I draft there is always at least one owner that has no clue. He or she is the type of person that drafts injured players (guys who are out for the year), drafts guys that are retired (I guarantee you there are going to be leagues where Joe Montana gets drafted this year), and drafts players who have changed addresses and the owner just didn’t know. Don’t let this be you! So maybe you didn’t pay attention during the offseason. But if you want to be a winner and not just have fun, you have to research and study. And go into the draft knowing your stuff and with a plan. How do you prepare? That is up to you. But the info in the commissioner’s newsletter will help you greatly. I would suggest you purchase a copy every week from Brad and study it carefully. How else? Pro Football Weekly is an excellent resource. The Sporting News 1995 Pro Football Register is also a great source for rosters and position eligibility (more on that later). Make sure you are prepared for what goes down at the draft. Be on the ball. Make sure you have a draft board (design your own or use ours) so you know who is out there and who isn’t. Sometimes you get nervous during a draft and your memory isn’t that great - so use a draftboard so you don’t overlook anyone. You might want to use a spreadsheet to track everyone else’s draft to slot in the players selected and who they are selected by. Basically, follow the motto of the Boyscout’s, "BE PREPARED."

2) Learn your league - Study the scoring system, the owners in your league, look for any trends. Its especially important to learn your league’s scoring. Mainly because some positions yield more scoring than others. For instance, in some leagues quarterbacks only are awarded 3 points for every touchdown scored. While in others they are awarded 6 points. Now, if you are in a league that awards 6 points for touchdowns, you might want to consider drafting a quarterback a little earlier than you would if you are in a league that awards only three. If a quarterback that you’re interested has averaged 20 touchdown passes the past three seasons, that is the same as scoring 20 touchdowns. Runningbacks and wide receivers rarely score close to 20 in a season (unless you are Emmit Smith, Jerry Rice, or Marshall Faulk), so draft a GOOD quarterback (note: don’t draft a guy just because he plays QB, draft a good one). If your league only awards 3 points, than that means it takes two touchdown passes to equal one touchdown scored. So the obvious is to draft a runningback or wide receiver early (unless Steve Young is sitting there). Apply this theory to whatever your league’s scoring system is. Some leagues are basic, only awarding points for touchdowns. While some are more elaborate awarding points for yardage, yardage scored on touchdowns, etc. And find out the players that are most effective in your league’s system.

3) Wide Receivers or Runningbacks? - If you are in a standard league, make sure you have a strong running game. Look to draft runningbacks over wide receivers unless you’re talking about a all-pro caliber wide receiver. Runningbacks have a easier time getting into the endzone, they score more often (collectively), and their success is easier to predict than a wide receiver who could start up hot and end up in triple coverage week after week. If you aren’t in a standard league, adjust to the scoring system. And when in doubt, draft the best six point player out there.

4) Draft PLAYERS - Remember, its nice to take gambles - but you don’t want too many. You want to have a team that scores consistently and doesn’t get injured and doesn’t have a bad attitude. A player’s potential is no good to you if its suspended or on the IR with a jammed pinkie. And when drafting in the later rounds, keep drafting good players. Don’t slack off. You’ll need depth as the season wears on - injuries happen. Besides, there is nothing wrong with having too MUCH talent. Drafting a great third running back over a decent second wide receiver gives you the option of trading that great third running back for possibly a great quarterback or a great second wide receiver. And make sure you draft kickers and tight ends in the middle and later rounds.

1) Don’t panic! - Often when drafting, especially in the middle rounds you eye a certain player. You agonize weather to possibly draft him too early or to let him slide and get him as a steal. First things first. If you don’t get this player, don’t panic! Often when I draft, I freak (sort of like the Cleveland Browns when the Jets took Kyle Brady at number nine) if someone grabs a guy I had my heart set on. And when I panic I end up making a bad pick. Well remember, if someone grabs your guy, get over it! What is done is done. Make sure you don’t let it ruin your concentration and your draft. Make other good picks. Now, if you’re wondering to let a guy slide...

2) Playing the field - If the owners in your league know their stuff, the good players will all be gone quick. And it will probably be easy predicting the first couple of rounds. As the draft wears on, that is where championships are won and lost. Sleepers can really make you look good and help your team a great deal. Taking these players is one thing and when to take them is another. Now if you reach and take someone early you may be bypassing guys who you need but won’t be there for your next pick when your sleeper possibly would have. Know your league and know the owners. Letting a guy slide could cost you a player. So think about who might else know about this player. And consider how good this guy will be and the probability of him doing what you think he can do. Now if someone else might have their eye on him and the player is a sure bet - you’re going to have to reach a round or two early to get him. Now, if you’re sure nobody knows this guy and you’re not too sure he is going to come through, gamble. Let him slide and if he is there a round or two later, then grab him.

3) Knowing the difference - Its important to know the difference between a good fantasy player and a good NFL player. When evaluating a NFL player for NFL purposes, a different scale should be used than for when you evaluate a player for fantasy football purposes. For instance, by NFL standards, Barry Sanders is a better runningback than Natrone Means. But by fantasy standards, I would take Means over Sanders any day of the week. Why? Because he puts up better stats and that is what counts in fantasy football. Means had 12 touchdowns last season and was in on goaline situations while Sanders only had eight and gave way to Derrick Moore on goaline situations. But that all gets us back to knowing your league. If league awards points for yardage, then Sanders’ value goes up and you might consider him over Means.

4) Free Agents and Trades - In-season maintenance is a big key. Know when to hold them, and know when to fold them. If your team is doing fine and they are headed to the playoffs, be careful not to do a bonehead deal that could send your team into a tailspin. If you have to make a deal when you’re in first then go over the deal carefully. Check the stats and make sure you get input from others (that you trust). Now if you are in last place, don’t give up on the season, no matter what point the season is in. Don’t look to wheel and deal before the first three games of the year, no matter what your record is. Some teams turn things around for the better and for the worst. And you also want to be able to get a good gauge on a player that you may acquire or trade. So if you are seriously lacking after the first three games, turn things around and hope for the best. As for free agents, look to make some good grabs. There is also at least one player that becomes a star that is nabbed off the waiver wire (some leagues will be better stocked with free agents depending to the amount of teams and the size of rosters). So make sure you check the boxscores and the stats.