13th in a series of overrated/underrated commentaries

Question: Which fantasy-league format is overrated? Underrated?

Overrated: IDP formats that too heavily weigh tackles

I have written in praise of IDP (individual defensive players) leagues before, and I am all for any format that gets fantasy owners to look beyond quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. However, here’s my qualm with most IDP formats: tackles are weighted too heavily.

In no way is an in-the-box strong safety or a cornerback who is having to make a lot of tackles because he’s routinely picked on more valuable than a pass rusher with a knack for notching sacks on key third downs or a lockdown man-cover corner who makes opponents pay the few times they throw to his side of the field, but this is the case in some IDP leagues. Again, this isn’t a knock on all IDP leagues, just those that overvalue tackles.

Underrated: TD-only formats

I don’t hear of many people participating in TD-only leagues anymore. Those that are still around are a nod to an earlier era, where scores were tallied by hand, waiver claims were left on the commissioner’s answering machine and “The Red Zone Channel” was somebody’s far-out daydream. Perhaps that’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for this type of league.

Before folks obsessed about drafting receivers on the basis of how many times they were targeted and whether their running backs could also rack up a few extra points in the passing game, the operative question was this: Is Player X going to score more touchdowns than Player Y?

I’ve been in a big TD-only league with deep rosters, and I must say, every running back who might get a handful of goal-line carries in a given season was coming off the board. It was beautiful.

Listen, I know the major objection to this sort of league sounds something like this: “But what if my receiver makes a 60-yard catch and gets tackled at the one-yard line?” My answer: Well, no points for you — but don’t you have a story to tell?

In addition to what you can read on our Web site, PFW editors sounded off on 10 more "overrated/underrated" topics in the Preview '09 magazine by PFW and Yahoo! Sports, now on sale at bookstores and newsstands across the country and online at PFWstore.com.