Making Your Fantasy League Better - Part 5

Points, Points, Points, and more Points


Traditional fantasy football has very few points. It is time for you to enjoy the fun of having it rain points during a fantasy football game. Brainstorm with other members of your league for ideas about how your players can score points for you.

Most leagues award points for touchdowns scored. Well, it is time to modify that rule. Award more points for a longer touchdown. Why should a 1 yard TD run be equal to a 80 yard TD run? This can slightly alter the value of some players as they are "home run hitters" that can score from anywhere on the field. It provides more entertainment to the game. When your players score, the first question you ask is, "how far was it?"

Award points for yardage gained while rushing, receiving, or passing. Have negative points for turnovers. This alters the strategy for QB's who throw a lot of int's and RB's who fumble a lot. Award points for individual defensive players. Sacks, tackles, interceptions, fumble recoveries, and defensive touchdowns are some of the categories for scoring.

Make sure you are using team defenses. Again, be very creative with the scoring. In our league, we draft 3 team defenses and start 2 of them each week. Award points for sacks, turnovers, defensive and special teams touchdowns. Award big points for the rare accomplishments in a game, such as a team defense getting a safety. I have found that awarding BIG points for a team defense getting a shutout can be greatly entertaining. It is so rare to see a shutout in the NFL. Plus, as the game progresses the shutout takes on the feel of a no hitter in baseball. You are holding your breath with every play.

One other category that we do not use but I feel could be fun is drafting head coaches as a part of your team. Each player draft 1 or 2 head coaches and award points for wins and take away points for losses. If you set the values correctly, coaches wins and losses would weigh very heavy each week.

The great part of all this is that there are no boundaries or etched in stone rules. Again, the participants of your fantasy league should mold and shape your league to what is most entertaining for those same participants. A point for every TD is long out dated. Give me points, more and more points, falling like coins from a slot machine.