Head to head for reg seas, and then total pts for playoffs? (1 Viewer)

[w3junky]

I came up with this idea for our league and I admit it's a little weird, but might work. Curious if any other leagues are setup like this. For the regular season, keep the format head to head. But for the playoffs, change it to total pts. Reason is: Head to Head is much more exciting, so to keep people's interest, continue head to head in reg. season. But then for the playoffs, change it to Total Pts to get the true indicator of the best team in the league. I realize most will reply and say just do Total Pts for the reg season and playoffs, but don't think our owners are willing. They like the excitement of matchups vs other owners.

 

[FantasyTrader]

I never encountered this format before this year but the setup you are describing is how they've set up the 48-Team FSWA league I'm in. H2H through week 11 and your beginning score for the playoffs is your average weekly score during the regular season. Week 12-16 is a total points race from there. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's a great idea.

 

[PosterNutBag]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

 

[FantasyTrader]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

No. All 6 playoff teams would have a TP race through the playoffs.

 

[PosterNutBag]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

No. All 6 playoff teams would have a TP race through the playoffs.

If that is what he meant, then I don't like that one bit. It essentially minimizes the regular season (13 weeks) in favor of the playoffs (only 3 weeks). Any scenario not rewarding the best regular season teams with a bye doesn't sit well with me.

 

[fantasyplayer]

This is the change we made this year: Head to head for the regular season (double headers). The top two teams get a bye, the top 2 scores from the other 4 playoff teams advance from the first round. The top 2 scores advance from the semifinal round. Of course, the championship round is still head to head. It's not a cumulative score, but it reduces the variance from bad/unlucky playoff matchups.

We'll see how it goes.

 

[ceo3west]

In my league, top 6 make playoffs on record, with top 2 getting a bye. Then in the first week, top 2 of 4 advance. Second week, top 2 of 4 advance, then week 3 is the championship. I think this system is a good balance.

 

[PosterNutBag]

This is the change we made this year: Head to head for the regular season (double headers). The top two teams get a bye, the top 2 scores from the other 4 playoff teams advance from the first round. The top 2 scores advance from the semifinal round. Of course, the championship round is still head to head. It's not a cumulative score, but it reduces the variance from bad/unlucky playoff matchups.We'll see how it goes.

This is something I could do. It's practically H2H, but it allows you to still win if you have a good week and just happen to play the highest scoring team that week.

 

[w3junky]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

No. All 6 playoff teams would have a TP race through the playoffs.

If that is what he meant, then I don't like that one bit. It essentially minimizes the regular season (13 weeks) in favor of the playoffs (only 3 weeks). Any scenario not rewarding the best regular season teams with a bye doesn't sit well with me.

Yup, that is what I meant, and I see your point. No reward for the best team during the reg. season. But then again, their reward is making the playoffs, and if they are really that great of a team, then Total Pts shouldn't be a problem for them when it comes to playoff time.

 

[w3junky]

This is the change we made this year: Head to head for the regular season (double headers). The top two teams get a bye, the top 2 scores from the other 4 playoff teams advance from the first round. The top 2 scores advance from the semifinal round. Of course, the championship round is still head to head. It's not a cumulative score, but it reduces the variance from bad/unlucky playoff matchups.We'll see how it goes.

This would work too but only reason I don't like it is because Total Pts is to show consistency. And since you are not carrying over pts from one week to the other in the playoffs, it's not the same. One week, a team could score 100, and advance, while next week, that same team would only score 60. Whereas the team that got knocked out first round avg's 80 pts, and is really the better team, but since he had one bad week in the playoffs, he is done.

 

[PosterNutBag]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

No. All 6 playoff teams would have a TP race through the playoffs.

If that is what he meant, then I don't like that one bit. It essentially minimizes the regular season (13 weeks) in favor of the playoffs (only 3 weeks). Any scenario not rewarding the best regular season teams with a bye doesn't sit well with me.

Yup, that is what I meant, and I see your point. No reward for the best team during the reg. season. But then again, their reward is making the playoffs, and if they are really that great of a team, then Total Pts shouldn't be a problem for them when it comes to playoff time.

