Greg,
While I agree that we don't wish to take away from anyone's achievements with these rules discussions, unfortunately, this is the time that things are still clear in our heads. FWIW, we're still in the Primetime hunt, as well as in the running in a few DCs. So this isn't sour grapes.
I
think I understand your point: that within each position there is random weekly scoring volatility, in which many players (some "nobodies" even) routinely outscore the top players at that position. Is that what you mean?
I can see that. For instance, using the #3 ranked player at QB, RB and WR (I didn't do TE), here are the counts from weeks 11-15 (5 games) of players at each position who BEAT the #3 player's average PPG this season:
• QB #3 is Stafford, averaging 25.8 PPG. 51 QBs beat that.
• RB #3 is McCoy, averaging 19.7 PPG. 50 RBs beat that.
• WR #3 is ABrown, averaging 20.0 PPG. 62 WRs beat that.
This data suggests that WRs are even more volatile than QBs and RBs (at least in this small sampling size of 5 games).
That said, I'm not sure it's really about the quantity of players who outscore the top players at their position, but more about the effect of such high scores on team competition. In the past 5 weeks alone, 32 QBs have broken 30 points, but just 9 RBs and 15 WRs. I get it that you want QBs to play a large role, but it makes it easy to cover up a poor weekly TEAM performance when your QB can score what 2-3 position players usually score. At least at RB and WR, we start 2 and 3, respectively, plus a flex, so a lone high score by ONE of our opponent's non-QB players can potentially be offset by the other players we start at that position. Not so for QBs as we only start one. (I'm not suggesting starting two QBs either.)
IMO, the effects on team competition of the QB position can be reduced by lowering its scoring format. If you're not [yet?] interested in 4-pt passing TDs, then perhaps at least consider starting with lowering the 100 yards passing from 5 to 4 points? This game is hard enough; why make it so easy to recover from a not-so-good team performance by just having one player on your team go off?
I'd be curious if most owners agree with your statement: "we enjoy more scoring points, not less". Maybe that's something that can make it into the off-season survey? I know I personally would prefer a flatter scoring line that LESS points would yield. But heck, I also enjoy playing poker with NO wild cards.