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How Are Laterals Scored In Fantasy Football?
Laterals in fantasy football are typically not directly scored as a separate statistical category. Instead, the fantasy points generated by a lateral pass are attributed to the player who threw the lateral, based on the outcome of the play.
Fantasy football scoring systems are designed to reward players for advancing the ball and creating scoring opportunities. When a player throws a lateral, they are essentially initiating a pass play. The points earned from that play – whether it results in a first down, a touchdown, or a loss of yardage – are credited to the player who threw the lateral. The player who catches the lateral and continues the play might earn fantasy points for their subsequent actions (like rushing or receiving yards), but the initial act of throwing the lateral itself doesn’t trigger a separate scoring event for the receiver.
Deciphering Lateral Scoring: The Nuances for Fantasy Managers
For many fantasy football managers, the concept of laterals can be a bit of a mystery. While not as common as traditional forward passes, laterals play a crucial role in certain offensive schemes and game situations. Understanding how these unconventional passes impact fantasy scoring is key to maximizing your team’s potential. This guide will break down the scoring mechanics of laterals, ensuring you can accurately assess their value.
The Core of Lateral Scoring: Points Flow to the Thrower
At its heart, a lateral pass is treated much like any other pass in fantasy football when it comes to scoring. The player who throws the lateral is the one who potentially earns fantasy points for its successful completion and any subsequent yardage gained. The receiver of the lateral might gain yardage and potentially score, but those points are tied to their actions after receiving the pass.
Key Takeaway: The fantasy points generated by a lateral are almost always awarded to the quarterback or any other player who throws the lateral.
Standard Scoring Systems: The Baseline
In standard scoring leagues, the primary ways players earn fantasy points are through:
- Passing Yards: A set number of points for every 25 passing yards.
- Passing Touchdowns: A significant point bonus for each passing touchdown.
- Interceptions: A point deduction for throwing an interception.
- Fumbles: Point deductions for fumbles lost.
When a quarterback throws a lateral that is completed, they are credited with the yardage gained on that pass, just as they would be for a forward pass. If the lateral leads to a touchdown, the quarterback also receives points for the passing touchdown.
Example:
- A quarterback throws a lateral for 5 yards to a running back, who then runs for another 15 yards and scores a touchdown.
- The quarterback gets credit for 20 passing yards (5 from the lateral, 15 from the run).
- The quarterback gets credit for a passing touchdown.
- The running back gets credit for 15 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Points Per Reception (PPR) Scoring: Adding a Layer of Value
PPR scoring is a popular variation that significantly increases the value of receivers. In PPR leagues, players earn points not just for yards and touchdowns, but also for each reception they make.
- Receptions: Typically, 1 point per reception.
Now, how does this apply to laterals? This is where it gets slightly more nuanced, but generally:
- The player who throws the lateral receives points for the passing yardage and any touchdowns, as in standard scoring.
- The player who catches the lateral and then possesses the ball does not get a reception point for catching the lateral itself. They only earn reception points if they catch a forward pass.
- However, if the player who catches the lateral then advances the ball and catches another forward pass on the same play, they would earn reception points for that second, forward pass.
Clarification: The act of catching a lateral does not count as a “reception” for the purposes of PPR scoring.
Half-PPR Scoring: A Middle Ground
Half-PPR leagues, as the name suggests, offer half a point per reception. The principles discussed for PPR scoring generally apply here as well. The player throwing the lateral gets credit for the yardage and touchdowns. The player catching the lateral does not receive half a point for the reception of the lateral.
Reception Bonus: Extra Incentives
Some leagues offer a reception bonus for receivers who reach certain yardage thresholds within a game or for longer receptions. These bonuses are typically tied to catching forward passes and would not be awarded for catching a lateral.
Receiving Yards and Touchdowns: The Ultimate Goals
Regardless of the scoring format, the ultimate goal in fantasy football is to accumulate yards and touchdowns. Laterals contribute to these totals.
- Receiving Yards: If a player catches a lateral and then gains additional yardage before being tackled or going out of bounds, those yards are added to their receiving yardage total.
- Touchdowns: If a player catches a lateral and then scores a touchdown, that touchdown is credited to them, usually as a rushing touchdown if they gained yards after the catch on the ground, or potentially a receiving touchdown if the lateral is considered part of a pass play leading to a score (though this is less common interpretation). The quarterback who threw the lateral will still get credit for the passing touchdown.
Tight End Scoring: Specific Considerations
Tight end scoring can be particularly interesting with laterals. Tight ends often function as receivers and can be targets for laterals, especially in short-yardage or trick play situations. Like any other receiver, a tight end catching a lateral will have the yardage gained credited to their receiving yards. However, they will not receive a reception point in PPR or half-PPR formats for the lateral itself.
