Fantasy Football Ranking and League Scoring Systems
Projections for scoring performance and player rankings must be based on players real-life stats applied to league-specific scoring systems - or your fantasy football rankings are worthless!
The biggest problem facing the fantasy football fanatic at the start of the season is "how can I make it until football?" The second hurdle is "who do I pick this year?"
Well, I am glad to tell you that the 2005/2006 football season is here! To help you with your second question, I want to share the obvious, but frequently overlooked theory I live by.
Fact 1: Real-life NFL performance does not = fantasy points.
The only way a good day's performance on the field can lead to fantasy points is when the day's statistics trigger point scoring events. Let’s take a quick look at Pittsburgh's Staley and Bettis. In 2004's game one, Bettis had 1 yard rushing on 5 attempts. Staley had 91 yards on 24 attempts. Did I mention that of Bettis' 5 attempts - 3 went for touchdowns?
In scoring leagues, Bettis' 3 TD's wiped out Staley's huge yardage advantage. In yardage leagues, Staley's 91 yards spanked Bettis' paltry 1 yard. I admit this illustration is extreme, but it shows how the scoring system truly defines what player stats are valued.
Over the long-haul of the football season, the differences in player statistics add up! So much so, that an average wide receiver that also returns punts can score much better than a top performing wide receiver that does not. But what if your league doesn't count punt return yardage? Now, instead of being ranked #7, that punt returning wide receiver may fall to #28.
It's all about scoring systems! Some leagues give or take away points for many statistics outside of yardage, touchdowns, and touches. There are scoring systems that value the break-away back more than the workhorse, and at the same time, there are systems that value the workhorse and his high number of carries. The same is true in the running QB vs. the pocket-passer match up. If your league gives more points for a rushing TD than a passing TD, a running QB like Culpepper can out score a pocket-passer like Manning, even if Manning throws for more TD's!
The bottom line is: If you don't know how players will score in your league, you are just drifting in the dark on draft day.
Visit StatLeader.com to learn more about the impact of league scoring systems on player performance.
Well, I am glad to tell you that the 2005/2006 football season is here! To help you with your second question, I want to share the obvious, but frequently overlooked theory I live by.
Fact 1: Real-life NFL performance does not = fantasy points.
The only way a good day's performance on the field can lead to fantasy points is when the day's statistics trigger point scoring events. Let’s take a quick look at Pittsburgh's Staley and Bettis. In 2004's game one, Bettis had 1 yard rushing on 5 attempts. Staley had 91 yards on 24 attempts. Did I mention that of Bettis' 5 attempts - 3 went for touchdowns?
In scoring leagues, Bettis' 3 TD's wiped out Staley's huge yardage advantage. In yardage leagues, Staley's 91 yards spanked Bettis' paltry 1 yard. I admit this illustration is extreme, but it shows how the scoring system truly defines what player stats are valued.
Over the long-haul of the football season, the differences in player statistics add up! So much so, that an average wide receiver that also returns punts can score much better than a top performing wide receiver that does not. But what if your league doesn't count punt return yardage? Now, instead of being ranked #7, that punt returning wide receiver may fall to #28.
It's all about scoring systems! Some leagues give or take away points for many statistics outside of yardage, touchdowns, and touches. There are scoring systems that value the break-away back more than the workhorse, and at the same time, there are systems that value the workhorse and his high number of carries. The same is true in the running QB vs. the pocket-passer match up. If your league gives more points for a rushing TD than a passing TD, a running QB like Culpepper can out score a pocket-passer like Manning, even if Manning throws for more TD's!
The bottom line is: If you don't know how players will score in your league, you are just drifting in the dark on draft day.
Visit StatLeader.com to learn more about the impact of league scoring systems on player performance.
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