joenorwood77 Thu 8/18/11 11:38 AM

I know some people really don't care which format we use, but I want to get some more insight into the pros and cons on the main options leagues can use for setting up our fantasy football league schedule. We have 16 teams in 2011. I know some options include bye weeks for best finishing teams. I also am aware that some people might seed 1-8 overall regardless of conference or division, while others seed the best teams per division or conference, which might not always be the same teams as the best overall.

Anyways, can some people please give me a brief breakdown of the most widely accepted fantasy football playoff schedule formats, along with some highlights of the pros and cons for each option? I am eager to hear what people have to say based on their experiences. Lastly, which of these options is usually the default option on Fleaflicker?

joenorwood77 Fri 8/19/11 6:31 AM

I CAME UP WITH WHAT I THINK ARE LIKELY THE FIVE MOST COMMON OPTIONS IN HOW TO SET UP FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. PLEASE POINT OUT ERRORS AND I AM SURE THERE ARE SOME. ALSO, PLEASE HELP ME TO DETERMINE WHICH OPTIONS ARE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED AND WHAT THE PROS AND CONS ARE FOR EACH. WE WENT WITH OPTION 1 IN 2010 AND SOMEONE WAS UPSET LATER ON THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WON IT ALL IF WE DID OPTION 2 INSTEAD.

ALSO, DO TOP SEEDS ALWAYS GO TO DIVISION WINNERS FIRST, OR IS IT TYPICALLY BASED ON OVERALL SEASON RECORD ACROSS THE BOARD WITHOUT GIVING PRIORITY TO DIVISION WINNERS?

OPTION 1: SEED 1-8 REGARDLESS OF CONFERENCE OR DIVISION

WEEK 14

GAME A: 1 V 8

GAME B: 4 V 5

GAME C: 3 V 6

GAME D: 2 V 7

WEEK 15

GAME E: WINNER OF A V WINNER OF B

GAME F: WINNER OF C V WINNER OF D

WEEK 16

SUPER BOWL: WINNER OF E V WINNER OF F

OPTION 2: SEED 1-8 BUT RESEED EACH ROUND

WEEK 14

GAME A: 1 V 8

GAME B: 4 V 5

GAME C: 3 V 6

GAME D: 2 V 7

WEEK 15

GAME E: HIGHEST REMAINING SEED V LOWEST REMAINING SEED

GAME F: SECOND HIGHEST REMAINING SEED V SECOND LOWEST REMAINING SEED

WEEK 16

SUPER BOWL: WINNER OF E V WINNER OF F

OPTION 3: SEED 1-4 IN EACH CONFERENCE

WEEK 14

CONFERENCE A: 1 V 4

CONFERENCE A: 2 V 3

CONFERENCE B: 1 V 4

CONFERENCE B: 2 V 3

WEEK 15

CONFERENCE A WINNER V CONFERENCE A WINNER

CONFERENCE B WINNER V CONFERENCE B WINNER

WEEK 16

SUPER BOWL: CONFERENCE A WINNER V CONFERENCE B WINNER

OPTION 4: TOP 2 EACH DIVISION, THEN CONFERENCE, THEN SUPER BOWL

WEEK 14

DIVISION A: 1 V 2

DIVISION B: 1 V 2

DIVISION C: 1 V 2

DIVISION D: 1 V 2

WEEK 15

WINNER OF DIVISION A V WINNER OF DIVISION B

WINNER OF DIVISION C V WINNER OF DIVISION D

WEEK 16

SUPER BOWL: WINNER OF DIVISION A/B V WINNER OF DIVISION C/D

OPTION 5: SEED WITH BYE WEEKS (ONLY 6 TEAMS ADVANCE INSTEAD OF 8)

WEEK 14

TOP TEAM FROM EACH CONFERENCE IS ON BYE

CONFERENCE A DIVISION WINNER NOT ON BYE VS WILD CARD FROM CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE E B DIVISION WINNER NOT ON BYE VS WILD CARD FROM CONFERENCE

WEEK 15

CONFERENCE A TOP SEED VS WINNER OF CONFERENCE FROM WEEK 14

CONFERENCE B TOP SEED VS WINNER OF CONFERENCE FROM WEEK 14

WEEK 16

SUPER BOWL: CONFERENCE A WINNER VS CONFERENCE B WINNER

FleaMod Admin Fri 8/19/11 9:28 AM

Division winners are given top seeds by default, but this can be edited at any time after standings finalize and the playoffs start.

You have two options after you edit your seedings:

1) Allow re-seeding, where the best team plays the worst in the playoffs in the playoff week(s)

2) Follow the strict bracket format you set (like the NCAA tournament)

I prefer option 1, but that's me

joenorwood77 Fri 8/19/11 11:51 AM

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate your insight. Of the 5 options I listed, it appears option 1 is likely the most widely accepted. Is that fair to say? I was surprised when a league member was so mad we didn't use option 2 last season. Of those options, are there any that I listed that are never used, or are rarely used? Thanks again for your insight. Hopefully a few more people chime in here with their opinions as well.

joenorwood77 Sat 8/20/11 8:50 AM

So Fleaflicker default is exactly what I listed as option 1, where seeds 1-4 are the 4 division winners and the seeds 5-8 are the next 4 best regular season teams, regardless of division or conference?

FleaMod Admin Sat 8/20/11 9:28 AM

Yes, if you have 8 teams in the playoffs. Usually we default 6 with the top 2 having byes

joenorwood77 Sat 8/20/11 8:25 AM

About what percent of leagues likely go with straight bracket and about what percent of leagues likely go with reseeding?

FleaMod Admin Sat 8/20/11 9:28 AM

Probably about 65-35

warren-s Wed 11/18/15 6:00 PM

could i add another alternative? no bracket playoffs. total points scored of teams in playoffs wins league. What i like about this system is it eliminates the scenario of lower seeded, unworthy team beating the rightful league champion just because of some upset win because some unknown TE has a 2 touchdown 100 yard game. In this scenario the playoff team that scores the most points in those 3 weeks of playoff wins the season.