I’m not a big fan of scoring systems that give bonuses for shutouts. There just aren’t enough of them. The way the NFL game is structured nowadays, it’s really hard for a defense to keep an opponent from scoring for an entire game.

It happened only 7 times last year, and that was actually an increase over previous seasons. There were only 3 shutouts in 2013 (that’s in 256 regular-season games). In the 2010-2012 seasons, there were 5-6 shutouts each year.

YearShutouts
20056
200614
20075
20086
200911
20105
20115
20126
20133
20147

So rather than shutouts, it’s my preference to see defenses rewarded on a more regular basis. If it holds an opponent to only 13 points, for example, that’s also very difficult to achieve and is worthy of some fantasy points.

We don’t hesitate to give offensive players fractions of points for yards – 9.1 points for 91 yards and whatnot. Why not do the same with defenses?

I favor the approach of giving defenses some credit for everything under 24 points (which is about what NFL offenses average nowadays). Maybe a half fantasy point for everything under that threshold. Shutout would equal 12 points, allowing 14 points in an NFL game would be worth 5 fantasy points, and 17 would be worth 3.5. Similarly, allowing 30 points would result in minus-3.

Thoughts?

SHUTOUTS IN LAST 10 YEARS
YearWinnerLoserScore
2005at ClevelandMiami22-0
2005at DenverNY Jets27-0
2005at New EnglandTampa Bay28-0
2005at NY GiantsWashington36-0
2005Pittsburghat Cleveland41-0
2005Seattleat Philadelphia42-0
2006at BuffaloMiami21-0
2006at BaltimorePittsburgh27-0
2006at CarolinaSt. Louis15-0
2006at JacksonvilleNY Jets41-0
2006at JacksonvillePittsburgh9-0
2006at MiamiNew England21-0
2006at SeattleOakland16-0
2006Cincinnatiat Cleveland30-0
2006Chicagoat Green Bay26-0
2006New Englandat Green Bay35-0
2006Chicagoat NY Jets10-0
2006San Diegoat Oakland27-0
2006St. Louisat Oakland20-0
2006Baltimoreat Tampa Bay27-0
2007at ClevelandBuffalo8-0
2007at Green BayMinnesota34-0
2007at PittsburghMiami3-0
2007at PittsburghSeattle21-0
2007at SeattleSan Francisco24-0
2008at CarolinaKansas City34-0
2008at IndianapolisTennessee23-0
2008at PittsburghCleveland31-0
2008New Englandat Buffalo13-0
2008Cincinnatiat Cleveland14-0
2008Atlantaat Oakland24-0
2009at DallasPhiladelphia24-0
2009at Green BayDetroit26-0
2009at New EnglandTennessee59-0
2009at NY JetsCincinnati37-0
2009at SeattleJacksonville41-0
2009at SeattleSt. Louis28-0
2009at San FranciscoSt. Louis35-0
2009Baltimoreat Cleveland16-0
2009NY Jetsat Oakland38-0
2009NY Giantsat Tampa Bay24-0
2009Dallasat Washington17-0
2010at HoustonTennessee20-0
2010at San DiegoKansas City31-0
2010Chicagoat Miami16-0
2010Green Bayat NY Jets9-0
2010Tampa Bayat San Francisco21-0
2011at PittsburghSt. Louis27-0
2011at PittsburghSeattle24-0
2011at San FranciscoSt. Louis26-0
2011Kansas Cityat Oakland28-0
2011Buffaloat Washington23-0
2012at AtlantaNY Giants34-0
2012at New EnglandMiami28-0
2012at New OrleansTampa Bay41-0
2012at OaklandKansas City15-0
2012at SeattleArizona58-0
2012San Franciscoat NY Jets34-0
2013at BuffaloMiami19-0
2013at CarolinaNY Giants38-0
2013Seattleat NY Giants23-0
2014at IndianapolisCincinnati27-0
2014at MiamiSan Diego37-0
2014at PhiladelphiaNY Giants27-0
2014at San DiegoNY Jets31-0
2014at St. LouisOakland52-0
2014Cincinnatiat Cleveland30-0
2014St. Louisat Washington24-0

—Ian Allan