Madden 17 Franchise Mode Questions for a Noob

Injuries.
I ran into this same problem with Kikaha. I'm in my third season and he is still out with a torn ACL. I started the season with all current injuries and it seems as though that was not the way to go as he is still not available three years later.
To see the roster, go to the middle screen where it shows all your players and move over to roster management, top option on the right. Click it and it should say roster, check the size there. To rearrange the players go down to depth chart. They may be at the very bottom of your depth chart. Click on them and bring them up to the top.

Cap Space
This will include all current contracts for the year. You will see that number go up once players go into free agency. Watch your numbers because the Saints are pretty bad off with cap space in year one and Brees contract is up at the end of the year.

Trades
You do swap contract when making the trade. So you assume the players contract you are trading for.
You also may have dead money if you release a player still under contract, but it will let you know how much.

I think if you go into finances in owner mode you can see future contracts and cap space

Hope this helps, kinda hard to do all this without looking at my screen

You should have turned off preexisting injuries before starting the franchise.

Also turn injuries way way way down. Injuries are a huge problem on this game. Mine are down to like 25 and I currently have my #2 and 4 wr out for 6-8 weeks. Sucks but I refuse to turn them off because it's not realistic.

As far as cap space... Here's what I found works, but I'm no expert.

1- I haven't made a trade. Just too much I don't understand about the cap space and I don't want to take big hits.

2- I don't resign players if they are over 26 unless they are at least rated in the upper 80s to 90s. Players over 26 won't progress anymore and you won't be able to get them better through XP.

3- pay close attention to the draft. A good draft can set your team up nicely. In this past season I only drafted 3 players, but after this season I'll have 6 picks within the first 3 rounds and 10 overall. If I can land 3 starters and 2-3 more future starters then I'll be set.

Don't sign guys in free agency that aren't good and waste cap space. Just sign cheap and to a year if they are at a position you are looking to fill for a season.

If your roster is set for next season then pay attention to trades in the draft. You'll get 4th round offers in next seasons draft for your 5th or 6th round pick in the current draft. You can stock up on draft picks for the future that way.

quote:

---

If your roster is set for next season then pay attention to trades in the draft.

---

Well, as of now, i see my needs are

1st round DT

At DT, Fairley (81) declined my offer and is going to FA. Rankins (if he returns) is a rookie ranked 78 and hopefully will be off of the injured list immediately so i can use him. Once i get Rankins back, i'm trading off John jenkins (76) for some draft picks. I still have another DT that is ranked 74/75 at the moment for depth.

2nd round MLB

I have 3 OLB with a rating of 76, 1 at 77. My MLB's are ranked 73 (laurinitus) and 70 (Free agent i picked up for depth). I need a better MLB.

3rd round CB

I can't stop anything in man against good receivers. I need one good CB. But right now, DT and MLB are more important.

4th round G

Just resigned my LG (82). I'm letting Evans contract expire and hope to put Andrus Peat in his spot next year at RG, unless i pick up a Guard that can beat him out. Other than that, my O-line is all coming back next year

4th round OLB (if pick acquired through trade)

If i get this, i could use a young OLB to develop

5th round SS (if pick acquired through trade)

Just need some depth here when i don't resign Roman Harper

6th round WR - depending on progression of my young WR's

I have a feeling my young WR's are going to be good to go, but in case they aren't, i'll add another for depth.

7th round RB - Though this late, i doubt they will be anything other than a waste of roster space.

Ingram isn't doing much on my team. It may be that i don't know how to run, or that with my Offense, running isn't a factor. I average about 12 running plays per game. I think I have a total of 200 rushing yards through 5 games. I would like a spark here. He'll do for now, but would like to develop an RB or sign a good RB next year.

Other Needs

FB

Kuhn is 33. If i have plenty of cap space i may resign him, but not really important now. Just would like another FB for some depth. If i dont retain Kuhn i'm left with a 70 or so FB on the depth chart.

Also, looking in the future, Brees has this year and next before his contract is up. I'm going to have to either trade up (depending on my season) for an early draft pick on year 3 or try to resign brees and sign a 2nd or 3rd round QB in year 2 draft and develop.

I'm trying to scout guys based on the rounds i think i'll be on if they are available. It's hard not to see someone from LSU and jump on them.

quote:

---

(if you're under coach mode you won't need to worry).

---

Why's that?

In coach mode you're working strictly with the salary cap. In Owner mode you're working with that and your funds. Your funds are affected by team performance. Player bonus comes directly out of your funds. If you deplete them, you can't resign players, sign FA, and your team quality will decline.

I think I play with it at 40 but I have my auto subs to where my players sub more.

quote:

---

Yes. If he goes on the IR though you're good.

---

What if he's not on the IR? And wait, if he is on IR he is or isn't counted?

If you put him on IR he can't play for the rest of the season and it opens a roster spot.

The majority of injuries are between 6-8 weeks for some stupid reason. You rarely get an injury where they come right back, or are injuried for just a few weeks.

You will get a season ending injury every so often though. Just be careful with it. Had my stud rolb go down with a "season ending injury." I didn't put him on IR and he returned for the super bowl that same season.