Celebrating the two most popular things out there: Football and Free.

So. You received a strange, left-field-worthy message from an ad agency you’ve probably never heard of. And, out of sheer curiosity and/or pity, you decided to come here and indulge the messenger just a little more.

••••••••••  Excellent.  ••••••••••

To repeat the main point here: we (Young & Laramore) are giving away $50,000 of work to one of eight brands we’ve handpicked. If you’re reading this, you’re one of those brands. And to collect this jackpot, all you have to do is play a game.

••••••••••  No joke.  ••••••••••

$50,000 in agency time towards a tasty project.

Take a second to bone up on The Rules; peruse the semi-exhaustive FAQ; lustily admire The Prizes. Then, if you’re ready, click the strategically-placed, aesthetically-inviting button below.

And let the games begin.

- The Commissioner

League Rules

There are eight teams in The League, each one representing
a client that Young & Laramore has fantasized about doing work for.

Those eight teams are split into two divisions:

Each team will play a ten-game regular season, with head-to-head
matchups against their competitors.

After ten weeks, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs—
a single-elimination tournament that will crown the champion.

Prizes will be awarded based on each team’s performance.

Game Rules

The League will use ESPN.com for its fantasy league management.
Upon agreeing to participate, each participant brand will receive an official invitation from ESPN.com to join The League. (Participants will need a free ESPN.com account to play.)

The Draft will be automatically performed on September 7, 2011,
with each team assigned a roster they can then manage
throughout the season.

Scoring will be ESPN Standard, with 1 point awarded for
every 10 yards rushing and receiving, six points for touchdown rushes and receptions, and 4 points for every touchdown pass. (For complete scoring, see ESPN.com.)

Teams are free to set their lineups each week, as well as
add and subtract players through the waiver wire.
(No fees are assessed for additions or subtractions.)

Each team’s line-up must be set each week as follows:

If you have any further questions on rules, don’t hesitate to
contact The Commissioner.

Untold Riches Await You

Few are called to play in the Y&L Fantasy Client Fantasy Football League. Even fewer are successful enough to play their way to a reward. Distinguish yourself (or just get super lucky), and here’s what you could go home with:

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Big One: $50,000 of free work from us. That’s $50,000 (based on hourly rates) of thinking, writing, design and strategizing, all by a veteran group of creatives who have been to their fair share of rodeos. (No cheap intern labor here!) The only caveat: production and media costs aren’t included.

Made it to the Championship game and lost? Fear not: we won’t forget you. League runners-up will receive their very own, limited edition Y&L Cookbook! Now you, too, will be able to replicate the cilantro-tinged goodness of Linda Allee’s Creamed Corn, as well as the irrepressible zestiness of Sue Doron’s Chili—right in your very own home!

Those who lose in the first round of the playoffs will get our most enigmatic of parting gifts: a mystery prize from the Y&L basement! Heaven knows what lies in the bowels of our building, but we’ll find something cool. Will it be a ten-year-old Mac? A ream of yellowed printer paper? Perhaps a grab bag of dull X-acto knives and particle board? The mind boggles!

It was a dark time in sports before standings were invented. Games were played, blood was shed, sweat was sweated—but at the end of the day, it all meant nothing. There was no way to tell how well a given team was doing, no way to know where they “stood,” as it were.

Thankfully, we no longer live in a world without standings. And no League bearing our name will ever be without this paradigm-shifting invention.

Is this a joke?

No, this is not a joke. We are seriously reaching out to potential new clients via an online fantasy football league. Fun? Hopefully. Whimsical? Possibly. Joke? Heck no.

So this is a stunt?

No, it isn’t. True, we wanted to do something different here, but not just for difference’s sake. We figure, if you’re the type of company that’s down to do something like this—well, you’re the type of company we’d get along with famously.

Is this spam?

No, we wouldn’t go to this much trouble for just anyone. We’ve been following your brand for a while, we’ve fallen in love with it, and we’re genuinely excited to do work for it. Don’t believe us? Only eight companies have been invited to The League. (The League is like the Harvard of new business initiatives, only it’s free. Hmm, scratch that. The League is the Deep Springs College of new business initiatives, only without the ranching.)

What’s in it for me (the player)?

At the very least, you’ll enjoy a couple months of spirited competition with some brands you’re probably familiar with. (“IN YOUR FACE, rival packaged goods brand!”) At most, you’ll get free work from an award-winning, nationally-recognized advertising agency.

What’s in it for you (the agency)?

Simple. It’s a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to do something cool, work with people and brands we respect, and get some more experience in some very exciting categories. Oh, and let’s not jinx things, but we’d love for this to lead to more projects with the lucky winner.

Was there a First Annual Fantasy
Client Fantasy Football League?

No.

Is it a lot of work for me?

Not at all. Since you don’t have to worry about preparing for a draft—just managing your lineup week-to-week—it’s really however much work you want to make it. If you so desire, a few minutes a week is all you’ll need to spend.

What if I’m not interested in playing
week-to-week?

No worries. We’ll assign someone from our agency to play on your behalf. But honestly, you’ll have more fun if you play along.

No, I’m REALLY not interested.

Okay, okay, we get it. Drop us a note and we’ll go bug someone else.

Are you sure this isn’t a joke?

Please. We’d never joke about something as important
as fantasy football.