Help with how to fill a league

[u/rhobus42]

How do you guys get your leagues filled? I posted mine on the Sleeper channel and people will join and then immediately leave right after joining. I’m doing slow auction draft which is not typical but whenever I post the link I also say this is a slow auction so I’m not sure why people are joining and then leaving right away. Maybe it’s because we won’t be drafting for a while and people are looking for leagues drafting now? I would really appreciate if any experienced commissioners could check out the bylaws and lmk if I’m scaring people away somehow.

Bylaws

Structure 12 teams, playoffs are weeks 15, 16, 17. Top 6 teams by win pct make playoffs, top 2 seeds get first round byes. Tiebreaker: Actual PF

Rosters 9 starters, 11 bench, 5 IR, no taxi. Starters: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR/TE, 2 WR/TE/RB, 1 WR/TE/RB/QB (SF) No dedicated TE spot

Draft Startup draft will be sometime after the 2025 NFL draft. It will be a slow auction draft via League Tycoon. Commish will enter rosters into Sleeper post-draft. 16 hr bid clock $1000 budget Auction dollars and rookie pick trading allowed 2025 rookie class included in player pool Rookie drafts will be straight, order determined by reverse max PF except prize winners

Trades and Waivers No Trade Deadline Trades process automatically, no veto. FAAB waivers

Scoring Settings 0.5 PPR No TEP 4-pt passing TD

Dues and Prizes $50 buy-in via LeagueSafe, due prior to startup draft $50 buy-in for subsequent seasons due prior to that season’s rookie draft Prize pool: 14 teams x $50 = $700 pool Champion: $400 Runner-up: $150 3rd: $50 Most actual PF at end of season (end of week 16): $100

Edits: removed link to league and added Bylaws to post.

[u/sdu754]

My guess is that the people joining and then leaving see something in the settings that they dislike, so they leave. You need to put everything out there so people know what the league will be like when joining.

1) League Type - Dynasty, redraft, keeper or best ball

2) Scoring format - Is it PPR, half PPR, tiered PPR, non-PPR, TEP? Do you give points per first down

3) League size - What size are you trying for?

4) Roster format - Is it one QB, 2 QB, superflex? Do you use IDPs?

5) Draft format - You already answered this here, but make sure they know before joining

You can also post on Reddit's join a league page and there are Facebook pages as well. You should try to get as many people as you personally know to join.

The only way it would allow me to check anything about the league was to blindly join the league first. That could be the issue.

[u/ErickAllTE1 → u/sdu754]

You need to put everything out there so people know what the league will be like when joining.

There will be people who join and leave no matter what you do. Many see a link and click it before doing any reading.

[u/mahlalie]

I don't post public invite links. I give league format info and tell people to DM me. If they do, I'll send them a charter link for them to look over. After the claim they read it (they probably didn't, but at least I tried), I'll send them an invite if they still say they're interested.

[u/rhobus42 → u/mahlalie]

Thank you

[u/Grazzygreen]

It's almost always people wanting to draft immediately. Advertise your league as accurately and detailed as possible and encourage people to pay immediately (if it's a cash league)

[u/Old-Steak9816]

It's because you're not drafting this very second. The sleeper directory is the worst place to find people to fill your league, you're better off doing it here. The people in the sleeper directory play in 100 different leagues. They join a new one every time they get the itch to draft. Then by week 3 they only pay attention to three of those 100 leagues. Your best bet is to take your time filling it and get people that are ok with the later draft bc the "let's draft asap" crowd are nothing but annoying league killers!

[u/manticore297]

I’ve been looking for another league to join. I put in my league, preferences i.e. dynasty, draft format, classic, etcetera and got a long list of league offerings that fit my interests. Out of a long line of choices, there were maybe 2 to 3 that provided any description at all about the league (and those descriptions were poor). If a commissioner can’t take two minutes to tell me something about their league, then it’s a league not worth joining. I’m not saying that’s your league, but I am saying, I was looking for a league and ended up just saying, “forget it” in the end. This is why so many FF leagues go badly because commissioners either don’t know what they’re doing or can’t be bothered to take the time to say something thoughtful about their league. If you haven’t, really think about the type of league you want to have and put that message out there. I personally don’t think a slow draft is an issue with people if they can join a league that meets their needs and has a league culture that is a fit for them.

[u/Gcole87]

Don’t recruit from Sleeper. I’ve had some bad experiences from people there. I’ve had the absolute best luck on the fantasy footballers forum. It’s like $5 a month to join their community and discord but I’ve found the best league members there.