My league wants to drop the TE position (1 Viewer)

[Rounders]

My 10 team re-draft league wants to drop the TE from the starting lineup requirement for next season. In the past 12 years we have had the TE a part of the starting lineup for 2 of those years. After the 1 season (1997) the owners agreed that because there were not a enough options to go around to ditch it. Fast forward to this season.Before the season started, a couple of owners campaigned to have it put back in. They used the "strategy" card, the "diversity in lineups" card as some of the reasons why to include it. It was voted in by a 6-4 margin.

This past weekend we had a card game with 6 of the 10 owners present and one of the owners says, "hey we got 6 owners here, let's make a pact to vote against the TE next year. It's a stupid rule and they don't score, who's in?"

Immediately I took offense since 1) I'm the commish and 2) I like the TE rule, well I said no way will I be part of the "pact", I like it the way it is because of the different strategy involved. It makes for a little twist in draft day. A couple of owners countered that point by saying there were not enough good options to start them, to which I replied well draft a good one eariler next year.

Then one guy said that the depth wasn't a problem, but to the lack of scoring was the real problem.

Anyways.....what I'm in need of are some good reasons to keep the TE in the lineup. Currently we start 9 (1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DT, & 2 FLEX (RB,WR,TE)).

What you got for me?

 

[culdeus]

Beh, with 10 teams finding 10 quality TEs shouldn't be hard and you need to start more not less players to get differentiation.

10 team leagues should also be required to start 2QBs. If I ever become jesus I'm sending all you 1QB 10 teamers straight to hell.

 

[malice]

Do you use PPR scoring? If you make TE receptions 1.25 or 1.5 vs the standard 1 pt/WR reception, that helps add some value to the position (or only count receptions for TEs).

This year productive TEs are a little more rare than in the past, but a solid 10 pts at that position will definitely give you insurance against another team that gets a 1 or 2 at that spot.

 

[Bad_Mo]

In my large, no TE-mandatory league, we adjusted the TE scoring to make it more in-line with the scoring for WRs (i.e., 1 point for every 6 yards (v. 10 yards) receiving, 7 points for a TD instead of 6, etc.)

We did this because the talent pool was shallow because of so many teams. Maybe this can give you some ideas...

 

[fsufan]

make TE the same position as WR

 

[fsufan]

Anyways.....what I'm in need of are some good reasons to keep the TE in the lineup. Currently we start 9 (1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DT, & 2 FLEX (RB,WR,TE)).What you got for me?

change your starting line ups to1-QB2-RBs2-WR/TEs1-K1-DEF1-Flex(RB,WR,TE)

 

[Ozymandias]

Go Yahoo one better and make every WR a TE.

But seriously, award more points for TE yardage. If WR's get a point for 20 yards, gived TE's a point for 10 yards. That will even out the scoring of TE's somewhat, because if not, they are heavily dependent on TD's for scoring, and that is hit and miss.

 

[Marc Levin]

Echo what others said - figure out what the objection is and adjust scoring/lineups to compensate.

TEs are a separate offensive skill position and should not be lumped with WRs - and they command completely different kinds of fantasy draft strategies, which are beneficial to the draft.

Having to take a TE as one of your starters creates a much more interesting draft, IMO.

 

[ravnzfan]

Do you use PPR scoring? If you make TE receptions 1.25 or 1.5 vs the standard 1 pt/WR reception, that helps add some value to the position (or only count receptions for TEs).

This year productive TEs are a little more rare than in the past, but a solid 10 pts at that position will definitely give you insurance against another team that gets a 1 or 2 at that spot.

spot on, Malice!the whining about the position is because it isn't attractive enough for them to f` with the position come draft day...if you use PPR scoring for RB/WR's already, make TE 2ppr

we did this in 3 new leagues I started this year...14 team dynasty "HP" (high performance) leagues, where 0-1-2 ppr for RB-WR-TE

you saw Gates go as early as 1.3, but for the most part, guys were sensible drafting the position...anywhere from 26-31 TE's are rostered in the 3 leagues

make the position attractive enough, they'll keep it!

 

[sinatravolta]

My league uses points for receptions as follows:

RB: none

WR: 1 point for every 2 catches

TE: 1 points for every catch

This has definitely helped make TEs more valuable. There is actually a solid amount of differentiation between TEs in our league.

Our less value for WR catches and none for RBs, has helped to make all other positions a bit more valuable relative to RBs than they would have been otherwise.

