Introduction

This section of the help guide explains some of the specific features in the Cheatsheet Compiler.

Loading / Saving League Profiles

You can save league settings and scoring for up to 10 different leagues in one Cheatsheet Compiler file. The way this works is there are 10 "slots" in the Compiler to save 10 different league profiles. The list of the existing 10 league profiles can be seen by clicking the Select saved league profile drop-down box near the top of the setup tab. The Compiler comes with 10 pre-set league profiles for different types of leagues.

Create New League Profile

To input your own league settings, perform the following steps:

1. Select one of the existing league profile "slots" using the drop-down box. If you choose a different league profile than the current one, you should notice the yellow cells change, such as the league profile name.

2. To input your own league what is going to happen is you are going to overwrite this existing league profile. Move to each of the yellow cells on the setup tab using the arrow keys and/or mouse and enter the values for your league. Input league name, number of starters and backups at each position, Compiler overall rank method, etc., etc.

3. Move to the scoring tab and input all of your league scoring variables in the yellow cells only. Do not worry about changing the league name at the top as this will update on saving.

4. Once all of your league inputs are entered, return to the setup tab and near the top of the page click the Save League Profile button. This will save all of your league settings over the profile previously saved in that slot.

5. Anytime you make changes to this league that you want to save, make sure to click the Save League Profile button.

IMPORTANT: If you want to create and save a new league, then make sure in step 1 you do not select another league you want to keep saved as well. Choose an appropriate slot that is empty (pre-set in the Compiler) or you want to replace as the new league settings will overwrite the old.

Load League Profile

To load an existing league profile, simply select it using the Select saved league profile drop-down box near the top of the setup tab. If you choose a different league profile than the current one, you should notice the yellow cells change, such as the league profile name.

Inputting Starters and Backups

In each of the yellow cells on the setup tab beside Starters per team and Backups per team, simply enter the number required by your league for each position.

In terms of backups, many leagues do not specify how many backups by position you must carry, instead giving you some flexibility. In that case, the suggested method is to enter the backups you expect/plan to draft at each position. It is not necessary to only use whole numbers for these cells. If for example you are undecided between drafting a backup RB or WR, then you can split that roster spot by entering 0.5 for each of RB and WR.

Flex Positions

As many leagues use flexible starting lineup options, whereby you can start either a RB or WR each week for example, the Compiler now includes the ability to enter offensive and defensive player flex positions. In the past we would use decimals to estimate the flex positions, as described above. This method will still work, but using the flex position feature takes away the need for that. Simply enter the number of flex players in your starting lineup and check each of the boxes beside Position included in offensive/defensive flex? if you have the option of starting a player at that position. Here are some examples:

League Rules Compiler Inputs  Starting Lineup Requirements QB RB WR TE K O-Flex Check Boxes? 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K 1 2 2 1 1 0 None 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 RB or WR 1 1 2 1 1 1 RB, WR 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 RB/WR/TE 1 1 2 1 1 1 RB, WR, TE 1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 0 TE, 1 K, 3 RB/WR/TE 1 1 1 0 1 3 RB, WR, TE 1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 6 Flex any position but limit 2 QB, 4 RB, 2 K 2 2 2 1 1 3 RB, WR, TE, K*

* This league is slightly more complicated given the limits at a couple positions. Some judgement is needed here. In most scoring systems, QB will outscore other positions, therefore I have set QB to 2 as the plan will be to always start 2 of them, even if it doesn't necessarily work out that way. Similarly with RB and WR, with so many flex positions you will probably always be in a spot to start 2 RB and 2 WR, so the starting limits for those were set to 2 each and flex position reduced accordingly.

Combine WR/TE?

If your league does not specify the TE position separate from WR, then make sure to set the TE starters and backups to 0, and check the Combine WR and TE? checkbox to turn it on. Note however that on the scoring tab you need to change the TE scoring options to match the WR scoring, as the TE players in the Compiler reference the TE scoring table.

