Guide to Setting-up a NFL Fantasy Football League

As I sit here anxiously awaiting the end of tomorrow's NFL Monday Night Football game to see if I get a first round playoff bye, I have been thinking of the ideal set of rules and scoring for a future fantasy football league. I want a league that rewards touchdowns as well as yardage, from a variety of players. Offense, defense and special teams should all score points. Here are my ideal settings for fantasy football league. Although I have never played in a money fantasy football league, I include some thoughts on these as well.

Draft = Lottery

Continual Rolling List Waivers = Reverse of Draft Order

Waiver Time = 48 hours

Can't Cut List = Use Default Service Provided

Players per Team = 15

Quarterback = 1

Wide Receiver = 2

Running Back = 2

Tight End = 1

Kicker = 1

Defense/Special Teams = 1

Wild Card (Wide Receiver, Running Back, Tight End) = 1

Bench = 6

Points = Fractional Points and Negative Points Allowed

Offense

Any Touchdown = 6 points

Rushing and Receiving Yards = 10 yards per point

Passing Yards = 20 yards per point

Two-point Conversion = 2 points

Reception = 0.5 point

Fumble Lost = -2 points

Interception = -2 points

Kickers

Field Goals 0 - 19 Yards = 3 points

Field Goals 20 - 29 Yards = 3 points

Field Goals 30 - 39 Yards = 3 points

Field Goals 40 - 49 Yards = 4 points

Field Goals 50+ Yards = 6 points

Point After - 1 point

Field Goals Missed 0 - 19 Yards = -1 point

Field Goals Missed 20 - 29 Yards = -1 point

Filed Goals Missed 30 - 39 Yards = -1 point

Field Goals Missed 40 - 49 Yards = -1 point

Field Goals Missed 50+ Yards = -1 point

Point After Missed = -1 point

Defense/Special Teams

Any Touchdown = 6 points (Individual players also get points for special teams touchdowns, such as turnovers returned for touchdowns.)

Sack = 1 point

Fumble Recovery = 2 points

Interception = 2 points

Safety = 2 points

Blocked Kick = 2 points

Points Allowed: 0 = 15 points

1 - 6 = 10 points

7 - 13 = 5 points

14 - 17 = 2.5 points

18 - 20 = 1 point

21 - 27 = 0 points

28 - 34 = -1 point

35 - 41 = -2.5 points

42 or greater = -5 points

The following is a hypothetical scenario for a 20 team NFL fantasy football money league. This league gives both weekly prizes and end-of-the-year prizes in order to provide more opportunities to win. Giving weekly prizes gives teams that do not qualify for the playoffs opportunities to win prizes during the last three weeks of the fantasy football season.

Head-to-Head with Playoffs

Length = 16 Weeks

$51 buy-in = $1,020 pot

Unlimited Drop/Adds, Each Costs $1

Weekly Prizes = $35 Total ($560 Yearly Total)

High Team Score = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

Largest Margin of Victory = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

Most Single Quarterback Points = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

Most Single Running Back Points = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

Most Single Receiver Points = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

Most Single Tight End Points = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

Most Single Defensive Points = $5 ($80 Yearly Total)

End of Season Prizes = $455 Total + Drop/Add Fees

Playoffs

1^st Place = $250 + 15% of Drop and Add Fees

2^nd Place = $100 + 10% of Drop and Add Fees

3^rd Place = $50

4^th Place = $25

5^th Place = $10

6^th Place = $10

7^th Place = $5

8^th Place = $5

Most Total Points = 25% of Drop and Add Fees

Best Record = 25% of Drop and Add Fees

Highest Points to Drop/Add Ratio = 25% of Drop and Add Fees

Setting-up and managing a NFL fantasy football league can be time consuming. Click here to hire custom fantasy sports league design and stat management services. Enjoy being a fantasy football commissioner!