 

[rolliehouliranson]

I like it the way it is because of the different strategy involved. It makes for a little twist in draft day.

You could say this about every rule and non-rule you have or don't have. You could say "let's have three starting kickers, because it makes for a little twist on draft day, and there's more strategy."So, that's not a good argument. The owners in my league say the same thing and it drives me crazy.

 

[MarcO]

make TE the same position as WR

that is what we did in our league - it has worked well and actually you can get some good values on the top TEs at the draft because most guys won't even think about the TE spot if they don't have to.

 

[Team Legacy]

My league uses points for receptions as follows:RB: noneWR: 1 point for every 2 catchesTE: 1 points for every catchThis has definitely helped make TEs more valuable. There is actually a solid amount of differentiation between TEs in our league. Our less value for WR catches and none for RBs, has helped to make all other positions a bit more valuable relative to RBs than they would have been otherwise.

I like this, but then guys like Westy and Bush lose their value. I personally prefer the 2 PPR for Tight End's. Makes em good to grab early.

 

[turnit643]

What you got for me?

If you adjust your scoring so that the TEs fall more in line with the other positions, they become viable draft day targets and the scarcity only serves to bump their value further. We use PPR for both WR and TE, but TE's get a point for 10 yards instead of 20. Some kind of tweak may be in order in your league to bump their value a bit. It becomes a real part of the strategy of building your team when the pool is thin at a particular position. Would the complaining owners dump RB's because there aren't enough elite runners to go around? If everyone is required to start one TE, you're right, they should just draft one higher next year and quit crying because "this league is too hard, waaa". And besides, in a ten team league, there's plenty to go around (Gates, Winslow, Gonzo, Crump, Heap, LJ, Watson, Shockey, Witten, McMichael ... there's ten ... plus Desmond Clark, Cooley, Miller, etc.)

 

[delusional]

non ppr

TEs recieving 2pts 15yds recieving compared to the normal 1pt 10yds.

Makes things interesting.

 

[Jayrod]

What you got for me?

If you adjust your scoring so that the TEs fall more in line with the other positions, they become viable draft day targets and the scarcity only serves to bump their value further. We use PPR for both WR and TE, but TE's get a point for 10 yards instead of 20. Some kind of tweak may be in order in your league to bump their value a bit. It becomes a real part of the strategy of building your team when the pool is thin at a particular position. Would the complaining owners dump RB's because there aren't enough elite runners to go around? If everyone is required to start one TE, you're right, they should just draft one higher next year and quit crying because "this league is too hard, waaa". And besides, in a ten team league, there's plenty to go around (Gates, Winslow, Gonzo, Crump, Heap, LJ, Watson, Shockey, Witten, McMichael ... there's ten ... plus Desmond Clark, Cooley, Miller, etc.)

You forgot Colston.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

Why would you bother changing the scoring for TEs? Everyone is in the same boat. If you tweaked every position so that there would be no differential in scoring, well, that would be a boring fantasy league.

Really, the "tweaking" gets done by owners making decisions on position scarcity when they manage their team -- whether this is trades, drafting or whatever. That's the way it should be.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

You could say this about every rule and non-rule you have or don't have. You could say "let's have three starting kickers, because it makes for a little twist on draft day, and there's more strategy."

Uh because three kickers don't see the field on your typical NFL team. I mean with your logic, why do you even bother having RB's in your league? After all, what you see on the field in real life shouldn't be at all reflective of what your fantasy teams field.

So, that's not a good argument. The owners in my league say the same thing and it drives me crazy

Actually it is a great argument: How to handle the TE spot is one of the main things that reflect skill in fantasy football.

 

[Bizkiteer]

LOL @ needing good reasons. Sounds like you made your mind up and that is that. Why ask others to argue or point something out that you've already decided on?

Hee, here's a good idea...just do away with the PK, WR and RB spot too. Make it QB's and everyone else.

 

[fsufan]

make TE the same position as WR

that is what we did in our league - it has worked well and actually you can get some good values on the top TEs at the draft because most guys won't even think about the TE spot if they don't have to.

exactlygates has been a good #3 WR/TE(we start 3) in my league or the past 3 years

 

[turnit643]

... in a ten team league, there's plenty to go around (Gates, Winslow, Gonzo, Crump, Heap, LJ, Watson, Shockey, Witten, McMichael ... there's ten ... plus Desmond Clark, Cooley, Miller, etc.)