Other Players and Their Lateral Contributions
While quarterbacks are the most common throwers of laterals, other players can also execute them, such as:
- Running Backs: Often throw laterals on reverses or jet sweeps.
- Wide Receivers: Can throw laterals on end-arounds or after catching a forward pass.
In these scenarios, the player throwing the lateral would be credited with the passing yardage and any subsequent events. The player catching the lateral would then have their actions scored as normal (rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns).
Scenarios Where Laterals Matter in Fantasy
While not an everyday occurrence, laterals become significant in specific game situations:
- End-of-Game Situations: When a team is trailing and needs to score quickly, laterals can be used to keep the play alive and avoid the clock stopping on an incomplete forward pass. This desperation often leads to more lateral attempts.
- Trick Plays: Teams will often incorporate laterals into designed trick plays to catch defenses off guard.
- Broken Plays: Sometimes, a lateral is thrown improvisationally when a quarterback is under pressure and a forward pass is not possible.
In these instances, the successful execution of a lateral can directly lead to significant fantasy points for the player throwing it, and potentially for the player catching it if they can then gain yardage or score.
How Laterals Affect Player Rankings and Projections
When evaluating player rankings and projections, fantasy managers should consider the potential for laterals, especially for quarterbacks known for their improvisational skills or participation in trick plays. While it’s difficult to quantify the exact number of laterals a player will throw, teams that frequently use uptempo offenses or have quarterbacks adept at extending plays might see a slight uptick in the passing yardage attributed to their QB due to laterals.
For receivers, the impact is generally minimal unless they are in a specific offensive scheme that heavily utilizes laterals for them to gain yards after the catch.
Strategies for Laterals in Fantasy Football
While you can’t draft a player solely based on their lateral-throwing ability, it’s a small factor to consider when comparing players:
- Quarterback Mobility and Creativity: Mobile quarterbacks who can extend plays often have a higher propensity to throw laterals when a traditional pass isn’t available.
- Offensive Scheme: Teams that employ creative playbooks, including trick plays with laterals, might see their offensive players benefit.
Common Misconceptions About Lateral Scoring
- “The guy catching the lateral gets reception points.” This is generally false in most standard PPR formats. Reception points are for forward passes.
- “Laterals are only for running backs.” While running backs and receivers can throw laterals, quarterbacks are the most frequent users.
- “Laterals are always penalized.” This is incorrect. A completed lateral is treated like a completed pass for yardage and touchdown purposes, with the points going to the thrower. Only an incomplete lateral or a fumble on a lateral would result in lost yardage or a turnover.
Fathoming the Impact: A Summary Table
To help visualize how laterals are scored, consider this table:
| Action | Scored For… | Scoring Category | PPR Impact (Catch) | Standard Impact (Catch) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Throwing a Lateral | Player Throwing Lateral | Passing Yards | Yes | Yes |
| Completing a Lateral | Player Throwing Lateral | Passing Touchdown | Yes | Yes |
| Player gains yards after | Player Catching Lateral | Rushing/Receiving Yards | Yes | Yes |
| Player scores TD after | Player Catching Lateral | Rushing/Receiving TD | Yes | Yes |
| Catching a Lateral | Player Catching Lateral | Reception | No | N/A |
Note: “N/A” for Standard Impact (Catch) because receptions are not scored in standard leagues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: If a player catches a lateral and is then tackled in the end zone, is it a touchdown for the player who threw the lateral?
A1: Yes. The player who threw the lateral will be credited with a passing touchdown. The player who caught the lateral will be credited with the yards gained after the catch, leading to the touchdown.
Q2: Do I get points if my receiver catches a lateral and then fumbles?
A2: If the player who threw the lateral is the one who fumbles, they would likely lose yardage and potentially points for a fumble lost. If the player who caught the lateral fumbles, they would be credited with the yards gained up to the fumble, and they would lose points for the fumble lost. The player who threw the lateral would still get credit for the yards gained before the fumble.
Q3: Are laterals treated differently than forward passes in terms of yardage?
A3: No. Yardage gained from a completed lateral counts towards the passer’s passing yards and the receiver’s receiving yards, just as it would for a forward pass.
Q4: What if a lateral is incomplete?
A4: An incomplete lateral is treated the same as an incomplete forward pass. No yardage is gained, and it counts as a play. It does not result in a turnover or penalty unless it’s a forward pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage (which a lateral is not).
Q5: Can a running back get a “reception” for catching a lateral in PPR leagues?
A5: Typically, no. Reception points in PPR leagues are awarded for catching forward passes. The act of catching a lateral does not count as a reception for scoring purposes.
By keeping these scoring nuances in mind, fantasy managers can better appreciate the strategic value of laterals and make more informed decisions when analyzing player performance and building their rosters.