Scoring categories and plays FAQ for Fantasy Football

If you're wondering how some of the more complicated plays or scoring options translate over to Fantasy Football, you can use this guide to clear up your curiosity. First, check out which stats and scoring settings your league uses by clicking Scoring & Settings from the "League" tab.

Details about specific scoring categories

Defensive Points Allowed

These categories are only used for leagues that use DEF/ST. You'll get fantasy points based on how many points opposing teams make against your defensive team. The actual NFL final score may differ from the points that count in Fantasy:

  • Items that count towards "points allowed" are:
    • All FGs scored by opponent
    • All PATs (extra points and 2-PT conversions)
    • All TDs scored against defense or special teams (including fake punts / field goals / returns from kickoff, punts, blocked punts)
  • Items that do not count towards "points allowed" are:
    • Safeties (Including Safeties on defensive or special teams plays)
    • TD returns from Interceptions, blocked field goals, or fumbles
    • Defensive two-point conversion returns

Scoring for Special Teams

  • Special teams can only get points when they return the ball.
  • Trick plays don't count towards special teams scoring and instead goes to the player who scores the touchdown.

Field Goal Yards Per Point

The Field Goals Total Yards setting is used to track points earned on successful kicking attempts by yardage. The points earned would be combined with the points earned in each individual Distance Field Goal Scoring category selected by the commissioner.

Example, where a league is set to earn 3 points for Field Goals 30-39 Yards and Field Goals Total Yards is set at .1 points per yard:

  • Situation: A kicker makes a 35 yard field goal.
    • You receive 6 points.
This setting may also be combine with the Fractional Points scoring setting.
  • Situation: A kicker makes a 35 yard field goal.
    • You receive 6.5 points.

  Note - This setting is only relevant for successful field goal attempts. There wouldn't be a penalty for missed field goal attempts using this setting.

Negative Points and Fractional Points

These options only apply to yardage categories that track yards earned or lost on the field. Turning either option on or off won't affect values entered by your commish in other fields (such as a negative or fractional value for interceptions).

Example, where a league is set to earn 1 point for every 10 rushing yards:

  • Negative Points - Situation: A player accumulates -10 rushing yards.
    • "No" is selected: You receive 0 points.
    • "Yes" is selected: You receive -1 point.
  • Fractional Points - Situation: A player accumulates 54 rushing yards.
    • "No" is selected: You receive 5 points.
    • "Yes" is selected: You receive 5.4 points.

Bonus Offense - awarded for big performances

The commish can establish multiple bonus point modifiers for outstanding individual performances. Bonus points are added to any other regular points scored in the stat category.

Bonus points are cumulative, so if a player earns 250 yards rushing, they'll get all 3 bonuses for a total of 21 points in the following example:

  • Rushing Yards (Bonus 1) - Go over 100 yards = 1 point
  • Rushing Yards (Bonus 2) - Go over 150 yards = 5 point
  • Rushing Yards (Bonus 3) - Go over 200 yards = 15 point

Details about how specific plays are handled

Blocked kicks

Any blocked kick (field goal, extra point, or punt) that doesn't go beyond the line of scrimmage before being picked up by a player will be credited as a blocked kick.

  • Punts - If the ball goes beyond the line of scrimmage, the punter is credited with a punt of that yardage. A blocked kick will not be credited.
  • Field goals and Extra Points - If a field goal is touched by the defense, but goes beyond the line of scrimmage, it is also counted as a blocked kick (unless it still goes through the uprights and is good).

Three and outs

When a defense prevents the offense from getting a first down by limiting them to three total downs and a punt. Penalties may extend a set of downs but if the possession is only three total downs and the offense is forced to punt, the defense will still be credited with a three and out.

Prior to 2023, if a defense held an offense to three total downs and a punt but there was a penalty during the possession, the defense wouldn’t be credited with a three and out.

Laterals passes

Laterals get scored based on the play.

  • Passing play - Players involved in the laterals get receiving yards. The quarterback gets passing yards for all the yards gained on the play. Only the original receiver gets credit for a catch, though. If a touchdown is scored, it'll be credited as a passing and receiving touchdown.
  • Running play - Players involved in the laterals get rushing yards. Only the original runner gets a rushing attempt, though. If a touchdown is scored, it'll be credited as a rushing touchdown.
  • Returns - Players involved in the laterals get return yards. If a touchdown is scored, it'll be credited as a return touchdown.

Two-point conversions

  • Rushing conversion - The player who rushed is credited with the 2-point conversion.
  • Passing conversion - Players who pass and catch are credited with the 2-point conversion.

Sacks and tackle for loss

The NFL credits a sack whenever a quarterback is tackled or driven out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage on a pass play. If the quarterback makes no apparent attempt to pass, the play shall be considered a running play.

A tackle for loss indicates a tackle that causes a loss of yardage for the opposing running back or wide receiver. This is not credited if the play results in a fumble.

Return yards on fumbles and interceptions

Yards gained from interceptions and fumbles aren't counted as return yards for a team defense.

An individual player can receive credit for both the return yards and a touchdown if both "Turnover Return Yards" and "Defensive Touchdowns" are used in your Private League.

Fumbles, fumble recoveries, and fumble lost

Fumbles occur when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled) or scoring. This includes if the loose ball goes out of bounds, goes over the end line for a touchback or safety, or is recovered by the same team.

  • Fumble Recoveries and Fumble Lost only count if there's a change of possession between teams on a play.
  • Fumbles in a team's own end zone for a safety, including being batted in by the opposing team, is not counted as a Fumble Lost.
  • When there's a change of possession, the players on each team switch roles between offense and defense during the rest of the play for the purposes of NFL stat record keeping.
    • Some stats are only tracked by offensive or defensive players. If a player earns a stat that isn't tracked by their position, it'll be scored as miscellaneous points.
    • While individual players score points regardless of the type of play, if an offensive player becomes a defensive player on a play, their team's DEF/ST can get credit for their actions.
    • If an offensive player returns a fumble for a touchdown, (and your league tracks this stat) they'll receive the points and an asterisk displays by the player to indicate that points have been added to that NFL player's total.

Touchdowns and yards returned on kickoffs and punt returns

  • Yards returned - Not counted in Public Leagues. Private Leagues can enable "Return Yards" and "Return Touchdowns" but it only counts if there's a touchdown.
  • Touchdowns - Public Leagues award 6 points for DEF/ST and individual players. Private League settings can vary.

Fumble Return Safeties NOT counted towards D/ST Points Allowed

Prior to 2022, our scoring rules were unclear regarding Points Allowed scoring for safeties, causing confusion around how to count safeties after D/ST fumbles.

We've determined that we don't have accurate data available to differentiate safeties while also giving a clear and consistent live game experience to our users. For this reason, we will be simplifying our Points Allowed scoring rules going forward and won't count any Safeties towards Points Allowed, regardless of how they are committed.