After playing fantasy football for more than three years it's time for a little change. No, there's nothing wrong with the format as it is now and I've won a lot of money along the way. However, between high-scoring plays (thank you Fred Jackson and Cam Newton) and disappointments, there is plenty of room for extra scoring categories.
Implementing any of the following scoring categories will change the dynamics of the fantasy football as we know it. They will also make watching the game more enjoyable as you glue your eyes on the screen for the little details that these categories encompass.
Touchdown Celebrations
You think that six points is enough for the New York Giants Victor Cruz touchdown pass? Not in my league. The little cha-cha dance he adds is worth two points alone. Field goal slam dunks are another impressive feat that should add three points to the score. The Lambeau Leap or a variation of it should be worth the maximum five points.This way, fantasy owners can celebrate along with the players that score for them.
Botched Referee Calls
Nothing adds more calamity or awkwardness than the botched referee call. These refs are on the field to call the game and apparently some of them cannot handle the pressure when thousands of fans scream towards them. The points would be a part of the defense and special teams for games you are in. A simple player number or penalty botch is only worth one point, but the dancing directional arms doubles that for two satisfying points.
Quarterback Tantrum
Just because your fantasy quarterback overthrew his receiver AGAIN does not mean that you should go scoreless for the drive. If the television cameras happen to catch a quarterback tantrum on-air, you should receive one extra fantasy point. This tantrum can be anything from throwing a water bottle, the classic helmet slam or the typical wide receiver screaming lecture.
Winning Challenges
If we have to sit through minutes and minutes of challenges at home, our fantasy score tracker should be affected the same way. In the fantasy football draft, a player can select the special "Challenge Coach." If your drafted coach successfully wins a challenge, your fantasy team gets two points. It will make the endless replays worthwhile and keep your anticipation high as you wait through commercials.
Penalty Allowance Points
Nothing is more frustrating than scoring huge fantasy points, but suddenly having those points over-turned on a penalty. Well the injustice will occur no more with "penalty allowance points." Once per fantasy week, a player can claim the best penalty allowance points on an overturned play. For example, if Houston Texans running back Arian Foster has a 60 yard run taken back on a holding penalty, you can reclaim those six points.
Alan Donahue is a life-long NFL and WWE fan. He has written thousands of sports articles and heavily follows the NFC East division. He is also a multi-time fantasy football champion.
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