The Most Unique Fantasy Football Format, Welcome to GOAT Leagues

April 30, 2025

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To view a shortened version of the rules, click here

Welcome to G.O.A.T Leagues: Fantasy Football Reimagined

If you’re tired of the same old fantasy football formats—snake drafts, standard lineups, and forgettable midseason matchups—it’s time to evolve. Welcome to G.O.A.T Leagues, a bold new take on fantasy football where alliances matter, strategy runs deep, and only the savviest survive.

18 Teams. 6 Divisions. 1 Champion.

The G.O.A.T Leagues are built around an 18-team gauntlet, divided into 6 divisions of 3 teams each. But here’s the twist: your division is more than just a grouping—it’s your squad. In G.O.A.T Leagues, you don’t just compete against the other teams…you conspire with your division mates!

Division Dynamics: Embrace the Collusion

Each three-team division operates as a mini-syndicate. Teams within a division are encouraged to:

Trade freely and often
Coordinate draft strategies
Work together on waiver wire moves

Whether you’re stacking complementary lineups, feeding a hot hand, or playing defense by hoarding positions, division collaboration isn’t just allowed—it’s necessary. You win as individuals but survive as a crew.

Guillotine Format: Survive the Blade

Every week, the lowest-scoring team gets eliminated. Their entire roster hits waivers, and the feeding frenzy begins. Survive long enough, and you’ll be swimming in talent. Fall behind, and your season ends in brutal fashion. Every point, every trade, every pickup matters.

GOAT Leagues: Origin and Meaning

The name GOAT Leagues was born naturally from the way we structured our fantasy football format from the very beginning. Each division was named after a legendary athlete—the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in their respective sport—like the Michael Jordan Division or the Wayne Gretzky Division.

Over time, without ever officially naming the league, we all just started referring to it as “the GOAT league.” The name stuck because it perfectly captured the spirit of competition and excellence we were aiming for—and now, it’s a brand that represents the best of the best in fantasy football.

⚔️ Pre-Draft Power-Up Arsenal

Before the draft begins, each division selects 3 out of 6 available power-ups—one-time draft weapons designed to disrupt, defend, and dominate.
These aren’t gimmicks. These are game-changers.

💪 Force

Weaponize the draft board. When used, Force affects three total picks: the one you target, plus the picks immediately before and after it (e.g., targeting 5.02 also hits 5.01 and 5.03). All three managers must draft a player from the position you choose.
⚠️ Must be played before any of the affected picks are made—so timing and foresight are critical.

🛡 Block

Under fire? Use Block on your own pick to deflect any power-up aimed at you. You’ll still make your pick as normal.
⚠️ If used during a Run Starter or Ban, the effect continues beyond your pick until the required number of valid picks are made.

🔁 Swap

In a tough spot? Trade picks with any manager who drafted in the last 9 selections. Great when you’ve been sniped or want to leap up for your sleeper.

🗡 Slash

Hit ’em on a diagonal. When activated, Slash eliminates three picks in a slash pattern across the draft board:

The target pick
One pick above it and to the left or right (your choice)
One pick below it and in the opposite direction

For example, slashing Pick 5.04 could also wipe out Picks 4.03 and 6.05. All affected picks are removed, and each manager is assigned a low-ADP placeholder by the commissioner.

🛑 Can only be used in Round 3 or later.
⚠️ If used in Round 3, it will not affect any picks in Round 2.
⏳ All affected picks must still be on the board (i.e., not yet made) when Slash is used.
🎯 You choose the direction of the diagonal (left-up/right-down or right-up/left-down).
💥 One of the most brutal power-ups in the arsenal—Slash with precision.wn).
💥 Devastating when timed right—Slash can derail multiple strategies in a single blast.

🔁 Run Starter

Choose a position and force the next 4 picks to be from that position. Want to run on WRs or throw everyone off with a mid-draft TE run? This is your tool.
⚠️ If a manager Blocks during a Run, the Run doesn’t stop—it extends until 4 legal picks at that position are made.

🚫 Ban

Play keep-away by selecting a player and banning that position for the next 9 picks. Draft a RB? No one else can for half a round.
⚠️ If someone uses Block during a Ban, the ban continues until 9 valid, non-banned picks occur.

💡 Strategy Tip: Power-ups like Run Starter and Ban affect everyone, including your division mates—so plan your attacks carefully.

