Why Total Points is better than H2H (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Know-It-All]

For once I will benefit from H2H, but now that most leagues are in the playoffsthe old argument rears its ugly head. Which is better, head to head or total points? For 18 years our league hasonly once had a year where the best team won the championship. Invariably a great team has players resting for the playoffs, a surprise big game from a weaker opponent, etc and a lower seed winds up coming from a mediocre season to win the title.

How do other leagues handle it? Does the whole pot go to the championship team or do you award anything for regular season performance.

This week we had the #1 seed (first ever 13-0 regular season) lose to the 5-8 #8 seed and he is now done and gets nothing. Sure its great for making everyone else active, but it seems a little bit dirty.

A team that comppiles over the course of the seaosn should not be punished for a 3 week run during the playyoffs - it introduces too much variability.

Thoughts?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I would have done MUCH better with total points but nobody in my league wants to lose the weekly matchups & the talk that goes with it.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I like leagues where just as money is paid out for the regular season as for the playoffs. And whoever wins the most money is the champ, not the team that happens to get hot and lucky in the playoffs.

But when you let 8 teams into the playoffs, these things like a 5-8 8 seed beating the 1 seed happen. I get that some like to keep everyone involved all season, but it simply isn't fair. Having a weekly bonus for high score is a great way to keep people involved till the end (even if you are out of it, you can still win some money by getting the high score for a week).

I am also in favor of giving some type of points advantage in the playoff games as a way of home field advantage.

 

[Concept Coop]

Some of the pot should go to points champ, division winners, et cetera. If the pot is big enough, of course. But point total alone is not the answer, in my opinion. Not as much fun, most of the league is out of the race pretty quick as well.

 

[footballnerd]

High points takes home 25% of the pot. Win the H2H championship too and you get both.

 

[belljr]

A 13-0 team in my league would be guranteed hiss entry fee back plus a prize for winning the division.

And possibly a prize for most points *assuming the 13-0 has the most points

I enjoy both aspects but my longest league we love the H2H and all it encompasses.

Sometimes that's the hand you were dealt

All this complaining about the "best" team getting beat is up there with everyone getting trophies sometimes the "best" team loses.

 

[Sweet Love]

I would have done MUCH better with total points but nobody in my league wants to lose the weekly matchups & the talk that goes with it.

Whether right or wrong, the "fun" of it is in H2H. In one league I am first in both H2H & total points (rarity), but I find it fun to compete and talk trash each week and also like that you are not out of it just a few weeks in (one guy in one of my leagues just turned a 0-6 start into a 7-7 playoff spot)...I played total points in a baseball league this spring and was out of it by early June...I continued to be field the best lineup (via trade or WW) just because I respect the hobby, but it was flat-out awful. Even in the rare times in FF, that I have been out of it early, I still have something to play for in H2H...not so much in total points.

 

[Itchy Amos]

I like leagues where just as money is paid out for the regular season as for the playoffs. And whoever wins the most money is the champ, not the team that happens to get hot and lucky in the playoffs.

But when you let 8 teams into the playoffs, these things like a 5-8 8 seed beating the 1 seed happen. I get that some like to keep everyone involved all season, but it simply isn't fair. Having a weekly bonus for high score is a great way to keep people involved till the end (even if you are out of it, you can still win some money by getting the high score for a week).

I am also in favor of giving some type of points advantage in the playoff games as a way of home field advantage.

I agree with this. Our payout system has evolved over the years, but we've come up with something that seems to keep everybody interested and tends to reward the best teams.We have our payout split 50/50 between regular season and playoffs.

Regular Season:

1st overall record: 20%

2nd overall record: 5%

Most Points Regular Season: 20%

Single High Game Points : 5%

Post Season:

1st: 35%

2nd: 10%

3rd: 5%

Total points is our tie-breaker for regular season record.

We've had several recent years where the best team won both most points & 1st overall record in the regular season and has gone on to win the championship. We've also had several years where the top point scorer doesnt finish with one of the best records and the 7 & 8 seeds wound up playing in the championship. I have no preference of either scenario. Some teams start out hot and cool off down the stretch. Other teams are the exact opposite. In the fantasy playoffs, its all about the matchups. The fact that anything can happen keeps everyone interested until the end (at least it does in my league).

 

[JetMaxx]

I've played in a total points league for 16 years and love it. H2H is simply designed to keep the guppies interested and entertained until the end. Lame concept.

