2026 Keeper League Scoring Model Updates

This scoring model keeps the league close to its older CBS roots, but fixes the biggest position-value issues we found in the 2020-2024 backtest. The goal was not to create a full PPR, high-scoring format. The goal was to make RB, WR, and TE decisions matter more, pull kickers down, keep defenses useful without letting them take over, and keep QBs in a reasonable range.

Backtest Method

The comparison uses regular-season NFL data from 2020 through 2024. Players and defenses were ranked by the old CBS baseline first, then that same starter band was rescored with the current Sleeper settings.

Starter bands:

QB: top 10

RB: top 20

WR: top 30

TE: top 10

K: top 10

DST: top 10

These are season-total medians, not weekly averages.

Summary

Position | CBS Baseline | Current Sleeper | Change
QB | 255.5 | 247.7 | -7.8
RB | 110.5 | 129.8 | +20.3
WR | 90.0 | 116.1 | +22.8
TE | 70.5 | 95.8 | +24.4
K | 156.5 | 132.0 | -23.5
DST | 138.0 | 138.8 | +4.0

Lineup-weighted total, using 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DST:

CBS Baseline Total | Current Sleeper Total | Change
1017.0 | 1092.3 | +79.5

The total scoring environment rises modestly, but the increase is targeted. Points move away from kickers and into skill-position production. Defenses stay almost exactly at their old CBS value, but score in more football-relevant ways.

Core Explanation

This is not a full PPR reset. It is a controlled modernization of the old format.

The biggest wins:

WRs are much closer to RBs.

TEs get the largest proportional lift.

QBs are slightly below the old CBS median.

Kickers are meaningfully reduced.

Defenses are basically flat versus CBS, but more dynamic.

First-down scoring rewards quality carries and receptions, not just raw volume.

That last point matters. The first-down bonuses should help appease managers who like PPR because useful receptions are rewarded, but it avoids the full-PPR problem where a 1-yard catch gets the same bonus as a chain-moving play. A 9-yard reception for a first down and a 2-yard carry on 3rd-and-1 both have real football value. This model gives those plays a small scoring signal.

League Format And Platform Changes

The move to Sleeper also gives us a chance to clean up a few league-management items that should make the season easier to run.

Each team will now have one IR slot.

Reserve spots will no longer be locked by position.

Per-transaction fees will be removed.

Instead of transaction charges, we will vote on increasing the league buy-in.

Moving to Sleeper automatically increases the pot by $150, which helps replace the old transaction-fee pool.

Removing transaction accounting should make it much easier to pay winners promptly after the season.

Sleeper league stats will be automatically ingested into our league site at www.thegng.us.

The waiver system will move to a rolling waiver format designed to help lower-ranked teams get the first chance to improve their rosters. This follows the same basic fairness concept used in many football waiver systems: struggling teams get priority access, and successful claims affect the priority order. NFL Fantasy's own support documentation describes playoff waiver priority as a rolling order where successful claims move users to the back of the line. Sleeper also supports waiver formats that can give an advantage to struggling teams through reverse standings priority.

The playoff format is not changing. Playoffs will continue to stay inside the divisional bracket until the Fantasy Bowl. Winning the division remains the only path to a bye.

Quarterbacks

Current QB scoring includes:

Passing yards: 1 per 50 yards

Passing TD: 5

Interception thrown: -2

Pick-six thrown: -4, stacked with the interception

Sack taken: -1

40+ yard completion: +0.5

50+ yard passing TD: +0.5

25+ completions: +1

300+ passing yards: +1

400+ passing yards: +2

Backtest result:

CBS QB Median | Sleeper QB Median | Change
255.5 | 247.7 | -7.8

This pulls QBs back a little without making the position feel punished. Sack penalties are lighter now at -0.5, so bad offensive line games are less miserable. Interceptions are more costly at -3, and a pick-six is a major event because it stacks to -6 total. That feels fair because a pick-six is effectively a touchdown for the opposing defense.

Running Backs

Current RB-relevant scoring includes:

Rushing yards: 0.04 per yard

Rushing TD: 6

Rushing first down: 0.1

40+ yard rush: +1

50+ yard rushing TD: +1

20+ carries: +1

100+ rushing yards: +1

200+ rushing yards: +2

200+ combined rush and receiving yards: +1

Reception: 0.1

Fumble: -2

Backtest result:

CBS RB Median | Sleeper RB Median | Change
110.5 | 129.8 | +20.3

RBs get a healthy boost, but not because we brought back the 2025 rush-attempt inflation. They gain value from first downs, explosive runs, yardage milestones, and a small receiving floor. The first-down point rewards quality carries instead of simply rewarding every carry.

Wide Receivers

Current WR-relevant scoring includes:

Reception: 0.1 base

WR reception bonus: +0.1

WR total per reception: 0.2

Receiving yards: 0.04 per yard

Receiving first down: 0.1

Receiving TD: 6

40+ yard reception: +0.5

50+ yard receiving TD: +0.5

100+ receiving yards: +1

200+ receiving yards: +2

Backtest result:

CBS WR Median | Sleeper WR Median | Change
90.0 | 116.1 | +22.8

This is one of the biggest improvements. Under CBS, the RB median beat the WR median by 20.5 points. In the new model, the gap is 13.7 points. WRs are still behind RBs, but much closer.

