Defensive Scoring Points: Are They Fair

[Greg Ambrosius]

This year in the NFFC we added more points to our defensive scoring, rewarding teams who are able to hold opponents to 17 points or less. We did not tweak the turnovers, but did increase points for shutouts and other low scoring contests.

This year it's obvious that with our scoring system -- and actually in any scoring system right now -- the Chicago Bears are among the most valuable fantasy possessions to date. They scored three defensive/special teams touchdowns on Monday night and now have two special teams TDs. They also have 21 turnovers, forcing 14 fumbles and seven interceptions. In NFFC scoring, the Bears are averaging 19.1 points per week, with Baltimore second at 14.8. The next 20 teams are averaging between 13 and 7.6 points per game.

In 2007, it does make sense to add one or two points for a blocked field goal and a blocked punt. Recovering an onside kick might even make sense as all of those are rare occurrences but very important special teams plays.

Here is our current defensive scoring setup:

1 point for every sack
2 points for every interception or opponents' fumble recovery
6 points for every touchdown (interception return, defensive fumble return, punt or kickoff return, blocked field goal return, blocked punt return). All special teams and defensive points are awarded to the team responsible, not the individual player. Should a kicker, punter or field goal holder throw a pass off a fake attempt, however, the offensive output for that offensive play would go towards the individual player, not the special teams. Also, any lost fumble or "muff" on a specials team play does not result in negative points for that individual player.
2 points for every safety
12 points for a shutout by the entire team
8 points for allowing 2-7 points by the entire team
4 points for allowing 8-12 points by the entire team
2 points for allowing 13-17 points by the entire team

Here's the question of the week: Are we making defenses too important in the NFFC? Not enough? Are fantasy football leagues as a whole giving too much credit or not enough credit to defensive performances? I'm interested in all feedback this week as we continue to create the best scoring system for our players. Thanks everyone.

[joetreff]

It seems perfect actually. With the current structure it will be fun to draft next year knowing the Bears would probably go in the 4th round and Ravens in the 5th or 6th. They went around the 7th-9th this year probably because the majority of players didn't know about the scoring change that made defenses more valuable.

I don't care how many decent defenses are on the wire, if Chicago ends up around 19 ppg fantasywise then they are a 3rd or 4th rounder next year. That makes for some intersting draft strategies.

[Diesel]

Greg, if I may chime in here...IMO, this bump in the defensive scoring in 2006, and another slight bump in 2007, makes the NFFC draft even more of a chess game. This is a good thing.

Yes, the defenses and kickers are a bit of a crap shoot every year. I'm sure this would be the argument of the "nay-sayer" on this topic. The argument might be that giving more points to a position that is very hard to predict is wrong...But if you think about it, all positions are a bit of a crap shoot every year. Just ask the guys who drafted Lamont Jordan, Sean Alexander or Chris Chambers this year.

In a bunch of my fantasy leagues, defenses have been bumped up over the years because the points are reflecting the stats from eleven(11) guys.

[Gordon Gekko]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
In 2007, it does make sense to add one or two points for a blocked field goal and a blocked punt. Recovering an onside kick might even make sense as all of those are rare occurrences but very important special teams plays.
1. please, no points for a blocked field goal
2. please, no points for a blocked punt
3. please, no points for recovering an onside kick

tough to predict these. let's not turn fantasy football into fantasy lottery

[Gordon Gekko]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
Here's the question of the week: Are we making defenses too important in the NFFC? yes

[Sound Advice]

I was waiting for this one.

Please give the def LESS points!!!

You added way too many last year.

I believe the idea was that shutouts were rare and deserved more than they were getting.

NO ONE wanted defenses to decide all the outcomes.
It was a great idea, but the implications were horrible.
Defenses now decide WAY too many games.

I don't think anyone wanted the team def to decide half the close games.

Subtract some of those points for next year please.

If you add more def points it will become:
"I play in the NFFC, you know the one that drafts defenses in the first round. lol."

I'd go for 1 per block, but points need to be taken away overall. Maybe take out the punt/kickoff return td, and lessen the points structure, so that overall the def get less points than they do now.

Chi picks up a rookie's fumble on the 5 and walks in=6
Chi strips a dead ball on the 10 and walks in=12
Chi runs back punt through 5 missed tackles=18.
no mas.

[Tom Kessenich]

I would say what we saw from the Bears this past week was the exception and not the norm. Consider the game the Vikings defense/special teams had two seasons ago against the Giants. Two returns for TDs and an INT return for a TD. At no other point in the season did the Vikings ever come close to matching that output even though they had some good weeks. So while it was shocking to see what the Bears did and it likely decided plenty of games I don't know if we should hold that up as the standard for how defenses are performing this year.

Just my thoughts.

[BONGIZMO]

But then again Gordy, any competitors Defense is too valuable when you hang your hopes on the Skins D eh?

[Diesel]

I would be stunned if any TD's were taken away from Defense. A punt/kickoff/INT/fumble return should be 6 points, whether it's 6 inches or 60 yards.