My league's playoff structure. (1 Viewer)

[Daywalker]

Think everyone hates the crapshoot that is the fantasy football playoffs. Dominate the whole season then get knocked out by the low seed due to one bad week or they just went off.

My league is 10 teams. Four teams make the playoffs which are weeks 14-16. All four teams play for those three weeks with the top combined score winning.

A variation is:

Week 1- You finish 2nd and get 2 pts.

Week 2- You finish 1st and get 1 pt.

Week 3- You finish 2nd and get 2 pts.

Combined Score for the three weeks- You had top score so you get 1 pt.

So it's 4 categories.

You'd have 6pts total. If this is the lowest score out of the 4 teams you are the champion.

Very simple and it was a no-brainer for everyone in my league when the format was put up for vote.

Why is this not more common? The NFL playoffs are a crapshoot too? I'd think not nearly as random as fantasy playoffs. I would think a three-week fantasy playoff would be much more similar to the NFL playoffs when it comes to lower seeds winning.

Plus I do think it has positive strategic implications. I'm playoff bound and there is no reason to take any risky moves cause playoffs are a crapshoot anyway. Or take some risks to try to build a juggernaut that will definetly have an edge in a three-week playoff?

No-brainer people.

 

[spider321]

No-brainer.

Couldn't agree more...worst idea I've ever read.

 

[Jedi Knight]

We do something similar. Once the playoff teams are determined, we start with each team's average weekly score for the regular season. Then we add weeks 15 and 16 to that for a final score. For example:

Average weekly score: 878

Week 15 score: 900

Week 16 score: 922

Total playoff score = 2700.

The playoff team with the highest score wins. This gives meaning to your performance throughout the regular season as well as the playoff weeks. Plus, one bad week won't knock you out. It's worked well for us for several years.

 

[jon_mx]

Looks like it could end up a tie. What then, a coin flip? Not sure the point. I like the head to head aspect.

 

[Daywalker]

Looks like it could end up a tie. What then, a coin flip? Not sure the point. I like the head to head aspect.

Regular season total points is a good tie-breaker.

 

[Daywalker]

No-brainer.Couldn't agree more...worst idea I've ever read.

You need to read more then.Think the majority of fantasy players are not satisfied with the common format of a head to head. Majority by the way doesn't mean everyone.It's like if NFL playoff games were only one quarter each.How is that? Well the likely hood of an underdog fantasy team advancing in the playoffs is much greater then in an underdog NFL playoff team. To the point where it is a crapshoot which is unlike the NFL playoffs.It's a silly format that is in place because that's just the way it's always been. A three-week format that gives underdog teams a reasonable shot while making it less of a crapshoot is likely to become a very popular format.

 

[Daywalker]

Head to head fantasy playoffs are like if each round of MLB playoffs were one game.

Been my experience that most fantasy leagues are dominated by 3-4 teams. The other 6-8 owners aren't dumb. They just don't care to spend the time and are more in it for entertainment purposes. So the crapshoot playoffs suits them fine.

That being said my previous post may be wrong. The majority of fantasy players perhaps are satisfied with the head to head format. Just as the Minnesota Twins, the Florida Marlins and the majority of MLB teams would probably fair better with one-game playoff rounds.

But I tend to think those on this board are likely to be one of the 3-4 teams who dominate their league and that most aren't satisfied with the head to head format.

 

[jon_mx]

Looks like it could end up a tie. What then, a coin flip? Not sure the point. I like the head to head aspect.

Regular season total points is a good tie-breaker.

Yeah, set it up so there is a good chance the super bowl is decided by a tie-breaker. Head to Head mimics the NFL.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Looks like it could end up a tie. What then, a coin flip? Not sure the point. I like the head to head aspect.

The example was for easy math. Our scores actually go out two decimals (ex. 894.65). We have never had a tie since we did this. In the unlikely event of a tie, the benches of both teams would be added in.

 

[golfguy]

a better idea is not to have playoffs. All of my leagues are non-playoffs except for 2. I much prefer the non-playoff route.

i was thought the idea that a win in week 16 means so much more then a win in week 1. it's fantasy football.

