Andy Richardson
An experts league I've been in for the past several years is switching to a point-per-reception (PPR) scoring system, where pass catchers are awarded an extra fantasy point for every reception. That officially makes 7 leagues I'm in that are PPR, and zero that aren't. I voted against it, but I was one of only two owners to do so.
It's not that I'm totally against PPR, or at least I never have been. In fact, I switched my own league to PPR two years back. A decision, I might add, that I'm now hoping to reverse this season, if I can get the votes.
I understand the arguments for it. Giving wide receivers more value compared to running backs is No. 1, while deepening the pool of startable running backs is a close second. Without PPR, the first 15 or so picks are almost entirely running backs, and talented pass-catching backs like Kevin Faulk and Leon Washington have minimal value. With it, you can easily load up on wide receivers early and draft third-down running backs late, plus you can sometimes draft top tailbacks like Michael Turner (who don't catch any passes) with late-first or early second-round picks.
And that's OK. It's particularly important in larger, 14- or 16-team leagues (they do exist) where without PPR it's difficult to field two decent running backs, and up to half the teams won't be able to.
But is the non-PPR format going to go the way of the dinosaur? Is it really a good thing when a statistical argument can be made for selecting a guy like Wes Welker ahead of Frank Gore and Michael Turner? Or taking Reggie Bush among the top dozen running backs when he's arguably the second-best back on his own team?
Personally, I've soured on the format in 10-team leagues, and I'm not too crazy about using it in 12-team leagues, either. I think it's resulted, ironically, in an undervaluing of true franchise running backs -- the players who have always been the lifeblood of fantasy football -- while overvaluing scatbacks and slot receivers.
In short, PPR is fine, maybe even necessary, for some leagues. But for all of them?
So I'm going to put it to a vote in my league. To keep or not to keep. I don't know that I'll get the votes, but I can hope.
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Posted by Travis Billman | Jul. 27 at 03:30 AM
One option for those who really want to stay with PPR is to moderate it with 1/2 point per reception. It increases their value, but doesn't push them over the elite backs. I'm in two leagues like this and it gives a subtle twist.
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Jul. 27 at 04:33 AM
My dynasty league gives running backs half a point, wide receivers one point, and tight ends a point and a half per reception. It's an interesting way to do it, giving pass-catching running backs a slight edge over the ones who don't, wide receivers the same edge over them, and making tight ends more valuable.