Keep Your League Engaged Through the Playoffs!
Creative Formats, Playoff Energy & End-of-Season Engagement Strategies
Welcome to Episode 4 of the Footballguys Home League Show—your weekly guide to building fun, competitive, and connected fantasy football home leagues. Hosted by Kevin Murray (author of The Commissioner's Playbook) and Joey Wright (Footballguys Community Ambassador), this episode dives into one of the most important parts of fantasy league culture: keeping managers active, energized, and fully invested as the season hits its final stretch and the playoffs begin.
Whether your league is full of championship contenders, hopeful spoilers, or eliminated managers looking for fun—engagement doesn't stop at Week 14. Kevin and Joey break down strategies, formats, and culture-building tactics that will keep excitement soaring through the finish line.
⸻
League of the Week: The FLEX Leagues (Commissioned by Jake Ciely)
This week we spotlight the iconic FLEX Leagues from analyst Jake Ciely—a high-profile fantasy experience loaded with personality, prestige, and competitive juice.
League Highlights Include: • Live drafts in Times Square at The Perfect Pint • Professional production with recordings airing on SiriusXM Radio • A league environment built around community, competition, and tradition • And, of course… Kevin gets to show off the belt as the defending champion
If you know a league or commissioner going all-out to deliver an incredible fantasy football experience, we want to hear about it!
Submit your league: đź“© [email protected]
⸻
Commish Corner: Engagement in the Season of Apathy
This is the time of year where some managers are fighting for playoff glory… and others are quietly drifting away.
Kevin and Joey share easy, high-impact ideas: • Fire up the group chat with memes, GIFs, and hype videos • Share league updates or "State of the League" videos • Highlight achievements, rivalries, and weekly stories • Remind everyone: the fun doesn't stop just because the record does
⸻
Home League Huddle: Keeping Engagement Alive Down the Stretch and Through the Playoffs
Playoffs aren't just a bracket—they're a cultural moment in your league. The episode's featured topic covers everything you need to maintain excitement for all teams, not just the top seeds.
Playoff Timing & Structure • Ideal playoff start: Week 14 (with bye weeks out of the way) • Seeding choices: 4-team vs. 6-team, fixed bracket vs. reseeding • Creative options: • Wildcard berth for the highest-scoring non-playoff team • Play-in games • Higher seeds choosing their opponents • "Home-field" perks • Draft advantages for consolation winners
Innovative Playoff Formats • 7-team bracket with #1 seed bye • All-play formats • Double-elimination playoffs • Multi-week cumulative scoring • Hybrid head-to-head + points formats • Best-ball playoff rounds to reduce randomness
Toilet Bowl & Consolation Brackets
Eliminated managers don't need to check out—they need a lane to compete.
Options include: • Traditional Toilet Bowl • Reverse Brackets (losers advance) • Punishment-based finals • Side bets, memes, weekly challenges • Charity tie-ins • Fun awards or quirky prizes
Purpose: keep everyone engaged, connected, and entertained.
Beyond the Regular Fantasy Season
Extend your league's life with: • NFL Playoff-only leagues • Survivor pool formats • Guillotine playoff challenges
Even eliminated managers can keep the story going.
Keeping the Group Chat Alive • Celebrate chaos, upsets, and spoiler wins • Encourage memes, banter, and storytelling • Feature eliminated managers in weekly content • Use Toilet Bowl matchups for extra fuel
Engagement isn't optional—it's culture.
⸻
Last Place Lounge
This week we review and rate four creative and hilarious last-place punishments: • Stand-up comedy open mic (10 minutes on stage… ouch!) • Personal assistant at next year's draft, costume and all • Paying for the champion's ring • Full social media takeover for one day
⸻
Commish Hotline & Mailbag We're collecting your best questions, dilemmas, and audio submissions.
Keep them coming! đź“© [email protected]
⸻
The Culture of Fantasy
Kevin and Joey close with a reflection on league camaraderie, creativity, and connection—reminding listeners that great leagues don't happen by accident. They are built with intention, tradition, and shared stories.
Commissioner's Call to Action: Catch up on our past episodes, share a story with us, and do something this week to spark engagement in your league.
⸻
Links & Resources Footballguys Website https://www.footballguys.com The Commissioner's Playbook (by Kevin Murray) https://amzn.to/4nT7AvC The Audible (Footballguys) https://www.footballguys.com/podcasts/show/theaudible The FBG Fantasy Football Show https://www.footballguys.com/podcasts/show/fbgffshow The FBG Dynasty Show https://www.footballguys.com/podcasts/show/dynastyshow
