ESPN Performance (Standard) Fantasy Football

We will start our examination of the scoring systems used by the different games we will be covering with the ESPN games. Today we will look at the ESPN Performance (Standard) scoring system, while examining their Traditional, Yardage Only, and Scoring Only games in subsequent posts.

The ESPN Performance Scoring System is as follows:

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

Passing:

• 1 point for every 25 yards passing
• 4 points for every passing TD
• Minus two points (-2) for every interception thrown
• 2 points for every 2-point conversion
• 2 points for a passing TD of 40+ yards

Rushing:

• 1 point for every 10 yards rushing
• 6 points for every rushing TD
• 2 points for every 2-point conversion
• 2 points for a rushing TD of 40+ yards

Receiving

• 1 point for every 10 yards receiving
• 6 points for every receiving TD
• 2 points for every 2-point conversion
• 2 points for a receiving TD of 40+ yards

Other Offense Items:

• 6 points for any TD scored by recovered or returned fumbles, punt returns, and kickoff returns.
• Minus two points (-2) for each fumble lost

KICKERS

• 1 point for every Extra Point
• 3 points for every FG: 1 - 39 yards
• 4 points for every FG: 40 - 49 yards
• 5 points for every FG: 50+ yards
• Minus 2 points (-2) for every FG missed: 1 - 39 yards
• Minus 1 point (-1) for every FG missed: 40 - 49 yards

TEAM DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS

• 3 points for a kickoff return TD
• 3 points for a punt return TD
• 3 points for a fumble or interception return for a TD
• 3 points for a blocked punt or FG returned for a TD
• 2 points for each interception
• 2 points for each fumble recovered
• 2 points for each safety
• 2 points for a blocked punt, PAT, or FG
• 10 points for a shutout
• 7 points for 2-6 points allowed
• 4 points for 7-13 points allowed
• 1 point for 14-17 points allowed
• 0 points for 18-21 points allowed
• Minus 1 point (-1) for 22-27 points allowed
• Minus 4 points (-4) for 28-34 points allowed
• Minus 7 points (-7) for 35-45 points allowed
• Minus 10 points (-10) for 46+ points allowed

This is a fairly common scoring system. It's specific quirks are as follows:

1. Passing Yards and TDs vs. Rushing and Receiving Yards and TDs

• The 6/6/4 (Rushing/Receiving/Passing TD points) favors the passing QB a little more than the 6/6/3 but not nearly as much as the 6/6/6. As a result, the advantage for a QB that scores rushing TDs (Bulger, McNabb, Vick, Brooks) is not as pronounced

• Likewise, the 10/10/25 (Yards per Rushing/Receiving/Passing Point) favors the passing QB more than the 10/10/30 but not as much as the 10/10/20. Again, this middle-of-the-road scoring system takes away some of the effectiveness of the rushing QB.
  
• Example: In 2004 Michael Vick passed for 2,200 yards less than Peyton Manning and threw 35 fewer TDs. However, he rushed for 3 TDs to Manning's 0 and out gained him 902 to 38 yards on the ground. In a 6/6/6, 10/10/20 league Manning would clobber Vick roughly 550 points to 307. Yet, in a 6/6/3, 10/10/30 league, however the numbers change with Manning only earning approximately 297 points to Vick's 226.
• Now we're not saying to go out and sell the farm to get Vick. What we do want you to realize, however, is how different the relative values of these two players are under the two scoring systems.
  
• For the ESPN Performance system, you're somewhere in the middle and probably better off with a Daunte Culpepper, a Donovan McNabb, or even a Jake Plummer (not that Peyton is ever a bad choice).

2. Bonus Yardage

• With 2 point bonuses for 40+ yard passing, rushing, and receiving TDs keep an eye out for the big play guy.

3. Penalty points for missed FGs

• Trying to get an accurate is an obvious must. Be careful though that your Ks pre-season ranking takes into account his misses under this system.

4. Kickoff/Punt/Fumble return TD points for both the Defense and the Offensive player.

• If you're playing Daunte Hall, it might not be a bad idea to consider the KC defense under this system and earn some bonus points.

To help you out with all of this:

• Our draft package will rank most all offensive players, kickers and team defenses based on this scoring system (along with other ranking for each of the rest of the leagues we track as well)

Our next post will look at the ESPN Traditional game scoring system