Scoring System Arbitrage: The Edge Most Managers Ignore
Kevin breaks down how to build your team with scoring settings in mind.
“I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t really know how to use a league’s scoring system in roster construction.”
That’s not embarrassing. That’s honest. And it’s the edge most dynasty managers never develop. I got that message recently and I loved it not because someone felt unsure, but because they were asking the right question. Most dynasty players think they need sharper player takes. They think the edge is knowing which WR is about to break out or which rookie RB is undervalued.
But that’s surface level. What they actually need is scoring literacy. Because if you don’t understand how your scoring system shifts positional value, you’re building rosters in the dark. Dynasty isn’t just player evaluation. It’s math disguised as vibes.
Every league has a personality. And that personality is shaped by its scoring settings:
TE premium.
2TE.
6-point passing touchdowns.
Point per first down.
Tiered PPR.
Return yardage.
Yardage bonuses.
These aren’t cosmetic tweaks. They quietly reshape:
Positional scarcity
Replacement level
Weekly volatility
Long-term insulation
Archetype viability
If you ignore that, you’re drafting based on consensus ADP built for a format that may not even match your own. And that’s where inefficiencies are born. The goal isn’t to memorize settings.
The goal is to ask better questions:
What position benefits most from inflation in this format?
Where does the scoring drop off fastest?
Does this league reward floor or ceiling?
Does stacking create leverage or just noise?
Which archetypes gain insulation here?
When you start there, roster construction becomes intentional. You stop chasing players. You start building against a scoring system. And once you understand the math, the vibes start to make a lot more sense.
Section 1: The Hidden Edge — Scoring System Literacy
Most dynasty content assumes:
PPR
1TE
4-point passing TD
No bonuses
No first down scoring
In other words, default settings.
Rankings are built around it. ADP reflects it. Trade calculators assume it. But leagues vary. And every scoring wrinkle quietly shifts the entire ecosystem. Not just rankings. The ecosystem.
What Scoring Wrinkles Actually Change
When you tweak scoring, you’re not adjusting points. You’re adjusting structural forces.
Here’s what moves beneath the surface.
1. Positional Scarcity
Scarcity isn’t about how many good players exist. It’s about how wide the gap is between:
Elite and replacement
Starter and waiver wire
Top tier and mid tier
If TE premium widens the gap between TE3 and TE15, elite tight ends aren’t luxury pieces anymore; they’re structural advantages. If 2TE forces managers to start TE18 weekly, scarcity becomes real. If 6-point passing TD narrows the gap between rushing QBs and pocket passers, scarcity at QB shifts. Scoring settings decide where leverage lives.
2. Replacement Level
Most managers never calculate this. They just draft names.
But replacement level is everything.
Ask:
What does WR30 score in this format?
What does TE12 score?
What does QB15 score?
If WR30 and WR45 are separated by 1.5 points per game, that position is flat. If TE6 and TE18 are separated by 4 points per game, that position is fragile. Scoring settings determine which positions have steep drop-offs. And steep drop-offs create insulation value.
3. Insulation
Insulation is how protected an asset is from volatility. Certain scoring settings stabilize certain archetypes.
Examples:
Point per first down stabilizes volume RBs.
Tiered PPR stabilizes high-target slot receivers.
6-point passing TD stabilizes efficient pocket passers.
Heavy bonuses destabilize “safe” low-ceiling players.
If your format rewards sustainability, draft sustainability. If it rewards spike weeks, draft ceiling. Scoring tells you which archetypes age better within that league.
4. Volatility
Some formats amplify chaos. Bonuses for 100-yard games. Return yardage. Superflex with big QB scoring. These settings reward spike weeks.
Other formats smooth variance:
Point per first down.
Tiered PPR.
Deep starting lineups.
Those reward weekly stability. If you build a high-floor roster in a volatility-rewarding league, you’re structurally misaligned. If you build a boom/bust roster in a floor-weighted format, you’re fighting math every week.
5. Archetype Viability
This is where real arbitrage lives. Every format quietly boosts certain player types.
Chain-moving RBs.
Red-zone TEs.
Slot volume WRs.
Deep-ball threats.
Rushing QBs.
Pocket passers.
Your job isn’t to rank players in a vacuum. Your job is to ask: Which archetype is artificially inflated in this environment? That’s where value hides.
If you treat every format like generic PPR Superflex, you’re leaving structural leverage on the table.
The goal isn’t to draft good players. The goal is to draft players that are disproportionately rewarded by your format. That’s scoring arbitrage. And most managers never even realize the math changed around them.
Section 2: Format-by-Format Blueprint
For each format, ask:
What changes structurally?
When does it actually matter?
How should roster construction adjust?
What mistake do most managers make?
Because formats don’t just tweak scoring. They shift leverage. Let’s walk through them.
TE Premium
What Changes
Tight ends gain reception scoring. Their weekly floor rises. But the real shift isn’t receptions, it’s separation. In standard 1TE PPR, the TE6–TE15 range is often flat. In real premium, the elite tier can be separated meaningfully. But here’s the key:
TE premium doesn’t automatically create scarcity. It amplifies existing scarcity. If only 3–5 tight ends earn meaningful target share, those 3–5 get lifted disproportionately.
When It Actually Matters
1.5–2.0 PPR
2TE lineups layered on top
Elite TEs consistently outscoring WR2 tier
Tight ends becoming flex-viable weekly
If it’s just +0.5? Often cosmetic. It narrows the gap slightly. It rarely flips the board.