Overall Ranking Methods

The Compiler offers choices of overall ranking method, which sets the comparison point (often called the "baseline") for each position from which the Compiler calculates how valuable each player at that position is. Using the Last starter drafted method as an example, if you have a 12 team league and start 1 QB, 2 RBs and 3 WRs, the Compiler will set the baseline at the 12th ranked QB (12 teams * 1 starter), the 24th ranked RB (12 teams * 2 starters) and the 36th ranked WR (12 teams * 3 starters). The 12th ranked QB is the comparison point because he is the theoretical last starter drafted at QB.

After determining the comparison point, the Compiler calculates the value points for each QB as their projected FF Pts minus the FF Pts of the 12th ranked QB. Similar calculations are done for RB using the 24th ranked RB as the comparison, for WR using the 36th ranked WR, and the rest of the positions.

Value points are what drive the overall ranking cheatsheet. Using the last starter method, all starters will have positive value points and all backups will have negative value points. The last starter method is the most commonly used, but not the only one that can be used. Some people like to use median or last player drafted, knowing they aren't just drafting starters and they will be altering their lineup from week to week.

Following up our 12 team example above, here is the comparison point for a roster of 3 QB (1 starter + 2 backup), 4 RB (2 starters + 2 backup) and 5 WR (3 starters + 2 backup) for each of the traditional methods:

Last Starter: 12th QB; 24th RB; 36th WR

Median Drafted: 18th QB (12 teams * 3 drafted / 2); 24th RB (12 teams * 4 drafted / 2); 30th WR (12 teams * 5 drafted / 2)

Last Drafted: 36th QB (12 teams * 3 drafted); 48th RB (12 teams * 4 drafted); 60th WR (12 teams * 5 drafted)

Beyond these traditional methods, some people even like to change the comparison point from these rigid settings and adjust each position up or down in value. For example, giving more weight to RB and less to K is a common one. That is what the section Overall Rankings / Custom Baselines on the setup tab in the Compiler allows you to do. For each position, input a baseline adjust factor of less than 1.0 to decrease the value of the position or input a factor greater than 1.0 to increase the value of the position.

Once you understand these methods and the ability to input factors to adjust the value of positions, the other methods are explained more easily. They start with Median Drafted as the base method, but then adjust the importance of certain positions up and down to more properly reflect how they should be drafted in the overall rankings than the traditional methods provide. The adjustments are:

Stud RB method: RB adjustment = 1.5; comparison point is 150% of the median drafted, so the RB comparison point in our example would now be 36th RB (24th Median Drafted * 1.5)

QBBC method: QB adjustment = 0.65; comparison point is 65% of the median drafted, so the QB comparison point in our example would now be 12th QB (18th Median Drafted * 0.65)

Compiler Recommended: QB = 0.8, RB = 1.2, WR = 0.9, TE = 0.65, K = 0.2, DEF = 0.4, DL = 0.5, LB = 0.6, DB = 0.45

One other thing to note for creating your overall rankings is an option on the inputs tab to exclude certain positions from the overall rankings. This is the second row of checkboxes under the section to input number of starters and backups by position. You can exclude any or all of K, DEF, DL, LB and DB. Sometimes it is difficult to adjust these positions low enough in the overall rankings so if you know you will not draft them until very late, it might be better to just remove them from the overall rankings completely.

Overall, I like the results the Compiler Recommended gives for most leagues. If you want to go with a traditional method, I recommend Median Drafted. It tends to emphasize building a strong, deeper team than you'll see from Last Starter, the most common method people use.

Personally, I would always just keep the exclude position from overall rankings option checked on for K and DEF, as I will always draft those late. That is why in the Compiler Recommended method they are adjusted so low.

Compiler Recommended may not be as suitable for leagues that must start 2 QB, or auction leagues as it can undervalue backup players. For auctions, try the Last Drafted method instead, or another method but factor adjustments at key positions set above 1.0.

Questions?
Check out the Compiler Message Board or send an email to Mike MacGregor and he will respond ASAP.