Commissioner Week One Checklist: What Fantasy Football Commissioners Do Before and During Week One
Settings verification (week before week 1): the commissioner should conduct a complete league settings audit in the week before the first game — not the day of. Checking scoring settings (PPR or standard, passing TD point value, keeper rules if applicable), roster requirements (how many starters at each position, bench size, IR slot count), waiver type (priority or FAAB, processing day and time), and trade deadline settings confirms that the platform settings match the league constitution. Settings discrepancies discovered during week 1 after games have already scored are much more contentious to correct than those found in advance.
Week One Checklist Quick Reference
| Task | When to complete | Why it matters | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings audit vs. constitution | 7 days before week 1 | Catches scoring, roster, and waiver errors before games start | Auditing on game day — a wrong scoring setting after 4 hours of football is impossible to fix fairly |
| Manager readiness confirmation | 5–7 days before week 1 | Ensures all managers have set lineups and know the schedule | Assuming all managers have engaged — multiple managers start week 1 with auto-populated default lineups |
| Waiver system verification | 7 days before week 1 | Confirms FAAB amounts or priority order are correct | Discovering FAAB amounts are wrong in week-2 transactions — retroactive correction is contested |
| Constitution distribution | Season start | All managers access the agreed-upon rules | Assuming managers remember the offseason rule discussion — they don’t |
| Kickoff league message | First games of week 1 | Sets positive tone; reminds about rules commonly forgotten in week 1 | Silent league start — managers feel they’re participating in an unmanaged platform, not a real league |
| IR slot verification | 7 days before week 1 | Confirms which injury designations qualify and how many slots exist | Discovering IR slots are misconfigured after a manager places a player incorrectly |
Roster and Manager Verification
Confirming all managers are ready. In the week before week 1, the commissioner should confirm all managers have logged in to the platform, set their starting lineups for the first week, and are aware of the draft result (most managers do not examine their full drafted roster after the draft itself). Sending a reminder message that includes: the draft results page, the league constitution link, and the waiver processing schedule ensures all managers have the information they need to participate from day one.
Unclaimed roster spots. If the league has any unfilled roster spots after the draft (players left undrafted), the commissioner should determine whether those spots should be claimed through the normal waiver wire process or through a supplemental mini-draft. Unclaimed roster spots in the first week create an advantage for managers who claim available starters before others realize the opportunity exists.
Week 1 Communication
First-week league kickoff message. Sending a league-wide kickoff message at the start of week 1 — acknowledging the season is beginning, sharing any relevant reminders about rules that commonly get forgotten in week 1, and expressing enthusiasm for the season — sets a positive tone and signals that the commissioner is engaged. This message takes 5 minutes to write and creates the feeling of a managed league rather than an abandoned platform account.
For how week-one management connects to full commissioner responsibilities, see: Commissioner Fantasy Football Tips: How to Be a Good Fantasy Football Commissioner.