A Chargers D/ST stat correction irritated fantasy football managers over ambiguity of safety rules
Some fantasy football managers woke up to an unfortunate stat correction this morning after ESPN Fantasy determined the Los Angeles Chargers D/ST should have been charged with just six points allowed instead of eight in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, thus boosting the unit’s overall total for Week 8.
This was either bad or good news depending what side of the stat correction managers were on, as the result of closer contests was flipped completely.
A note for the many of you who have asked this on @ESPNFantasy: the Chargers D/ST has now been charged with just 6 points allowed (rather than 8), as the safety taken by the punt team is not considered points allowed. Your box score should be updated and reflected accordingly.…
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 30, 2024
Technically, the Chargers did give up eight points in the win. However, two of those points came on a safety that occurred during a botched punt.
Because it was LA’s special teams that gave up the points rather than its defense, the points shouldn’t have counted against the Chargers D/ST.
During all the Witching Hour drama, the Saints get a safety on a botched Chargers snap on a punt pic.twitter.com/PZA0B7UV63
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) October 27, 2024
ESPN originally counted the points against the Chargers, which led to some complaints on social media. People pointed out how safeties allowed on special teams hadn’t previously counted against a team’s D/ST.
The correction only added to the confusion with people on the other side of the coin wondering why points allowed by the special teams wouldn’t count against the D/ST since, ya know, it stands for defense and special teams.
Update: There have been 7 instances of a safety out of a punt formation since ‘22. This is the 1st time points have been charged to the D/ST allowing the safety. Based on this, Chargers D/ST should have 6 PA, not 8 PA. @FieldYates @ESPNFantasy @ESPNFANSUPPORT pic.twitter.com/xgEhv0atur
— B Mac (@McCannical_Bull) October 29, 2024
It wasn't given up by the D, it was given up by the special teams…
… Which is part of the Chargers D/ST!
That's insane and really dumb.
— Dan Z (@ChiDan9d) October 30, 2024
It should be noted, ESPN’s rules aren’t different than many other fantasy sites that got it right from the start. And though I couldn’t find where they directly address safeties allowed by the special teams, it’s generally understood that points allowed by the defense and kick/punt returns TDs are all that count against D/ST.
The confusion is understandable, though. Especially if you were one of the managers blindsided by a win that turned into a loss as a result of the change.
So I lose I go from 8-0 to 7-1 losing by .04 because of this stat correction?! How does a safety on the special teams not count towards the D/ST?! pic.twitter.com/LPtdkPkwyh
— Josh Blunk (@josh_blunk) October 30, 2024
Easily the worst beat of fantasy for me… seems like this should count against special teams, but I’ve benefited from fantasy luck in the past and will again in the future. pic.twitter.com/EbdVUQOTuQ
— Gabriel Reed (@Gabriel_Reed) October 30, 2024
That’s a tough way to lose.