MEMORANDUM FOR: Playoff Seeding
FROM:
Office of the Commissioner
KC Guyz
Kansas City, MO
References
- Rule 24: Seeding will be solely determined by record, Points For, then Head-to-Head, then coinflip.
- Rule 26: The commissioner will not override scoring decisions made by the current league’s host site (i.e. Sleeper). Example: Sleeper kept the partial scores of the canceled Bill/Bengals game in the 2022 season while ESPN nullified those scores.
- Rule 32: Commissioner retains the right to make judgment calls to supersede any rule whether explicit or implicit. The rest of the league can veto a commissioner’s decision with 2/3 of the vote of all owners not directly involved in the decision.
Background and Verdict
Unlike conference seeding in college football, which prioritizes conference records, Sleeper’s platform applies divisional seeding independently of divisional performance. Thus, a team may have a divisional record of 0-6 and still retain a top seed within its division if its overall record is sufficient (e.g., 8-6).
Upon review of Rule 24, which addresses seeding, we note ambiguity regarding its application to divisional or playoff seeding. In alignment with this year’s foundational principle of simplicity, we clarify now that Rule 24 pertains to divisional seeding exclusively and does not address playoff seeding. Therefore, similar to NFL protocol, a team failing to win its division cannot secure a top playoff seed.
Policy Clarification and Rule Amendment
Our office reaffirmed in the pre-season our commitment to eliminate out-of-platform rules. A rule like Rule 26 embodies this policy, aiming to avoid subjective administrative interventions. We acknowledge the administrative oversight that led to confusion with Rule 24 and understand the impact on league members, particularly the Dream Team and Sunday Scaries.
Amendments:
- Rule 24: Revised to state, “Divisional seeding will be solely determined by record, Points For, then Head-to-Head, then coinflip.”
- Rule 33: Introduced to address playoff seeding, reading: “Playoff seeding will be determined by the league’s host platform (i.e. Sleeper) without commissioner intervention.”
Voting and Veto Rights
Pursuant to Rule 32, any member may call for a vote to veto this decision. As the Office of the Commissioner is involved in this determination, it will abstain from voting. To overturn this decision, a two-thirds majority (8 out of 11 voting members) is required.
Acknowledgments
We extend our gratitude to the Dream Team for their attention to detail and prompt engagement on this matter. We regret confusion caused and remain committed to upholding the integrity of the league’s rules and success.
KC Guyz 