Fantasy football (American)

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Fantasy Football is a fantasy sports game in which participants (called "owners") are arranged into a league. Each team drafts or acquires via auction a team of real-life American football players and then scores points based on those players' statistical on-the-field performances. A typical fantasy league will employ players from a single football league, such as the NFL or an NCAA division. Leagues can be arranged in which the winner is the team with the most total points at the end of the season, or in a head-to-head format (which mirrors the actual NFL) in which each team plays against a single opponent each week. At the end of the year, win-loss records determine league rankings or qualification into a playoff bracket. Most leagues set aside the last weeks of the regular season for their own playoffs. Three major fantasy football sport providers are CBS, ESPN, and Yahoo!.

Contents

[edit] History

The game originated in 1962 from an idea of Bill Winkenbach, then a limited partner in the Oakland Raiders, with assistance from Bill Tunnell, the Raiders' public relations man, Scotty Stirling, the beat writer from the Oakland Tribune, and George Ross, the Tribune's sports editor, as well as Philip Carmona, Winkenbach's friend. The idea emerged during a three-week road trip the Raiders took to the East Coast. Winkenbach and the others fleshed out the idea during the trip, and upon their return, formed the first fantasy football league, the GOPPPL (Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League).[1]. With the rise of personal computers and the Internet in the late 1990's, the participation in and popularity of fantasy football increased exponentially to the level of prominence it holds today.

[edit] Competition Format

The two main types of competition formats are 1) Head-to-head, with weekly games played against specific opponents (much like in the NFL), and 2) total points, in which cumulative points during the season determine winners (or playoff teams).

[edit] League Types

Leagues normally consist of 8-16 teams. There are three major types: redraft, "keeper" leagues, and dynasty leagues. In a redraft, each owner starts with no players at the beginning of each season and drafts an entire fantasy team. Each owner in a keeper league is allowed to retain a small number of players they owned during the previous season, eliminating these players from the draft, while each owner in a dynasty league is allowed to retain as many players as desired from the previous season, with the draft encompassing only rookies and other unowned (or un-retained) players.

[edit] Draft Formats

Players are drafted on a team in three main formats. One of these is the serpentine draft, in which the draft order from the first round is reversed in the second round, then reversed again in every round thereafter, thus creating a snakelike progression. Another is the "standard" draft system, in which draft order is maintained throughout. The last is an auction system, in which owners bid on players using a predetermined budget.

[edit] Salary Cap Leagues

The salary cap football league is a particular type of dynasty league which adds another factor of realism similar to the NFL: the salary cap. Just like in the NFL, this means each player has an associated salary and the total spent on all the players on a team has a maximum - the "salary cap." This can have many levels of complexity, e.g. a player may be signed for multiple years, etc.

[edit] New League Types

A new style of fantasy football is modeled after the popular "survivor pool" or "knock out pool" style of weekly NFL wagering that allows each pool member to pick one NFL team to win each week, but he or she can only pick that team once all year.

Similarly, survivor fantasy leagues allow owners to draft a fresh team of seven players each week, with each player only available to each owner one week per year. This added level of strategy places an emphasis on weekly NFL match ups, while at the same time diminishing the negative consequences of injuries.

Another type of league, that allows for year round fantasy football is called Simulation Football. Simulation Football uses a computer to simulate the games with simulated players, instead of relying on the NFL for its players and stats. The most basic type is a GM league, where all the player has to do is put together a team and the computer does most of the work. A much more involved type of simulation football is called a "Create-a-Player" or CAP league. In a CAP league, top players vie for the chance to be a GM and put together a team using players that are created by other people. There are different types of scoring for determining who is a "top player" but the people are charged with making their player as good as possible using the league's scoring system.

Another recent arrival to fantasy football is the RotoHog-style budget-based high-roster-turnover game. The RotoHog game provides traditional points-based competition while providing a fantasy sports stock simulation-type market for trading players. While managers are required to field a roster of players that will score the most points on any given week, they have the ability to trade any player at any time on a market with continuously moving player prices.

The popularity of fantasy football has filtered down into the collegiate level as well. Fantasy College Football is gaining in popularity as diehard fantasy players and college football fanatics combine two of their favorite passions into one. The most popular leagues involve the BCS only schools while other leagues incorporate all Football Championship Series schools or even just the "non-BCS" schools.

