How Do Laterals Work In Fantasy Football? & Tips
What are laterals in fantasy football? Laterals in fantasy football are passes thrown backward or sideways by a player to a teammate. They don’t typically score fantasy points directly in most leagues, but they can be crucial for maintaining possession and setting up bigger plays, indirectly impacting a player’s overall fantasy football running backs performance and RB fantasy value.
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Deciphering the Nuances of Laterals in Fantasy Football
While a direct touchdown grab or a long rushing gain is what often catches the eye in fantasy football, the seemingly minor play of a lateral pass can have subtle yet significant impacts. For anyone deeply involved in fantasy football, from seasoned veterans to newcomers exploring the intricacies of RB fantasy value, grasping how these backward or sideways passes function is essential. This isn’t about the flash; it’s about the fundamental mechanics that can influence scoring, especially for fantasy football running backs.
The Direct Impact: Points and Penalties
In most standard fantasy football scoring systems, laterals themselves don’t award fantasy points. You won’t see a line item for “lateral completed” that earns you points. However, the outcome of a lateral can absolutely influence your players’ scores.
- Maintaining Possession: A successful lateral can prevent a turnover, keeping an offense on the field and giving your player another chance to accumulate yardage or score.
- Setting Up Big Plays: A well-timed lateral can be a creative way to get the ball to a player in space or to misdirect the defense, potentially leading to a significant gain.
- Turnovers: An unsuccessful lateral, dropped or intercepted, is a turnover. This can be devastating for a player’s fantasy score, as it stops their drive and potentially gives the opponent a short field for scoring.
Indirect Influence on Player Performance
The real value of understanding laterals lies in how they affect a player’s overall fantasy production. This is particularly true for fantasy football running backs, where every yard and opportunity matters.
Yardage and Touchdowns
A lateral can be a critical component of a multi-part play. Imagine a running back receiving a lateral, then breaking a tackle and scoring. The lateral itself isn’t credited with yardage, but the subsequent run is. This means the player who receives the lateral gets the credit for the yards and any touchdown scored.
Example:
Player A throws a lateral to Player B. Player B then runs for a 10-yard touchdown.
* Player A gets no fantasy points for the lateral.
* Player B gets 6 fantasy points for the touchdown and 10 receiving yards (if it’s a forward pass, but laterals are typically treated differently for yardage). More importantly, Player B gets the 10 rushing yards if the lateral was to a teammate who then ran. However, in the context of a lateral, the player receiving the lateral and then running would be credited with the rushing yards.
This distinction is crucial for PPR scoring RBs and standard scoring RBs alike. The player who ultimately gains the yardage or scores the touchdown is the one whose fantasy managers benefit.
Pass-Catching Opportunities for RBs
Laterals can also increase the involvement of pass-catching RBs. A team might use laterals as a way to get the ball quickly to a shifty running back out in the flat, who can then use their agility to gain positive yardage or even break free. This means RBs who are skilled at catching passes are more likely to be involved in these types of plays, boosting their RB fantasy value.
How Laterals Affect Different Scoring Formats
The impact of laterals can vary slightly depending on your league’s scoring settings:
- Standard Scoring RBs: In leagues that don’t award points for receptions, the primary benefit of a lateral for an RB is the potential to gain yards and score touchdowns after receiving it. The risk of a turnover on a lateral is also a key consideration.
- PPR Scoring RBs: In leagues where players get a point for every reception, a lateral to an RB that is caught might count as a reception in some obscure league settings, though this is extremely rare. More commonly, the RB receiving the lateral and then running would have the potential to gain yards and score, which is where their PPR value truly shines. The emphasis here is on the RB’s ability to contribute to the offense through all means, including those set up by laterals.
Laterals and the Fantasy Football Backfield
The presence and strategic use of laterals can offer insights into how a team utilizes its fantasy football backfield.
- Running Back Committees: In a running back committee situation, a team might use laterals to get the ball to different backs in space. This can make it harder to predict which RB will get the most touches or opportunities. A team that frequently uses laterals might be trying to create mismatches or utilize the diverse skill sets of its backs.
- Specific Player Roles: A team might employ laterals specifically to get the ball to a shifty, agile running back who excels in open-field running after the catch. This can be a way to highlight the strengths of pass-catching RBs and increase their touchdown upside RBs by creating easier scoring opportunities.
Strategy and Laterals in Fantasy Football Draft Strategy RBs
When building your fantasy team, especially with fantasy football draft strategy RBs in mind, consider how teams that utilize laterals might impact player value.
- High-Volume Offenses: Teams that move the ball effectively and are often in scoring positions might naturally have more opportunities for laterals, whether as part of designed plays or simply to extend drives.
- Creative Play-Calling: Coaching staffs that are known for innovative play-calling might use laterals more frequently to surprise defenses and create mismatches. This can elevate the potential of their key offensive players.
