Punt and kickoff return stats

Can anyone out there tell me if a players actual real life punt and kickoff return numbers impact a player's performance in the football sim? If they do, how do they impact the potential performance of a RB or a WR that runs back kicks in the sim?

I am in a random player automatic league that has an open draft slot open for a "Flex position" but it does not have a slot for a kick/punt returner.

Thanks for the help- I am a newbie that doesn't want to overlook the importance of the kick return stats if they matter in some way that I am unaware of.

TKH

From my experience, it is extremely important! You need to filter the return stats separately. The most important thing is TDs - in this tri league, for example, it's not unusual for the top return guys to take one to the house every other game. I think you can ignore AV for them (bonus if they are good at their "real" position) and look for guys with multiple TDs and a high YPR/TD%.

Hope that helps!

JP

JP, In my chosen league (automatic Random player) there is no stat category for YPR/TD%- there is only the number of TD's that have been scored on punt returns (one state category) and another for TD's scored on Kickoff Returns on other categories for # of punts and kickoffs that have been returned, a total number of yards gained in each category and a figure for an average return so I guess the question is this- will a WR that averages 20 yards on an average kickoff return and has 500 receiving yards perform better than another WR that has 500 receiving yards and hasn't returned any kickoffs in a league that doesn't have any slots for a kickoff/punt returner on the roster or the depth chart? The league I'm in offers 4 WR slots and one more for a "Flex". In my league will the WR that returns kicks offer any more value than the other WR that has 500 receiving yards but doesn't return kicks and how will this improved performance manifest itself over the course of the season? Maybe the football game is too new to have a handle on this nuance but I haven't been able to find anything in the rules or in the blog that addresses this issue in any way

While you don't draft a KR/PR specifically, it's wise to use one of your WR/RB spots on someone who can score on special teams. The football season is short, so even if they win one extra game with a kick return, that could get you into the playoffs or win a playoff game.