Historical Question: League Season Length (1 Viewer)

[Stinky Cheeseman]

We have operated a 10 team league for over 10 years now and I have always wondered why it is that most leagues finish up their season during weeks 15/16 of the regular season ? We have always operated on an "accumulated total points over the season" basis as opposed to the "head to head" format that seems more preferred in the US (all our league members are Australian).

It has always been an interesting drafting / rostering / waivers / trades challenge to gauge the relative values of players knowing that some players may play an extra 1/2/3/4 games in the post season and that teams will rest players in the latter weeks of the regular season.. we also play IDPs as well.

With the season being 21 weeks long, I have never understood why there isn't more emphasis on extending leagues through to the natural end of the NFL season?

Thoughts ?

 

[Sajoakita]

We have operated a 10 team league for over 10 years now and I have always wondered why it is that most leagues finish up their season during weeks 15/16 of the regular season ? We have always operated on an "accumulated total points over the season" basis as opposed to the "head to head" format that seems more preferred in the US (all our league members are Australian).It has always been an interesting drafting / rostering / waivers / trades challenge to gauge the relative values of players knowing that some players may play an extra 1/2/3/4 games in the post season and that teams will rest players in the latter weeks of the regular season.. we also play IDPs as well. With the season being 21 weeks long, I have never understood why there isn't more emphasis on extending leagues through to the natural end of the NFL season? Thoughts ?

The obvious answer? Most of the fantasy teams couldn't field a roster after week 16.

 

[Stinky Cheeseman]

We have operated a 10 team league for over 10 years now and I have always wondered why it is that most leagues finish up their season during weeks 15/16 of the regular season ? We have always operated on an "accumulated total points over the season" basis as opposed to the "head to head" format that seems more preferred in the US (all our league members are Australian).It has always been an interesting drafting / rostering / waivers / trades challenge to gauge the relative values of players knowing that some players may play an extra 1/2/3/4 games in the post season and that teams will rest players in the latter weeks of the regular season.. we also play IDPs as well. With the season being 21 weeks long, I have never understood why there isn't more emphasis on extending leagues through to the natural end of the NFL season? Thoughts ?

The obvious answer? Most of the fantasy teams couldn't field a roster after week 16.

We have an unlimited waiver wire / pickup after week 17, where you toss out your non-playoff bound players and load up on playoff bound players .... as the playoffs progress a team's ability to field a complete roster each week diminishes ... thus requiring a fair amount of strategy to be successful

 

[Craig]

I have been in a league for 12 years and we score through the Superbowl but are only allowed 15 waiver wire moves for the season. However, we can also make 5 trades during the season. You can do a multiple player trade with another team and it only counts as one trade. I like this format as players on teams that go deep into the playoffs are more valuable and your drafting each year needs to take into consideration who is going to make the playoffs.

 

[jagerbomb]

We have operated a 10 team league for over 10 years now and I have always wondered why it is that most leagues finish up their season during weeks 15/16 of the regular season ? We have always operated on an "accumulated total points over the season" basis as opposed to the "head to head" format that seems more preferred in the US (all our league members are Australian).It has always been an interesting drafting / rostering / waivers / trades challenge to gauge the relative values of players knowing that some players may play an extra 1/2/3/4 games in the post season and that teams will rest players in the latter weeks of the regular season.. we also play IDPs as well. With the season being 21 weeks long, I have never understood why there isn't more emphasis on extending leagues through to the natural end of the NFL season? Thoughts ?

I really like this idea, the good players on good teams become even more valuable (Brady, Peyton, etc). It would make for some interesting stategy as the playoff picture shapes up, trading LJ for Kenton Keith might make sense in week 15. What do you use for your league software? Are there any sites that support this?

