What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Fantasy tiebreakers (1 Viewer)

T

the next level

Footballguy
I manage a 16-team league. We have four divisions and each year send 6 teams to the playoffs. Each division winner goes, plus two wild cards. The two best teams get a playoff week 1 bye.

Often, however, overall records are the same in one of the races, be it determining a division winner, wild card, or who gets the byes. By design, the rules vary. In the division races if there's a tie we then compare head-to-head (more applicable in division races because all division foes play each other twice during the regular season), then compare division records, then finally overall year-to-date points scored. In the wild card and in the determination of the two bye teams the only layer of tiebreak is YTD points.

The latter is a source of consternation in my league this year, because several scenarios involve the high YTD points teams getting a playoff nod or bye week over a team that beat them in the regular season. The rules are what they are for this year but I'm considering a rules change for 2008 that would compare what tied teams W-L records would have been if we notionally compared their scores for all 13 weeks of the regular season. Sort of a blend of the two philosophies, but one that would still favor the higher-scoring team.

I'm looking for opinions as to what other leagues are doing. I myself am in another 14-team league that sends it's 3 division winners based on record then 3 wild cards strictly based on points scored completely without regard for overall record. Obviously a much different philosophy there.

 
Total points is the only way to determine the team that truly deserves to advance.

In fantasy, total points should always be 1. in tiebreakers. IMHO

 
in my league division rival tie breakers are:

Head-2-Head

Division record

Overall Points.

non division tie breakers:

overall points.

head to head.

Its not fair if a 10-3 team thats scored 2000 points but had lost a head to head to a 10-3 thats scored 1500 points during the regular season because they played on when the 2000 point team had most of his starters on their bye week. It should be overall points as the main tie breaker for non divisional teams.

 
Power & Playoff Rank Tiebreakers

Most average points/game
Hardest schedule (points)
Best head-to-head record
Hardest schedule (record)
Best division record (same division only)
 
A series of three challenges; the first owner to successfully complete them wins the playoff spot... This year the challenges are:

1) The Unseeing Eye

2) Crossing the Desert

3) The Paddling of the Swollen ###.

 
red said:
overall recordH2H recorddivision recordtotal pointscoin toss
Click to expand...
This is how we do it for a division winner. We use the same tie-breakers minus division record when determining wild cards as well as seeding for division winners (1-3) and wild cards (4-6).
 
This is a great topic. The league I run is having similar concerns.

We take 6 of the 12 to the playoffs, with 3 divisions of 4 teams.

We take the 3 division winners, based on record. We then take the 3 highest point totals left as our wildcards.

We started doing this about 5 years ago when we had 2 of the 3 top point getters not make the playoffs.(insane I know)

Our division tie breakers right now is points, so that there would be no need to go to a 2nd tie breaker, however this year we have two teams in the same division 7-4. Team B has beat team A twice, however is 10 points behind team A, so team A would get into the playoffs (as of now) by 10 points....even though team B beat them twice.

I cannot change it this year, but next year I plan to go to....

Tiebreakers

head to head

division record

points

 
14 teams...

2 divisions...

13 week regular season.

Everybody plays everybody else...one time.

Final Standings Tiebreakers:

There are 4 final standing tiebreakers.

(1) Overall W-L %,

(2) Division W-L %,

(3) Total Starter Points for weeks 1-13,

(4) Head to head competition.

There is a definite method to this process.

First of all...the playoffs are the season long goal.

A season long goal should NOT be predicated on a single week of play....ie....one bad week should NOT define your season.

I tried to make a "season worth of work" take precidence in a "season long goal".

Also, there MUST be a "definite" tie-breaker. A tie-breaker that cannot end with a tie. That is, 2 teams can tie in every category except for the final tie-breaker.

Considering all this...."head-to-head" goes last.

After all other "season long" categories are taken into consideration the FINAL tie-breaker is simply..."who beat who that ONE week when these two teams met on the field?"

