Classic fantasy leagues and survivor pools are so 2008.
The NFL Death Pool
This is the opposite of a survivor pool, in that instead of picking a different team to win a game each week, you have to pick a different team to lose each week. Of course, you can only pick each team once throughout the year. The trick in a survivor pool, usually, is finding a really bad NFL team, and just picking against them each week. Well, you can’t just pick against the Jaguars every Sunday in this one.
My Four Sons
This pool requires eight different people. Write up everyone’s names on pieces of paper, toss them in a hat, and establish a draft order 1-through-8. Then, you do a snake draft. Instead of drafting players, each of the eight participants will draft four different NFL teams which will be “their sons” over the course of the entire season. The participant whose four teams combine to win the most games over the course of the season wins the pool. This one always comes down to the final week and the difference is those third and fourth teams. Always.
Young Guns League
Did you know that 10 of the NFL’s 32 opening day starting quarterbacks are either first or second year players? Did you know that 20 of the league’s 32 NFL opening day starting quarterbacks are under the age of 30? It’s a youth movement at the quarterback position, and the baby-faced receivers and running backs around the league aren’t too shabby, either. This fantasy draft is for four owners. It’s quick and easy. Four teams, starting lineups that consist of 2 quarterbacks, 2 running backs, and 2 wide receivers. You’re allowed just 2 “replacements” throughout the year, and once you replace one of your players, another team can pick him up. The catch? You can only draft and use first and second year players. Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, and DeMarco Murray become the Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Arian Foster. Lesser known guys like David Wilson and Jacquizz Rodgers become key players.
Image by JONATHAN ERNST / Reuters
The Sack Race
With the NFL expected to involve more passing attempts than ever before this season, you can count on their being more opportunities for quarterback sacks, too. This one’s for all the “defense wins championships” fans out there. Four different participants, snake draft. Take out the list of the top ten sack leaders in 2011: Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware, Jason Babin, Jason Pierre-Paul, Terrell Suggs (yes, he’s injured, anyway), Aldon Smith, Chris Long, Tamba Hali, and Connor Barwin. Now, cross those names off the list. You can’t pick them. Ineligible. The, do a four round draft of the best pass rushers left. The four-man team with the most combined sacks at the end of the year wins the prize.
Image by JEFF HAYNES / Reuters