 

[Topes]

I've played in a total points league for 16 years and love it. H2H is simply designed to keep the guppies interested and entertained until the end. Lame concept.

Some of us like being entertained.I like the video where the football hits the guy in the groin.

 

[Cenobite]

I like leagues where just as money is paid out for the regular season as for the playoffs. And whoever wins the most money is the champ, not the team that happens to get hot and lucky in the playoffs.

But when you let 8 teams into the playoffs, these things like a 5-8 8 seed beating the 1 seed happen. I get that some like to keep everyone involved all season, but it simply isn't fair. Having a weekly bonus for high score is a great way to keep people involved till the end (even if you are out of it, you can still win some money by getting the high score for a week).

I am also in favor of giving some type of points advantage in the playoff games as a way of home field advantage.

I agree with this. Our payout system has evolved over the years, but we've come up with something that seems to keep everybody interested and tends to reward the best teams.We have our payout split 50/50 between regular season and playoffs.

Regular Season:

1st overall record: 20%

2nd overall record: 5%

Most Points Regular Season: 20%

Single High Game Points : 5%

Post Season:

1st: 35%

2nd: 10%

3rd: 5%

Total points is our tie-breaker for regular season record.

We've had several recent years where the best team won both most points & 1st overall record in the regular season and has gone on to win the championship. We've also had several years where the top point scorer doesnt finish with one of the best records and the 7 & 8 seeds wound up playing in the championship. I have no preference of either scenario. Some teams start out hot and cool off down the stretch. Other teams are the exact opposite. In the fantasy playoffs, its all about the matchups. The fact that anything can happen keeps everyone interested until the end (at least it does in my league).

We do a hybrid payout too. It works well. I would hate to play in a strictly H2H league. Main guy gets hurt in week 15 which costs you a game and no shot at prize money. Not for me as it is not a true indication of the best team.

 

[da_budman]

The vast majority of us play fantasy football for the fun of it. Yes there is money to be won but at the end of the day, it is fun. To me total points leagues are less fun. Yes total points is a better barometer than record to determine who has the best overall team but it is less fun imo.

Over the years we have went from winner take all to the point that the regular season winner gets a piece of the pie as well a the weekly high scorers.

I am currently lobbying for a new playoff system that rewards the top seeds by allowing them to pick their plaoff opponent. At least if you get beat by a lower seed you are responsible for it.

In regular football the best team does not always win the superbowl. Should the rules be changed because the patriots ran the table in the regular season only to lose in the playoffs? There is only so much that can be done to reward the regular season champs.

 

[butcher boy]

Too many times you see someone make the playoffs simply because they were lucky enough to have a low "Points Allowed" stat while someone who outscored them on the season gets the shaft. You can't control how many points your opponent scores on a given week so to base fantasy success on record is a fallacy.

The answer is to keep the H2H matchups, but only for fun and bragging rights. Anything that has a cash payout should be strictly based on how many points you score.

Playoff spots go to the top 4 scoring teams, ignoring record.

The team that score the most points in the playoff weeks 15 and 16 wins.

 

[Doug B]

One of my money leagues returns the league fee to the team that finished with the highest regular-season point total among all the teams NOT playing in the title game. The two finalists get a 1st place/2nd place share.

 

[footballnerd]

Too many times you see someone make the playoffs simply because they were lucky enough to have a low "Points Allowed" stat while someone who outscored them on the season gets the shaft. You can't control how many points your opponent scores on a given week so to base fantasy success on record is a fallacy. The answer is to keep the H2H matchups, but only for fun and bragging rights. Anything that has a cash payout should be strictly based on how many points you score.Playoff spots go to the top 4 scoring teams, ignoring record.The team that score the most points in the playoff weeks 15 and 16 wins.

this could also be a reason to open up the playoffs to more teams if you have a low number of playoffs teams that can make it.

 

[johnadams]

Total points is lame. If you're going to do away with H2H, then do it right and go with all-play records.

 

[doowain]

Victory Points is the only way to go.

 

[Warrior]

total points is so boooooring

 

[Dentist]

High points takes home 25% of the pot. Win the H2H championship too and you get both.

this, except 33%it's so easy, makes sure the best team gets paid, but still allows you to have a lame unpredictable playoffs.it's like playing total points AND H2H all at once.Seriously... problem almost totally solved!