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Opinions and practices appear to vary widely, as I suspected they might. But since I started this thread I checked the rules link at the World Championship of Fantasy Football (www.wcoff.com) and discovered them to be heavily in favor of high-points conventions. They're about as close to a gold standard as you can get in the world of fantasy football.

 
Section 5. Schedule, Playoffs and Tiebreakers

Tiebreaking, Division

ARTICLE 2. If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a division champion is determined:

1. Head-to-head record

2. Division record

3. Points scored

4. Points scored in division

5. Points scored against teams in tie

6. Rock-Paper-Scissors game between parties invloved

Tiebreaking, Wildcard

ARTICLE 3. If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs, the following steps will be taken:

1. Head-to-head record

2. Points scored

3. Division record

4. Points scored in division

5. Points scored against teams in tie

6. Rock-Paper-Scissors game between parties invloved

 
Overall record

Division Record

Head to Head

Points Differential

Coin Flip

We have never made it to Coin Flip, and only to Points Differential 2 times in 15 years. Not bad considering 8 of 12 teams make the playoffs.

I have lobbied for Points Scored vs. Point Differential, but have never garnered enough votes to change it.

 
Often times in our huge league (16 teams) there are more than two teams tied for wildcard spots.

It is very hard to compare head to head in this case, so the next step is comparing records against COMMON opponents (minimum of three). If this cannot be done, we go to most overall points.

 
in both leagues I'm in Total Points is first.

I think they vary, but I'm pretty sure H-2-H is 2nd in both

In one I know that MORE points allowed is 3rd (strength of schedule)

All play record may fall into the mix as well.

-QG

 
In one of my leagues, division winners and best records (with H2H and other tiebreakers mentioned here used) get the first 5 playoff spots, but for the final playoff spot, we take all the other teams and figure what their record would be if they played every team in the league every week, and the best total record counted this way gets in. It adds a whole different dynamic. I think we had a team that was 3-10 get in ahead of a team 6-7; the 3-10 team just had a really bad schedule.

I think this is better than total points because total points can be too influenced by an unusual week, would rather have the team that consistently scored above average than the team that was average but had one fluke week that gives him more total points.

 
We use a modified version of the NFL tiebreaker system which can be found on NFL.com

TIEBREAKERS

The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season

schedules.

NOTE: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied

percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two Clubs

1. Head to Head

2. Divisional Record

3. Total Points

4. Points in head to head

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step

1 of the two-club format).

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).

2. Divisional Record

3. Total Points

4. Points in head to head.

TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM

If it is necessary to break ties to determine the three Wild-Card clubs, the following steps will be taken.

1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.

2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.

Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head

2. Total Points

3. Points in head to head.

4. Coin toss.

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable

two-club format.)

1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to

step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all

subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.

2. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).

3. Total Points

4. Points in head to head.

5. Coin toss.

When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e.,

eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or

more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same

for subsequent applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card

berth.

OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES

1. Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remaining tied clubs revert to the first step of

the applicable division or Wild-Card tie breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step

after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to step one of the two-club format to determine the

winner. When one club wins the tie breaker, all other clubs revert to step 1 of the applicable two-club or three-club

format.

 
QuizGuy66 said:
probably the fact that two fluky weeks shouldn't dominate the fate of an entire year.-QG
Click to expand...
Like it does in the NFL? We want it to not be like that?
FantasyTrader said:
Using H2H, the highest scoring team for the year might not make the playoffs. There should NEVER be a scenario where this occurs.
Click to expand...
This can happen even if you do use Total points as a tiebreaker. If you think this should NEVER happen, you should be playing in a total points league and not a H2H league.
 
