Need advice from expierienced "Blind Bidders"

[BenchMark]

Previously, I've played exclusively in 12 team, re-draft leagues using either "worst to first" or "first come first serve" waiver formats. I've taken the plunge and am playing in a 12 team re-draft league using a blind bid format that has 250.00 blind bid dollars to start with. However, you can bid $0 dollars or as much as you have remaining in your blind bid account. Obviously if you use all your blind bidding bucks you are broke. In previous leagues, a strategy I used was to draft only one K, TE and Def. on my team. I used the extra roster spots to stock up on RB's and WR's. I felt to carry a #2 Kicker, Tight End or Def. Team was a waisted roster spot because usually those positions could easily be plucked from the waiver wire or FA pool when needed for an injury replacement or a bye week fill in. Now that I'm in a blind bid format, is that a wise strategy to use ? I may have to pay bidding bucks to replace those positions if they are not already on my roster. Do those of you that play in blind bidding formats try to keep a #2 K, TE or Def on your roster?

[Gopher]

I wouldn't really allow this different FA format to affect my drafting strategy. You can probably pick up a bye-week filler defense or kicker for one or two bidding dollars, most weeks. That shouldn't put much of a hit on your $250. In this type of league, it is still just as important to get as much depth as possible at RB/WR. If you draft backups at every position, you'll just end up scouring the waiver wire for position players at some point, and that will cost you a lot more than a buck or two. I would probably draft two TE's, though, unless you get one of the top 3-4 in the league.

[Delicious_bass]

Previously, I've played exclusively in 12 team, re-draft leagues using either "worst to first" or "first come first serve" waiver formats. I've taken the plunge and am playing in a 12 team re-draft league using a blind bid format that has 250.00 blind bid dollars to start with. However, you can bid $0 dollars or as much as you have remaining in your blind bid account. Obviously if you use all your blind bidding bucks you are broke. In previous leagues, a strategy I used was to draft only one K, TE and Def. on my team. I used the extra roster spots to stock up on RB's and WR's. I felt to carry a #2 Kicker, Tight End or Def. Team was a waisted roster spot because usually those positions could easily be plucked from the waiver wire or FA pool when needed for an injury replacement or a bye week fill in. Now that I'm in a blind bid format, is that a wise strategy to use ? I may have to pay bidding bucks to replace those positions if they are not already on my roster. Do those of you that play in blind bidding formats try to keep a #2 K, TE or Def on your roster?

 

In my experience, most of the time blind bidding happens for some but not all of the week. If, at some point during the week, free agency switches from BB to FCFS, then you can just wait till that point to add a K or Def if that is what you need for a week. If all free agency is handled by BB, I still think you will be able to pick up K and Def cheap enough to make it worth it to only have one of each on your team. So, I guess what I am trying to say(to answer your question) is I would only draft 1 K and 1 Def and worry about replacing them as needed. I believe you have the right idea by using roster space to stock up on the RB and WR.

[matt770]

Never used this system before. If you bid $10 on a player and no one else bids, do you get the player for a minimum amount like $1, or do you lose the full amount of your bid?

[Bronco Billy]

With $250 BB $$ and a $0 minimum, I'd do the same thing you are doing - use some of your BB dollars to secure an extra D or K on bye weeks.

 

Is there a First Come, First Serve period after the blind bids are awarded every week? If there is, you can probably gamble a bit more and bid lower on your bye week fill ins - if you lose your bid you can fill in with a FCFS weaker D or K. If there isn't, you'll have to make sure you bump your bids up a bit to make sure you don't get shut out with a position not being filled on bye weeks.

 

Remember, the starting purse you have is relative. If every owner starts with $25, a $1 bid is significant. If everyone starts with $250, a $1 bid is insignificant. When you bid on players, I have found the best way to determine how much of my purse to bid is to determine how important a player is to your team and how much you would be willing to pay not to lose the player. Don't get beat out by $1 or $2 for a player that is very important to add to your team - you'll kick yourself afterwards. Conversely, don't overbid on players that you may be taking a flyer on or that is a position of strength for your team. You'll regret not having those extra dollars when an important player comes up.

