In the intricate world of American football, where every yard, every catch, and every point can make or break a game – or a fantasy football season – understanding the nuances of statistical recording is paramount. One question that frequently surfaces among fans, particularly those deeply invested in fantasy leagues, is whether a catch made during a 2-point conversion attempt is officially counted as a reception. The short answer, which might surprise some, is often "No," but the reasoning behind this rule is what truly unravels the complexity of football statistics.
This article dives deep into the heart of this statistical debate, exploring why 2-point conversions are treated differently from standard plays and what implications this has for players, teams, and, most importantly, your fantasy football roster. We'll clarify common misconceptions and shed light on the official stance regarding these pivotal, yet often statistically unrewarded, plays.
Table of Contents
- Clarifying the Terminology: Reception, Not Receptionist
- The Core Question: Do 2-Point Conversions Count as Receptions?
- Why Don't They Count? Understanding NFL Stat Keeping
- Impact on Fantasy Football: The PPR Dilemma
- Beyond Receptions: Other Stats on 2-Point Tries
- What Counts for XP? Fantasy Points and Beyond
- The Logic Behind Current Rules and Potential Arguments for Change
- Conclusion: Navigating the Nuances of Football Stats
Clarifying the Terminology: Reception, Not Receptionist
Before we delve into the core question, it's crucial to address a common typo that can lead to significant confusion. The query "do 2pt conversions count as receptionist" almost certainly intends to ask about "receptions." In American football, a "reception" refers to a pass caught by an eligible receiver. A "receptionist," on the other hand, is a person who greets visitors, typically in an office setting. For the remainder of this article, we will correctly refer to the football term: "reception." Understanding this distinction is the first step in clarifying how football statistics are recorded and interpreted.The Core Question: Do 2-Point Conversions Count as Receptions?
The straightforward answer to "do 2pt conversions count as receptions" in most official statistical contexts, particularly in the NFL and standard fantasy football leagues, is **no**. When a player catches a pass on a 2-point conversion attempt, that catch is generally not recorded as a reception in their individual receiving statistics. This rule is a cornerstone of how conversion attempts are differentiated from regular offensive plays.The Official Stance on 2-Point Conversion Statistics
The official stance is clear: "No, receptions do not count on 2 point conversions." This is not just a minor oversight; it's a deliberate statistical decision. "As with all other statistics on 2 point tries, these are not recorded and your player will not get any points for a reception." This means that even if a receiver makes a spectacular one-handed grab for a successful 2-point conversion, that specific catch will not add to their season reception total, nor will the yards gained count towards their receiving yardage. The play is solely categorized as a "conversion attempt" – either successful or unsuccessful – and the primary stat recorded is the two points added to the team's score, if applicable.Why Don't They Count? Understanding NFL Stat Keeping
The rationale behind not counting receptions on 2-point conversions stems from the unique nature of these plays. A 2-point conversion is a specific type of scoring attempt, distinct from a regular offensive drive. Its sole purpose is to add points after a touchdown, not to accumulate yardage or individual receiving statistics that contribute to a player's overall season totals in the same way regular plays do. Consider a typical offensive play: "On a pass, that means both the passer and the receiver getting credit." This applies to first downs, touchdowns, and any other play during a drive. However, a 2-point conversion exists in a statistical vacuum. It's an "all-or-nothing" proposition. "Its a conversion attempt and its either successful or unsuccessful." The focus is entirely on the outcome of the conversion itself, not the individual components of the play that would typically be tracked. This explains why "You don't get credit for a reception, completion, the 2 yards, or anything" on a 2-point conversion. It's treated as a special teams play in terms of its statistical isolation, even if it involves offensive players and a pass.Differentiating Touchdowns from Conversions
It's crucial to understand the fundamental difference between a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. A touchdown is the ultimate scoring play, awarding six points and often significant individual statistics (receiving yards, rushing yards, passing yards, and the touchdown itself). "A td for a rb for example gives him 6 points to his scoring total." A 2-point conversion, while also adding points, is a subsequent attempt. "Catching a 2pt conversion is not a touchdown." It's a follow-up, a bonus opportunity, and thus, statistically treated differently. This distinction is vital for maintaining the integrity of player statistics, ensuring that a player's receiving yards and reception totals accurately reflect their contributions during regular offensive drives.Impact on Fantasy Football: The PPR Dilemma
The "do 2pt conversions count as receptions" question gains significant traction in the realm of fantasy football, especially in PPR (Points Per Reception) leagues. In these leagues, players earn points for every reception, regardless of yardage. This creates a perceived discrepancy when a player catches a 2-point conversion but receives no points for the reception itself. A common sentiment among fantasy players is, "Since you get a point for a reception even when it yields zero or even negative yards, I think you should definitely get it on a 2pt conversion." This perspective highlights the frustration of seeing a player make a catch that directly contributes to points on the field, yet yields no fantasy points for the reception. For instance, if "Njoku caught a 2 point conversion for 2 yards why do you only get 2 points instead of 3.2 ppr??" The 2 points are for the successful conversion, but the 1 point for the reception (in a PPR league) is missing because the catch isn't officially logged as a reception. This can be a significant point of contention for fantasy commissioners and players alike.The Commissioner's Conundrum: A Case Study
The provided data highlights a real-world example of this fantasy football dilemma: "An interesting issue has come up in a league in which I am commish. It's a ppr league and Steve Smith (CAR) got a 2pt conversion, but did not get a corresponding point for that reception." This scenario perfectly encapsulates the debate. From a fantasy perspective, if a player performs an action that is fundamentally a "reception" and contributes to team scoring, shouldn't they be rewarded? The argument often made is that "It should count for someone's point total on the seasonal statistics like an extra point or a field goal does for a kicker." Kickers get points for extra points and field goals, which are also scoring attempts. Why should a receiver's equivalent effort on a 2-point conversion be statistically ignored for a reception? This discrepancy fuels the discussion around whether fantasy football platforms should deviate from official NFL statistics for these specific plays.Beyond Receptions: Other Stats on 2-Point Tries