 

[jon_mx]

Looks like it could end up a tie. What then, a coin flip? Not sure the point. I like the head to head aspect.

The example was for easy math. Our scores actually go out two decimals (ex. 894.65). We have never had a tie since we did this. In the unlikely event of a tie, the benches of both teams would be added in.

I wasn't referring to your system, but the OP who gives 1 point for 1st and 2 points for 2nd, etc. Seems like a good possibility that two teams end up with 6 or 7 points and thus a tie.

 

[mr roboto]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF.

THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas.

If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win.

In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

 

[The_Wolfman]

I'm sure I'm biased, but I like the way my 10 team big money league does the playoffs:

6 playoff teams

1st and 2nd overall seeds a get first round bye

Top 4 teams paid out as follows:

1st: 50%

2nd: 30%

3rd: 20%

4th: 10%

This ensures that the top 2 teams from the regular season can finish no worse than 4th and are guaranteed to get SOME money, anywhere from 10 to 50% of the prize pool, depending on how well they do in the playoffs. It rewards a good regular season performance without taking any excitement away from the playoffs.

 

[jon_mx]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

I guess you think the Patriots should be awarded the Super Bowl when they were 18-0 because they were obviously better than the Giants that year. Yeah, I think it is more fun to have a winner take all final game, just like the NFL.

 

[mr roboto]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

I guess you think the Patriots should be awarded the Super Bowl when they were 18-0 because they were obviously better than the Giants that year. Yeah, I think it is more fun to have a winner take all final game, just like the NFL.

Did you read my post?This isnt the NFL. The giants deserved the win because they actually beat NE. Like helmet-to-helmet. They effected the Patriots on offense and defense. FF is totally different. It's predictive. You do know you aren't actually playing against the other owner, right?

 

[jon_mx]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

I guess you think the Patriots should be awarded the Super Bowl when they were 18-0 because they were obviously better than the Giants that year. Yeah, I think it is more fun to have a winner take all final game, just like the NFL.

Did you read my post?This isnt the NFL. The giants deserved the win because they actually beat NE. Like helmet-to-helmet. They effected the Patriots on offense and defense. FF is totally different. It's predictive. You do know you aren't actually playing against the other owner, right?

I read your argument, I just disagree with your viewpoint. I like the excitement of a winner take all game. I really don't care if on week 2 your team blew up for 200 points. Like the Giants, it should be whose players are performing the best in the championship game.

 

[mr roboto]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

I guess you think the Patriots should be awarded the Super Bowl when they were 18-0 because they were obviously better than the Giants that year. Yeah, I think it is more fun to have a winner take all final game, just like the NFL.

Did you read my post?This isnt the NFL. The giants deserved the win because they actually beat NE. Like helmet-to-helmet. They effected the Patriots on offense and defense. FF is totally different. It's predictive. You do know you aren't actually playing against the other owner, right?

I read your argument, I just disagree with your viewpoint. I like the excitement of a winner take all game. I really don't care if on week 2 your team blew up for 200 points. Like the Giants, it should be whose players are performing the best in the championship game.

Fine. You're still wrong though!

 

[Daywalker]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

I guess you think the Patriots should be awarded the Super Bowl when they were 18-0 because they were obviously better than the Giants that year. Yeah, I think it is more fun to have a winner take all final game, just like the NFL.

Three-week combined playoff is a horse race. Things never sewed up after two weeks. Third week is alway just as exciting. NFL playoffs are not a crapshoot. So head to head is probably the worst format if you're trying to mimic the NFL. Like I previously said it would be like having NFL playoff games that are only 1 quarter long.

 

[Utter Chaos]

A variation is:Week 1- You finish 2nd and get 2 pts.Week 2- You finish 1st and get 1 pt.Week 3- You finish 2nd and get 2 pts.Combined Score for the three weeks- You had top score so you get 1 pt.So it's 4 categories.You'd have 6pts total. If this is the lowest score out of the 4 teams you are the champion.