 

Good luck. Blind bid is the fairest FA system out there - and it adds great fun for the league every week in acquiring FAs.

Edited August 10, 2006 by Bronco Billy

[Delicious_bass]

Never used this system before. If you bid $10 on a player and no one else bids, do you get the player for a minimum amount like $1, or do you lose the full amount of your bid?

 

You have to pay whatever you bid. Hence the strategy is to bid enough to get the player, but not waste money. It can get tricky, but like most of fantasy, if you know your opponents needs/tendancies, that can help.

[Randall]

Never used this system before. If you bid $10 on a player and no one else bids, do you get the player for a minimum amount like $1, or do you lose the full amount of your bid?

 

 

 

It isn't ebay. You pay the full amount. Most of the time you get players for the minimum. I bid $1-2 for most and get most of them.

[BenchMark]

As a matter of fact after the blind bids are processed on Wednesdays, a first come first serve format is in effect up to the kickoff of the first game of the week. I also was thinking it shouldn't matter to much. I still should be able to pick up bye week/injury replacements relatively cheap or more than likely free after waivers are processed. Being this is my first time in blind bidding, I've been kind of obsessing about it and a little apprehensive because I think there might be a bit of a learning curve I'll have to suffer through. I hope it won't be a big deal and from the comments and advice I've read, it sounds like it shouldn't be. Thanks for the advise guys.

[Azazello1313]

Never used this system before. If you bid $10 on a player and no one else bids, do you get the player for a minimum amount like $1, or do you lose the full amount of your bid?

 

 

this is a very relevant question, as you can often set it up either way. this can affect your bidding amount strategy a great deal. but it shouldn't really affect your strategy as far as filling roster spots. carrying an extra kicker is never a great idea. carrying two defenses and TEs usually is, depending on your scoring system, roster depth, etc.

[matt770]

this is a very relevant question, as you can often set it up either way. this can affect your bidding amount strategy a great deal. but it shouldn't really affect your strategy as far as filling roster spots. carrying an extra kicker is never a great idea. carrying two defenses and TEs usually is, depending on your scoring system, roster depth, etc.

 

 

I'll bet this gets really interesting when that big RB emerges. Happens every year. Last year it was Gado, the year before that, Droughns. I want to join a league with this system.

[irish]

Great topic as I have chosen to go with a blind bidding system in my league as well. Problem is I have set the salary cap money for bids at $100 is that too little? As I see some have it at $250.

[Big John]

If you have a free FSFS abter bids, you don't need to worry too much.

 

But I have to say that is more unusual, as the leagues I am in with bling bidding, that is the only piy to pickup a free agent.

[T-Scorp]

Great topic as I have chosen to go with a blind bidding system in my league as well. Problem is I have set the salary cap money for bids at $100 is that too little? As I see some have it at $250.

 

 

 

In my auction league the FA money is $20! Minimum bid is $1. However, if you don't aquire a player in the bidding and still need one it cost you $3 to pick up a FA.

Edited August 11, 2006 by T-Scorp

[The Wolf]

Great topic as I have chosen to go with a blind bidding system in my league as well. Problem is I have set the salary cap money for bids at $100 is that too little? As I see some have it at $250.

 

 

We're set at $100 for the year, Irish. Here's the kicker, though. Each week has a bid and FCFS period. FCFS costs nothing against the $100 budget.

 

It's more than enough, especially since FCFS costs nothing. If you blow your budget, you may be stuck with "bottom of the barrel" players, but you're not totally screwed.

 

Two years ago, David Terrell had a great opening night. An owner bid all $100 on him and was left with FCFS the rest of the way. His choice.

[The Wolf]

Good luck. Blind bid is the fairest FA system out there - and it adds great fun for the league every week in acquiring FAs.

 

 

Agreed. We had waiver troubles for years before we switched over to this. No worries now.