Roster Construction Adjustment
Prioritize elite TE insulation when premium is strong.
Treat top-tier TEs as positional stabilizers.
Mid-tier TEs can function as flex depth in deeper formats.
Waiting and “hoping” for a breakout becomes fragile.
Stacking makes sense when the TE has locked target share (because their floor is format-enhanced).
You’re not drafting TEs for upside. You’re drafting them for structural insulation.
Common Mistake
Treating mild TE premium like it fundamentally shifts the board. And conversely, ignoring it completely when it’s strong.
2TE Leagues
This is not a tweak. It’s a different ecosystem.
What Changes
Replacement level collapses. TE18 matters weekly. TE24 has flex viability. The waiver wire becomes barren. Scarcity is no longer theoretical; it’s forced. The difference between TE3 and TE14 becomes weekly leverage.
When It Actually Matters
Always. Lineup requirements create structural scarcity. And structural scarcity creates trade leverage.
Roster Construction Adjustment
Elite TEs become cornerstone assets.
Move all TEs up at least one tier in rankings.
Depth at TE = insulation.
Rookie TEs gain developmental value.
Trading excess TE depth becomes leverage.
“Punt TE” strategies are fragile and often require perfect health outcomes.
Common Mistake
Using 1.5 PPR TE rankings in a 2TE league. That’s not a small error. That’s playing the wrong game.
6-Point Passing TD
This format subtly shifts quarterback insulation.
What Changes
Pure pocket passers gain ground. The rushing cheat code narrows. Passing efficiency and red-zone volume matter more. Stationary QBs in stable offenses gain value, especially in Superflex.
When It Actually Matters
Full 6-point passing TD
Yardage bonuses layered on
Deep starting lineups
Superflex formats
The more passing scoring inflates, the more stability matters.
Roster Construction Adjustment
Don’t overpay for rushing volatility.
Stable QB2s in strong offenses rise significantly.
Volume > splash rushing production.
Stacks increase in ceiling utility because passing scoring is inflated.
Those “boring” quarterbacks in stable systems? They gain insulation.
Common Mistake
Valuing QBs primarily by rushing upside regardless of scoring. In this format, stationary QB2s with job security are more valuable than volatile runners in fragile situations.
Point Per First Down (PPFD)
This is one of the most misunderstood formats.
What Changes
Chain-movers gain value. Short-area usage spikes. Sustainable volume > splash efficiency. RBs who convert third-and-short gain weekly floor. WRs who move the chains quietly rack up scoring.
When It Actually Matters
Full point per first down
Combined with PPR
Multiple flex spots
High snap-volume players
This format rewards sustainability.
Roster Construction Adjustment
Target role security.
Prioritize volume archetypes.
Goal-line and short-yardage RBs gain stability.
Devalue low-volume deep threats slightly.
Lean into players tied to offensive stability.
This format quietly reduces volatility.mBuild accordingly.
Common Mistake
Ignoring situational role and focusing only on yards and touchdowns. In PPFD, usage beats aesthetics.
Tiered PPR
(Example: 1.0 RB / 1.5 WR / 2.0 TE) This format quietly shifts archetype value.
What Changes
Reception earners jump tiers. Slot WRs gain structural value.mReceiving RBs gain insulation. Deep threats lose relative weight unless paired with heavy volume.
When It Actually Matters
Full-point reception gaps
Heavy flex leagues
High target-volume ecosystems
Roster Construction Adjustment
Chase target share projection.
Elevate reception specialists.
Receiving backs gain long-term insulation.
Depth WRs with 7-target floors matter more than 3-target field stretchers.
This format rewards opportunity, not explosiveness.
Common Mistake
Drafting splash-play archetypes in a reception-weighted ecosystem. You’re fighting math every week if you do.
Return Yardage
This is chaos if ignored. And that’s why it creates edges.
What Changes
Depth WRs and backup RBs suddenly score. Special teams roles matter. Weekly volatility increases. Early-season usage can create arbitrage.
When It Actually Matters
Full return yardage scoring
Return TD bonuses
Deep benches
Roster Construction Adjustment
Identify dual-role players early.
Target rookies with special teams backgrounds.
Exploit early-season inefficiencies.
Be willing to churn bottom-of-roster spots.
In rookie drafts, this is where edges hide. Incoming players with return ability can spike early scoring before markets adjust.
Common Mistake
Ignoring special teams depth charts entirely. Markets adjust late in these formats. Be early.
Yardage & Performance Bonuses
(100-yard games, 300-yard passing, multi-TD bonuses) This format rewards volatility.
What Changes
Ceiling players gain leverage. Boom/bust archetypes spike harder. Stack correlation increases in value. Weekly swings amplify.
When It Actually Matters
3+ point bonuses
Superflex formats
Playoff-heavy payout structures
Top-heavy prize pools
Roster Construction Adjustment
Lean into spike-week builds.
Stacking becomes strategically viable.
Target explosive offenses.
Don’t over-optimize for floor.
If bonuses amplify ceilings, chase ceilings.
Common Mistake
Building a “safe” roster in a volatility-rewarding system. You’ll finish middle of the pack consistently, which is the worst place to live in dynasty.
This is the real takeaway: Scoring formats don’t just change rankings.
They change:
Scarcity
Replacement level
Insulation
Volatility
Trade leverage
Archetype viability
If you don’t adjust for those shifts, you’re drafting players. If you do adjust, you’re drafting leverage. That’s the difference.
Section 3: How to Actually Adjust Your Roster
Here’s the actionable framework. This is where theory turns into leverage.
