What’s the difference, and how do they work?
Fantasy leagues use one of two systems to determine which team gets priority when adding players who are on waivers. These systems have different names, but they work in very similar ways.
NOTE: If you’re unsure which system your league uses, check under Players in your league menu.
This guide explains:
What is a Waiver Order? (Standard Waiver Leagues)
In standard waiver leagues, teams are placed in a ranked list called the Waiver Order.
When multiple teams try to claim the same player during the waiver period, the team with the higher priority (closer to the top of the list) gets the player.
Where do I see the Waiver Order?
Go to: Players → Waiver Order
Who controls Waiver Order?
In public leagues, the waiver order is set automatically.
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In private leagues, the League Manager (LM) can manually adjust the order:
Click Edit
Drag teams into the desired position
Click Save Changes to finalize
What is Salary Cap Tiebreaker?
In leagues that use a Salary Cap system, managers bid virtual dollars on players who are on waivers.
The team that bids the highest amount wins the player.
If two or more teams bid the same amount, a tiebreaker order determines who gets the player.
- To see the details: Go to: Players → Budget Summary
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In League Manager leagues, the League Manager can edit each team’s budget:
Click Edit
Change the budget amount
Click Save Changes
Similarities Between the Two Systems
Even though they work differently, both systems share some important rules.
How the Order Updates
Both systems can refresh in one of two ways, depending on league settings:
Option A: Reset Each Week
Each Monday at 12:00 AM PT / 3:00 AM ET (when a new fantasy week begins), the order resets.
The reset is based on inverse standings (teams with worse records get higher priority).
Option B: Move to Last After Claim
When a team successfully claims a player during the waiver process, that team moves to the bottom of the order.
The order does not automatically reset under this setting.
Important: No matter which option is selected, once a team successfully makes a waiver claim, they move to the bottom of the waiver priority list.
How the Initial Order Is Set
Both systems use the same rules to determine the starting order.
If your league uses a Salary Cap draft:
The team with the most money remaining after the draft gets the highest waiver priority.
If teams are tied, the team that completed its roster first during the draft gets higher priority.
If your league uses a Snake Draft:
The draft order is reversed.
The team that picked first in the draft starts last in waiver order.
The team that picked last in the draft starts first in waiver order.
In short, the waiver order begins as the inverse of the draft order.
Key Differences
League Manager Editing
In standard waiver order leagues, the League Manager can edit the waiver order at any time.
In Salary Cap leagues, the League Manager cannot manually edit the tiebreaker order after the waiver process.
NOTE:
The League Manager can reverse a player claim if needed.
However, they cannot manually adjust the tiebreaker order itself in Salary Cap leagues.
What Transactions Affect the Waiver Order?
Waiver Claim
A waiver claim happens when:
A player is on waivers (not immediately available)
You submit a claim request
The system processes the claim after the waiver period ends
Waiver claims affect waiver priority.
Free Agency Pickup
A free agency pickup happens when:
A player is immediately available
You add them instantly without waiting for a waiver period
Free agency pickups do NOT affect waiver order.
Position Eligibility and Position Limits
In League Manager (LM) leagues, the LM may set a cap on the number of players at a given position who can be on a single roster. This is common in larger leagues to help ensure every manager has a fair shot at building a competitive team.
How limits work
If your league has a position limit and you want to add a player that would push you over that limit, you'll need to drop an existing player at that position first before the transaction can go through.
What happens when a player qualifies at multiple positions?
Some players are eligible at more than one position — for example, a player listed as 1B/3B. In these cases, the first position listed is always considered the primary position for roster limits.
Here's a practical example from ESPN Fantasy Baseball: Let's say you need a third baseman. You're under the limit at 3B, but you've already hit the limit at 1B. You try to claim a 1B/3B player off waivers. Even though you need him for third base, the system sees him primarily as a 1B—so you'll need to drop one of your existing first basemen before the transaction will go through.