Well, like any good team, you can be susceptible to injury. I was just saying that to wipe the slate clean and ignore 13 weeks of domination is something I don't like b/c you could be effectively penalizing the best team in the regular season b/c they took a hit to their starting lineup in week 14 only (assuming the injured stud player was out just for one week --- assuming this stud player is Tomlinson in his prime and you can further see my point). I do like total points, though. It's not a bad idea, I just think it has a few shortcomings if you are going to completely separate your regular season from the playoffs.

 

[T.A.]

Do not STERILIZE fantasy football.

tyvm

 

[renesauz]

I never encountered this format before this year but the setup you are describing is how they've set up the 48-Team FSWA league I'm in. H2H through week 11 and your beginning score for the playoffs is your average weekly score during the regular season. Week 12-16 is a total points race from there. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's a great idea.

So you fight all year to go unbeaten, come close with a 10-3 record, then go into a 3 or 4 week total point sprint spotted only 10 or 15 points over the average contender? Sounds....horrible!

 

[w3junky]

I never encountered this format before this year but the setup you are describing is how they've set up the 48-Team FSWA league I'm in. H2H through week 11 and your beginning score for the playoffs is your average weekly score during the regular season. Week 12-16 is a total points race from there. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's a great idea.

So you fight all year to go unbeaten, come close with a 10-3 record, then go into a 3 or 4 week total point sprint spotted only 10 or 15 points over the average contender? Sounds....horrible!

I disagree. Do you know how much luck is associated with Head to Head style FF? Way too much. This year in our leage we have seen many matchups go 113.5 - 113, or 52 - 51. The team who is scoring 113 pts and losing is being penalized with a loss. And the team scoring only 52 pts is getting a win, when really their team sucks. All I am looking for is ideas on how to have an accurate judgement of the best team in the league. Head to Head is alot of fun still, and some will say, "that's just how the ball bounces" to those teams who score 113 and lose. And that's fine. But it shouldn't be like that in the playoffs. Reg. season I am fine with.

 

[w3junky]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

No. All 6 playoff teams would have a TP race through the playoffs.

If that is what he meant, then I don't like that one bit. It essentially minimizes the regular season (13 weeks) in favor of the playoffs (only 3 weeks). Any scenario not rewarding the best regular season teams with a bye doesn't sit well with me.

Yup, that is what I meant, and I see your point. No reward for the best team during the reg. season. But then again, their reward is making the playoffs, and if they are really that great of a team, then Total Pts shouldn't be a problem for them when it comes to playoff time.

Well, like any good team, you can be susceptible to injury. I was just saying that to wipe the slate clean and ignore 13 weeks of domination is something I don't like b/c you could be effectively penalizing the best team in the regular season b/c they took a hit to their starting lineup in week 14 only (assuming the injured stud player was out just for one week --- assuming this stud player is Tomlinson in his prime and you can further see my point). I do like total points, though. It's not a bad idea, I just think it has a few shortcomings if you are going to completely separate your regular season from the playoffs.

Yea I totally see your point, but I have a hard time putting the words "domination" and "head to head" together. It's really more about luck when you are dealing with head to head. I have seen plenty of teams score very few pts each week, yet face other crappy teams and get the win, and then at the end of the season their record is 10-3 when it really should be 7-6.

 

[T.A.]

I never encountered this format before this year but the setup you are describing is how they've set up the 48-Team FSWA league I'm in. H2H through week 11 and your beginning score for the playoffs is your average weekly score during the regular season. Week 12-16 is a total points race from there. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's a great idea.

So you fight all year to go unbeaten, come close with a 10-3 record, then go into a 3 or 4 week total point sprint spotted only 10 or 15 points over the average contender? Sounds....horrible!

I disagree. Do you know how much luck is associated with Head to Head style FF? Way too much. This year in our leage we have seen many matchups go 113.5 - 113, or 52 - 51. The team who is scoring 113 pts and losing is being penalized with a loss. And the team scoring only 52 pts is getting a win, when really their team sucks. All I am looking for is ideas on how to have an accurate judgement of the best team in the league. Head to Head is alot of fun still, and some will say, "that's just how the ball bounces" to those teams who score 113 and lose. And that's fine. But it shouldn't be like that in the playoffs. Reg. season I am fine with.

