The problems with PPR (points per reception) fantasy football scoring are well known and documented. And just as frequently ignored.
The format has become the most popular among fantasy leagues. So each time a player catches a pass, he gets a point (or in half-PPR, a half-point, which is just half as bad). Doesn’t matter if they gained any yards, or even lost yards, they get a point. Yet, if a player rushes for the same yardage, no such extra fantasy point, despite the same impact on the real football game.
As we’ve stated often in the past, the Madman likes as much real football in their fantasy football as possible. Thus scoring yardage gains based on how those gains are gained makes absolutely zero sense, and takes a large step away from real football to create a factor unique for fantasy — with no real tether to a football reality.
PPR was a poorly conceived concept introduced decades ago to combat the prevalence of early running back picks. But the real game has since changed — with a much more significant focus on the passing game, which rectifies any misguided notions that PPR is or was ever needed.
But fantasy owners like points. So what is the alternative rather than to go back to boring old standard scoring — which itself was too reliant on unpredictable touchdown output?
How about scoring for first downs converted instead?
We’ve banged this drums for several years now, and we will continue to bang it like madmen until the masses hear us. This is a much superior scoring method.
First, it eliminates the bogus PPR bonus. And it does so while providing an offset for those lost points by awarding a point each time a player converts a first down. It a player rushes for 9 yards and a first down, he scores exactly the same as a receiver who catches a pass for 9 yards and a first down.
Imagine this comparison scenario: In PPR, on third-and-9, a WR catches a pass for 5-yard gain, he scores 1.5 points but his team punts. An RB runs for 5 yards on third-and-3 and converts a first down, he gets 0.5 points despite extending his team’s drive in real life. Ridiculous, right? In a first-downs-converted (FDC) league, those same plays would result in exactly the opposite score, which better reflects real-world impact.
Hence, more real football in our fantasy football.
Like PPR though, you don’t have to award the quarterback similarly (in PPR, QBs don’t get a point for completing a pass, even though the receiving player gets a point for catching it).
We’ll give daily formats a pass just because you need as much opportunity for scoring disparity as possible to separate those of different competitors, but in head-to-head year-long leagues, there is no rational reason to continue to use PPR.
So take it from a Madman: It is time to stop the PPR madness. If you are a commissioner, we recommend you set up your league accordingly. If your hosting site doesn’t allow it, find a new site. Send a message. Make fantasy football more about football.