Round 10 Power-Up Reload

Each division receives three (3) power-ups to use after Round 9— Round 10 is when things get wild.
This is your mid-draft reload of chaos. Use any of the following power-ups to throw your league-mates off their game and gain a strategic edge:

🔁 Undo Snipe

Swap draft picks with another manager within two spots of your own. Great for taking back control after getting sniped.

🖱 Force Auto-Draft

Force a manager to auto-draft their next pick. The player selected will be the one with the highest current ADP on Sleeper. You cannot auto-draft a player on IR or suspension.

🧠 Jedi Mind Trick

“You will draft a linebacker.”
Force another manager to draft a player from a specific position of your choosing. A powerful tool to derail strategies.

🔄 Pick Again

After a manager makes their pick, force them to pick again—but they cannot choose the same position. Must be used immediately after the pick or before the next pick is made.

⏭ Skip

Skip the next pick in the round. For example, if used on Pick 10.6, the draft jumps to 10.7, and 10.6 picks after. Must be played before the skipped manager makes their selection.

🧬 Doppelgänger

Force the next manager to draft a player whose first or last name begins with the same letter as the previously drafted player (e.g., Christian McCaffrey → Calvin Ridley or DK Metcalf).
⚠️ If no eligible player exists, the power-up fails and is lost—choose wisely.

The Ultimate Lineup

Build a squad with versatility and depth. The G.O.A.T Leagues lineup is:

1 RB
1 WR
1 TE
1 Superflex (QB/WR/RB/TE)
4 Flex (RB/WR/TE)
2 DL
2 LB
2 DB
5 Bench

Skill players meet IDP chaos. Superflex meets Flex overload. Depth wins championships—and saves you from the chopping block.

Note: There is no QB position, only a Superflex spot. That means you don’t have to start a QB. The scoring system nerfs QB scoring that in some cases a non-QB would be more optimal to start over a QB.

Scoring

🔹 Passing

+1 point per 25 passing yards
+6 points per passing touchdown
-3 points per interception
-2 points per pick-six thrown
+0.5 points per pass completed
-1 point per incomplete pass

Note: A Pick 6 thrown will equal a total of -6 points (-3 for an INT, -2 for a Pick 6 thrown, and -1 for an incomplete pass). The negative points for incomplete passes and positive points for passes completed reward QBs that are highly efficient, essentially anything above a 66.7 completion percent is awarded points, and anything below that will take points away.

🔸 Rushing

+1 point per 10 rushing yards
+6 points per rushing touchdown
+0.25 points per rush attempt
+0.25 points per rushing first down

🟣 Receiving

+1 point per reception
+1 point per 10 receiving yards
+6 points per receiving touchdown
+0.25 points per receiving first down
+1 extra point per TE reception

🔻 IDP (Individual Defensive Players) 1-2-3 IDP Scoring Format

+6 – Defensive Touchdown
+6 – Sack
+6 – Interception
+3 – Blocked FG, PAT, or Punt
+3 – Fumble Recovery
+3 – Forced Fumble
+3 – Safety
+3 – Pass Defended
+2 – Tackle for Loss
+2 – Solo Tackle
+1 – QB Hit
+1 – Assisted Tackle

Note: This 1-2-3 IDP scoring format will even the playing field of offense and defense. Defensive players will score points similar to offensive players.

⭐ Bonus Scoring

+2 points for 100–199 rushing or receiving yards
+2 more points for 200+ rushing or receiving yards
+2 points for 300–399 passing yards
+2 more points for 400+ passing yards

Note: Sleeper does not award “double bonuses”, therefore you must make 200+ Rush/Rec 4 points and 400+ Pass yards 4 points. (see image below)