[edit] The Draft

Just like in real football, each year fantasy football leagues have a draft (note: in dynasty leagues, this normally consists of NFL rookies only), in which each team drafts NFL players. These players are kept unless "dropped" (aka become free agents) or are traded. In most leagues, no player may be owned by more than one team, (although some leagues do allow for this).

There are essentially two types of drafts. In a traditional "serpentine" (aka "snake") draft, owners take turns drafting players in a "serpentine" method, i.e. the owner who picks 1st in the odd rounds picks last in the even rounds, in the interests of fairness. In an auction draft, each owner has an (imaginary) budget which he must use to purchase all his players in an auction format, ie players are nominated and bid on, and the owner who bids the highest on each player receives that player (reducing their remaining budget accordingly).

It is widely accepted that the draft is the single most important day in the fantasy football season, despite the fact that no games are played.

Destination drafts have now become routine as many fantasy football managers have moved to different locations over time, but still enjoy competing against the same managers. With the internet sites moving fantasy football to a virtual event, many still crave the excitement of being all together during a draft. Locations usually involve a restaurant, casino, or large meeting space and some leagues conduct large, extravagant drafts that last multiple days.

[edit] Free Agents and Trades

Free agents and trades are integral components to maintaining a competitive roster throughout the duration of a season. Free agents exist in fantasy leagues that do not allow multiple teams to have any one professional athlete. In these leagues, free agents are professional players that are not currently on any league members' rosters.

[edit] Fantasy Trade Referees

Often within fantasy football leagues trades are made that cause controversy and are considered unfair by many other members of the league. These disputes are often settled by fantasy football trade referees. These third party sites feature experienced fantasy players who rule on trades and offer an objective third party opinion.

[edit] Team Rosters

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Each team is allowed a pre-determined number of players on its team, as well as a specified number at each position that can or must be used in each game (the "starters"). Owners for each team then determine each week which players will start (within the rules) and which will be "benched". Just like in real football, bench players can become starters for various reasons: due to other players' injury, poor performance, or if another player's team has a bye.

Each week, owners choose their starters for a game before a certain deadline. Whether to sit or start a player is usually based on strategic considerations including the player's past and expected performance, defensive match ups, and so on.

[edit] Starters

Each team owner must designate which players from the team roster will be starters each week - i.e. the only players who will "score" any points. The following example is similar to many common formats required for a starting lineup:

There are of course many variants on this. Some leagues use individual defensive players (IDPs) (and in some cases a punter) instead of or in addition to a combined Team Defense/Special Teams. Another variant is the "flex" position, which can be filled by a player in one of several positions. Some other leagues use separate Defense and Special Teams. Flex positions are often limited to "WR/TE", "RB/WR", or "RB/WR/TE". Traditionally, this flex was required to be an RB, WR, or TE, however, some leagues allow any position to fill this flex slot as an "OP" (any Offensive Player). Although rare, some leagues do also have a 2 quarterback requirement for a starting lineup, yet providing another twist into the complexity of different scoring systems and lineups.

[edit] Scoring

Players earn their team points based on their performance in their weekly games; for example, each touchdown counts as 6 points, a certain number of yards gained counts for points, and so on. In almost all cases, players earn points for passing, rushing, and receiving yards. Passing yards (sometimes touchdowns as well) typically earn about half as many points as rushing/receiving yards, since QBs normally get many more. Negative points are also usually given for turnovers, and kickers earn points for field goals and extra points (sometimes negative points for missed kicks). Bonuses can also be given for exceptionally good performances, like a QB throwing for over 300 yards, or a kicker making a long field goal. Team defenses earn points for things like sacks, turnovers, safeties, etc. Individual defensive players typically do not earn points for team-wide stats such as keeping the opponent under a certain score or yardage total, but rather for tackles or turnovers made.

A typical scoring format follows. Again, there are many variations used:

  • 1 point for 25 passing yards
  • 1 point for 10 rushing and receiving yards
  • 6 points for a passing touchdown
  • 6 points for a rushing or receiving touchdown
  • -2 points for every interception thrown or fumble lost
  • 1 point for each extra point made
  • 3 points for each field goal made (additional points are sometimes awarded for long kicks, i.e. over 40 yards)
  • 2 points per turnover gained by defense
  • 1 points per sack by the defense
  • 2 points for a safety by defense
  • 6 points for each touchdown scored by defense
  • 2 points for each blocked kick

An alternate scoring format is the "pure yardage" league, in which touchdowns are ignored, and each player's passing, rushing and receiving yards are totaled. Some yardage leagues also convert defensive stats into yards (ex., 50 yards for an interception, 20 yards for a sack), whether for a team's defense, or individual players. Another scoring system counts only touchdowns, touchdown passes, and field goals for points.

