Eliminating H2H matchup in playoffs (1 Viewer)

[Air Coryell]

I know there have been a few posts with regards to reducing the luck factor in FFB. For this league over the last few years the Division winners are winning their first round match less than half the time. The feedback that I received is that it seems unfair that a team can dominate for 14 weeks and then get bounced in the first round. This year neither division winner got out of the first round and 2 .500 teams are playing for the title. I'll get the response out of the way now as I understand its part of the game. I'm trying to see if there are ways to make things better.

While I offered to change the league to either an all-play or a total points both were shot down since no one wants to get rid of H2H matchups durring the regular season since there are rivilaries amongst the teams. As a compromise one idea thats been tossed around is the 4 teams that make the playoffs play 2 weeks(15&16) as a total points. Most points over the 2 weeks wins the league, 2nd most wins the 2nd place, and so on.

Has anyone tried this before? Did you find that it helped?

 

[Slinger]

I've seen ideas for more fair ways, but it's not as fun IMO.

 

[Ralph Wiggum]

One idea that was passed around in my league for the playoffs was to have the top 1/2 of the scorers move on each week (i.e. the top for scorers in week 14, the top two in week 15, and obviously, the top scorer in week 16 is the champ)...

 

[Phurfur]

So fair would be a system where the division winner wins most of the time? Or fair would be the team you think is better wins? I don't get it. This is what FF is all about, one game head to head to decide a winner, just like the NFL.

 

[jevy]

Keep the H2H and give the division leaders a TD or 2 up front. If they still can't win, keep giving them points until they don't lose.

 

[boubucarow]

I know there have been a few posts with regards to reducing the luck factor in FFB. For this league over the last few years the Division winners are winning their first round match less than half the time. The feedback that I received is that it seems unfair that a team can dominate for 14 weeks and then get bounced in the first round. This year neither division winner got out of the first round and 2 .500 teams are playing for the title. I'll get the response out of the way now as I understand its part of the game. I'm trying to see if there are ways to make things better.While I offered to change the league to either an all-play or a total points both were shot down since no one wants to get rid of H2H matchups durring the regular season since there are rivilaries amongst the teams. As a compromise one idea thats been tossed around is the 4 teams that make the playoffs play 2 weeks(15&16) as a total points. Most points over the 2 weeks wins the league, 2nd most wins the 2nd place, and so on. Has anyone tried this before? Did you find that it helped?

The result probably won't be too different if you just extended the totals to two weeks. You might just still have a lot of 500 teams winning the title because their team exploded in week 15 and then kept their edge in week 16.

 

[Yitbos69]

I look at it like this The Steelers were not the Best team in the NFL last year but they are the Champs. Its why we play the games!

 

[Mozeta]

I think people just get all bent out of shape after having the best team all year and then getting bounced in the playoffs. Trust me I know. H2H is definitely the most fun way to play FF with friends. I also think the fact that once the playoffs start, anyone can win.

There is no real fair way to take luck out of FF without diminishing on the fun or integrity of the game itself. You can give the top team more of an advantage to win in the playoffs, but what is the point? The fairest way is to give the person with the most total points at the end of the regular season the championship. However IMO this is less fun and will lead to more people paying less attention to the league after they realize they are out of it in week 6.

I think the solution you are looking for would involve having a piece of the payout go to the overall regular season winner and then doing the playoffs as you normally would. Then the “best team” would get their piece and everyone in the playoffs would all still have the same chance to win the league championship just the way it should be.

Or another good idea I heard here was giving a small payout each week to the team with the highest point total. This would give the best team the best chance to win money during the regular season while still giving everyone in the league a chance to win each week as well. Under this format in my league the best team would have won 3 times, several other teams would have won twice, and even a few bottom teams would have won once. Only 2 or 3 teams in my league would have been left out. This format would also keep people with no playoff hopes involved right up to the end because they could still get lucky and win some $$$ until the last week of the season.

 

[CommuterMan]

One of the leagues I play in has created a point spread for playoff games where the 13 week average total point difference between the two teams going head to head is added or subtracted to/from the higher seeded team's points that week. If the higher seed has a negative spread then that is used to reduce that team points for the week - not a usual occurance here...

This spread creates an incentive for teams to score all the points they can throughout the 13 week season (limiting the notion to throw a game late in the season) and in the playoffs the lower seeded teams must now really out perform the higher seed team to advance. In our advance scoring system (normal weekly scores average 450+) the point spreads average 30+ points. I would think in more standard scoring systems the point spreads would be reasonable and as the "better" overall teams advance that point spread becomes less and less. In our championship game this week the point spread is less than 10 points for the #2 and #3 seeds.

 

[Mario Kart]

Why disadvantage the underdog in the playoffs? The other thing is to quit looking at it as luck and start looking at things as "those are the breaks." Winning in the regular season thus making the playoffs does not entitle one team to "win it all."