 

[Insein]

Most leagues pay the winner of most points a decent sum. Making Total points the deciding factor is just boring though. Sure it would cut down on a lot of the luck factor but thats why we play fantasy sports/gamble. The luck adds excitement. If I wanted to accumulate points, then I'd just play in a best ball league where each week had the team's best players be factored into their total. Takes any thought out of the game. Draft your team and don't look at it till January.

 

[butcher boy]

Or you could just do the H2H for fun, but keep 100% of the money out of the hands of luck.

You get all of the rivalries and fun of H2H and non of the BS when an inferior team takes the pot.

 

[zamboni]

total points is so boooooring

Disagree. I play in a total points league and it's great. As mentioned, it really rewards all-season performance rather than a hot team at the end. A marathon instead of a sprint, if you will.It is also a deep keeper league though, so even if you are out of it for the title, the interest level remains by trying to stockpile future value guys.

 

[Insein]

Or you could just do the H2H for fun, but keep 100% of the money out of the hands of luck.You get all of the rivalries and fun of H2H and non of the BS when an inferior team takes the pot.

Yea, you're right. Guess the Packers and Giants should just give back those Super Bowl trophies because they lucked their way into the playoffs and got hot at the right time. It was a shame an inferior team won. Definitely should give the bonuses to the Patriots and Steelers those years since they clearly were the better teams. I'm sure it'd be more fun for everyone if they played just for kicks knowing full well the real champs were decided during the regular season by a point total.

 

[GregR]

For cash leagues, I think everything you can do to keep people interested and have a reason for playing is a good thing. So weekly prices, payouts for regular season finish and total points are good things.

I don't think head to head playoffs need to be replaced though. I don't think fantasy needs to emulate the NFL all the time, but some things are just so much a part of the game that going away from them changes the feel of it. Though you might have more teams involved in the hunt the final week, I don't think anything beats the buildup of those two teams who survived the playoffs and are in the title game.

The one place I think total points can have a good role in the playoffs is having a wildcard that goes to the remaining team with the most total points. I'm in favor of it, though neither of my leagues use it though I've proposed it before. It can create unusual situations though, like where a team can make the playoffs if they lose but if they win they will pretty much eliminate themselves from the playoffs.

 

[FF Ninja]

The vast majority of us play fantasy football for the fun of it.

You play to win the game.I agree with OP that points is the way to go, but I am not all that interested in leagues that are 100% points. I absolutely prefer the mixed payouts (H2H champ, points champ, playoff champ). And one thing that playoffs allow is vindication. You suffered through Arian Foster's first 3 games, Andre Johnson's hamstring injuries, Ryan Mathews' every other week injury... but your team is at full strength now. You may not have won points or H2H but now that your team is healthy you have the best team on paper. Time to shine. Winning the playoffs can make up for a season of bad injury luck.At the same time, there are instances where Gaffney outscores Vincent Jackson and the best team doesn't win, but at least you have a chance for vindication.

 

[Shutout]

Some of the pot should go to points champ, division winners, et cetera. If the pot is big enough, of course. But point total alone is not the answer, in my opinion. Not as much fun, most of the league is out of the race pretty quick as well.

This is what we do and it seems fair. Maybe the points winner doesn't win, but they still get a nice big piece of the pie (and deservedly so because they did their job for 13 weeks).All in all though, as much as I have always supported H2H, it seems the way the NFL is now, its been a good handful of years since the consensus "besT" team has actually won the league and that seems wrong. We have had a number of spectacular teams in my various leagues be SO impressive and get nothing out of it.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Total points rewards the best team every time. All you can do in fantasy football is score points-- you can't play defense and you can't impact the luck of a random schedule. The owner whose team scored the most points over the course of the season did what we try to do, and they did it better than anyone else in the league over the course of the season. They're the best.

It also rewards the right person-- the owner. In fantasy football, rosters change every week and starters change all the time. The only constant is the one running the show, and it's their work that is rewarded in a total points league.

H2h allows inferior teams to stay alive in the championship hunt by injecting additional elements of luck. Take a 10-4 team and play with the schedule, and they're 6-8 (and vice-versa). You're at the mercy of a random element-- the schedule. The best team doesn't always win, and while that's also the case in the NFL...it's for a totally different reason. In the NFL a team can come together, play great defense and defeat another team on any given Sunday. In fantasy football, a collection of names are compared with another collection of names. There's no synergy. Adding more variables to a game already full of them only dilutes what small elements owners can control.