 

[Stinky Cheeseman]

We have operated a 10 team league for over 10 years now and I have always wondered why it is that most leagues finish up their season during weeks 15/16 of the regular season ? We have always operated on an "accumulated total points over the season" basis as opposed to the "head to head" format that seems more preferred in the US (all our league members are Australian).It has always been an interesting drafting / rostering / waivers / trades challenge to gauge the relative values of players knowing that some players may play an extra 1/2/3/4 games in the post season and that teams will rest players in the latter weeks of the regular season.. we also play IDPs as well. With the season being 21 weeks long, I have never understood why there isn't more emphasis on extending leagues through to the natural end of the NFL season? Thoughts ?

I really like this idea, the good players on good teams become even more valuable (Brady, Peyton, etc). It would make for some interesting stategy as the playoff picture shapes up, trading LJ for Kenton Keith might make sense in week 15. What do you use for your league software? Are there any sites that support this?

myfantasyleague.com is who we use .... caters for IDPs and full service is provided through the Superbowl .... It is a paid site.

 

[jagerbomb]

Really interesting. Can I join your league next year?

 

[tomarken]

I'm in a 12 team league that does this. Our regular season is the NFL regular season. Our playoffs are the NFL playoffs. Really adds an interesting twist to the draft and puts a premium on making the right transactions during the year so that, in the event you make the playoffs, you can field a solid team. A guy like Gostkowski is incredibly valuable (well, he's still a kicker, but you get the idea) and can often be traded for something much better to a team in the hunt for the playoffs.

 

[FFFanaticc]

We have operated a 10 team league for over 10 years now and I have always wondered why it is that most leagues finish up their season during weeks 15/16 of the regular season ? We have always operated on an "accumulated total points over the season" basis as opposed to the "head to head" format that seems more preferred in the US (all our league members are Australian).It has always been an interesting drafting / rostering / waivers / trades challenge to gauge the relative values of players knowing that some players may play an extra 1/2/3/4 games in the post season and that teams will rest players in the latter weeks of the regular season.. we also play IDPs as well. With the season being 21 weeks long, I have never understood why there isn't more emphasis on extending leagues through to the natural end of the NFL season? Thoughts ?

The obvious answer? Most of the fantasy teams couldn't field a roster after week 16.

We have an unlimited waiver wire / pickup after week 17, where you toss out your non-playoff bound players and load up on playoff bound players .... as the playoffs progress a team's ability to field a complete roster each week diminishes ... thus requiring a fair amount of strategy to be successful

Thats fine, but after the season some fantasy teams are liable to look nothing like they were a few weeks ago. At that point, why not just re-draft and have a second season just with the playoffs? After all, the draft is the best part of Fantasy Football.

 

[CalBear]

1) Total points leagues are boring.

2) You have to do total points if you want to include playoffs.

The Anarchy leagues include playoffs. It turns out not to matter in 9 out of 10 cases; the season is virtually decided by the end of week 17 anyway.

 

[Stinky Cheeseman]

1) Total points leagues are boring.2) You have to do total points if you want to include playoffs.The Anarchy leagues include playoffs. It turns out not to matter in 9 out of 10 cases; the season is virtually decided by the end of week 17 anyway.

I would argue that "point leagues" are a better and fairer measure of a team's management skills than head to head leagues. Over the course of the season in points leagues the "freak results" tend to even themselves out, where those teams that consistently "score" higher receive the benefit. Every season there seems to be a well placed "head to head" league team or two that is a poor / average team that manages to gain wins over even porer teams, leading to a disproportionate result.Similarly, if you are in the midst of a blow out head to head result, there is less attraction to watching the late games if your head to head result is already known for the week. In a points league every point every week can be important.In our league, 6 out of 11 years the leader at Week 17 has gone on to win the season. That also means that 5 times out of 11 that has not been the case."Boring", I certainly don't think so. Not playing the last week of the regular season and the 4 weeks of playoffs; any way you cut that sounds like 29.4% less fun to me!

 

[Max Power]

I generally like to enjoy the playoffs for what they are. I dont want any other rooting intrests other than my Bears.

Plus Im usually getting burnt out from FF by week 16-17.