Fantasy Football Experts
How to Play Fantasy Football Pick ‘Em Pools
Author: Bill Parsons
Fantasy football has experienced exponential growth over the past decade. What started as fun way for diehard geeks to manage their own make-believe team has morphed into a way for even casual fans to stay engaged throughout the season.
It’s no secret that Fantasy Football is big business. All the major networks have implemented tickers with running statistical updates on skill players in an effort to increase viewership, knowing that a spectator with vested interests in a specific player’s performance is much more likely to continue watching a lopsided affair than one only interested in the final outcome. Meanwhile, purists of the game are dismayed by the rising craze and suggest that the focus on fantasy sports puts undo emphasis on the individual player and diverts attention away from what is actually the most important aspect of the battle: the final score.
Variety is the Spice of Fantasy Life
Today, many online fantasy services are attempting to appeal to purists and geeks alike by offering a variety of options from which to participate. Confidence Pools and Survivor Pools have grown in popularity, but the oldest adaptation of all has begun to experience a recent renaissance. Pick ’em Pools are as straight-forward as gaming gets, and over the course of the year, represent a true test of the participant’s NFL knowledge.
PICK ‘EM VARIATIONS
With a Pick ‘Em Pool, the object is simply to choose which teams you feel will win or cover the point spread. This is done by either
a) choosing the outright victor
b) choosing the point-spread winner
Outright Winner Option
In variation “a”, if you correctly choose the winning team, you are awarded a point. In the end, the individual that accrues the highest number of correct selections wins. A simple strategy would be to just pick the favored teams. Unfortunately, this is a widely-used approach within straight-up Pick ‘em Pools, so you’ll have to mix in a few upsets to differentiate your picks from other pool members.
Point Spread Option
In variation “b”, choosing the right side becomes an even greater challenge. Now you’re battling wits with the oddsmakers. Points are awarded only when you choose the team that covered the spread. Though it may sound like a conservative figure, if you can somehow manage an accuracy rate of 55%, you’ll have a very good chance of winning your pool.
With fantasy sites now offering to manage your pools for free - many may offer alternatives that deviate from the two methods above, including
- Pick X Pools – the same concept discussed here, but focus on picking your best 5 or 10 games, for example
- Double plays - where a handful of games are awarded higher values based on your certainty of the outcome
- Using Totals – these pools add choices for picking the total points (Under/Over) to the choices
- Drop Weeks – this option allows you to drop your lowest scoring week(s) so your season is not ruined by a few bad choices made during that weekend on campus reliving your college escapades (you will have to face the consequences for certain bad choices as there are no real “Get out of jail free” cards)
Regardless of which configuration you end up in, Pick ‘em Pools are a great way to create a captivated interest in every game, week in and week out. So if you’re looking for a good complement to traditional fantasy football, consider the Pick ‘em Pool and make the game’s outcome as relevant as your player’s performance; thereby satisfying the purist, the gambler and the geek that lives in all of us.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/how-to-play-fantasy-football-pick-em-pools-1118139.html
About the Author
Mike Keller is a sports journalist for http://www.MaximumFantasySports.com and a devout fantasy sports participant. Mike is a lifelong friend of the owner of Maximum Fantasy Sports, Bill Parsons, and a childhood participant in many of the fantasy football leagues that Bill has founded over the years that became the inspiration for MFS.
February 4, 2012
7:47 pm
I’m not sure. He always seems to slip farther than I feel he should. I actually have him ranked just above Marion Barber. Usually, I wait untill the second round, and watch him fall to me. I’ve gotten him 2 out of 4 times, so it seems to be a decent strategy. So far, he’s never fallen below the 7th pick of the second round. The reason he falls is definitly because he is a risky player. If he is healthy, he’ll be in the top 8. But if he plays poorly or is injured, LaDell Betts is right around the corner to take his place. I say draft Portis high, and just make sure you handcuff him with Betts. This way, you are guaranteed a starting RB from one of the two.
February 4, 2012
7:47 pm
thomas vs redskins
February 4, 2012
7:47 pm
Start Smith he will perform better as Cutler throws too many interceptions.
February 4, 2012
7:47 pm
The Ravens defense is still pretty good and the Lions offense is explosive and with Merriman out, that’s not good.
February 4, 2012
7:47 pm
Question #1 – Shuan Alexander is a better bet this year then Johnson. RB production is the result of a solid O Line. You are correct in being concerned that the KC line will be weak. There is speculation that Rof will be back. He declared Retitrement because he did not want to go to camp. So don’t toss Johnson completely out the window.
Question #2 – RB’s rule Fantasy Football. Whenever possible, take a starting back on a solid team. Wider Outs should move before tight ends as well. A solid #2 Reciever can emerge week to week, providing the same amount of points as a # wide out.
August 13, 2006
12:30 pm
Some draft questions for Fantasy Football experts?
1. I have the first pick in our 12-team non-keeper league. Prior to Roaf’s retirement I was set on LJ, but now find myself wavering, with Saun Alexander (the “sure thing”) as my alternative. Does the Chiefs’ loss of their two OTs elevate Alexander to the best pick?
2. In addition to the two starting RBs, our league has a flex WR/RB spot (we also have a WR/TE flex), so that a team could start three RBs if it has them. Given that the truly viable backs will likely be gone by the end of the fourth round, is it worth it to use my first three picks on RBs, deliberately passing up on a WR who will likely score more points? My reasoning would be that, even if, say, a Willie Parker will score less points than a Marvin Harrison, I could still win out if I have a strong RB in that flex spot going against other teams’ marginal RBs or even their fourth best WRs. Is this a foolish strategy?
December 13, 2007
9:07 am
To the fantasy football experts, do I start Ravens at Miami, or Chargers vs. Detroit?
This is an important matchup, week 1 of playoffs…..should I go with mediocre Ravens vs. Bad Dolphins and Cleo Lemon…or beat up Chargers (missing S.Merriman) vs. fading Lions? I need big points…I’m leaning towards the Ravens pick since Lions have potential to explode offensively, though doubtful.
June 25, 2008
10:39 am
Why do so many Fantasy Football experts tell you to avoid Clinton Portis?
they said to not draft him last season but the guy is a superstar. I drafted him in the 4th round and he helped me win my second consecutive fantasy championship.
December 1, 2009
8:23 pm
Fantasy Football Experts! Who would you rather start? Cutler vs Rams or Alex Smith vs Seattle?
Fyi: Jay Cutler plays at home. Alex Smith plays on the road.
Help, I am torn between the two and need playoff win.
December 1, 2009
9:42 pm
Fantasy Football Experts! Who is the better start? Fred Jackson vs. Jets or Pierre Thomas vs Redskins?
Fred Jackson vs. Jets or Pierre Thomas vs Redskins?