Power-Up Rules & Draft Mechanics

Power-Up Lockout During Runs or Bans: While a Run or Ban is active, no other power-ups may be used. Once the Run or Ban concludes, managers may use a Swap—even on players involved in the previous Run or Ban.
One Power-Up per Player or Draft Spot: Each player or draft slot may only be affected by one power-up throughout the draft. Once a player has been Swapped, they are locked and cannot be affected by any other power-up.
First Player in a Run or Ban is Locked: The initial player selected to start a Run or Ban is immediately locked and cannot be Swapped.
If a Block is used on any pick affected by a Slash, that manager keeps their pick and is not assigned a placeholder. The Slash still applies to the other two picks in the diagonal—unless they also use a Block.
💡 This makes Slash high-risk, high-reward. Be strategic—if you slash blindly and hit someone holding a Block, your attack could backfire.
Dual-Eligibility Rule: If a dual-eligible player is used to initiate a Run or Ban, the manager must declare which position (e.g., RB or WR) the player will represent. That position determines the scope of the Run or Ban.
Timeout Protocol: If a manager times out during the draft, no player is auto-drafted for them. Instead, the commissioner will assign a placeholder player from deep in the ADP (someone unlikely to be drafted). Once the manager returns, they may choose from the remaining player pool. The longer the delay, the worse the available options—adding strategic risk to missing a pick.

In-Season Rules

Trade Freeze During Games
Once the first Sunday game kicks off, all trades are frozen until after the Monday night game concludes. This prevents teams from trading players mid-weekend to help a teammate avoid elimination or to send their players to their teammates because they might be eliminated.
FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget)
Each team begins with 1,000 FAAB, which is not tradable. While Sleeper technically allows FAAB trades, the setting cannot be turned off—so any FAAB trades will be reversed.
Waiver Wire Access (Sunday Only)
Waivers will function as free agency on Sundays. Managers can add and drop players at will until each player’s individual game kicks off.

Do You Have What It Takes?

This isn’t fantasy football for the faint of heart. This is for managers who think five steps ahead, and who aren’t afraid to team up, strike deals, or swing for the fences. G.O.A.T Leagues blends strategy, social engineering, and straight-up survival.

Draft smart. Collude hard. Survive the cut.

Welcome to the League of Legends. Welcome to G.O.A.T Leagues.

If you like this league format, check out our other format, Zombie Leagues!

Here’s a sharp, polished version you could publish:

Welcome to G.O.A.T Leagues: Fantasy Football, Reinvented (Cliff Notes Version)

This is an 18‑team, 6‑division (3 teams each) fantasy format where collaboration is key. In G.O.A.T Leagues, you form alliances within your division—sharing strategies, trades, and waiver-wire moves to survive the gauntlet.

🗡 Weekly Guillotine:
Each week, the lowest-scoring team is eliminated and its roster goes to waivers. Stay on top to build your squad; fall behind and you’re out.

💥 Pre‑Draft Power‑Ups (Pick 3 of 6):

Force: Manipulate three consecutive picks to force position choices.
Block: Cancel any power-up aimed at your pick.
Swap: Switch your pick with anyone from the previous 9 selections.
Slash: Remove three picks in a diagonal pattern (Rounds 3+ only).
Run Starter: Force next 4 picks to be the same position.
Ban: Ban one position for the next 9 picks.

🔄 Mid‑Draft (Round 10) Power‑Ups (Pick 3 more):

Undo Snipe: Swap picks within two spots.
Force Auto-Draft: Make someone auto-pick the highest ADP player.
Jedi Mind Trick: Force someone to draft a specific position.
Pick Again: Make someone pick twice in a row (diff. position).
Skip: Skip the next manager’s pick
Doppelgänger: Force the next manager to draft a player whose first or last name begins with the same letter as the previously drafted player

📊 Starting Lineup Setup:

1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 Superflex (QB/WR/RB/TE)
4 Flex, 2 DL, 2 LB, 2 DB, plus 5 Bench spots.
Superflex rules and heavy IDP depth add strategic complexity.

🏈 Scoring Highlights:

Passing: +1 per 25 yards, +6 per TD, –3 INT, +0.5/–1 per completion/incompletion.
Rushing/Receiving: +1 per 10 yards, +6 per TD, +0.25 per rush/first down.
IDP (1‑2‑3 format): Defensive TD, sacks, INTs = 6; tackles and other plays = 1–3.
Bonuses: +2 at 100/200+ rush/rec yards, +2 at 300/400+ passing yards.

🏆 In‑Season Rules:

Trades freeze at the start of Sunday’s games until Monday night ends.
$1,000 FAAB budget (no trading allowed).
Waivers are active free agents on Sundays until game-time.

The G.O.A.T League emphasizes strategic alliances, draft chaos, and weekly survival. If you’re ready for high-stakes gameplay that rewards bold scheming and depth, this format is built for you.

Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!