AhrnCityPahnder said:
QuizGuy66 said:
probably the fact that two fluky weeks shouldn't dominate the fate of an entire year.-QG
Click to expand...
Like it does in the NFL? We want it to not be like that?
FantasyTrader said:
Using H2H, the highest scoring team for the year might not make the playoffs. There should NEVER be a scenario where this occurs.
Click to expand...
This can happen even if you do use Total points as a tiebreaker. If you think this should NEVER happen, you should be playing in a total points league and not a H2H league.
Click to expand...
This is why you use total pts. to determine the last two playoff spots and not team records. And I AM playing in total pts. leagues and not H2H.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
AhrnCityPahnder said:
What's the logic for using anything other than H2H as the first tiebreaker?
Click to expand...
The logic?You shouldn't use the performance of a single game determine your playoff future.Playoff tie-breakers should be dependant on stats accumulated over the regular season...NOT a single game.You should run through a series of "season long" stats to determine a playoff berth....The single H2H game should be your FINAL tie-breaker...after all else has failed to break the tie.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
We use the NFL tiebreaking procedures found on nfl.com and do not vary from them at all. If it's good enough for the NFL, it's good enough for us. Why all the hullabalu about total points? If that is so important to you, you shouldn't be in a head to head league.

Playoff Tiebreakers

Within a Division

If two teams in the same division finish with identical records, the following tiebreakers will be used, in this order, until a champion is determined.

1. Head-to-Head

2. Division Record

3. Common Games

4. Conference Record

5. Strength of Victory

6. Strength of Schedule

7. Combined Ranking Among Conference Teams (points scored and points allowed)

8. Combined Ranking Among All Teams (points scored and points allowed)

9. Net Points (common games)

10. Net Points (all games)

11. Net Touchdowns (all games)

If three or more teams in the same division finish with identical records, the following tiebreakers will be used, in this order, until a champion is determined.

1. Head-to-Head

2. Division Record

3. Common Games

4. Conference Record

5. Strength of Victory

6. Strength of Schedule

7. Combined Ranking Among Conference Teams (points scored and points allowed

8. Combined Ranking Among All Teams (points scored and points allowed

9. Net Points (common games)

10. Net Points (all games)

11. Net Touchdowns (all games)

*If two clubs remain tied after a third is eliminated during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-team format.

WILD-CARD

If two or more teams finish the season tied for one of the two Wild-Card berths, one of the following scenarios will apply. If the tied teams are from the same division, the divisional tie breaker above is used. If the tied teams are from different divisions, the following tiebreakers are used:

Two Teams

1. Head-to-Head

2. Conference Record

3. Common Games (minimum of four)

4. Strength of Victory

5. Strength of Schedule

6. Combined Ranking Among Conference Teams (points scored and points allowed)

7. Combined Ranking Among All Teams (points scored and points allowed)

8. Net Points (conference games)

9. Net Points (all games)

10. Net Touchdowns (all games)

11. Coin Toss

Three or More Teams

*If two clubs remain tied after a third is eliminated during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-team format.

Start by eliminating all but the highest ranked club in each division by using the divisional tiebreaker above. After the field has been narrowed to no more than one team from each division, the following tiebreakers are used:

1. Head-to-Head

2. Conference Record

3. Common Games (minimum of four)

4. Strength of Victory

5. Strength of Schedule

6. Combined Ranking Among Conference Teams (points scored and points allowed)

7. Combined Ranking Among All Teams (points scored and points allowed)

8. Net Points (conference games)

9. Net Points (all games)

10. Net Touchdowns (all games)

11. Coin toss

* Wild-Card tie breakers are also used to determine home-field advantage

 
FantasyTrader said:
This is why you use total pts. to determine the last two playoff spots and not team records. And I AM playing in total pts. leagues and not H2H.
Click to expand...
:goodposting: :thumbdown: :shrug: if you're playing in TP leagues then why/how aren't TP used to determine ALL the playoff spots? Edit: thinking further -- how do you even have playoffs in a TP league?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Interestingly enough, if you join a fantasy league at NFL.com, they do not have head-to-head included at any level of tiebreaking. A stark contrast to their tiebreaking schemes for the "real" teams. It's not so illogical, however. In fantasy world your weekly output is not affected in any capacity by whoever you are "playing". But in the real world that's obviously not the case.

