theScore's guide to fantasy football league etiquette

Every year, I play in a number of fantasy leagues across a variety of sports. And every year, there are owners and commissioners that rile me up. I am not immune and I have crossed the line with my own etiquette on occasion, but this is about moving forward and correcting past mistakes.

Whether you're in a league for fun or wagers friendly and otherwise, there are certain things to keep in mind throughout the football season that you can then apply to other leagues.

Don't be an absentee owner

It's straightforward enough, but needs to be repeated. Don't abandon the league the second a championship seems out of reach. Winning may be the goal, but only one team gets that distinction.

Bailing on a league is lame and makes you look like a child if you don't have a good reason. Yes, it's a game. But games are supposed to be fun, and games are less fun when only some of the players are on board. Using the excuse of "you take this too seriously" is a cop out. There's a big difference between being competitive and being a lunatic.

While it's slightly understandable in fantasy baseball - more games, more roster changes - fantasy football requires much less time to set a roster, especially if you're out. Play the waivers early if you have to. Propose trades. Or just start your active players and make sure you are replacing injuries. If you've committed to the league, this is not too much to ask.

Don't be awful at trades

This goes two ways. First, to the person proposing trades. Don't bombard people with offer after offer after first attempts have been rejected. It's fine to test the waters a few times, but if someone has said they just aren't interested in Eric Decker, then stop offering Eric Decker. And don't act like you're doing anyone a favor with your "generous offer."

You are not going to wear someone down into accepting a bad offer. Move on or offer a better trade. It doesn't matter if you think you're offering gold -- or you tell the mark that's what you're doing -- unless the other person sees benefit in the trade, it's just not happening.

On the other hand, give some context for your rejection. You don't have to write a manifesto as intricate as the descriptions of whale anatomy in Moby Dick, but it's better not to auto-reject and call it a day. One line explaining why you don't like the trade is enough. Now, if the seller comes back with another trade offer immediately, seemingly without listening, auto-reject that trash.

Thinking over a trade offer is one thing, letting it sit in the queue until it expires is draconian. Blind rejection is preferable.

Don't be a jerk

Trash talk is welcome - even encouraged - but there is a fine line between trash talk and arrogance. League message boards vary in usage, so the level of trash talk that is tolerated will be determined by the group you play with.

Not everybody responds well to being taunted, even in a jokey fantasy league or even in jest. If someone takes issue with the way you're talking trash, don't chalk it up to "well, they can't take a joke!" Instead, respect that individual's threshold and don't push it. What possible gain can be had by testing someone's boundaries in this context?

Don't rule with an iron fist

Just because you're the commissioner doesn't mean you're the supreme ruler of all things fantasy. You're an administrator for the league, not its king. Discussion of the rules, and debate of their legitimacy should be open and ongoing throughout the season - though, no changes can be made mid-stream. There's no point getting huffy if people aren't happy with your rules.

The worst thing a commissioner can do is get in the way of the league's flow. This includes locking players' rosters arbitrarily or vetoing trades for any reason other than obvious collusion. A one-sided trade shouldn't be disallowed just because one person did a poor job of research or otherwise made a poor decision.

The toughest decision a commissioner should have to make is the date and time of the draft. Finding a time that benefits everyone is sometimes impossible, and occasionally one or two members - any more and a new date has to be picked - won't be able to attend. Beyond this, don't overthink the commissioner's duties.

Be ready to draft

Yes, there is a time limit associated with draft picks. No one should feel rushed to make picks, and if you absolutely need every second before finalizing your selection, fine. But, it's a much better call to have a very specific understanding of who you want and when you want them.

Drafts are fun, but they're also incredibly time consuming. Football drafts don't go as long as baseball drafts do, which are interminable, but being able to make a confident pick within a few seconds will greatly speed up the proceedings. Besides, lineup tinkering will come later anyway.

Be a gracious winner (or loser)

Some degree of celebration or open regret is expected. You won, you get your parade. But, no one likes a grandstanding loudmouth. Likewise, no one wants to hear your sob story about one false move that led to your downfall. Give the winner credit, even if it was kind of lucky -- luck is always involved -- and retool for next year.

In the end, remember the phrase "act like you've been there before." Whether money is on the line or merely bragging rights, it's better if you don't act like an unrepentant arrogant fool. Unless you're enrolled in an anonymous public league, these people are still theoretically your friends. Be cordial, but still rip Tom for picking a quarterback in the first round.