You forgot Colston.

Oh yeah, Colston "the loophole".

 

[rolliehouliranson]

How to handle the TE spot is one of the main things that reflect skill in fantasy football.

How do you figure?

 

[jasvic]

LOL @ needing good reasons. Sounds like you made your mind up and that is that. Why ask others to argue or point something out that you've already decided on?

Hee, here's a good idea...just do away with the PK, WR and RB spot too. Make it QB's and everyone else.

LOL @ your reading comprehension.He said he wants the TE, he's looking for compelling arguments for the other owners in his league.

Finding 10 starting tight ends really isn't that hard. As for them saying they don't score enough, ask them if they realize the top 5 TE right now have more points then Chad Johnson this year.

As others stated, the smaller the league, the more players you should be starting IMO.

 

[BigJim®]

I really don't see a compelling 'argument' for any particular lineup requirements. Personally I like all the offensive positions I can get into a lineup and I do not think it is tough to field a TE even in a 12 team league; but that isn't an argument in favor of it, its a personal FF preference. The bottom line here is your league itself should decide such things based on a vote. If 60% of your league hates TEs, you should probably revisit your own attitude if for no other reason than to keep the league going in a way that will make it enjoyable for more than 40% of your league.

 

[easy like sunday morning]

Do you use PPR scoring? If you make TE receptions 1.25 or 1.5 vs the standard 1 pt/WR reception, that helps add some value to the position (or only count receptions for TEs).This year productive TEs are a little more rare than in the past, but a solid 10 pts at that position will definitely give you insurance against another team that gets a 1 or 2 at that spot.

I have always disagreed with this logic. All it does is make the good TEs even better. The ones that are 10-20 that get 20 yards/game and 2 catches aren't helped out that much at all. Thus the lack of depth for quality fantasy TEs is made even worse.

 

[mozzy84]

tight ends bring alot of money in on transactions in my leagues...

 

[turnit643]

Do you use PPR scoring? If you make TE receptions 1.25 or 1.5 vs the standard 1 pt/WR reception, that helps add some value to the position (or only count receptions for TEs).

This year productive TEs are a little more rare than in the past, but a solid 10 pts at that position will definitely give you insurance against another team that gets a 1 or 2 at that spot.

I have always disagreed with this logic. All it does is make the good TEs even better. The ones that are 10-20 that get 20 yards/game and 2 catches aren't helped out that much at all. Thus the lack of depth for quality fantasy TEs is made even worse.

We do something similar ... we bumped TE yardage points to 10yds.=1pt. compared to WR 20yds.=1pt. and they each still have PPR. And, while it does make the better TE's even better, that's hardly the only effect. The biggest difference it has made is to push the quality TE's into the higher rounds of the draft - they are no longer strictly mid-round scavenge picks. As for the drop-off in scoring within the position ... [in my 16 team league, for example]

(TE1)Winslow 93 - (TE16)Miller 45 = 48 points difference

(WR1)Johnson 106 - (WR32)Jennings 58 = 48 points

(RB1)Tomlinson 132 - (RB16)J.Jones 70 = 62 points

(QB1)McNabb 165 - (QB16)Hasselebeck 76 = 87 points

... and without the few players (LT, LJ, McNabb, Peyton) that are running away with their positions ...

(RB3)Westbrook 105 - (RB18)Dunn 69 = 36 points

(QB3)Bulger 115 - (QB18)Huard 73 = 42 points

My point with all of that is to show that the drop off is comparable to top level players at the other positions.

 

[malice]

Do you use PPR scoring? If you make TE receptions 1.25 or 1.5 vs the standard 1 pt/WR reception, that helps add some value to the position (or only count receptions for TEs).This year productive TEs are a little more rare than in the past, but a solid 10 pts at that position will definitely give you insurance against another team that gets a 1 or 2 at that spot.

I have always disagreed with this logic. All it does is make the good TEs even better. The ones that are 10-20 that get 20 yards/game and 2 catches aren't helped out that much at all. Thus the lack of depth for quality fantasy TEs is made even worse.

But it also makes the Alex Smiths that get 4 catches for 20 yds equal to the Chris Bakers who get 1 catch for a TD. So the TEs that would have been drafted early are still drafted early, but it's not a gamble for a 6 or a 0 at the spot for people who get a TE outside the top half-dozen or so.