So does that mean total points is better than h2h? NO, it does NOT mean that. If you enjoy the camaraderie, the bad beats, the amazing comebacks, the stories of bad teams catching fire and having one buddy defeat another in the Super Bowl, the trash talk and the fun of letting many people vie for the championship throughout the year...then h2h is far better. There is no right or wrong way to play fantasy football-- except to try and tell others how to enjoy it.

I share your frustration with h2h, but for many people the good outweighs the bad. If nothing else, you have another story to tell while kicking back beers with friends. In the end, you'll remember those conversations long after any money has been spent, anyway.

 

[Shutout]

For cash leagues, I think everything you can do to keep people interested and have a reason for playing is a good thing. So weekly prices, payouts for regular season finish and total points are good things.

I don't think head to head playoffs need to be replaced though. I don't think fantasy needs to emulate the NFL all the time, but some things are just so much a part of the game that going away from them changes the feel of it. Though you might have more teams involved in the hunt the final week, I don't think anything beats the buildup of those two teams who survived the playoffs and are in the title game.

The one place I think total points can have a good role in the playoffs is having a wildcard that goes to the remaining team with the most total points. I'm in favor of it, though neither of my leagues use it though I've proposed it before. It can create unusual situations though, like where a team can make the playoffs if they lose but if they win they will pretty much eliminate themselves from the playoffs.

We started this in a league this year and it was awesome. We literally had 9 teams fighting for a spot on the final week of the season. Its a dynasty so it kept everyone very interested until the very end.We will have a spot in the league if you want to try it. Send me a PM.

 

[Cenobite]

Or you could just do the H2H for fun, but keep 100% of the money out of the hands of luck.You get all of the rivalries and fun of H2H and non of the BS when an inferior team takes the pot.

Yea, you're right. Guess the Packers and Giants should just give back those Super Bowl trophies because they lucked their way into the playoffs and got hot at the right time. It was a shame an inferior team won. Definitely should give the bonuses to the Patriots and Steelers those years since they clearly were the better teams. I'm sure it'd be more fun for everyone if they played just for kicks knowing full well the real champs were decided during the regular season by a point total.

In the NFL when a player gets hurt they insert another guy in for the next play. In fantasy, you're unable to do that. To have it ALL go down to one game is not something that interests me as luck plays too much a factor. A mix of total points and H2H is what I prefer. Then again, if I were in a small stakes league I couldn't care less.

 

[butcher boy]

Or you could just do the H2H for fun, but keep 100% of the money out of the hands of luck.You get all of the rivalries and fun of H2H and non of the BS when an inferior team takes the pot.

Yea, you're right. Guess the Packers and Giants should just give back those Super Bowl trophies because they lucked their way into the playoffs and got hot at the right time. It was a shame an inferior team won. Definitely should give the bonuses to the Patriots and Steelers those years since they clearly were the better teams. I'm sure it'd be more fun for everyone if they played just for kicks knowing full well the real champs were decided during the regular season by a point total.

Wow, you REALLY missed the point here.Real NFL teams have things called defenses that help limit what the other team scores and plays a factor in the outcome of the game. In fantasy, there is nothing you can do to limit what the other team scores. It makes luck a huge factor in H2H fantasy matchups, and when it comes to cash payouts, I like to reduce as much luck as possible. That's why I say keep the H2H just for fun, and keep cash payouts 100% to the part of fantasy that you can control, your own team's point output.

 

[FF Ninja]

Or you could just do the H2H for fun, but keep 100% of the money out of the hands of luck.You get all of the rivalries and fun of H2H and non of the BS when an inferior team takes the pot.

Yea, you're right. Guess the Packers and Giants should just give back those Super Bowl trophies because they lucked their way into the playoffs and got hot at the right time. It was a shame an inferior team won. Definitely should give the bonuses to the Patriots and Steelers those years since they clearly were the better teams. I'm sure it'd be more fun for everyone if they played just for kicks knowing full well the real champs were decided during the regular season by a point total.

This is a bit off topic, but does anyone really think the Giants were the best team in the NFL that year? I was absolutely rooting against the Patriots, but there is no way in hell that I'd say the Giants were a better teams. Football's grueling nature makes 7 game playoffs impossible, but there is a reason that other sports play 7 games to determine the best team. Luck. It's ever present in both fantasy football and real football. It makes football fun to watch, but you can't argue that the best team in football wins the super bowl every year.If we had 7 game playoffs in football, I think the Pats beat the Giants in five games, 4-1. I also think the Vikings beat the Saints a couple years ago in 6 games, 4-2.

