The team with the highest waiver priority gets the claim on a player. When a player is cut from a team's roster, they enter a "waiver" period, allowing other league members to attempt to claim them before they become free agents. If multiple teams try to claim the same player, the team with the better (or "higher") waiver priority will successfully acquire the player.
Understanding Waiver Claims in Fantasy Football
Waiver claims are a fundamental part of managing a fantasy football roster. They provide a structured system for teams to acquire players who have recently been released from another team's roster. This prevents a "free-for-all" scenario where all unowned players are immediately available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Waiver Pool: When a player is dropped by a team, they do not immediately become a free agent. Instead, they enter the waiver pool for a specified period (e.g., 24-48 hours). During this time, teams can submit claims for them.
- Purpose: Waivers ensure fairness and strategy, giving all teams, especially those struggling, an opportunity to acquire valuable players who suddenly become available.
Waiver Priority Explained
Every team in a fantasy league is assigned a specific waiver priority. This priority determines the order in which claims are processed. A lower number typically signifies a higher priority (e.g., #1 priority is better than #5 priority).
If multiple teams place a claim on the same player, the system checks the waiver priority list. The team positioned higher on this list successfully acquires the player, while the claims from teams with lower priority are denied.
How Waiver Priority is Determined
League settings dictate how waiver priority is established and maintained throughout the season. Common methods include:
- Reverse Order of Standings (or Draft): This is a very common method.
- Initial Setup: At the start of the season, waiver priority is often set in reverse order of the fantasy draft (the last pick gets priority #1, the first pick gets priority #10 or #12).
- In-Season Adjustment: During the season, priority may be reset weekly based on the current league standings, with the team in last place receiving the highest priority, then second to last, and so on. This is often referred to as "worst-to-first" priority.
- Rolling Waiver Priority:
- Standard Rolling: Once a team successfully claims a player, their waiver priority drops to the very end of the list for the next waiver run. All other teams move up one spot. This system encourages strategic use of high priority.
- Continual Rolling: Similar to standard rolling, but a team's priority may not drop to the absolute last spot, or it might only drop by a certain number of places, making it less punitive.
- Random: Less common but some leagues may opt for a random assignment of waiver priority each week.
Example Waiver Priority Table
Let's assume a 10-team league using a rolling waiver priority system, where priority resets weekly based on worst-to-first standings, and a successful claim moves a team to the end of the line.
| Week 1 Standing (Worst to Best) | Initial Waiver Priority | Team | Player Claimed (Example) | New Waiver Priority (for Week 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (Last Place) | 1 | Team G | N/A | 1 |
| 2nd | 2 | Team C | QB B. Mayfield | 10 (moved to end) |
| 3rd | 3 | Team J | N/A | 2 (all others moved up) |
| 4th | 4 | Team A | N/A | 3 |
| 5th | 5 | Team H | N/A | 4 |
| 6th | 6 | Team D | N/A | 5 |
| 7th | 7 | Team F | N/A | 6 |
| 8th | 8 | Team B | RB D. Singletary | 9 (moved to end) |
| 9th | 9 | Team I | N/A | 7 |
| 10th (First Place) | 10 | Team E | N/A | 8 |
In the example above, if Team C (priority #2) and Team J (priority #3) both claimed QB B. Mayfield, Team C would get the player because they have the higher priority. Subsequently, Team C's priority would drop to #10 for the next waiver run, while Team J's priority would likely move up to #2, and so on.
The Waiver Claim Process
- Player Dropped: A manager removes a player from their active roster.
- Enters Waivers: The dropped player is placed into the league's waiver pool for a set duration (e.g., 24, 48, or 72 hours).
- Submit Claims: During this period, any manager can submit a claim for the player.
- Claim Processing: At a predetermined time (often early morning on a specific day, like Wednesday in most leagues), the league system processes all pending claims.
- Acquisition: The team with the highest waiver priority among those who claimed the player successfully adds the player to their roster. Their waiver priority may then be adjusted according to league rules. All other teams that claimed the player do not get them.
Understanding your league's specific waiver rules and managing your waiver priority are key strategies for building a competitive fantasy football team throughout the season.
