One of the most essential things fantasy football managers need to understand is their scoring settings and how they can impact their team. Scoring changes can vary a player’s range of outcomes and be substantial on both their ADP and long-term value. What is standard scoring, and how does it apply to fantasy football?
Analyzing Standard Scoring in Fantasy Football
One of the earliest formats in fantasy football outside of touchdown-only leagues, a standard scoring or Non-PPR (as typically referred to more commonly) league simply does not add points for receptions. Instead, these fantasy leagues revolve around volume, yards, and touchdowns to really differentiate the value among players.
Standard-scoring fantasy leagues, on average, will score fewer points per week than those which give bonuses or award points for receptions. This shouldn’t come as a massive surprise to those who have been playing fantasy for any number of years and have tested out different scoring formats depending on what the site or platform offers.
On average, a rush is worth around 0.61 fantasy points, while a target for a receiver is at 1.84 PPR/target. That’s a three-time difference that is not seen in standard-scoring leagues. What it also does is redistribute the value amongst running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.
Whether it is a 0.5 PPR or a full-point league, PPR scoring systems award fantasy points for receptions, unlike a standard league.
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This has become the default for most websites or fantasy services, taking the place of non-PPR fantasy football scoring formats. The NFL is a passing game at the end of the day, and the reliance on moving the ball through the air, plus the virtual death of the bell-cow rusher, has forced fantasy to change and adapt over time.
We see the impact and difference in PPR and standard-scoring formats when we look at players who rely on receiving volume for their fantasy upside. That goes for both wide receivers and running backs.
Difference Between Standard and PPR Scoring in Fantasy Football
In a standard-scoring format, running backs who are not heavily utilized out of the backfield, such as Derrick Henry (7.9% target share since 2020), Nick Chubb (7.3%), Cam Akers, and J.K. Dobbins, are not penalized as they are in a PPR format and subsequently pushed down a touch in their overall ADP and rankings.
Jamaal Williams is another example from 2022, as he had more touchdowns (17) than targets (16) which allowed him to finish as the RB9 in points per game (12.6).
In contrast, running backs such as Austin Ekeler, who saw 56.1% of his fantasy points in PPR come from the receiving game, including 107 from receptions, takes a hit in a standard format, dropping from 21.9 PPR/game to 15.6.
Although the yardage gained from those receptions still counts, as do the touchdowns, losing the guaranteed full point per reception does hurt. It’s the equivalent of 10 rushing yards on the ground, which is something much harder to obtain consistently unless you are one of the best pure running backs like Chubb or Henry.
The same applies to wide receivers. Even the best this league has to offer see a downturn in production. Their values fall closer to those of running backs around them in drafts.
As an example, Justin Jefferson managers would see his fantasy points fall from 21.7 in PPR formats to 14.2 in standard formats. Amon-Ra St. Brown is another example, as he dropped from 16.7 PPR to 10.1 fantasy points in a standard fantasy football scoring format.
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As with all things scoring-related in fantasy football, it’s all subjective. Build the league that you want to play in, as that is what matters at the end of the day. Have the scoring format which gives you the most joy. Speaking for myself, all of my leagues utilize half-point or full-point PPR scoring.
However, there are some who still love the old-school style feel of a standard league. All this does is further illustrate the point that no matter what your preference, there is a fantasy league out there for you.
Standard Scoring System
While there are countless nuances and subtle differences between fantasy formats, this is the “typical” scoring system for a standard league. Those who have played in leagues in years past will notice little difference. The only change is the absence of points received for receptions. The rest will feel right at home.
Offensive Players
Passing yards: 1 point per 25 yards
Passing touchdowns: 4 points
Rushing yards: 1 point per 10 yards
Rushing touchdowns: 6 points
Receptions: 0 points
Receiving yards: 1 point per 10 yards
Receiving touchdowns: 6 points
2-point conversions: 2 points
Fumble recovered for a touchdown: 6 points
Bonus Points
Rushing or receiving TD of 40 yards or more: 2 points
Passing TD of 40 yards or more: 2 points
Penalty Points
Intercepted pass: -1 or -2 points
Fumble lost: -2 points
Team Defense and Special Teams
Sacks: 1 point
Interceptions: 2 points
Fumbles recovered: 2 points
Safeties: 2 points
Defensive touchdowns: 6 points
Kick and punt return touchdowns: 6 points
2-point conversion returns: 2 points
Points allowed (0): 10 points
Points allowed (1-6): 7 points
Points allowed (7-13): 4 points
Points allowed (14-20): 1 point
Points allowed (21-27): 0 points
Points allowed (28-34): -1 points
Points allowed (35+): -4 points
Individual Defensive Players (IDP)
Solo tackles: 1 point
Assisted tackles: 0.5 points
Sacks: 2 points
Sack yards: 1 point per 10 yards
Tackles for loss: 1 point
Quarterback hits: 1 point
Passes defended: 1 point
Interceptions: 3 points
Fumbles forced: 3 points
Fumbles recovered: 3 points
Defensive touchdowns: 6 points
2-point conversion returns: 2 points
Kickers
50+ yard FG made: 5 points
40-49 yard FG made: 4 points
39 yards or less FG made: 3 points
Rushing, passing, or receiving 2-point conversion: 2 points
Extra point made: 1 point
Penalty points
Missed FG (0-39 yds): -2 points
Missed FG (40-49 yds): -1 point
(note: a missed FG includes any attempt that is blocked, deflected, etc.)