 

[kd1]

anybody who says total points is boring has likely never played in a total points league. i play in both, and it isn't even close. aside from total points being obviously the best way to find the most deserving winner, it's also infinitely more fun, imo.

it's also a common misconception that teams lose interest because they are "eliminated after a few weeks" in total points. it's actually the complete opposite. in h2h, you can be mathematically eliminated 6 or 7 weeks into the season, and have no reason to pay attention. in total points, you are technically never mathematically eliminated, and are always 1 monster week away from shooting up the ladder. have a team in my league who was 8th 4 weeks ago, and is threatening 2nd now. throw in payouts for weekly winners, and nobody ever loses interest. every td scored pretty much has an impact. you will always have a reason to watch and a rooting interest in literally every single game played.

head 2 head is for kindygartners and luckboxes. nothing could possibly be sillier than having to worry about who players are playing in the arbitrary weeks of 15 and 16 before you draft them. i can't believe how few people realize this.

 

[footballnerd]

in total points, you are technically never mathematically eliminated, and are always 1 monster week away from shooting up the ladder. have a team in my league who was 8th 4 weeks ago, and is threatening 2nd now. throw in payouts for weekly winners, and nobody ever loses interest. every td scored pretty much has an impact. you will always have a reason to watch and a rooting interest in literally every single game played.

not trying to fuel another stimulating debate with Katie, but incremental pay outs for the the season's top 5 or so teams would make total points pretty interesting. I still prefer a hybrid payout of total points leader in a H2H, but I could see this working.

 

[kd1]

in total points, you are technically never mathematically eliminated, and are always 1 monster week away from shooting up the ladder. have a team in my league who was 8th 4 weeks ago, and is threatening 2nd now. throw in payouts for weekly winners, and nobody ever loses interest. every td scored pretty much has an impact. you will always have a reason to watch and a rooting interest in literally every single game played.

not trying to fuel another stimulating debate with Katie, but incremental pay outs for the the season's top 5 or so teams would make total points pretty interesting. I still prefer a hybrid payout of total points leader in a H2H, but I could see this working.

our league pays out top 3 (of 10), and yes, it makes it interesting. there's a decent chance that down to the 6th place team on a given year has a shot at 3rd with 3 weeks to go, and it is just as entertaining for them to try to get 3rd as it would be for whoever is vying for the championship.

 

[Insein]

Or you could just do the H2H for fun, but keep 100% of the money out of the hands of luck.You get all of the rivalries and fun of H2H and non of the BS when an inferior team takes the pot.

Yea, you're right. Guess the Packers and Giants should just give back those Super Bowl trophies because they lucked their way into the playoffs and got hot at the right time. It was a shame an inferior team won. Definitely should give the bonuses to the Patriots and Steelers those years since they clearly were the better teams. I'm sure it'd be more fun for everyone if they played just for kicks knowing full well the real champs were decided during the regular season by a point total.

Wow, you REALLY missed the point here.Real NFL teams have things called defenses that help limit what the other team scores and plays a factor in the outcome of the game. In fantasy, there is nothing you can do to limit what the other team scores. It makes luck a huge factor in H2H fantasy matchups, and when it comes to cash payouts, I like to reduce as much luck as possible. That's why I say keep the H2H just for fun, and keep cash payouts 100% to the part of fantasy that you can control, your own team's point output.

Luck is part of the game. If you don't want luck, draft a team and wait till January to see who got the most points for the year and enjoy. I prefer to have a level of competition involved. On any given Sunday, a bad team can beat a good team. Luck is a major part of gambling and thats what Fantasy sports are, gambling. But thats why different games have different odds. Some people like to play the slots and some people like to play the tables. There's no right or wrong answer for what you prefer. I was merely referring to the "inferior team" theory being a bad argument against H2H. Its all part of the game.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

anybody who says total points is boring has likely never played in a total points league. i play in both, and it isn't even close. aside from total points being obviously the best way to find the most deserving winner, it's also infinitely more fun, imo.

it's also a common misconception that teams lose interest because they are "eliminated after a few weeks" in total points. it's actually the complete opposite. in h2h, you can be mathematically eliminated 6 or 7 weeks into the season, and have no reason to pay attention. in total points, you are technically never mathematically eliminated, and are always 1 monster week away from shooting up the ladder. have a team in my league who was 8th 4 weeks ago, and is threatening 2nd now. throw in payouts for weekly winners, and nobody ever loses interest. every td scored pretty much has an impact. you will always have a reason to watch and a rooting interest in literally every single game played.

head 2 head is for kindygartners and luckboxes. nothing could possibly be sillier than having to worry about who players are playing in the arbitrary weeks of 15 and 16 before you draft them. i can't believe how few people realize this.