[edit] Individual Defensive Players

Many leagues have now incorporated Individual Defensive Player (IDP) play into their scoring systems. IDP play typically has roster space for three groups of defensive players: defensive linemen (DL), linebackers (LB) and defensive backs (DB).

One possible scoring system:

  • 2 points per solo tackle
  • 1 point per assist
  • 6 points per defensive touchdown
  • 2 points per safety
  • 1 point per pass defended
  • 2 points per half sack
  • 2 points per fumble recovered
  • 2 points per forced fumble
  • 2 points per interception

[edit] Strategy

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Many Fantasy Football players are passionate about their hobby and are always looking for ways to gain an advantage over their competition. Magazines, websites, books, and software are available that provide fantasy players with the information they need to make better decisions.

One area of strategy that has only recently been gaining attention is handcuffing. Handcuffing is the drafting of two players from the same team in the same position to protect the investment in the top player. For example, if you draft a star quarterback, it may make sense to also draft his backup if the star quarterback performs well because of the team dynamic. The team may have a stellar offense that would allow any decent quarterback to excel in the starting position. This also allows you to protect your team in case an injury happens to your running back or other key position players.

Some "owners" will assess their competition's needs and acquire players that somebody else might end up playing against them otherwise.

Another strategy consist on starting a QB or WR to match up against the competition. For example; If someone is playing against Randy Moss, it would be smart to play Tom Brady so that anytime Moss scores, for example a passing touchdown, so does Brady.

A draft strategy frequently used is the drafting of runningbacks early and often. Everytime a runningback gains ten yards, it is one point. Most runningbacks can do that with just two or three carries. Runningbacks usually score more than any position, so owners often draft them in one or both of the first two rounds.

A final strategy consists of drafting QB to WR combo's. This is good for players like Randy Moss and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, or Terrell Owens and Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys. Any time one of the player scores, the points scored on the play in question double for your team.

[edit] Effect on Spectatorship

The explosive popularity of fantasy sports, coupled with the availability of venues showcasing numerous live football games via satellite, has had significant effects on football viewing and rooting habits among participants. Fantasy sports players watch more game telecasts, buy more tickets and spend money at stadiums at a much higher rate than general sports fans. For example, 55 percent of fantasy sports players report watching more sports on television since they started playing fantasy sports. [2] The NFL entered into a reported five-year, $600 million deal in 2006 with Sprint that was driven at least in part because of fantasy sports, allowing subscribers to draft and monitor their teams with their cellphones. [3]

Critics charge that rather than supporting a favorite team in any one game, some fantasy owners may instead support the players on their fantasy rosters. Players are mixed on the impact on the effects of fantasy football on fans' habits and preferences. In interviews with ESPN, retired NFL QB Jake Plummer stated, "I think it's ruined the game." And, as retired New York Giants RB Tiki Barber noted about fantasy fans, "there's an incongruity in the wants."[1]. However, Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley plays in four fantasy football leagues himself. [4]

For instance, a fantasy owner might have the quarterback from one team and the running back from the opposing team on his roster, and end up hoping both teams score frequently. However, he will only cheer passing scores from the first team and running scores from the second. As another example, if a team is up by many touchdowns, the "owner" of a running back on the losing team may be upset since the losing team will prefer passing instead of rushing.

Often, a fantasy owner may end up watching a game he would otherwise have had no interest in, simply because he "owns" one or more of the players involved.

Fantasy football has had a net positive benefit in increased knowledge of players at all positions, not just the traditionally regarded "skill positions."[neutrality disputed] For example, there is a premium placed on knowing who the starting tight end is for every team in the league, or the backup running backs, or even available place kickers who may be picked up by a playoff contender. This has helped increase the popularity of the league, and given status to fantasy football fans who take the time to learn the sport.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Glenn Dickey's article about the origins of fantasy football
  2. ^ "CDM Appeals Court Victory Ensures Continued Fantasy Sports Growth", Fantasy Sports Trade Association, October 16, 2007. 
  3. ^ La Canfora, Jason. "Beating Yourself Takes New Meaning", WashingtonPost.com, August 13, 2006. 
  4. ^ La Canfora, Jason. "Beating Yourself Takes New Meaning", WashingtonPost.com, August 13, 2006. 

[edit] External links

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