How quickly the tides of fortune can change from week to week in fantasy football. That’s what makes it fun, and why there is a waiver wire. Tom Brady could be the worst opening day loss in FFB history. WR Marques Colston hurts as well. If you drafted RB Michael Turner, or even WR Eddie Royal, you are smiling all week. But, come Sunday, fate could demote them to Marques Colston status, or worse, Tom Brady status. Or, maybe even Vince Young status. Nobody said FFB was fair.
Our league, though, has a ‘fair and balanced ‘ ladder waiver system. Transactions go in order. You cannot just willy-nilly grab a player off the waiver wire by being the ‘geekiest’ nerd on your computer. That is silly. You are randomly assigned a transaction position order week #1. To make a transaction pick, we email our Commish with our preferences, and by Saturday he assigns the players in the order of our rung on the ladder system. If several owners desire the same player, which is always the case, it goes to the owner highest on the ladder. Once you are assigned a player, you then go to the bottom of the ladder.
If you don’t make a pick, you rise up the ladder until you want to pick a player. There is clever strategy involved. I think it wins championships. We had an owner last year who threw in the towel early. He remained at the top of the ladder all year, never making a transaction. Transactions in our league cost $3, increasing the booty for the eventual winners.

Week 1 brought some surprises and some heartaches. That menu is offered up every week in the NFL. Same menu, different week. Often, with no dessert. Just ask the San Diego Chargers, the Indianapolis Colts, or the New England Patriots.