Mark Cacko
Fantasy Writer
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Can you actually start 3
RBs, or 3 WRs in a league that only allows you to start 2
players at each position? What about starting an extra half of a QB? The answer is YES!!!
By playing with some numbers from the 2002 and 2003
seasons, here is another way to look at
getting the most out of your fantasy football team.
You can essentially add extra positions to your weekly starting lineups.
NOTE: All statistics are based on the average 2002
production of the top 32 players at each of
the following positions: RB, QB, and WR.
Running Backs
We will start with the most valuable position in fantasy and here is why:
In 2002 the average statistics for the top 32 RBs was 1117 yards and 9.5
TDs over a 16 game schedule. Keep in mind, only 14
RBs rushed for more than 1117 yards in 2002 with 14 RBs
averaging more than that again in 2003. Furthermore,
only 11 backs scored
more than 9 TDs in 2002, we saw 12 backs top that mark in
2003.
Quarterbacks
The top 32 QBs threw for 3020 yards and averaged 18.6 TDs
in 2002. Among those QBs only 17 threw for more than 3020
yards and only 13 tossed more than 18 TDs in 2002.
In 2003 only 16 QBs topped 3020 passing yards and only 12
QBs tossed more than the average of TD passes.
Wide Receivers
The average output for the top 32 WRs were 1120 yards and 6.5
TDs in 2002. 15 WRs beat the average amount of yards,
while 17 were above average the average TD output in
2002. In 2003 only 10 WRs registered more than 1120
yards, while 22 players topped the TD mark (counting TE
Tony Gonzalez and TE Shannon Sharpe).
Tight Ends
The average output for the top 30 TEs was approximately
350 yards and 2.5 TDs. 15 TEs topped the yardage
mark in 2003 and only 12 TEs bettered the TD mark last
year.
So, what do these numbers mean?
Well by going on the averages are 1 RB equals 1117 yards rushing and 9.5 TD's and using the same thought for QB's and WR's higher value can be placed on certain position players.
For example:
RBs
Jamal Lewis rushed for 2066 yards last season, which if compared to the stats of an average back gives him a value of
1.85 RBs. It is a nice option to to get an extra 85%
of a RB out of one guy. Priest Holmes's 27 TDs last year made him worth
2.84 of the average RB. One
must also look at receiving totals for RBs. LaDainian
Tomlinson's 725 yards receiving yards makes him worth .65 of
a WR and his 4 TDs catches puts him at .62 of a WR.
He had the highest value in the receiving game among RBs last year.
QBs
Peyton Manning threw for 4267 yards last year, which makes
him worth 1.55 QBs. TD leader Tom Brady threw 28 TDs
which makes him worth about 1.4 QBs. Micheal Vick's 777 rushing yards
in 2002 made him worth .7 of an average RB, while Daunte
Culpepper's 422 rushing yards last year made him worth .38
of an average RB. Daunte Culpepper rounded out the
QBs with 10 rushing TDs in 2002 which made him worth 1.05
RBs, while Jeff Garcia's 7 rushing TDs last year made him
worth .74 of a RB.
WRs
Marvin Harrison's 1722 receiving yards in 2002 made him worth 1.54
WRs and Torry Holt's 1696 yards last year made him worth
1.51 of a WR. Terrell Owens had 14
TDs in 2002 which made him worth 2.17 WRs and Moss' 17 TDs
last year make him worth 2.61 WRs. Now I'll take a quick
look at Tight Ends just for the heck of it. Only 2
TEs caught more than 6 TDs last season (10 for Gonzalez
and the retired Sharpe hauled in 8). Gonzalez is
worth 1.54 WRs on that end.
Only 1 TEs managed enough yards to put them in the range
of being worth .7 of a WR as Gonzalez's 916 yards make him
worth .82 of a WR.
Now, a line-up consisting of S. McNair, P. Holmes, M.
Faulk, C. Johnson, D. Jackson, and A. Crumpler would yield the value of:
1.07 QBs passing yards
1.33 QBs TD passes
2.13 RBs rushing yards
4.32 RBs TDs
3.10 WRs receiving yards
3.08 WRs TDs
1.58 TEs receiving yards
1.20 TEs TDs
This lineup would certainly be worth more than the
value of 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, and 1 TE so keep this in mind
when you're drafting or setting
your starting lineup each week!
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