I'm confused.1) What does "You had top score so you get 1 pt." mean?2) What does "So it's 4 categories." mean.3) You say "You'd have 6pts total." by I count 2+1+2 which equals 5.My 12 team league has 6 playoff teams. The three division winners get a cash prize for winning their division. The top two get a bye the first week of playoffs. The two winners from week 14 play the two bye teams in week 15. The two winners from week 15 play a two week combined score championship in weeks 16 and 17. The two losers from week 15 play a two week combined score for third place.

 

[Zaphod]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

I guess you think the Patriots should be awarded the Super Bowl when they were 18-0 because they were obviously better than the Giants that year. Yeah, I think it is more fun to have a winner take all final game, just like the NFL.

Three-week combined playoff is a horse race. Things never sewed up after two weeks. Third week is alway just as exciting. NFL playoffs are not a crapshoot. So head to head is probably the worst format if you're trying to mimic the NFL. Like I previously said it would be like having NFL playoff games that are only 1 quarter long.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion but I have always found a multi-week playoff system to be a bit anticlimactic for the first two weeks. It also dramatically reduces the underdog's ability to have success in the postseason. Again if that is your cup of tea, fine. And why do you keep saying a game a week is like a 1 quarter game? What you are suggesting is like making the playoffs a 12 quarter game. To each their own, but this system certainly has its drawbacks and limitations just like any other.

 

[The Jerk]

To each their own, but this system certainly has its drawbacks and limitations just like any other.

Well said. It's more than valid to have the system listed by the original poster in place for a league, but I don't find it to be clearly superior to many other methods. If someone wants their league to have a similar setup to the NFL, I don't have a problem with that. And I disagree that the NFL playoffs are not a crapshoot, at least not in the past six years. We've seen three different teams win Super Bowls as #5 and #6 seeds (2005 Pitt, 2007 NYG, 2010 GB) after barely making the playoffs and a total of five teams have made the Super Bowl without a bye in the past six seasons (add Indy in 2006 and Arizona in 2008), a rare feat from 1990-2004. Very few people suggest these teams dominated the regular season and the playoffs, but they certainly played their best when the games meant the most.I was one of those teams last year that had the most points in my league by nearly a full week's worth of scoring, but in Week 16 I lost the championship by a handful of points. Those are the breaks.Now, to the point of the original poster, my situation was not as frustrating compared to most other leagues because this league splits the season long prize total equally to both the winner of the head-to-head championship and the season total points champion. To me, THAT is the way to have the best of all worlds: some similarity to the NFL, sufficient drams/interest, and also reward a team that has dominated all year only to lose in a one week championship. Nearly all of us agree that the luck factor in FF decreases as the amount of time involved increases, so rewarding both champions mitigates the luck to an extent.I guess it all depends on what you're looking for, but there are numerous ways to address "unfairness" in terms of FF league rules. Having setup described in the original post is not the only possibility.

 

[AmosMoses]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

Holy Jesus, this is awful.

 

[The Jerk]

I'll add one more statistical fact.

The expansion from one to two wild cards per conference prior to the 1978 season first made it possible for a team to win four playoff games ALL away from home (3 road, 1 neutral in the Super Bowl of course).

In the first 27 seasons where this was possible (1978-2004), it never happened.

In the past six seasons, it has happened three times.

Sounds almost like a crapshoot -- at least in comparison to winning a division championship -- to me.

 

[mr roboto]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

Holy Jesus, this is awful.

Trollsayswhat?

 

[Jedi Knight]

Looks like it could end up a tie. What then, a coin flip? Not sure the point. I like the head to head aspect.

The example was for easy math. Our scores actually go out two decimals (ex. 894.65). We have never had a tie since we did this. In the unlikely event of a tie, the benches of both teams would be added in.

I wasn't referring to your system, but the OP who gives 1 point for 1st and 2 points for 2nd, etc. Seems like a good possibility that two teams end up with 6 or 7 points and thus a tie.

Sorry. I misunderstood.

 

[Grand Poobah]

I'm sure I'm biased, but I like the way my 10 team big money league does the playoffs:6 playoff teams1st and 2nd overall seeds a get first round byeTop 4 teams paid out as follows:1st: 50%2nd: 30%3rd: 20%4th: 10%This ensures that the top 2 teams from the regular season can finish no worse than 4th and are guaranteed to get SOME money, anywhere from 10 to 50% of the prize pool, depending on how well they do in the playoffs. It rewards a good regular season performance without taking any excitement away from the playoffs.