Not to go too far off topic, but I have no idea what a luckbox is. Still, just the name tells me it would solve a lot of my current problems.

 

[butcher boy]

I was merely referring to the "inferior team" theory being a bad argument against H2H. Its all part of the game.

But it IS a good argument against H2H. The goal of fantasy is to score more points that the other guys, but with H2H you get situations where someone can make the playoffs despite not scoring as many points as the next guy, only because he "allowed" fewer points on the year in his H2H matchups. So with H2H, what you're saying is that this guy is the better fantasy team because he was fortunate enough to play other guys on their down weeks, while the guy who scored more points than him and missed the playoffs is inferior because he "allowed" more points in his H2H matchups, something he has no control over at all.

 

[belljr]

Whew I was losing my faith the total point snobs weren't going to show and talk down to everyone that enjoys H2H.

 

[kutta]

We do a mix of both.

The H2H 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are determined by traditional ways (playoffs) and they split the entry fee pot.

The total points 1st and 2nd place finishers split the waiver money pot ($1 per transaction all year - adds up to a pretty nice pot).

It works out great for us.

 

[Jersey35]

We do a few things in our 12 team IDP dynasty league:

1) We award up to two wins or losses each week, one for h2h and one for being in the top half or bottom half of the league in scoring.

2) Four teams make the playoffs: Three division winners and one wild card (best remaining record)

3) Top seed picks their opponent in the first round of the playoffs

4) Playoff rounds last two games, weeks 14/15, then the championship lasts weeks 16/17

A few things about this arrangement:

> Because teams earn a win or loss for h2h and for points each week, h2h and total points are weighted 50/50 - far better than one or the other

> The wildcard helps ensure that no legitimate team get left behind - this season our wildcard was arguably the 2nd best team

> Top seed choosing their opponent is a nice touch that rewards the team with the best record. Naturally, this season, the top seed did NOT choose to play the wildcard opponent, as they were a better team than the division winners. If we didn't allow the top seed to choose, they'd have been stuck playing, on paper, the best team remaining.

> The two-week series is the clincher. The winner is the team with the highest cumulative score over the two weeks. This reduces the impact of a single week upset. Upsets still happen, but the better team has a better chance of coming out ahead over a two-week schedule.

> We play into week 17 with weeks 16/17 being the championship round. Some might think this is a bad idea, but we love it. It encourages and rewards depth on teams. If you plan on a deep run into the playoffs, you've got to be prepared for that potential week 17 matchup. We have deep rosters, so this is easily accomplished. We also allow trading up to and through the playoffs, so we sometimes see player movement as teams cover their butts for week 17.

The system works great and conveys a mild advantage to the better teams (as it should be), yet doesn't do anything so drastic as spotting teams bonus points or something like that. We have no byes, and our fantasy league runs through week 17, so we maximize our play time.

 

[Insein]

I was merely referring to the "inferior team" theory being a bad argument against H2H. Its all part of the game.

But it IS a good argument against H2H. The goal of fantasy is to score more points that the other guys, but with H2H you get situations where someone can make the playoffs despite not scoring as many points as the next guy, only because he "allowed" fewer points on the year in his H2H matchups. So with H2H, what you're saying is that this guy is the better fantasy team because he was fortunate enough to play other guys on their down weeks, while the guy who scored more points than him and missed the playoffs is inferior because he "allowed" more points in his H2H matchups, something he has no control over at all.

What you're missing is that no one here has not rewarded the winner of the total points for the year. Almost every league I've ever played in has rewarded the total points champion with a varying amount of money. Using total points as tiebreakers to determine playoff positions is something I highly believe in. However, when it comes down to playing the game, this is not golf. This is football and its a head to head competition. H2H is the way its played and its the reason a vast majority choose that format over total points leagues.

 

[firstseason1988]

For once I will benefit from H2H, but now that most leagues are in the playoffsthe old argument rears its ugly head. Which is better, head to head or total points? For 18 years our league hasonly once had a year where the best team won the championship. Invariably a great team has players resting for the playoffs, a surprise big game from a weaker opponent, etc and a lower seed winds up coming from a mediocre season to win the title.

