Case study · CBS Fantasy
CBS paolapanthers — league-true Ask, no invented FLEX
How Homefield answers start/sit and waiver questions when the host rules say Non-PPR, no FLEX, two adds per week, and one IR — the reference CBS NFL league we regression-test against.
Reference desk: NFL · league slug paolapanthers · example team Purple Heart Mafia. Sample answers are produced by the same rules engine as Season Ask — not a writer army, not invented seats.
Host rules Homefield respects
After a CBS sync, seats, scoring, IR, and the weekly move cap come from the host — not a FantasyPros-style default template.
- Scoring
- Non-PPR (standard)
- Starters
- QB · RB · RB · WR · WR · WR · TE · K · DST — no FLEX
- Move cap
- 2 add/drops per week
- IR
- 1 Out-eligible IR seat
- Sync
- CBS bookmark token (never a password)
What ChatGPT (and generic rankings) miss here
- Refuses invented FLEX when the host has none
- Teaches Non-PPR honestly — no silent PPR template
- Spends the 2/week move budget only when the upgrade clears the bar
- IR before drop; sit ≠ burn a weekly move
- We advise; CBS places the lineup
Rules-true sample Ask answers
Illustrative prompts against a paolapanthers-shaped connected league. Names are fixtures for teaching seats and caps — re-sync your own roster for live advice. Homefield advises; CBS Fantasy places.
Connected seats only — no invented FLEX.
Ask: Should I flex Bench WR?
No FLEX in this league
Bench WR cannot “win FLEX” here — this NFL desk starts QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/K/DST under Non-PPR · no FLEX. Start them only in a published seat or sit.
- Bench WR: WR · 5.0
- Published seats: QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/K/DST
- Connected scoring: Non-PPR · no FLEX.
- Starter slots: QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/K/DST (no FLEX/UTIL multi-seat).
Locked · host rules
Scoring comes from the host, not a default template.
Ask: Is this PPR?
Projections: Non-PPR / standard
Yes — this desk’s projections are aligned to Non-PPR · no FLEX. Non-PPR / standard leans TD and matchup over pure reception volume — Homefield will not invent PPR or a FLEX.
- Connected scoring: Non-PPR · no FLEX.
- Starter slots: QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/K/DST (no FLEX/UTIL multi-seat).
- Roster cap: 18 countable players.
- IR/IL: 1 slot (do not count against roster limits). Out players → IR before dropping.
Locked · host rules
Weekly add/drop cap is taught, not guessed.
Ask: How many moves left?
2/week move budget
Published cap is 2/week. This week’s board shows 1 claim idea — ideas ≠ spent moves → 1 leftover for Week look-ahead under Non-PPR · no FLEX. Priority: IR (no claim) → this-week upgrades → Week N+1 stashes (0 queued). Track actual claims in paolapanthers (sample).
- IR (preferred, frees a seat): Sam Darnold
- Board idea: FA WR
- Connected scoring: Non-PPR · no FLEX.
Locked · host rules
Sit ≠ burn a scarce weekly move.
Ask: Sit or drop Bench WR?
Prefer sit over drop: Bench WR
Bench WR is a Recommended sit under Non-PPR · no FLEX (5.0). Prefer benching over dropping unless you need the seat for a claim that clears the move bar.
- Bench WR: WR · 5.0 · Healthy
- IR first: Sam Darnold
- Structural cut idea: Bench K
- 2/week published cap
Locked · host rules
Empty starters score zero — fill published seats.
Ask: Can I leave a seat empty?
Empty starter = 0 points
An empty starter seat scores 0 under Non-PPR · no FLEX. Fill every published slot (QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/K/DST) before lock — Out/bye never fill seats. Empty bench is fine; empty IR is fine when nobody is Out.
- QB: Starter QB
- IR first: Sam Darnold
- 2/week published cap
Locked · host rules
IR first when Out-eligible; claim optional.
Ask: Should I IR even without a claim?
IR Sam Darnold even without a claim
Park Sam Darnold on IR under Non-PPR · no FLEX whenever they’re Out — IR frees a countable seat and does not spend the 2 move budget. You don’t need a claim queued the same day; claim later only if an upgrade clears the bar.
- Move Sam Darnold to IR (Out-eligible).
- 2/week add/drop cap (claims only)
- Later claim idea: FA WR
Locked · host rules
Try it on your league
Paste a CBS football league link (or connect Sleeper), pick your team, and Ask against your seats — not this sample. We do not execute host moves or enter contests.