What happens when two teams claim the same player on waivers?
The team with the higher waiver priority wins the claim. The player joins that team's roster, and that team moves to the back of the waiver order.
Waiver Priority
Waiver priority is the order in which teams can claim players who are dropped or added from free agency during the waiver period.
In fantasy football, when a player is released by another team or a hot free agent becomes available, that player usually goes through waivers instead of being added right away. During the waiver period, every manager can put in a claim for that player. Waiver priority decides who wins the claim if more than one team wants the same player. The team with the better priority position gets the player.
There are two common ways leagues set priority. The first is a rolling list, where the worst team in the standings gets first priority. When a team wins a claim, it moves to the back of the line, and everyone else moves up. The second way is a budget system, often called FAAB, where managers bid fake money on players instead. In budget leagues, there is no traditional priority order, so 'waiver priority' usually refers to list-based leagues.
Waiver priority is a valuable resource, especially early in the season when injuries hit and backups suddenly become starters. Many managers hesitate to use a high priority on a small upgrade, saving it instead for a bigger opportunity, like a starting running back going down. Once you use your spot, you drop to the last position, so timing your claims matters.
Common questions
Does waiver priority reset during the season?
In most leagues, the order updates after each claim rather than resetting. Some leagues reset the order based on standings each week, but that setting varies by league.
Should I use my waiver priority early in the season?
It depends on the opportunity. Early-season injuries to star running backs often create the most valuable pickups of the year, so many managers save high priority for those moments rather than spending it on a minor upgrade.
Related terms
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