And that exactly what makes it fun. Spice.You have scheduling discrepancies from team-to-team in the NFL also.

 

[PosterNutBag]

I need to hear more of the details before forming an opinion. For example, say you have a 12-team league and 6 make the playoffs. Do two teams get a bye to week 15? Are you saying that you would then advance the two highest scoring of the four teams playing in week 14? Then the two highest scoring in week 15 make the championship game? Give me some more details.

No. All 6 playoff teams would have a TP race through the playoffs.

If that is what he meant, then I don't like that one bit. It essentially minimizes the regular season (13 weeks) in favor of the playoffs (only 3 weeks). Any scenario not rewarding the best regular season teams with a bye doesn't sit well with me.

Yup, that is what I meant, and I see your point. No reward for the best team during the reg. season. But then again, their reward is making the playoffs, and if they are really that great of a team, then Total Pts shouldn't be a problem for them when it comes to playoff time.

Well, like any good team, you can be susceptible to injury. I was just saying that to wipe the slate clean and ignore 13 weeks of domination is something I don't like b/c you could be effectively penalizing the best team in the regular season b/c they took a hit to their starting lineup in week 14 only (assuming the injured stud player was out just for one week --- assuming this stud player is Tomlinson in his prime and you can further see my point). I do like total points, though. It's not a bad idea, I just think it has a few shortcomings if you are going to completely separate your regular season from the playoffs.

Yea I totally see your point, but I have a hard time putting the words "domination" and "head to head" together. It's really more about luck when you are dealing with head to head. I have seen plenty of teams score very few pts each week, yet face other crappy teams and get the win, and then at the end of the season their record is 10-3 when it really should be 7-6.

I agree that luck most often is a big factor in H2H leagues when looking at a given team's record, but in my example if you remember Tomlinson from a few years ago when he carried teams .... you would have dominated in any format (H2H, total points, all play, etc.). In most cases you are correct. I just find that in my experience, as soon as you discount something as not being likely, it happens to your league the very next year.Best of luck in your quest.

 

[FantasyTrader]

I never encountered this format before this year but the setup you are describing is how they've set up the 48-Team FSWA league I'm in. H2H through week 11 and your beginning score for the playoffs is your average weekly score during the regular season. Week 12-16 is a total points race from there. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's a great idea.

So you fight all year to go unbeaten, come close with a 10-3 record, then go into a 3 or 4 week total point sprint spotted only 10 or 15 points over the average contender? Sounds....horrible!

I disagree. Do you know how much luck is associated with Head to Head style FF? Way too much. This year in our leage we have seen many matchups go 113.5 - 113, or 52 - 51. The team who is scoring 113 pts and losing is being penalized with a loss. And the team scoring only 52 pts is getting a win, when really their team sucks. All I am looking for is ideas on how to have an accurate judgement of the best team in the league. Head to Head is alot of fun still, and some will say, "that's just how the ball bounces" to those teams who score 113 and lose. And that's fine. But it shouldn't be like that in the playoffs. Reg. season I am fine with.

And that exactly what makes it fun. Spice.You have scheduling discrepancies from team-to-team in the NFL also.

Some people don't play just for the fun and excitement of it though. Some play in very competitive leagues and are in a constant search of ways to crown the best team champ at the end of the year. I think it depends on the nature of your league.

 

[renesauz]

I never encountered this format before this year but the setup you are describing is how they've set up the 48-Team FSWA league I'm in. H2H through week 11 and your beginning score for the playoffs is your average weekly score during the regular season. Week 12-16 is a total points race from there. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's a great idea.

So you fight all year to go unbeaten, come close with a 10-3 record, then go into a 3 or 4 week total point sprint spotted only 10 or 15 points over the average contender? Sounds....horrible!

I disagree. Do you know how much luck is associated with Head to Head style FF? Way too much. This year in our leage we have seen many matchups go 113.5 - 113, or 52 - 51. The team who is scoring 113 pts and losing is being penalized with a loss. And the team scoring only 52 pts is getting a win, when really their team sucks. All I am looking for is ideas on how to have an accurate judgement of the best team in the league. Head to Head is alot of fun still, and some will say, "that's just how the ball bounces" to those teams who score 113 and lose. And that's fine. But it shouldn't be like that in the playoffs. Reg. season I am fine with.

