They often say in boxing that styles make fights. The idiom suggests that unique approaches and strategies to the same sport can prove compelling. A southpaw slugger against a quick-footed righty adds to the sweetness of the science.
In a fantasy sports context, formats make things more fun.
When it comes to fantasy basketball, some managers are drawn to a season-long balancing act; curating each statistical category to remain competitive in 3-pointers while also making sure to have enough rim protection. Such managers would be ideal for rotisserie (roto) leagues -- or weekly head-to-head category leagues -- where statistical balance across your roster is the ultimate goal.
Play the No. 1 fantasy game for free
<!-- There's still time to join or create a league in the No. 1 Fantasy basketball game. Your league starts fresh on the first scoring period following your draft.
-->
Create or join a fantasy basketball league on ESPN. Your championship run starts today!
Sign up today!
Others might prefer to compete in something closer to the fantasy football experience; which we call points leagues in fantasy hoops. These leagues lean on a scoring legend that rewards a specific number of points for each stat accumulated (one point for a rebound, four points for a block, for instance). Check out ESPN's default scoring for points leagues to better understand how this format values each category.
With this in mind, we've done some of the work for you; laying out the pros and cons of roto/category and points-driven formats to help refine the process. The good news is that you can also choose to play in each of these unique formats if you participate in multiple leagues.
Roto leagues
Using a 10-team roto league as an example, the team that has the most steals by the end of the season earns 10 points, while the least-larcenous team is left with a single point. This is true for each of the categories your league employs.
Each starting roster spot is afforded an 82-game limit, so maximizing games played isn't an applicable angle in the vein that it fuels success in weekly head-to-head competition. That said, you don't want to fall behind too far in games logged, either, as your competition might end up many games ahead once spring arrives.