Fantasy Football Advice from the DeCon – Know Thy Scoring Format

PPR…Standard…TD Only…WTF???  If you are new to fantasy football or a pro, one cardinal rule of fantasy football is to know thy scoring format.  Different scoring formats can dictate who you draft, when you draft them or if they are even draftable at all.  Personally, I am a fan of the PPR (Point Per Reception) format.  Not only do you get points for every reception, but generally these leagues offer points for a host of statistics, which, to me, makes fantasy football more exciting and makes your draft a little bit trickier.  Regardless of the format, the first round, generally, will include the same players.  The only caveat would be the obscure (to me anyway) two QB leagues, where QBs are key early.  Follow me to the other side and I will walk through different players and how their value changes depending on your league’s scoring system.

PPR Studs for 2011

• Danny Amendola, WR, St. Louis – You may not know much about Amendola, but I am sure you have heard of Wes Welker.  With Josh McDaniels now in charge of the St. Louis offense, I expect Amendola to become Wes Welker v 2.0.  He is a quick, shifty WR who may not see the endzone too often, but I can see multiple double digit reception days, which in a PPR league is money!
• Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore – Sure, Rice is on your radar, but if you are in a PPR league, I think Rice has a chance to rank in the top 3 of RBs this year due to his performance in the passing game.  In a PPR format, I think Rice is very well valued at the 3rd pick in the draft behind AP and Arian Foster.
• Matt Forte, RB, Bears – As I have stated before, I believe Forte is very undervalued in most drafts, because everyone worries about the Bears O-line and let’s face it, the O-line is a concern.  But Forte’s role in the passing game is extremely high.  In the last 3 years, he is second in receptions by a RB, to Rice.
• Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis – If Collie can avoid getting concussed again, I expect him to take a big step, particularly in PPR formats.  The kid catches everything and I think he could be a later round steal, but he does carry some significant injury risk, so proceed with caution.

Standard/TD Only Scoring Studs

•  LeGarrette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay – Don’t draft Blount too early in PPR formats, because he really struggles to catch the ball and is not heavily involved in the passing game.  But, in Standard/TD Only formats, he should be a stud, because he will get the lion’s share of the carries, particularly around the goal line.
• Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta – Similar to Blount, Turner, is a workhorse and will have the opportunity to score double digit TDs, but is not involved enough in the passing game to warrant a high pick in PPR formats.
• Plaxico Burress, WR, NY Jets – Don’t sleep on this recently released from prison WR.  The Jets brought him in to be the red zone target they have sorely been missing.  From 2005-2008, Burress ranked 11th in the league in RZ targets and I think he will fit this role well in the Jets offense. 
• Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego– Tolbert had 11 TDs last year and while I really expect Ryan Matthews to take a step this year (let’s face it, he has nowhere to go but up), I think Tolbert will be the quintessential TD vulture.  Matthews will be the man between the 20s, but Tolbert will be the money man in the red zone and he will be a late round steal.

 Feel free to hit me at beargoggles.decon@gmail.com or on Twitter @DeCon76…

CAN I GET AN AMEN?!?!?!?!?!

The DeCon has spoken, so let it be written, so let it be done…