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A Beginners Basic Guide to Using the Waiver System for the Free Agent Pool

The great thing about fantasy football is that while you do depend on other factors that are out of your control (how the player performs, what his injuries are, suspensions, etc.), you do have it in your power to make the kind of changes that can make your team stronger, faster, meaner. As an 'owner', you are allowed to make changes in your team, as long as your actions are within the limits set by the league's rules. Some of these changes may involve the free agent pool, which also uses a waiver system.

What is a waiver system?

A waiver is quite simply the process used by team owners to select available players from the free agent pool. These players aren't part of the owner's team roster and they become part of the free agent pool as a result of remaining undrafted (meaning no owner selected them) or getting dropped (cut or traded) by their owners. This way, other owners can put a claim on these players.

A waiver system is a set of rules that governs the teams in your league and determines the setting of how players may be selected from the free agent pool. Not all leagues have a waiver system, though, but most will often opt to use one for orderly selection and to promote fairness.

Although owners are free to look and see for themselves who the available players in the free agent pool are, the selection process is by no means a free-for-all contest. The waiver system used for the free agent pool is governed by certain rules and you, as the owner, cannot put up a claim for a certain player until the specified period of time for the waiver clears.

The waiver wire order

Fantasy football leagues try to ensure order in the selection by opting to use a waiver system. A waiver wire order is assigned to each team, who can then select its players depending on its assigned waiver position. No player can be picked during a game. It is only after the week's games are finished that a team can claim a player or players. Waivers usually clear about two days after the games are completed.

The waiver system for the free agent pool sets the waiver order. This will determine which team owner has the opportunity to put up a claim on a player first. It then proceeds in an orderly manner from there.

The waiver system for the free agent pool also covers any situation where one player is claimed by two or more teams. Only the owner who appears highest on the waiver list ranking can make a successful claim. Once the claim is made, the highest ranking owner will be placed on the lowest spot while the next highest will make his claim. When all the waivers are cleared, all team owners can freely choose among the remaining picks before the game begins.

After the completion of each game week, the waiver system is reset. In case there is a tie between two teams, the team with the lowest running points will receive the better slot.

Protection from player 'cycling'

It is possible for owners to claim a player and then drop him on the same day. This may happen unintentionally, when an owner initially believes the player will help his team and then decides that he was wrong. Unfortunately, some owners 'cycle' a player with the intention of keeping other owners from adding this player to their team. Often, this will involve two or more players. In fantasy football, this is considered an offense serious enough to get a team banned from playing, especially in the Premium Standard Leagues.

The waiver period

Your league doesn't automatically use a waiver system so if you aren't sure, find out for yourself. If your team does use a waiver system, then you'll need to wait after a waiver period elapses before you can process your claim. So what happens to a player that doesn't get picked after the waiver period is over? That player automatically becomes part of the free agent pool.

Who changes the waiver period?

Your league manager is in charge of changing the setting for the waiver period. He can do this any time during the season.