I spend a lot of my time during the fantasy football season over at the Fantasy Football Cafe . There are a ton of forums in which to browse for golden nuggets of fantasy information, the members are knowledgable and friendly, and the advice is great.
The problem with advice for fantasy football, though, is that there are so many variables. And I am not just talking about your team’s dynamic or your players’ individual situations. I am talking about your league’s scoring system.
Because they all are different.
The so-called standard scoring system looks something like this:
- 1 point per 10 yards rushing/receiving
- 1 point per 25 yards passing
- 4 points per passing touchdown
- 6 points per rushing/receiving touchdown
- -2 points per turnover
I say it looks “something like this” because, often, there are different opinions on what the standard scoring system actually is — I think 6 points for ALL touchdowns, including passing, is standard because it is what I have used in my main league since the beginning. You might think standard scoring means something completely different than either of the above options. Is this a fundamental problem for fantasy football?
And it is not like there are two or three options. There are hundreds, maybe thousands or more, of league scoring variations and opinions on what point values should be, what categories should count and which should not.
My question to you, the reader, is this: Should there be a standard scoring system for ALL fantasy leagues? Or it is better to allow this diversity based on opinions and personal preferences?
A uniform scoring system would be helpful in terms of fantasy tips and more accurate rankings, but everyone is different. I love PPR leagues because in standard leagues a big play receiver can be much more valuable than a possession guy because one long catch can basically negate a very productive day.
It’s like this: Bernard Berrian can catch a 70 yard touchdown pass and not see the ball the rest of the game. That racks up 13 points in a standard league.
Houshmandzadeh might haul in 8 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. That’s only 14 if the league doesn’t use fractional points. I just hate knowing that one long touchdown can almost outscore a fantastic day by Housh.
I think Berrian receiving 14 points and Housh getting 22 is how it should be.
PPR isn’t the only thing though, IDPs and return yards play a big factor, too. I hate IDPs, but some people like them so as much as a set scoring system could help newcomers, the veterans, or the guys who like trying something new each year, would not stand for it.
August 23rd, 2008