Standard Fantasy Football Scoring System

The standard fantasy football scoring system comprises a well-respected baseline of statistic/point-value guidelines for the game of fantasy football. This scoring system is the model from which most first time fantasy commissioners develop their fantasy league configuration. The goal of the statistic/point-value relationships defined of the standard fantasy football scoring system is to ensure that each fantasy position is important, but not so much that any one fantasy position becomes vastly more important than the others. This scoring system aims to equalize the weight of each individual statistic so that each fantasy position has similar value. Listed below are baseline statistic/point-value guidelines for the standard fantasy football scoring system.

Offensive Scoring

The offensive scoring rules in fantasy football are well-established, especially when you compare them to their Defense/ST counterparts. Some leagues choose to award points for statistics such as 'receptions' but the scoring rules defined in the standard scoring system are very basic. If your league awards points for unconventional statistics, just be sure to take those stats into account when you configure your player rankings.

• Touchdowns: 6 points

  In the standard fantasy football scoring system, touchdowns are universally worth 6 points, just like in real life. It does not matter if the touchdown was scored by a quarterback, receiver, running back, defensive safety, or even a kicker; all touchdowns are 6 points.

• Rushing: 1 point per 10 yards

  Each rushing yard in fantasy football will net your fantasy team .1 point (if your league awards fractional points, which it should), or 1 point for every 10 yards.

• Receiving: 1 point per 10 yards

  Each receiving yard in fantasy football will net your fantasy team .1 point, or 1 point for every 10 yards.

• Passing: 1 point per 25 yards

  Because passing yards are much easier to come by than rushing or receiving yards, they are not worth quite as much. Passing yards in the standard scoring system are worth .04 point, or 1 point for every 25 yards.

The above 4 statistic/point-value pairs form the basis of the standard fantasy football scoring system. Now, imagine the during some random football game the following statistics were compiled for 3 different fantasy players:

• Quarterback: 375 yards passing
• Running Back: 40 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns
• Wide Receiver: 100 yards receiving, 1 touchdown

If you asked several different people who of these players had the best game, you’d probably hear several different answers; this is because they all had about the same production. Likewise, in terms of fantasy point output, each of these fantasy players would have compiled the exact same point total: 16 points. As mentioned earlier, the idea is to weigh statistic/point-values such that players with the same relative output are awarded relatively the same fantasy points, regardless of their position.

While the above 4 statistic/point-value pairs form the basis of the standard football scoring system, the following statistics are usually added to the system, but regularly vary from league to league:

• Interception: -2 points

  For a fantasy quarterback, the ratio of TDs to INTs is generally about 3-1. For instance, in 2007 Donovan McNabb had 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, Jeff Garcia had 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and Ben Roethlisberger had 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. This ratio will vary from quarterback to quarterback but the 3-1 ratio forms the basis for an interception’s negative point value in fantasy football. Each interception will subtract 2 points off of your fantasy quarterback’s point total so it will take 3 interceptions to negate a single touchdown.

• Fumble Lost: -2 points

  The negative point value attributed to a lost fumble is almost universally -2 points, although it sometimes takes different forms. For instance, some fantasy football platforms allow you to associate point values to both fumble lost AND fumbles that are not lost. Under this configuration it is not uncommon to see fantasy commissioners associate -1 point with a fumble that is recovered by the offense and -2 points with a fumble that is lost.

• Field Goals: 3+ points

  Field goal point values generally start at 3 points and increase in value as the distance of the field goal increases; naturally the longer a field goal is kicked the more difficult it is. There are no well-documented distances where the point value should be increased, but a good guideline is to award an addition point (4 points total) for any kick between 40 and 50 yards and another point (5 points total) for a kick 51 yards or longer.

Defense/Special Teams Scoring

The following statistics are specific to the Defense/Special Teams fantasy position. Of all the fantasy football positions, the statistic/point-value preferences in relation to Defense/ST are the most unpredictable. Every fantasy football league puts their own person touch on these values so any small deviation from these point values is acceptable. Of course, you shouldn’t go overboard and give any particular statistic/point-value pair a strange weight either.

• Blocked Kick: 2 points

  Blocking any type of kick, whether it be an extra point, field goal, or even a punt is generally worth two points.

• Safety: 2 points

  Just like in the real world, a safety will nab 2 points for your fantasy football team.

• Forced Fumble: 1 points

  Fantasy leagues vary, but forcing a fumble is generally worth one point. Some leagues only award points for a fumble recovery, but I personally like to include this statistic in my fantasy leagues.

• Fumble Recovery: 1 point

  A fumble recovery is worth one point.

• Interception: 2 points

  Interceptions are almost universally worth 2 fantasy points.

• Sack: 1 point

  Sacks are almost universally worth 1 fantasy point.

• Points Allowed:

  In recent years fantasy defense production has gone through the roof, especially since it is normally packaged with special teams. Fantasy points awarded for ‘Points Allowed’ play a large part in fantasy defense production. Variations of these settings differ wildly so remember they are only a guideline.

  • 0 Points Allowed (Shutout): 10 points
  • 1 - 6PA: 8 points
  • 7 – 13 PA: 6 points
  • 14 - 20 PA: 2 points
  • 21 – 27PA: 1 points
  • 28 – 34PA: 0 points
  • 35 – 41PA: -2 points
  • 42+ PA: -4 points

Standard Roster Size

In most leagues the standard roster size is 15 players. In a league of 12 teams, roughly 168 players will be on some team's roster at any given time. This is an optimum configuration because it leads to a situation where the players remaining on waivers are serviceable. If there are too many above average players on the waiver wire then roster-related strategies are diminished because owners can find a good replacement at any time. If there aren't any serviceable players on the waiver wire, then those teams that hit hard times will not have a fighting chance to revive their teams. The idea is to create a scenario where the best players on waivers are serviceable, but no more and no less; a roster size of 15 players works best to accomplish this goal.

Standard Starting Lineup

In many leagues today, rosters are allowed one 'flex' position; the flex position can generally be one of several positions (usually RB/WR or even TE). I personally don't like to include a flex position in my leagues because I think it reduces the amount of strategy involved with roster management. The standard starting lineup in leagues without a 'flex' position usually follows this model:

• Quarterbacks: 1 (starter)
• Running Backs: 2
• Wide Receivers: 3
• Tight Ends: 1
• Kickers: 1
• Defense/ST: 1

Standard League Size

The number of teams in a single fantasy football league should be such that most teams can field a good (but not great) roster. Roster strategy is one of the more exciting aspects of fantasy football, and if every team has a great roster then success is determined more by luck than by each fantasy owner's competence. The magic number of teams to achieve this goal in fantasy football is 12. Some leagues include only 10 teams, but in my opinion this configuration leads to a situation where all teams are equally stacked, thus making the league random and ultimately, very boring.

The standard fantasy football scoring system is a great baseline for anyone starting a new fantasy football league. The statistic/point-value pairs along with the other well-accepted league configurations are tried and true and will ensure that your fantasy league and roster are well-balanced and competitive.