|
If there is one thing near and dear to the veteran fantasy footballer it is their scoring system. Before any player question can be adequately answered, the fundamental question must be answered - "what is the scoring system?". We like to believe there is a huge difference between scoring system A and scoring system B. The Huddle even plays into this with the much praised customized scoring for cheatsheets. If you generate numerous different cheatsheets, you'll see there is probably not a dramatic difference between them. They are predicated on projected stats after all which are nothing more than the most likely outcome for a player of many, many possible outcomes. They go out of bounds on the one-yard line a few times and top players may be ranked a dozen spots higher than they should have. This is why we still offer The Huddle Rankings which are more independent from the whims of projection-generated cheatsheets.
However.
There are three fundamental kinds of scoring in use that will always change up how drafts unwind. Ignoring the occasional league that may make one position hugely disportionately valuable than another, there are exactly three kinds of scoring which make a fundamental difference to when a player would be taken. I do not count touchdown-only leagues because they are becoming extremely rare and almost always belong to longtime leagues with no desire to change. Here are the three styles that matter to me:
1. Standard Performance - This is basically where there is yardage points, probably three or four points per passing score and a point for every 20 or 25 passing yards and six points for all other touchdowns. Yardage gets awarded one point for each ten yards. But no point for a reception - that is key. Quarterbacks score well but end up kind of bunched together. The typical planning looks to obtain the best RBs possible, then probably good WRs and finally QBs eventually. This style used to be the most common - by far.
2. Reception Points - This is just the Standard Performance but awards one point per reception. That is a huge change since it makes top wideouts about as valuable as a top RB, props up the value of pass catching RBs and fades the pure runners. It is a definitely difference and a huge one as to where players should be drafted. It also makes for many more high-value players so drafts are deeper in quality. The typical planning looks to get good RBs but ones that preferably receive the ball as well. Wideouts are much more valuable here and are seeded in much earlier - sometimes in preference to a RB. Even TE's have significance in this scoring and could start showing up in the third or fourth rounds. This style is becoming the most common.
3. Quarterback Heavy - Regardless of the presence of reception points, this is a scoring system that prefers QBs over all other position either because they get six point touchdowns and score far in excess of all other positions or the league allows you to start two of them. When you start only one QB, then you can often wait because there will only be ten or 12 starting QBs in the league anyway and teams always hold off on the position while stocking up on the multiples of RB and WR that they need to field a starting lineup. But six point passing scores means the top of the QB rankings not only dwarf other positions in scoring but have enough difference between the tiers that getting an early one really yields an advantage. If you can start two QBs, then getting two high scorers is a big boost for your team as opposed to just one decent starter and a below average QB2. And this doesn't result in a different ranking for the position, but makes a big difference in how quickly they are drafted. This style is not that common but is growing.
I would contend that either you or I could draft good fantasy teams knowing nothing more than if there are reception points or if QBs get six points per passing score or if we start two QBs. Nothing else really changes the way you draft as much as those three scoring characteristics.
Below shows how I would draft if I had all 12 positions in a league using the three formats to show how I would change my tactics according to what I valued most. I also considered it to start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 PK and 1 DF.
 You must be a Huddle Member to continue reading this article or feature.
|
|