Unfortunately there is some sense of entitlement with all of these "luck vs. skill" threads to "make things more fair." Here is a clue... they are already fair.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I feel the pain of people that complain of such things. In the league I run I've had the top scoring team 3 of the last 4 years and came in second the other year. Won my division each year. Had the highest scoring player in the league on my team each year. Last year alone I had a team of Palmer, LJ, LT, and Ocho that ripped the rest of the league to shreds over 13 weeks obliterating everything in its path.

And in each year, including this year with LT on my roster, I won't even get to play in the title game, let alone win it. Each year in the playoffs something happens. This year I lost by .5 points to a Peyton Manning team. Last year with that monster roster I scored my average and lost to a team whose players exploded in the playoffs led by an amazing week by Todd Heap.

But, there isn't anything you can do about it, and I'm not sure I want to. Our division winners get a bye in week 1 in the playoffs so they basically make the money. The teams that come in second get 1 +3 home field advantage in the first week over the other playoff teams to give some incentive for finishing in 2nd over 3rd. We also pay a bonus to the total points champ.

Other then those things, the only other thing I've seen that I could support in my league is some kind of weekly bonus for high score. But every time a suggestion like that is made in my league it gets gunned down because the majority want the winner at the end to get as large a chunck as possible.

There will always be upsets. Taking them out of the game ceases making it a game.

 

[nerangers]

I thought about this before, but could not sell the idea.

You could still do head to head, but your four playoff teams play each other. The highest two records move on to your super bowl.

 

[fatness]

The NFL would be horrible if they did this.

 

[Bulldog96]

Most teams that make the FF Playoffs can usually agree that one or two games during the season, "luck" was on THEIR side. It's how the game works. The Non-Playoff teams just weren't as fortunate/lucky... Scheduling, injuries, etc... are all part of the game. The same with the "One-and-Done" finality of the Playoffs. It's just part of the game. (I didn't start Miami's DEF in week #14 and still feel the pain.)

I tried the Total Points Championship (weeks 14,15,16) scenario and won it. The feeling = empty. Although the outcome would've been the same, it just didn't have the drama associated with the One-and-Done mentality. I had a second chance to make up for any mistakes I had made the previous week and never really felt the pressure of WDIS THIS week... I'll never do it again.

Gimme the drama any day of the week... It's what makes the game exciting.

Not to mention >>> who's to say that a #6 seed doesn't deserve the title? Maybe he had issues during the season and through savvy ownership, he made some moves that allowed him to limp into the Playoffs. If he catches fire and rolls to a Title Game, good for him. It'll only help your league in the long run as other teams try and keep the Cinderella hope alive the following season. It makes for good league history...

 

[pizzatyme]

One thing I've seen done before was to give the higher seed a "home field advantage". Where in the first round of the playoffs, they get 5 points and for the second round 3 points, etc.

It did help somewhat, but most of the time it seemed like the lower seed just had a great week and beat the advantage anyway.

 

[TheLastDispatch]

So fair would be a system where the division winner wins most of the time? Or fair would be the team you think is better wins? I don't get it. This is what FF is all about, one game head to head to decide a winner, just like the NFL.

Keep the H2H and give the division leaders a TD or 2 up front. If they still can't win, keep giving them points until they don't lose.

Are either of these posts contributing anything? Are they helping in any way? Great insight here. i'm sure you guys really helped the original poster.As many people have said, the entire season hinging on one game is what makes it great. Sure, it sucks if you dominate all season then lose in the first game of the playoffs. But it can happen in the NFL too. I think to make it more fair you'd have to compromise some of the fun on FF.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

So fair would be a system where the division winner wins most of the time? Or fair would be the team you think is better wins? I don't get it. This is what FF is all about, one game head to head to decide a winner, just like the NFL.

Keep the H2H and give the division leaders a TD or 2 up front. If they still can't win, keep giving them points until they don't lose.

Are either of these posts contributing anything? Are they helping in any way? Great insight here. i'm sure you guys really helped the original poster.As many people have said, the entire season hinging on one game is what makes it great. Sure, it sucks if you dominate all season then lose in the first game of the playoffs. But it can happen in the NFL too. I think to make it more fair you'd have to compromise some of the fun on FF.

That was their point sparky.

 

[Godsbrother]

If it bothers you that the high scorer in the playoffs might not win the championship then it makes no sense to have H2H decide who gets in the playoffs. You could still have the highest scoring team not win the championship because he didn't even make the playoffs.

Either go with H2H or go with total points and be done with it.

 

[Traders2001]

WHat we do in our league is .

When we make the schedule we have visiting and receiving teams

the advantage of the receiving team, is a flex player while the visiting team can only use a regular lineup .

EX: Our regular lineup is 1QB 2RB 3WR 1TE ( We also have kickers and DL and DB but it really doesnt matter here )

So if you are visiting you have to use that lineup.

