ESPN Yardage Only Fantasy Football Scoring System

The ESPN Yardage Only Fantasy Football game is just that. All scoring is based not on TDs and turnovers, but on yardage alone. At this time we are still working to verify the 2005 ESPN Yardage Only scoring system, but don't expect it to differ much from the 2004 version. That was:

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

Passing:

• 1 point for every 25 yards passing
• 2 points for a 300-399 yard game
• 4 points for a 400+ yard game

Rushing:

• 1 point for every 10 yards rushing
• 2 points for a 100-199 yard game
  
• 4 points for a 200+ yard game
  

Receiving

• 1 point for every 10 yards receiving
• 2 points for a 100-199 yard game
  
• 4 points for a 200+ yard game

Other Offense Items:

• 1 point for every 10 kickoff return yards
• 1 point for every 10 punt return yards

KICKERS

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

TEAM DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS

• 10 points for less than 100 yards allowed
  
• 7 points for 100-199 yards allowed
• 4 points for 200-299 yards allowed
• 1 point for 300-349 yards allowed
• 0 points for 350-399 yards allowed
• Minus 1 point (-1) for 400-449 yards allowed
• Minus 4 points (-4) for 450-499 yards allowed
• Minus 7 points (-7) for 500-549 yards allowed
• Minus 10 points (-10) for 550+ yards allowed

The fact that TD's, turnovers, and PATs now mean nothing really scrambles the player rankings in this ESPN Fantasy Football game.

We have mentioned this example before however it's worth noting again here. In 2004, KC WR and Kick Returner Daunte Hall was a middle of the pack choice at best in almost every league. However, in the ESPN Yardage Only game he was actually the 4th highest scoring player, one ahead of Peyton Manning.

Why? Two reasons. First, Hall received credit for all of his KO and punt returns in addition to his WR yards. Meanwhile, Peyton's 49 TDs earned him exactly 0 points in Yardage Only leagues.

In this league, the guys that take the ball the first 79 yards (starting from their own 20) are much more valuable than the ones the "run it in from the one" (Ex: Jerome Bettis).

It can be difficult under this scoring system to determine who the best players are to draft. Fortunately, our members draft package will include ranking for all offensive players, based on the 2005 scoring system, for the ESPN Yardage Only default leagues along with the dozen or so other games we will be tracking. (See how well we take care of you!)

Our next post will look at the Yahoo Fantasy Football scoring system.