Setting up a new dynasty league

[Mateo de Lorenzo]

Hope this is an appropriate category for Leftovers.

I have decided I would like to start a fantasy dynasty league next season. Looking for advice.

1) How many teams should I have?

2) How many OF/U/BN/DL/SP/P/RP slots?

3) Should I do CI/MI?

4) Should I do LF/CF/RF or just OF?

5) Is dynasty standard h2h?

6) Best sites to host? How much do they cost?

7) Minor league rosters? Should I use them? How many?

8) In the first year, should we start off as a keeper so more talent goes into the second years draft pool, or just keep the entire team, if so desired?

9) Any advice or suggestions?

Thanks a lot! I know its early, but if I need a LOT of teams, I thought I may start asking friends soon.

[the ROC]

Currently in my second season as a Dynasty League commissioner.

We use ESPN, it's free, there are some customizable settings, and it's pretty user-friendly. I prefer it to yahoo.

We have 10 teams, which may seem shallow, but we use 40 roster spots to make room for prospects.

We use a 25-man "major league" roster, which consists of your starting roster and 3 bench guys that you can use for the WEEK, although we have daily subs within those players.

15-man "minor league" roster, but you can put anyone on it.

Each team has 25 options per year to send guys down from their major to minor league rosters. If someone goes on the DL it doesn't cost an option to put them on it.

25 keepers per year, no round cost or anything like that.

We have 2, 5-team divisions, with the top 3 in each division making the playoffs, and the top seeds getting a bye.

We use H2H, 5x5.

The weekly call-ups makes it a little less time committing, but the daily subs still allows for strategy. Having the minor league rosters also gives you the ability to carry prospects without penalty for taking a roster spot from someone who would accumulate stats.

Overall, everyone is happy with our setup, and expansion to 12 teams wouldn't be difficult if more people became interested.

[MaudDib]

I have two dynasty leagues over at Fantrax which is free. They are very customizable and one of the better setups I have played at. I personally can't stand Yahoo and I don't really like ESPN.

As for setup of the league, that really is up to what you like. I am not really a fan of having MI/CI or LF/CF/RF. But other people really like that setup. We do points leagues and H2H, one of which has playoffs and the other doesn't.

One league has a setup of 35 man rosters and 20 minor league players. The other we keep 25 players every year but run with 32 man rosters during the season. Right now there is no minor league system in that league. Which leads me to the one thing I would make sure to put in place. Have some sort of rules regarding minor leaguers. Either have a minor league system with no pickups/drops only players you draft can be on a team or some other rules so that every team has a chance at the best young talent.

Another thing to put in place is an actual rule book. I would probably find the owners first and then vote on the questions you have. Every year there will probably be adjustments needed but that is part of the fun.

[the ROC]

Forgot to add this earlier. Here's an example roster (what I started the year with)

10 team, 5x5 H2H, can use 25 players per week, 25 keepers, dynasty league.

C B. McCann, Atl C
1B A. Pujols, StL 1B
2B D. Uggla, Atl 2B
3B A. Ramirez, ChC 3B
SS S. Castro, ChC SS
2B/SS Y. Escobar, Tor SS
1B/3B R. Howard, Phi 1B
OF J. Ellsbury, Bos OF
OF Chris B. Young, AZ OF
OF J. Heyward, Atl OF
OF A. McCutchen, Pit OF
OF Delmon Young, Min OF
UTIL C. Quentin, ChW OF
B D. Fowler, Col OF
B D. Jennings, TB OF
B C. Santana, Cle C
B A. Pagan, NYM OF
B L. Chisenhall, Cle 3B
B J. Peralta, Det SS, 3B
B N. McLouth, Atl OF
B Grant Green, Oak SS
B Y. Alonso, Cin 1B

P Y. Gallardo, Mil SP
P U. Jimenez, Col SP
P M. Garza, TB SP
P M. Scherzer, Det SP
P D. Hudson, AZ SP
P J. Verlander, Det SP
P F. Liriano, Min SP
P F. Francisco, Tor RP
P N. Feliz, Tex RP
B J. Hanrahan, Pit RP
B J. Teheran, Atl SP
B M. Pineda, Sea SP
B J. Cosart, Phi SP
B J. Lyles, Hou SP
B J. Walden, LAA RP
B A. Ranaudo, Bos SP
B M. Moore, TB SP
B Z. Greinke, Mil SP