 
Here are the tiebreakers we use in our league. We have a 10-team league -- two divisions of five. The two division winners (based on record) get the #1 and #2 seeds. The two wildcards are based on the Power Rankings (see definition) below.

TIEBREAKERS

Division Title Tiebreakers

If two or more clubs finish with identical best won-lost-tied records, the following steps will determine a champion.

Two Teams

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games within the division.

3. Total points scored by starters in all games.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.

5. Total points scored by starters in division games.

6. Coin toss.

Three or More Teams

1. Head-to-head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the tied teams).

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games within the division.

3. Total points scored by starters.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.

5. Total points scored by starters in division games.

6. Coin toss.

Wildcard Tiebreakers

If the teams involved are all from the same division, refer to the “Division Title Tiebreaker” rules above.

If there are two teams involved are from different divisions, the tie will be broken by head-to-head competition during the regular season.

If there are more than two teams involved from different divisions, the tie will be broken by:

1. Head-to-head competition

2. Total points scored for starters;

3. Accumulative record against all-teams (per Power Rankings calculation)

4. Official team record

POWER RANKING DEFINITION

The power standings reflect each team's combined ranking in three categories: win/loss record; total points; and breakdown. The breakdown category calculates what your team's win/loss record would have been if you played every team in your league each week of the season. This ranking is updated weekly by Commissioner.com.

Playoff Tiebreakers

In the event of a tie during a playoff game, the team ranked higher in the Power Ratings will be awarded the victory.

 
Varmint said:
AhrnCityPahnder said:
What's the logic for using anything other than H2H as the first tiebreaker?
Click to expand...
The logic?You shouldn't use the performance of a single game determine your playoff future.
Click to expand...
Better yet:H2H is nice for trash talk and bragging rights among friends, but it has nothing to do with whether one team is truly better than another. Fantasy teams don't actually play against each other. There's no logical reason why a tiebreaker should be determined by one game in Week 5 when one team's players happened to be on a bye -- especially if that same team outscored the other team EVERY OTHER WEEK.
steinre1 said:
We use the NFL tiebreaking procedures found on nfl.com and do not vary from them at all. If it's good enough for the NFL, it's good enough for us.
Click to expand...
You do realize that fantasy football is not the same as real football, right?
 
AhrnCityPahnder said:
QuizGuy66 said:
probably the fact that two fluky weeks shouldn't dominate the fate of an entire year.-QG
Click to expand...
Like it does in the NFL? We want it to not be like that?
FantasyTrader said:
Using H2H, the highest scoring team for the year might not make the playoffs. There should NEVER be a scenario where this occurs.
Click to expand...
This can happen even if you do use Total points as a tiebreaker. If you think this should NEVER happen, you should be playing in a total points league and not a H2H league.
Click to expand...
You have some control over your opponent's scoring in the NFL.-QG
 
What's wrong with using H2H records over total points? I think it adds interest to the league. Yes it does stink when you put up a lot points one week and happen to be facing the team with most points that week but it gives the team whose draft picks didn't pan out a chance to win.

I know FF isn't real football but look at the Bengals. 6th in scoring but are 4-7. There is no perfect way of determing playoffs. Most FF is luck so whether its H2H or TP isn't that big of a deal.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BobbyLayne
**SNF Vikings at Lions** (-3, 56) 8:20
19 20 21
Replies
1K
Views
13K
Alex P Keaton
A
S
Making Change: How can we petition NFL to not have 6-team bye weeks Wk. 14 in the future?
Replies
21
Views
938
stillfeelme
S
Max Power
Just how good is the NFC North?
Replies
19
Views
1K
BobbyLayne
BobbyLayne

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top