OKAY peoples - this is my favourite NFL fantasy game so every year really try to push this so please if you do decide to enter one of my (bluelionman) fantasy NFL money games please make it this one. This is a game I put an awful lot of work into running - updating the players list and doing the weekly scoring myself on Google sheets.
This game is a resurrection of the now defunct ‘First Down’ American Football newspaper fantasy football game. So will be familiar to those of you that used to play that publications fantasy NFL football game back in the day!
However, unlike that game this version runs for the entire NFL season (from September 7th, 2023 thru to the Super Bowl final on February 11th, 2024).
HOW TO PLAY
All you have to do is pick a team of players from the list provided following this link:
Any player not listed you can request and I will add them. I have tried my best to update all players to their current teams if you spot any mistakes, please inform me so I can correct them.
You must stay within the budget of $57 Million .
Just create your team by filling in the form at the end of this e-mail (or send me the same information in an e-mail) and send it to me before the deadline which is the start of the first game of the NFL regular season - (Thursday 7th September - 8:20pm US ET / 1:20am Friday 8th September UK BST). The system is simple. You must select one Head Coach, one Quarter-Back, two Running Backs, two Wide Receivers, one Tight End, one Kicker and one Team Defence.
Anyone who scores a touchdown gets 6 points, just like the real thing. If a *Quarterback throws a touchdown pass he also scores 3 points. If anyone returns a fumble or an interception for a TD then the Defence scores 6 points, they also score 2 points for a safety. Kickers get 3 points for a field goal and 1 point for extra points (PAT’s - Point After Touchdowns), while anyone scoring a two-point conversion scores 2 points. If a *QB throws a two-point pass he scores an additional 1 point.
*Also, any other player who acts as a QB and throws a TD pass or two-point conversion will also score the relevant QB throwing points. For example, a Kicker or Running Back on trick plays.
To mirror the change in the real NFL of a few seasons ago if PAT’s are blocked and returned, they earn 2 points so this will also apply to the relevant fantasy teams Defence.
Additionally in this game (different from how First Down’s was) Defences will incorporate special teams plays - so all punt and kick-off return’s that go for a TD will earn 6 points for the relevant Defence. Furthermore, the individual player on a special teams play that scores will also earn the same number of points as awarded to the Defence. So, for instance, if you have a WR, RB or TE also on return duties and he takes one to the house, not only will the Defence score 6 points he will individually himself to.
Head Coach scoring
Your Head Coach will score 3 points for every game his team wins and 1 point for any game that finishes as tied in the regular season. However, Head Coaches will score 6 points for post season wins.
Also Head Coaches will earn a bonus of 6 points if their team makes the playoffs. This bonus is doubled (to 12 points) if your coach is your original HC and you have not changed him at all since the commencement of the game. Only the HC on your teams’ roster at the end of the regular season (WK 18) qualifies for the bonus points (if applicable) and these points are added to the Head Coach’s score for NFL Week 18. Also, a further bonus of 6 points is awarded to each Head Coach that wins their division - this bonus is awarded and applied to all applicable Head Coach’s in NFL Week 18. (However please note - there is no doubling up of this bonus for original HC’s).
Finally, points will be doubled for the final itself (the Super Bowl).
Scores will be worked out using the official stats on the NFL’s GSIS (Game Statistics & Information System) website.
Every entrant will be sent a link to a Google Sheets spread sheet listing everyone’s teams between the start of NFL Week 1’s first game and the main tranche of games that start on the Sunday (September 10th). This is so you can see everything is open and above board, as well as allowing you to follow the season more closely on TV and via the internet, if you so choose. (You’ll even be able to work out the team points for yourself should you like to do so). My team entries will be posted on the TFP forum thread for this game before start of first game Thursday Night (1:20am Friday morning in the UK) and a link sent to every entrant by e-mail at kick-off of that first Thursday night opening season game to show there is no funny business.
An updated weekly league table will be kept on a separate Google Sheet here (I suggest saving this link in your bookmarks):
It will be updated weekly before the followings weeks first games starts.
On the Google Sheets 'Gridiron Game (Season Long) 2023/24 - ‘Entered Teams’ spread sheet each teams individual player scores will be updated weekly so you can see how you are doing compared to your rivals. This is also where teams will be updated after each trade window. A link to this spread sheet will be sent to all before the main slate of games on Sunday 10th September (NFL Week 1) once I have got all valid entries entered on it.
TRADES - You can trade up to three player/positions at each trade window. Your team’s value still cannot exceed $57 million after you have traded. You do not have to trade; your team can remain the same from start to finish. However, you must submit your trade(s) to me before the start of the following weeks games by e-mail or PM from the TFP forum. Please make sure you put NFL Trades in the subject header line. Updated team line ups will be entered on the Google Sheets team entries page and be viewable to everyone after each trade deadline.
There are 3 trade windows during the season, they are:-
ENTRIES & ENTRY FEES
You can enter more than one team if you so wish - at a cost of £15 per team.
If you don’t see me in person and don’t know the score regarding payment then please contact me for my payment information. You can do this by Private Messaging (PM’ing) me from here (the TFP forum).
Lastly any team entries not paid for by the start of the main tranche of games on Sunday 10th September will be discarded and not entered.
So that’s it - BEST OF LUCK -
bluelionman / Noel Symonds
Fan Pub Founding Member
YOUR NAME:-
TEAM NAME:-
E-MAIL ADDRESS:-Player - Team - Value $ (Please include Team abbreviations and Values)
HEAD COACH -
QUARTER BACK -
RUNNING BACK -
RUNNING BACK -
WIDE RECEIVER -
WIDE RECEIVER -
TIGHT END -
KICKER -
TEAM DEFENCE -Total Value (maximum $57)
next to those entries. Please pay for teams before the main slate of NFL Week 1 games start on Sunday (10 September) as any non paid for entries at that point will be discarded and not entered in to my game for this season.