But if you receive you can play with your lineup ( Let say you have Lt - Parker and Gore )

So your allowed to play 1QB 3RB 2WR 1TE or the opposite 1QB 1 RB 4WR 1TE even if your strong at TE 1QB 2RB 3WR 2 TE .

SO in the playoffs the division winners have home field advantage so they can play their best players .

It s not a big advantage but if your very strong either at WR or RB it helps .

 

[fsufan]

So fair would be a system where the division winner wins most of the time? Or fair would be the team you think is better wins? I don't get it. This is what FF is all about, one game head to head to decide a winner, just like the NFL.

I agreeI went 12-1 in my main dynasty league but got beat in the 2nd round(had a 1st round bye) of the playoffs. You have to except there is ALOT OF LUCK in FF, especially in the FF playoffs. I think the FF playoffs is 100% luck.

I do not think it would be fun if the team excepted to win won all the time.

 

[Patoons]

So fair would be a system where the division winner wins most of the time? Or fair would be the team you think is better wins? I don't get it. This is what FF is all about, one game head to head to decide a winner, just like the NFL.

 

[BassNBrew]

Here's what I do in my 12 team league....

12 week regular season, 6 make championship bracket

week 13: divisions winners get a bye, 3 v. 6, 4 v. 5

week 14/15: Top seeds play two lowest remaining seeds in a two week game.

week 16/17: Two remaining teams play a two week long championship game.

 

[Slider]

We play a dual Superbowl system. One his H2H and one is strictly points.

The drawback of points leagues is you have the common ending where one team has to beat another team for the 3rd or 4th time straight.

We play 2 divisions with 16 teams. The H2H is always great as you don't play the other guy all year.

The points league is top 8 week 14, top 4 week 15, top 2 week 16. It's more exciting but now in the Championship one team has to play a team it's beaten twice already. Should it have to beat the same team 3 times?

 

[Chaz]

H2H regular season.

Total points for the three week playoff period. We love it. No one week wonder for a 6-7 team nonsense (unless, of course, you like that sort of thing. We don't)

 

[chief of staff]

We have 14 teams where everyone makes the playoffs. in the first week, the two division winners get a bye and everyone else plays wiht the losers eliminated. So the worst the division winners can do is lose in the 2nd round.

 

[chris1969]

You could go total points in the playoffs, but that's not much better if you have a 2 week playoff.

 

[Daywalker]

One way of doing it is 6 teams make the playoff for instance. Playoffs are 3 individual weeks long.

After the first week:

6th place= 6 pts

5th place= 5 pts

4th place= 4 pts

3rd place= 3 pts

2nd place= 2 pts

1st place= 1 pt.

You reward the same pts to week 2 & 3 finishing order. So if you finished 4th, 1st and 3rd in the three weeks you have a total score of 8.

We use one more factor. Take the total pts scored for the 3-week period and award pts as following:

6th place= 6 pts

5th place= 5 pts

4th place= 4 pts

3rd place= 3 pts

2nd place= 2 pts

1st place= 1 pt.

So if you finished 4th, 1st and 3rd during the three weeks and finished 2nd for total pts then your total score is 10.

If your team has the lowest awarded pts then you are the champion.

 

[SanDawg]

I am in a 14 team league. Our playoffs, the top 4 make it. Then we do a round robin tournament. Week 1 is 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd. 2nd week is losers play other winners and the last week is remaining opponents you have not played. His goal is to have multiple teams with possibilities the final week. If ties at the end occur, total points scored amongst teams involved with the tie. So possible 3 teams could go 2-1 and the team usually with the more consitant effort across the three weeks is the winner.

 

[LurkMaster]

IMO, Having each round last 2 weeks, with the combined score determining the win/loss really helps prove the better team. You gotta fight for the win and 1 great week doesnt always advance a team (since you still have to show up the following week).

Weeks 01-12: Regular Season

Weeks 13-14: SemiFinals

Weeks 15-16: Championship Game

 

[Loomba]

Reward the higher seeds with a home field advantage of 3 to 7 points. This gives the teams that were good all season with a well-deserved edge. Over the course of a 13 or 14 game regular season, luck is less of a factor and the better teams generally rise to the top of a league's standings. Therefore, it is not unfair to reward them with home field advantage and a few points.

 

[Statorama]

Part of your drafting strategy should include matchups for the playoff weeks. My strategy failed this year, as my big coups included Michael Turner.

I'm on the F'd up side of your argument. I had the leagues best record and got bounced in the first round (Maurice Jones Drew and Gates killed me). It stinks, but playing each game is how you get a good record in the first place.

It's actually a good reminder to go through this once in a while. It keeps you on your toes next season, and interested in the waiver wire each week. I got a little complacent, even wasting a bench slot with Brian Calhoun for a few weeks before I found someone on waivers I liked.

note: it's late, and the above is probably wholly incoherent.