Are players projected ratings for one year down the line or for their whole career?

It's their "expected" career bests based on your ADV budget.

Thank you.

I see you're new and have 12m in ADV.  Don't get too caught up in what you see.   Players largely stop developing in their 4th-5th season.   12m isn't going to be very accurate.   If someone offers you a current 72 and he's 26 y/o in his 4th season while you see an 86, don't buy it.  It isn't happening.   He might get to 73-74 but 80s are out of the question.

Posted by MikeT23 on 4/24/2012 11:54:00 AM (view original):
I see you're new and have 12m in ADV.  Don't get too caught up in what you see.   Players largely stop developing in their 4th-5th season.   12m isn't going to be very accurate.   If someone offers you a current 72 and he's 26 y/o in his 4th season while you see an 86, don't buy it.  It isn't happening.   He might get to 73-74 but 80s are out of the question.

As a follow-up to that, you can see the player's "spring training" ratings from previous seasons, and also in-season ratings advancement for the current season.  You can see the change from line to line and notice that development slows down over time.  You can usually use that as a basis for guestimating future development.  If a player has stopped developing a particular rating well short of what you see as a projection, it's safe to assume that he's most likely done developing that rating.

Oh ok that helps a lot.  How much would you recommend putting in to get accurate ratings?  Or is it better to spend less money on the advanced scouting and use the guesstimating technique tecwrg mentioned?

Develop your guesstimation technique, and use the saved money to sign a good free agent or international free agent, or to boost your draft scouting, or training, or medical.  Or all of the above

Experienced owners tend to go to 0 with ADV.   I don't recommend that to n00bs until they figure out the game.  Too many vultures out there just dying to give you crap with a high projection that they'll never reach for your best young players.

Or, just don't trade till you've got the game figured out.

Well, I agree with that but good luck getting any n00b to actually listen. 

Rule #1 is "If you're not sure, don't do it."

Rule #2 should be "Rule #1 applies to trading also, n00b."

Trades for n00bs are OK, provided you have a mentor to help you evaluate offers.

SAY IT TWICE, IF YOU MEAN IT!!!!

Ok thanks for all your help guys.