Creating Your Own League
The Basics Scoring Method Roster Size & Lineups Creating a Schedule Other League Types
Main Page The Basics
To start your league, you need to determine two things:
1. How many people are going to be in your league?
2. What type of scoring methods and rosters will you use?Number of Teams:
All of the fantasy football books and websites suggest that leagues should have a minimum of 8 teams. This does not have to be the case. The first fantasy football league we were in had 6 teams. This was back in the late 80’s when fantasy football was not as popular as it is today. Since we were all friends, we created the league and the rules together.
Scoring Method:
Once you have found your core members of your league, the league should have a brainstorming session to determine the type and number of scoring categories you wish to have. You can go from a simple scenario to more complex scenarios. Here are a few common examples: 1. Yardage Only
2. Yardage and Touchdowns (TD’s)
3. Yardage, TD’s, Team defense
4. Yardage, TD’s, Team defense, Special teams
Yardage:
In addition to determining what can generate points, you need to determine the value of each category. For example, in yardage only leagues, you divide the number of yards gained by a running back (RB) by 10 to get the number of points he earned. For example, if Priest Holmes had 131 yards rushing, he would earn your team 13.1 points. Some leagues include receiving yards for running backs, and some do not. Other leagues give bonus points for when running backs go over 100 yards in a game, and additional bonus points at 150 yards, and 200 yards. The same goes for wide receivers (WR). The normal benchmark is 100 yards receiving to accrue additional bonus points. Quarterbacks (QB) can generate yards a lot faster than running backs or wide receivers. Therefore, most leagues divide the number of passing yards by 20 or 25 to determine the points they earned for the week. Almost all of the leagues include rushing yards for a quarterback. This can make the mobile quarterbacks worth more in your league. Bonus points for quarterbacks usually occur at 300 yards and up. The scoring for Kickers (K) is usually easy. You get the number of PAT’s they make as well as 3 points for every field goal they make. Bonus points are usually achieved for field goals longer than 50 yards.
Touchdowns:
Obviously touchdowns are worth 6 points in football, but in fantasy football it depends on your league. Almost all leagues value a rushing TD to be worth 6 points. The amount a passing TD varies. Some believe the person scoring the TD gets 6 points (RB, WR or QB). The QB usually never gets 6 points for throwing a TD, but normally receives 3 or 4 points. Some feel the WR and the QB should share the TD and both get 3 points. The choice is up to you.
Team Defenses and Special Teams:
If you wish to use a team defense, then you need to determine categories on which to generate points. Most leagues look at the total yards given up, number of sacks, number of interceptions, and number of points scored by the defense, if any. If you wish to use special teams, then you would look at the number of yards gained during kickoff and punt returns as well as and yardage given up. Also bonus points are given for TD’s scored, and/or field goals and punts blocked.
Some leagues use the same team for defense and special teams, and others let you draft separate teams for each category.
You can get as fancy as you want in scoring points, but keep in mind the more categories you have, the more work it is to determine the scores each week. Normally, I would recommend options 1 or 2 if this is the first league you have ever created. You can then add additional options, or tweak your scoring as the years go by.
Determining Roster Size and Starting Lineups:
Once you decide on your scoring methods, you need to determine how many players/teams make up your starting lineups. Traditional leagues use the following lineups: 1 x QB
2 x RB
2 x WR
1 x Tight End (TE)
1 x K
1 x Team DefenseMost leagues use this base format and tweak it to fit their preferences. Some use 3 x WR instead of using a TE. Others remove the TE position to use a floating player (either a RB or a WR). Others allow 4 and 5 WR packages as an option. Choose the starting lineup that interests the members of your league the most.
Once you know how many players make up each starting lineup you need to determine the number of players allowed on a roster. Normally you allow at least 2 times the number of players in your starting lineup to make up a team. The additional roster spots are for your backups. These players are used in case your starters have a bye week or get injured. Most rosters range from a minimum of 12 players to 15 players. Keep in mind, though, the more players you allow on each roster the fewer players that will be available during weekley drop/add moves.
Once you know the number of players on every team, you now can create your draft.