The small WR reception bonus gives route volume some value, while first-down scoring rewards receptions that actually help an offense. This is the compromise between old-school scoring and PPR.

Tight Ends

Current TE-relevant scoring includes:

Reception: 0.1 base

TE reception bonus: +0.2

TE total per reception: 0.3

Receiving yards: 0.04 per yard

Receiving first down: 0.1

Receiving TD: 6

40+ yard reception: +0.5

50+ yard receiving TD: +0.5

100+ receiving yards: +1

200+ receiving yards: +2

Backtest result:

CBS TE Median | Sleeper TE Median | Change
70.5 | 95.8 | +24.4

TE gets the largest proportional boost. That was intentional. The position is still not equal to WR or RB, but it is much less buried than it was under CBS.

This is also not an extreme TE premium. TEs get 0.3 per catch total, plus first-down scoring. That helps productive TEs without making low-impact catches too valuable.

Kickers

Current kicker scoring includes:

Made FG: 3

Made FG 50-59: +1

Made FG 60+: +2

Made PAT: 1

Missed PAT: -2

Missed FG: -1

Missed FG 0-19: additional -4

Missed FG 20-29: additional -3

Missed FG 30-39: additional -2

Missed FG 40-49: additional -1

To visualize how this works in an easier to digest way...

Kicker Scoring Examples

Backtest result:

CBS K Median | Sleeper K Median | Change
156.5 | 132.0 | -23.5

This is a real kicker nerf. CBS kickers were too valuable relative to the weekly skill-position decisions. The new model still rewards long makes, but missed short kicks hurt.

Defense And Special Teams

Current DST scoring includes:

Defensive TD: 6

Special teams TD: 6

Interception: 2

Sack: 1

Fumble recovery: 2

Safety: 2

Blocked kick: 1

4th-down stop: 1

3-and-out: 0.5

Points allowed: 8 for shutout, 6 for 1-6, 4 for 7-13, 2 for 14-20, -3 for 28-34, -6 for 35+

Yards allowed: 2 for under 100, 1 for 100-199, -1 for 300-349, -2 for 350-399, -4 for 400-449, -5 for 450-499, -6 for 500-549, -7 for 550+

Backtest result:

CBS DST Median | Sleeper DST Median | Change
138.0 | 138.8 | +4.0

This is almost exactly where we wanted DST to land. The scoring is more dynamic, but the position is not inflated. Half-point 3-and-outs help reward real defensive success without the full 1-point version that pushed DST too high.

Touchdown Dependence

The new model is still touchdown-driven, but not only touchdown-driven.

Backtested share of scoring from TDs:

Position | TD Share
QB | 72.3%
RB | 48.7%
WR | 40.8%
TE | 43.1%
K | 0.0%
DST | 10.3%

Lineup-weighted across 2020-2024, TDs account for 41.6% of scoring. That is a healthy balance for this league style. TDs still matter a lot, but first downs, yardage, receptions, explosive plays, sacks, turnovers, and defensive performance all matter too.

Does It Meet The Goals?

Goal: make WRs closer to RBs.

CBS gap: RB 110.5 vs WR 90.0, a 20.5-point gap.

New gap: RB 129.8 vs WR 116.1, a 13.7-point gap.

Result: improved.

Goal: give TEs the biggest boost.

RB: +20.3

WR: +22.8

TE: +24.4

Result: met.

Goal: pull QBs back a tad.

QB moves from 255.5 to 247.7.

Result: met.

Goal: nerf kickers hard.

K moves from 156.5 to 132.0.

Result: met.

Goal: make DST more dynamic without overpowering the position.

DST moves from 138.0 to 138.8.

Result: met.

Honest Risk Notes

The model is in a good place, but managers should know these tradeoffs:

A pick-six thrown is now -6 total because the interception and pick-six penalty stack.

A lost fumble is -3 total because fumble and fumble lost stack.

Short missed field goals are harsh because generic missed FG and distance penalties stack.

WR, TE, and RB scoring is higher than CBS. That is intentional, but it is the biggest philosophical change.

Half-point 3-and-outs add more DST movement, but the backtest says DST remains under control.

Notes from the Commish

This keeps the GNG low-scoring roots, but fixes the parts of the old CBS model that were out of balance. We are not going full PPR. Instead, we are rewarding useful football plays: first downs, explosive plays, touchdowns, pressure, turnovers, 4th-down stops, and strong defensive games.

WRs are closer to RBs. TEs are healthier. QBs are slightly pulled back. Kickers are reduced. Defenses are more interesting without becoming overpowered.

The first-down scoring is the key compromise. It gives PPR-minded managers something they should like because quality receptions and successful carries matter, but it preserves the league's lower-scoring roots because points are tied to productive football outcomes rather than automatic empty volume.

The platform changes should also make the league easier to manage. IR gives every team a little more injury flexibility, unlocked reserve spots reduce unnecessary roster friction, rolling waivers give struggling teams a cleaner path to improve, and removing transaction fees should simplify payouts.

Please provide feedback by tagging Billy or myself in the Sleeper league chat.

Thanks guys,

Erran the Pinko