Am i missing something here? This is 110% of the money.

 

[apalmer]

Head to head fantasy playoffs are like if each round of MLB playoffs were one game.

Yeah, no system that allows "inferior" teams to pull out a win should be allowed. Would the NFL put up with a system where the Seahawks could beat the Saints and knock them out of the playoffs?

 

[Novice2]

Think everyone hates the crapshoot that is the fantasy football playoffs. Dominate the whole season then get knocked out by the low seed due to one bad week or they just went off.My league is 10 teams.

10 teams? weak

 

[Novice2]

I'm sure I'm biased, but I like the way my 10 team big money league does the playoffs:6 playoff teams1st and 2nd overall seeds a get first round byeTop 4 teams paid out as follows:1st: 50%2nd: 30%3rd: 20%4th: 10%This ensures that the top 2 teams from the regular season can finish no worse than 4th and are guaranteed to get SOME money, anywhere from 10 to 50% of the prize pool, depending on how well they do in the playoffs. It rewards a good regular season performance without taking any excitement away from the playoffs.

Best payouts ever!Am i missing something here? This is 110% of the money.

 

[mjr]

Not that I'm trying to sound vindictive or anything, but this just seems to me like something schemed up by someone who just doesn't like to lose.

FF is just a basic form of gambling when you get right down to it. Mostly luck is involved. You can try to beat the odds with the most dominant team you can build, but there's no guarantees. I'm perfectly FINE with that, and I say that as an owner who had lost the last 2 championship games to weaker teams that I never expected would make it deep into our playoffs.

Probably the reason why I'm fine with it is because my league decided a few years ago to spread around the payouts a little more. I still won over $250 in my 12 team $60 league (more than the actual champion did) because I won my division, had the highest scoring team several weeks out of the season and also had the highest scoring team at the end of the year, all of which we can win a few bucks for doing.

Maybe you should try that before changing all the rules?

 

[AmosMoses]

jon_mx keeps bringing up the 'mimics the nfl' argument. For so many reasons this is the laziest and most parrotted, weak argument re:scoring and point systems in FF. THIS ISN'T THE NFL! Our fake teams are not playing the other fake players. FF is a system of signs and signifiers - really not much different than blackjack, the stock market, or pick-em in Vegas. If the Jets beat the Cowboys, the actual Jets players physically impacted the actual Cowboys. They actually performed better, thus deserving a win. In FF H2H it's nothing like this. That's why all-play or total points are better. And a playoff system similar to the OP is better too.

Holy Jesus, this is awful.

Trollsayswhat?

Your post was awful. You are much better at pathetically recruiting people to post in your game threads. Go do that.

 

[Daywalker]

Not that I'm trying to sound vindictive or anything, but this just seems to me like something schemed up by someone who just doesn't like to lose. FF is just a basic form of gambling when you get right down to it. Mostly luck is involved. You can try to beat the odds with the most dominant team you can build, but there's no guarantees. I'm perfectly FINE with that, and I say that as an owner who had lost the last 2 championship games to weaker teams that I never expected would make it deep into our playoffs. Probably the reason why I'm fine with it is because my league decided a few years ago to spread around the payouts a little more. I still won over $250 in my 12 team $60 league (more than the actual champion did) because I won my division, had the highest scoring team several weeks out of the season and also had the highest scoring team at the end of the year, all of which we can win a few bucks for doing. Maybe you should try that before changing all the rules?

Bingo! Yes I don't like to lose and am not satisfied that fantasy playoffs are mainly luck.Read enough threads over the year's where the fantasy playoffs are just an aferthought roll of the dice proposition. Seems insane to keep that system when you can fix many of it's faults.A three week combined playoff is less of an advantage for top teams then the advantage gained by lower-seeded teams get with head to head. Not like going to a three-week combined gives the top seeds some huge advantage. Still going to be a dogfight except when it's over it will be hard to begrudge anyone the title.