Best FF Playoff Configuration?

[soi_augusta 0]

I have a 12 team, head-to-head, league that I've managed for a handful of years. It's a free league with nothing on the line but bragging rites. For the last few years I've changed the league settings here-and-there to try different configurations.

 

So, last year I had a 4 team playoff that takes place week 15 and 16. For various reasons, we avoid week 17. That means if your team had a horrible first-half of the season, if you can't recover by week 10 (or so), your whole season is lost as you may never make the playoffs. It can make for a boring season-end for some teams. However, it rewards teams who had a great regular season by ensuring they get into the playoffs.

 

The other option is to have an 8 team playoff, taking place weeks 14, 15 and 16. This gives the underdogs a change to get into the playoffs and make a late-season run for the title. However, it almost makes the regular season inconsequential because 8 of the 12 teams get into the playoffs.

 

Got thoughts? Any experienced league commissioners out there that have tried it all, and have settled on what they think is "the best" for the league?

[T-Bird1 0]

I have a 12 team, head-to-head, league that I've managed for a handful of years. It's a free league with nothing on the line but bragging rites. For the last few years I've changed the league settings here-and-there to try different configurations.

 

So, last year I had a 4 team playoff that takes place week 15 and 16. For various reasons, we avoid week 17. That means if your team had a horrible first-half of the season, if you can't recover by week 10 (or so), your whole season is lost as you may never make the playoffs. It can make for a boring season-end for some teams. However, it rewards teams who had a great regular season by ensuring they get into the playoffs.

 

The other option is to have an 8 team playoff, taking place weeks 14, 15 and 16. This gives the underdogs a change to get into the playoffs and make a late-season run for the title. However, it almost makes the regular season inconsequential because 8 of the 12 teams get into the playoffs.

 

Got thoughts? Any experienced league commissioners out there that have tried it all, and have settled on what they think is "the best" for the league?

 

Go for the middle ground - 6 get in. Seeds #1&2 get a bye (to week 15), #3 plays #6, #4 plays#5 in week 14, #1 seed then plays lowest ranked 'wild card', #2 gets the highest. Final is still week 16.

[soi_augusta 0]

Go for the middle ground - 6 get in. Seeds #1&2 get a bye (to week 15), #3 plays #6, #4 plays#5 in week 14, #1 seed then plays lowest ranked 'wild card', #2 gets the highest. Final is still week 16.

 

Thanks for the reply, that sounds perfectly reasonable and logical! Of course, the website (yahoo) I use to manage the league doesn't have an option of a 6 team playoff!

[T-Bird1 0]

Thanks for the reply, that sounds perfectly reasonable and logical! Of course, the website (yahoo) I use to manage the league doesn't have an option of a 6 team playoff!

 

Are you sure......league I was in last year on there had 6 team playoffs !!

[Ray_T 589]

well, my league has 8 teams making the playoffs and it seems to work out okay.

 

for whatever that is worth.