The Importance of Custom Scoring in Cheatsheets

Photo: Kyle Terada, USA Today Sports

THE PROBLEM: If you're using generic rankings instead of custom cheatsheets, you're doing fantasy football wrong.

Read on, and we'll show you why.

Think back to years and years ago to the days when guys drafted from a magazine with a dated, generic, non-specific cheatsheet. As the shark of your league, you ate those fish alive.

Today, the fish in your league are the guys who draft with a generic, non-specific set of rankings they've downloaded "from the internet." The only difference is it's not as dated as that magazine is.

But because it's a one size fits all solution to a particular problem, the advice and your results are almost as bad.

Here's the hard truth. Once you project the stats, a player's value is largely determined by three things:

1. Your specific scoring system.
2. Your specific starting lineup requirements.
3. Your specific number of teams in your league.

Those factors determine a player's value, factoring in the projected points scored against the supply and demand in the market. It's Economics 101. It's why diamonds and Travis Kelce are both so valuable.

Consider Allen Robinson.

As of the end of July, we have Robinson projected for 97.1 receptions, 1,229 yards, and 6.9 touchdowns. That's pretty much in line with what most people are projecting for him.

It's common knowledge Robinson is a great option late in the third round. Right? Most all the internet rankings say so. Sometimes, he's drafted early in the third round. In other drafts, he sometimes falls into Round 4. But, generally, so-called common knowledge tells us Robinson is a third-round pick.

But listen up - and this is important - a stat line of 97.1 receptions, 1,229 yards, and 6.9 touchdowns for a wide receiver does not necessarily mean he's worth a third-round pick.

Here's how Robinson's projected 2021 season stats would rank in these three different leagues:

So depending on your league, Robinson posting 97.1 receptions, 1,229 yards, and 6.9 touchdowns could mean you shouldn't take him in the first five rounds. Or you should take him near the middle of Round 4. Or you should take him at the start of the third.

It's simple economics.

What does this mean for you? You need a custom cheatsheet that considers the crucial components that can accurately value players for YOUR league. Not a generic one-size-fits-all type solution.

And stuff like this doesn't just happen with Allen Robinson. Look at a couple of players from every position. And again, this shows how the same projected stats can have a radically different value based on specific scoring and league settings.

The bottom line is the scoring system, the starting lineup requirements, and the number of teams matter—a LOT.

Especially in the overall rankings. And unless your league drafts all the quarterbacks, then all the running backs, then all the wide receivers, and then tight ends, overall rankings matter.

A lot.

But the differences are clearly a huge factor even among players from the same position.

Positional Rankings from Late July

Here's the bottom line. The days of picking up a magazine on the way to your draft went away 20 years ago. And drafting with generic rankings should be history as well.

THE SOLUTION: With a Premium Footballguys subscription, you can generate custom cheatsheets tailored to reflect your specific situation. Get them here.