While the focus is often on "do 2pt conversions count as receptions," it's worth noting that other statistics are also generally not recorded for these plays. This includes passing yards for the quarterback, rushing yards for a runner, or even defensive stats like tackles or sacks that occur during the attempt. The play is an isolated event designed solely to convert for two points. However, there are exceptions related to defensive scoring on conversion attempts. "Can a blocked extra point be returned in college, If an extra point conversion is blocked and returned, it is worth two." While this specifically mentions college football and extra points, the principle extends to professional play in certain scenarios where a defensive player intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble on a conversion attempt and returns it to the opposite end zone. In such rare cases, the defensive team is awarded two points. This is a team score, not typically an individual defensive stat like an interception return yardage or a defensive touchdown in the traditional sense, but it does add points to the opposing team's score.The XP vs. 2-Point Conversion Debate
Another common point of comparison is the extra point (XP) versus the 2-point conversion. "Why do extra points count towards stats but not 2pt conversions?" This is a valid question. Kickers receive points for successful extra points, which are also scoring attempts after a touchdown. The argument is, "I get kickers don’t have a whole lot of limelight, but if you go for 2 and convert should that be a positive for your player?" From a competitive standpoint, "A 2 yard touchdown and a 2 yard 2pt play seem just as competitive to me." Both require skill, execution, and often occur in high-pressure situations. The difference lies in how the NFL's official statisticians categorize and record these events. Extra points are essentially a different type of scoring play, specifically designed for kickers, whereas 2-point conversions are an alternative to the extra point, involving regular offensive players but still treated as a special, isolated scoring attempt.What Counts for XP? Fantasy Points and Beyond
The term "XP" in fantasy football typically refers to "Experience Points" or simply "Extra Points" for kickers. For kickers, successful extra points are explicitly recorded and contribute to their fantasy score. The question "Does anyone know the formula used for xp, Do 2pt conversions count for xp at all, Does every yard count or is it every 10, 50, 100 yards, How much weight does a td have for xp?" highlights the desire for clear scoring rules. In most standard fantasy football scoring systems: * **Touchdowns (TDs)**: These are the primary scoring events. For a running back, "A td for a rb for example gives him 6 points to his scoring total." For a receiver, a TD gives 6 points, plus any reception and yardage points. * **2-Point Conversions**: If a player *scores* the 2-point conversion (e.g., runs it in, catches it in the end zone), they receive 2 points to their scoring total. "a 2 point conversion where he scores would add 2 points to his scoring total." However, as established, the catch itself is not a reception point in PPR leagues. * **Yards**: Yards gained on regular plays contribute to fantasy scores, usually at a rate like 0.1 points per yard (1 point per 10 yards). This does *not* apply to yards gained on 2-point conversions. "Does every yard count or is it every 10, 50, 100 yards" is relevant for regular plays, but not for the isolated conversion attempt. The statistical separation of 2-point conversions means they contribute points only for the successful conversion itself, not for the underlying statistical components (like receptions or yards) that would be counted on a regular play.The Logic Behind Current Rules and Potential Arguments for Change
The current rules, where "do 2pt conversions count as receptions" is a "no," are rooted in a historical approach to football statistics that views conversion attempts as distinct, self-contained events. They are not part of the cumulative offensive statistics that define a player's season-long performance in terms of yards and receptions. This approach aims to keep the "purity" of offensive stats separate from post-touchdown attempts. However, arguments for change are compelling, especially from a fantasy football perspective: 1. **Consistency**: If a catch for zero yards counts as a reception, why not a catch for two yards that results in points? The action of catching the ball is identical. 2. **Player Value**: In PPR leagues, a player's value is directly tied to receptions. Ignoring a catch on a crucial 2-point conversion feels like undervaluing a player's direct contribution to scoring. 3. **Excitement**: Counting receptions on 2-point conversions could add another layer of excitement and strategy to fantasy football, rewarding players for every meaningful action. While official NFL statistics are unlikely to change soon, fantasy football platforms and league commissioners have the flexibility to implement custom scoring rules. Some private leagues might indeed choose to award reception points for 2-point conversions to address this perceived inequity. This highlights the ongoing tension between official statistical record-keeping and the desire for more granular, rewarding fantasy scoring.Conclusion: Navigating the Nuances of Football Stats
The question of "do 2pt conversions count as receptions" is more than just a trivial statistical query; it touches upon the fundamental philosophy of how football plays are recorded and how player value is assessed, particularly in the competitive world of fantasy football. As we've explored, the prevailing answer is no: a catch on a 2-point conversion is generally not credited as a reception in official statistics. This distinction is based on the unique, isolated nature of the conversion attempt, which is treated as an "all-or-nothing" scoring play rather than a cumulative offensive statistic. While this rule can be frustrating for fantasy football players in PPR leagues who see their players make impactful catches without receiving reception points, it's a long-standing convention in NFL stat-keeping. Understanding this nuance is crucial for anyone looking to accurately track player performance or manage their fantasy roster effectively. As the game evolves, so too might the discussions around these statistical intricacies, but for now, the 2-point conversion remains a unique beast in the statistical jungle of American football. What are your thoughts on this rule? Do you believe 2-point conversion receptions should count in official stats or fantasy leagues? Share your perspective in the comments below, or explore more of our articles on football statistics and fantasy strategies!