Tactical Considerations and Risk Management
Laterals are inherently risky plays. A fumbled lateral can be just as damaging as a lost fumble, leading to turnovers and lost scoring opportunities.
- Who is the Passer? Quarterbacks are the most common players to throw laterals, often to running backs or receivers to keep plays alive or change the direction of attack.
- Who is the Receiver? Running backs are often prime candidates to receive laterals because they are already positioned to run with the ball. However, receivers and even offensive linemen can sometimes be on the receiving end.
Table: Impact of Laterals on Player Roles
| Player Role | Direct Impact of Receiving Lateral | Indirect Impact of Receiving Lateral |
|---|---|---|
| Running Back | Potential for yards/TDs after catch | Increased involvement in passing game, enhanced RB fantasy value |
| Wide Receiver | Opportunity to gain YAC (Yards After Catch) | Can be used to create mismatches, potentially drawing coverage |
| Quarterback | Minimal direct fantasy points | Sets up plays, can extend drives, but risk of turnover |
The “Hook and Ladder” and Other Lateral Plays
You’ll often hear about plays like the “hook and ladder.” This is a classic example of a lateral in action. A player catches a pass (the “hook”) and then immediately pitches the ball backward or sideways to a teammate (the “ladder”), who then continues the run. These plays are designed to confuse defenses and create big-yardage gains.
For fantasy football running backs, being part of such a play means they could receive the initial pass and then pitch it, or they could be the recipient of the pitch themselves. Both scenarios can lead to increased fantasy production if the play is successful.
How to Evaluate Players Based on Lateral Usage
When you’re looking at players for your fantasy team, especially when considering your fantasy football draft strategy RBs, try to assess a team’s propensity for using laterals.
- Watch Game Film (or Highlights): Pay attention to whether a team uses laterals in its offensive scheme. Do they often try to get the ball to their running backs this way?
- Analyze Coaching Tendencies: Some coaches are more adventurous with play-calling and might incorporate laterals more often.
- Player Skillset: Does your target RB have good hands and open-field running ability? These are traits that make them more valuable in an offense that uses laterals to get them the ball.
Future of Laterals in Fantasy Football
As offenses become more creative, it’s possible that laterals could become a more integrated part of fantasy football analysis.
- Increased Complexity: Sophisticated offensive schemes might incorporate laterals more frequently as a way to exploit defensive weaknesses.
- Player Versatility: Players who are versatile and can contribute in multiple ways (running, catching, pitching) will always have a higher RB fantasy value.
Final Thoughts on Laterals
Laterals in fantasy football, while not directly scoring points, are a fascinating element that can significantly influence the performance of players, particularly fantasy football running backs. By paying attention to how teams use laterals, you can gain a deeper appreciation for player roles and identify potential hidden gems. Whether it’s about increasing pass-catching RBs opportunities, boosting red zone usage RBs, or simply maximizing touchdown upside RBs, the humble lateral can be a valuable piece of the fantasy football puzzle. Keep an eye on these plays, and they might just give you an edge in your league.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Do laterals count as passing yards for the player who throws them?
A1: No, laterals are passes thrown backward or sideways, not forward. Forward passes are what count for passing yards.
Q2: Do laterals count as receiving yards for the player who catches them?
A2: If a player catches a lateral and then runs with it, the yards gained after the catch are credited as rushing yards for that player (if they are a running back or quarterback who ran it in). The lateral itself doesn’t add to receiving yardage in the traditional sense.
Q3: Can a lateral result in a fumble?
A3: Yes, absolutely. If the player attempting the lateral drops the ball, it’s treated like a fumble. Similarly, if the player receiving the lateral drops it, it’s also a fumble.
Q4: Do laterals count as a reception in PPR leagues?
A4: In almost all standard fantasy football leagues, a lateral catch does not count as a reception for fantasy points. Receptions typically only count for forward passes.
Q5: How do laterals affect a running back committee?
A5: Laterals can be used by teams to get the ball to different members of a running back committee in space, potentially diversifying touches and making it harder to predict which back will get the most carries or targets.
Q6: Are players who are good at laterals valuable for fantasy?
A6: Players who are good at receiving laterals and then gaining yards or scoring touchdowns are valuable. The player throwing the lateral is less directly valuable for fantasy points due to the lateral itself, but their overall offensive contribution is what matters.
Q7: Can a lateral be ruled an incomplete pass?
A7: A lateral is not an incomplete pass in the same way a forward pass can be. If a lateral is not caught, it’s treated as a fumble.
Q8: How does red zone usage relate to laterals?
A8: Laterals can be used creatively in the red zone to get the ball to a player with a good angle to the end zone, potentially increasing red zone usage RBs and their touchdown upside RBs.
Q9: What is the risk of laterals in fantasy football?
A9: The primary risk is turnovers. A fumbled lateral can result in a lost down, a change of possession, and missed scoring opportunities, negatively impacting RB fantasy value.