As you know, or should know, already there are several major ways it is possible to exploit MyFootballNow to gain favourable results.

These (broadly) fall into two categories:
- plays that come close to giving a guaranteed result
- using players in a position not their own because they overperform when you do so

Under the previous engine version the FL Hitch and PA Fullback Flat could lead to a guaranteed touchdown far more often than was realistic or easily defended. Defensively, the OLB Flat Zone (now removed from the game) was found to stop both the run and the pass extremely, abnormally well.

Using these plays is no problem. Using them for the entire game (ignoring that there are severe penalties for doing this on offense) crosses the Cheese Line.

Playing a fast linebacker at defensive end will likely yield more sacks than a similarly fast defensive end due to the way that player weight impacts their ability to move at pace. This is more pronounced if you play a receiver at running back - try it in pre-season, you'll be quite surprised.

Were you to make this kind of deliberate position switch because you had no choice due to injury... well okay. Doing it in every game? Cheese Line crossed.


There are many small ways you can cheese the game to get a favourable result. My own personal cheesing is in fielding 4-5 runningbacks in every game so they don't suffer from as much fatigue. Why yes, there's a little fromage in there but what it isn't is A: unstoppable, B: hidden in any way (10 seconds of manual scouting will show it up) or C: particularly effective. It's the right side of the line.

The basic test is that if you've tailored your team to do something you feel is overpowered, and it's getting you close to guaranteed results... it's the wrong side of the line. Calling the same defensive play 25 times in a game and cruising to victory? Probably cheese. Calling that play 25 times and taking a beating? Probably not (and you might want to fix your gameplan).

It's only cheesy if it works, friends.

Want to play an RB at WR for a couple of plays? If those plays always work, probably cheese. Work sometimes? Probably not.

Passing the ball for the whole game? Well, if you're using only a handful of plays and winning all your games, that'd be the cheese. Using loads of plays and losing a fair bit? Probably not.

Fundamentally you should have a football reason for doing something unconventional, not a game reason. Going for 2 points after every touchdown because your kicker is horrible, sure thing. Doing it because the odds of success might it worthwhile? Check your cheese.

You know when you're on the wrong side of the line.

What's less obvious is when you're close to the line on either side, and honestly if you are, then you're probably fine.

The only real rule here is that you should be respecting your opponent by not cheesing the game to get a result. This is mainly true of play overuse and the lightweight player exploit. If injuries genuinely force you down a particular path do the right thing and make sure your opponent is aware you'll be doing it. Want to play your WR at RB because your backup is horrible? Backup gets the #1 slot.

If in doubt... ask.

If concerned about apparent cheesing, don't complain to me! Instead, check publicly in Discord. If you're not convinced enough to raise the question, you're not convinced. Much of the furore at the end of last season could have been prevented by having civil discussions publicly rather than my having a quiet word. The Quiet Word is effective in most cases, but it's not as good as multiple owners saying "yeah, that's cheesing it" while simultaneously drawing attention to it.

Finally, there is a LOT of knowledge available in other leagues about how to cheese the game. Don't use it here. "Ooooh that'll give me an advantage" is a big red flag being waved. If you'd like to use it, make sure others are aware of it, then check to see if anyone has concerns.

We're a mostly-casual league played for fun.

Win at all costs is not what we're about.