Fantasy Checklist: What Every Commish Needs Before the Draft Clock Starts

FL MikeAug 12, 2025, 9:35 PM ET

Hey Commish! So it’s time to get your league set up for the upcoming fantasy season... do you have all your ducks in a row? First and foremost, is your league ready to adopt a punishment this year? Check out Vegas Baby and the Calendar of Shame if you’re looking for inspiration.

Whether you're a Roger Goodell-esque leader who gets booed by the fans every time they make an announcement, a ruthless dictator who has the league firmly under their boot, or a populist commissioner who rules by consensus decisions, there are a few things you need to cross of your agenda at the beginning of the new season.

• Roll Call the League: Buehler…Buehler…. First order of business: make sure everyone is still down to play next year. As much as we all love fantasy, there’s always one guy who you’re not sure if he’s even alive based on their lack of transactions and group chat participation. Confirm if everyone is ready to run it back, or if it’s time to seek fresh blood.

• Lay the Foundation: Just like they do in the big leagues, convene with the fellow teams for an Owner’s Meeting of sorts to determine new rules, points, expansion, trade rules, FAAB budget, playoffs and such before the start of the new year. We suggest creating a Google Form to have the league vote and weigh in on new proposals that’ll be brought into the next iteration of your league.

• Set the Draft Time: Work with your league to find a time that works for everyone. With drafts taking place in the late summer, you’re going to likely need to work around some league members traveling or in different spots. Drafting from home is fun, but doing it from a bachelor party or tropical vacation could be LEGENDARY!

• Determine the Order: Luckily, your friends at Fantasy Loser have tons of ways you can determine your draft order for the new season. Some of our personal faves? A Flip Cup Tourney or a Milk Chugging Contest (get the Lactaid ready!). Or you can go with a fun, random graphic over 100YardRush.com, or get in touch with a real draft order pro like Frank the Tank via Cameo. If you’re boring, just let the platform randomly determine the order.

• Collect Dues: To ensure the fantasy strugglers aren’t delinquent on their dues, collect them before the draft. That way the guy that picks the wrong running back named Robinson in the first round doesn’t balk on his dues when they’ve made a comical error. Be flexible in terms of where you can accept payment, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Zelle or cold hard cash are all perfectly acceptable legal tender in the fantasy ecosystem. We don’t want to have the commissioner have to send out a few wise guys to collect dues at the end of the year if you catch my drift.

• Get Hype!: You’re the commissioner and you set the tone for the rest of your league. Sometimes, think of them as impressionable little children and you’re the parent trying to inspire them to do the right thing. Get the group chat fired up, spread some hype and cheer, and of course talk a little smack to stoke the flames of rivalry to get your loyal subjects ready to rock in the new year.

• Don’t Forget About Yourself: Being a fantasy commissioner can be a thankless job at times. No one appreciates all the behind-the-scenes BS you have to deal with sometimes. Make sure you take the time to prep for your own draft and show them that the commish is still the boss of this league. Nobody respects a last-place commissioner!

5 Types of League Losers—and how your league should make them pay

FL SteveJun 3, 2025, 10:00 AM ET

1. The Excuse Machine

“If my QB didn’t get hurt…”
“If my trade had gone through…”
“If I hadn’t overslept and missed waivers…”

This is the guy who gives postgame press conferences no one asked for. He wants sympathy. He deserves a slideshow.

Recommended Punishments:

• PowerPoint Apology Tour: Suit and tie. Present a 15-minute deck to the league on “Why I Don’t Deserve This Punishment (But Am Doing It Anyway).”
• Social Media Confession: A heartfelt Instagram reel explaining how their decisions let the whole league down.
• League Court Trial: League acts as judge & jury. He pleads his case. Then gets roasted.

2. The Trash Talker Turned Turtle

“Nobody in this league knows football like I do!”
[Goes 1-5 and disappears.]
“I wasn’t even trying, bro.”

This one burns bridges, then pretends they were never on the team. Silence should be punished loudly.

Recommended Punishments:

• Open Mic Stand-Up: League writes the jokes. He performs them in public. Bonus points if filmed.
• Roast Night: League hosts a roast. He’s the guest of dishonor.
• Public Karaoke: Bonus if he has to sing a breakup ballad in full costume.

3. The Ghost GM

“Wait... the season’s over?”
“I thought the app would auto-update.”
“Who’s on my team again?”

Fantasy football is a game of effort. This person showed none.

Recommended Punishments:

• Standardized Test: Make them register and take the SAT or ACT. The ultimate wake-up call.
• Weekend Intern: Be the league winner’s caddy, errand boy, or assistant for a day.
• “Back to School” Outfit Day: Loser dresses like a middle schooler (backpack, lunchbox, etc.) for one full day in public.

4. The Overthinker

“I benched Tyreek because the wind speed was 14 mph…”
“Sleeper said that RB had a 12% boom rate!”
“I trusted my spreadsheet!”

They turned fantasy football into a dissertation—and still got cooked.

Recommended Punishments:

• Waffle House Challenge: 24 hours in a diner. 1 hour shaved off for each waffle eaten. Plenty of time to rethink their choices.
• Over-Analysis Essay: A 1,000-word blog post breaking down where it all went wrong—submitted to the league Substack.
• “Coach of the Year” Speech: Delivers an overly detailed awards speech despite finishing dead last.

5. The Repeat Offender

“I’m just unlucky.”
“This league is cursed.”
“I’ll bounce back next year.”

You won’t. This is who you are now.

Recommended Punishments:

• Fantasy Loser Tattoo: Something small, silly, and permanent. A donkey, a loser crown, a QR code to their worst lineup—get creative.
• Car Wrap: Custom “I Suck at Fantasy Football” decal for their car. Bonus if it includes their worst draft pick.
• League Mascot: They become the official hype-man for next season’s draft. Costume required.

Every league has at least one of these. Maybe two. Maybe it’s you.

So... which loser are you dealing with?
Tag ‘em. Vote. Then make sure the punishment matches the crime.

Because fantasy football isn’t just about winning—it’s about making losing unforgettable.

Want more ideas? Check the Fantasy Loser Punishment Gallery or spin the Wheel of Shame to settle it the chaotic way.