What house rules do you use to make franchise more exciting/fun?

[Elphalpha]

I never scout in any of my franchise modes and pick based off combine scores and draft position. This way, it's harder to draft and makes it more likely to select busts. If you take the risk and draft the 6-6 240 pound qb with a great combine in the top 5 and he turns out to be terrible (slow dev and low rating), it sets your franchise back a few years (just like in real life). However, it's really exciting taking a guess on a 5th or 6th round prospect that turns out to be a superstar with high overall.

This has made the draft more challenging and rewarding for me which makes franchise more exciting.

So, what house rules do you all use in your franchise?

[timhere1970]

No signing free agents the first week of free agency.

No drafting any position with a b+ or better grade the first two rounds.

[NoleFan]

Coach Mode or CPU vs. CPU is all the house rule I need. Lol

[Mattanite]

32 User Online Sim League

• Resign limit length for players <80ovr (2 years) so Free agency is active (no locking up decent young players for 6 years cheap)
• Resign limit length for players >80ovr (4 years) so cap is used and free agency more active
• Manual OL probowl awards based on various team stats (YPC, YPA, etc)
• Average per position Sportrac contract values for players >85ovr so cap is realistic
• Limit on max no of fluid Dev players go up or down per coach
• Trade committee and trade calculator (adjusts to number of seasons left, so draft picks worth more in season 1 than season 5), pay more for franchise players, limits on number of 1st round picks.
• Limited to 2 FAs in preseason
• Tracking coach W/L and team overall for 32user Power Ranks, and strength of division ranks (who's got it toughest...)
• End of season manual player and coach awards

It's a lot of work but it creates a balanced fun experience for a busy league.

[SilverBullet19]

There was a CFM House Rules thread, but I can't find it now.

some of mine:

-1 free agent signing to fill a roster hole in preseason. I signed Julius Thomas as TE because mine suck, so now I can't go to FA to sign a RT, FS or whatever other weaknesses are.

-1 free agent per week in preseason. This gives the CPU a chance to sign them.

-No signing FA just to trade them. I can't sign a guy and throw him right on the trade block. I can if they were an offseason signing.

-Can only put players on the trade block in the final year of contract

[koliver0821]

Limit team Cap penalties to $20m. If you try and make a trade and cap penalties exceed 20m, trade is denied.

Trade Committee (5 guys) to review trades for fairness.

Cant trade future 1st round picks during the season. You can trade first rounders in off season before draft. (Keeps teams from getting ruined and users resigning leaving new owner in trouble.

only one defensive player can be moved manually pre snap and you must control them. (Can switch after snap.)

[JasonForTheWin]

- I always have 3 healthy QB's on the roster. It makes it more challenging when a non-season long injury occurs at a different position, and I have to scramble for a person to cut, because the 3rd QB is guaranteed on the roster. Makes roster management more fun, for me

- I always have a FB on the roster. See above. I might only have the true FB in on the goal line and have a 4th TE playing an H-Back role in all other formations


- I always have a backup for every OL position. Again see above.


- I always role with 5+ WR and 5+ CB, but with a caveat. Barring an injury, I try to be fair and not cherry pick the best FA's. For example, If I have 4 WR/CB and they are rated 85/81/80/76, I will only sign someone below a 70. It is superfluous to have 5 WR/CB in the 90-to high 70 range. And, I try to sign the practice squad eligible players to fill that 5th spot.

[kennylc321]

I like seeing that I am not the only one who makes self-imposed rules on free agency. Here are mine

1) During the FA signing period, I can only sign one 90+ rated person and one 80+ rated person per week. I say per week because if there is someone available next week, all bets are off... the AI had a chance to sign him

2) It is not uncommon for me to re-create some NFL greats: Bo Jackson, Reggie White, Jerry Rice, etc. Generally speaking, my rule is that if I re-create someone (they are going to be a 99 rated all-world player) I am not allowed to sign any of them.

But... IF I do sign one of them, it has to be for some ridiculous $150M contract

3) Like someone else mentioned, I do not sign anyone w/ the purpose of trading them