How do other leagues handle it? Does the whole pot go to the championship team or do you award anything for regular season performance.

This week we had the #1 seed (first ever 13-0 regular season) lose to the 5-8 #8 seed and he is now done and gets nothing. Sure its great for making everyone else active, but it seems a little bit dirty.

A team that comppiles over the course of the seaosn should not be punished for a 3 week run during the playyoffs - it introduces too much variability.

Thoughts?

18 years and you haven't fixed it to where there are payouts other than playoff places? No one wants a change? You are lamenting a sad tale of lack of creativity in your league? Come on dude.

 

[killrobotkill]

I would have done MUCH better with total points but nobody in my league wants to lose the weekly matchups & the talk that goes with it.

Whether right or wrong, the "fun" of it is in H2H. In one league I am first in both H2H & total points (rarity), but I find it fun to compete and talk trash each week and also like that you are not out of it just a few weeks in (one guy in one of my leagues just turned a 0-6 start into a 7-7 playoff spot)...I played total points in a baseball league this spring and was out of it by early June...I continued to be field the best lineup (via trade or WW) just because I respect the hobby, but it was flat-out awful. Even in the rare times in FF, that I have been out of it early, I still have something to play for in H2H...not so much in total points.

You could argue that it would be fairer for the NFL to go by point differential instead of win-loss record, but that drains so much of the rivalry and passion out of the game. Fantasy wouldn't be any different in that respect.

 

[ShaHBucks]

If not for the luck involved in h2h the scubs wouldn't play fantasy Football.

 

[butcher boy]

Yes, I do realize that there are people who prefer to have luck play a big factor in who wins the pot. My point is that in those leagues, the trophy is not always presented to the team that drafted the best team/best managed their team throughout the season.

Myself, I prefer to keep the fun of H2H, but not put any of the prize pool on it.

 

[butcher boy]

I would have done MUCH better with total points but nobody in my league wants to lose the weekly matchups & the talk that goes with it.

Whether right or wrong, the "fun" of it is in H2H. In one league I am first in both H2H & total points (rarity), but I find it fun to compete and talk trash each week and also like that you are not out of it just a few weeks in (one guy in one of my leagues just turned a 0-6 start into a 7-7 playoff spot)...I played total points in a baseball league this spring and was out of it by early June...I continued to be field the best lineup (via trade or WW) just because I respect the hobby, but it was flat-out awful. Even in the rare times in FF, that I have been out of it early, I still have something to play for in H2H...not so much in total points.

You could argue that it would be fairer for the NFL to go by point differential instead of win-loss record, but that drains so much of the rivalry and passion out of the game. Fantasy wouldn't be any different in that respect.

As was posted above, it's not a valid comparison becasue NFL teams have defenses that affect what the other team scores and ultimately helps determine H2H matchups, whereas fantasy matchups lack this.

 

[Da Guru]

I have had it both ways. This year in my 12 team league I am the second highest scoring team but will not make the playoffs. I lost to the highest scoring team of the week 4 times, on three os those weeks I was the second highest scoring team. The 10th overall scoring team is the second seed..they had 360 ponits less scored on them than I did for the season. Winning games 79-76, while I was losing 132-130.

You win some..you lose some.

 

[FF Wiseguy]

I'm thinking about trying out a new system for the league I run next year:

Regular season will be H2H through week 13, and top 4 teams advance to the playoffs. At that point, the format will switch to total points, with the team scoring the most points from weeks 14-16 winning first place.

The top regular season team will start with 20 points, second place with 10, and 3rd place with 5, so the better teams have a built-in advantage for doing well in the regular season.

What do you guys think of this system?

 

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

We have a 14-game regular season. Play H2H and against each week's league average. Top 4 teams make the playoffs then it goes to total points, which is a sum of Week 15, plus Week 16, plus the season-long average of that team for weeks 1-14. Absolutely love it.

 

[Dancing Bear]

I Commish a league where we have a weekly ranking [1-12], and the lowest total of the weekly rankings is the champ with 75% of the final pool, 2nd place gets 25% of the final pool. Each week during the season we pay out $10 to the highest weekly score. Everybody can win $ each week!

IMHO H2H is too disappointing if you score 200 points, your opponent scores 203 and you loose ... while the rest of your league-mates are all 150 or lower ...