But you've reduced 13 weeks into nothing but a small (tiny!) bonus for a three week sprint. You've diluted the meaning of the regular season to almost nothing.I understand and appreciate the problem you're attempting to solve. I just find your solution far less palatable then the problem itself was.I do like the "all-play" idea for the first couple week of the playoffs, as somebody else suggested.Every year in here, we discuss dozens of ways/league setups meant to lower the luck factor associated with the H2H format. If folks wish to continue to use them, they need to recognize that the format naturally leads to some inequities. Every format has it's own unique strengths and weaknesses.

 

[T.A.]

Some people don't play just for the fun and excitement of it though. Some play in very competitive leagues and are in a constant search of ways to crown the best team champ at the end of the year. I think it depends on the nature of your league.

I certainly agree.I play in rotisserie style leagues. I play in auctions. I play in total points leagues.All increase the "fairness". But the excitement lost in the sterilization process is massive. You just check the points and move along. I like living-and-dieing with my team so much more.

 

[valhallan]

In my league, top 6 make playoffs on record, with top 2 getting a bye. Then in the first week, top 2 of 4 advance. Second week, top 2 of 4 advance, then week 3 is the championship. I think this system is a good balance.

I like this. I've never run across anything involving total points that I liked until this. Might present it to my league.

 

[FantasyTrader]

Some people don't play just for the fun and excitement of it though. Some play in very competitive leagues and are in a constant search of ways to crown the best team champ at the end of the year. I think it depends on the nature of your league.

I certainly agree.I play in rotisserie style leagues. I play in auctions. I play in total points leagues.All increase the "fairness". But the excitement lost in the sterilization process is massive. You just check the points and move along. I like living-and-dieing with my team so much more.

See, and to me, H2H isn't really living and dying by your team. At least not until the playoffs. In a TP league, every single point counts. In H2H, there's so many wasted points and wasted weeks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.

 

[puckalicious]

In my league, top 6 make playoffs on record, with top 2 getting a bye. Then in the first week, top 2 of 4 advance. Second week, top 2 of 4 advance, then week 3 is the championship. I think this system is a good balance.

I like this. I've never run across anything involving total points that I liked until this. Might present it to my league.

I don't care for how the rules are worded personally, but it was the rule when the season started so it's the rule now. You can't go and change it now. Our league uses H2H then pts, but if 3 or more teams are involved then it goes to pts unless there is a sweep (team A beat both team B and C)So, going by your current rules, it's a messy H2H between 3 teams, doesn't matter who beat who.Team A 2-1 (.666)Team B 1-1 (.500)Team C 1-2 (.333)I not saying this is the right way to do tiebreakers, but under your current rules this is the fair way.

there is no debate here. the rules say h2h among the tied teams. 2-1 and 1-1 are better than 1-2.

I'll say it again...if B beat A, how do you give A the tiebreaker over B just b/c they beat the same team twice? B proved it was superior to A and A proved it was superior to C and C proved it was superior to B ... that should not mean "there is no debate here." There is plenty of debate and it's clear that H2H is inconclusive in this scenario.

I love this format, but my league-mates are change averse and didn't want to do it.

 

[T.A.]

Some people don't play just for the fun and excitement of it though. Some play in very competitive leagues and are in a constant search of ways to crown the best team champ at the end of the year. I think it depends on the nature of your league.

I certainly agree.I play in rotisserie style leagues. I play in auctions. I play in total points leagues.All increase the "fairness". But the excitement lost in the sterilization process is massive. You just check the points and move along. I like living-and-dieing with my team so much more.

See, and to me, H2H isn't really living and dying by your team. At least not until the playoffs. In a TP league, every single point counts. In H2H, there's so many wasted points and wasted weeks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.

When you scored 131 and lost to the team with 132 you certainly do die with your team. You feel it. It pisses you off. it frustrated you.When you score 52 and beat a team that scored 51 you certainly do live with your team. You feel it. It makes you happy. Checking your total score and just moving along brings none of it. Sure, the final week of the regular season or playoffs may give you that vibe, but otherwise, no.