The TFC uses scoring that is very similar to the PPR scoring
I used in last week’s Big
Boards. The main differences: The TFC awards four points (instead
of six) for passing touchdowns, penalizes one point for interceptions
(instead of two) and hands out a point for every 20 yards passing
(instead of 25). The FFPC uses the same scoring as I just laid
out for the TFC but awards tight ends 1.5 points for every catch
and one point per reception for every other position.
I realize that 150 players probably won’t be enough for
you this week (both sites use a 20-round draft) and I apologize
for that. Fear not, however, as next week’s 200-player Big
Boards should be deep enough for the majority of you. (And honestly,
shouldn’t most of us be drafting our most important teams
next week anyway?)
For all of those unfamiliar with the Big Boards, allow me to
explain the color-coding system before we start:
Red – A very difficult matchup.
For lower-level players, a red matchup means they should not be
used in fantasy that week. For a second- or third-tier player,
drop your expectations for them at least one
grade that week (i.e. from WR2 to WR3). For elite players, expect
them to perform one level lower than their usual status (i.e.
RB1 performs like a RB2).
Yellow – Keep expectations
fairly low in this matchup. For lower-level players, a yellow
matchup is a borderline start at best. For a second- or third-tier
player, they can probably overcome the matchup if things fall
right. For the elite players, expect slightly better than average
production.
White – Basically, this matchup
is one that could go either way. In some cases, I just don’t
feel like I have a good feel yet for this defense. Generally speaking,
these matchups are winnable matchups for all levels of players.
Green – It doesn’t
get much better than this. For non-elite players, the stage is
basically set for said player to exploit the matchup. For the
elite player, this matchup should produce special numbers.
Success Score Index (SSI) - This
score is an apples-to-oranges number I reach after meticulously
grading and assigning certain weights to several unique attributes
to that position that I feel are critical to fantasy success.
Note: In the final
set of Big Boards over the following two weeks, I will rank 200
players and present my final rankings for kickers and defense/special
teams.
Here is the scoring
system that I used to rank the players in the FFPC format:
- Even though Le'Veon
Bell has shown an ability to perform well after long layoffs,
I can no longer in good conscience rank him ahead of Antonio
Brown. While the motivation to prove he is worth $15 million/season
may be enough to keep him on the field for all 16 games, history
suggests this long of absence will lead him to miss some games.
- I'm assuming above Elliott's suspension will be reduced to
four games. While I haven't done the math on it yet, I would imagine
the current six-game suspension for Elliott would send him back
into the 45-50 range for the purposes of this board.
- How you view upside is ultimately up to you. I can't assign
a number to one player's upside without tipping the apple cart
over for several other players. For example, I prefer Dak Prescott
over DeAndre Washington. Another good example would be James Conner
and Jeremy Hill. The SSI is only a value I have assigned for the
player - and not a draft grade per se - and another way to tier
within a position as well as across positions. I cannot assume
to know whether a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 or high-upside RB5
is more important to you after the 10th round, nor can I assume
if you need someone who is going to get some touches out of the
gate (Hill) or if you value a back who have huge upside if the
starter in front of him gets hurt (Conner). I personally value
Conner's upside more. That is why I emphasize year after
year this is a "value board" more than it is "take
the next guy on the list" board.
- There are several players on the outside looking in due to
current injury situations or some other factor I am waiting (hoping)
for more information on. Once those get resolved (if they do),
I am confident a few of them will slide inside the top 150. They
are (in no particular order):
Doug Orth has written for FF
Today since 2006 and been featured in USA Today’s Fantasy
Football Preview magazine since 2010. He hosted USA Today’s
hour-long, pre-kickoff fantasy football internet chat every Sunday
in 2012-13 and appears as a guest analyst on a number of national
sports radio shows, including Sirius XM’s “Fantasy Drive”.
Doug is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.
