SecondString Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I've only been in fantasy football for 3 years (this is my fourth). I joined a league that conducts an auction draft, was invited by some friends. I have fallen in love with FF since. For about a year after I joined my league, I didn't even know what a snake draft was. Since, I have been in a couple of snake draft leagues. I think that almost everyone who has ever been in on auction drafts agrees with me that they are by far the better way to go for several reasons: - Every team has a shot at every player, making the draft more fair year to year, regardless of the talent mix - There is much more draft strategy - Reduces the luck factor, increases the skill factor - It is a lot more interesting, challenging, and mentally stimulating to participate in an auction draft I just wonder why they are so rare. Seems to me there should be a predominance of leagues auction drafts, instead of the other way around. Any ideas or opinions on this? I guess I'm an ambassador of sorts for auction drafts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I've only been in fantasy football for 3 years (this is my fourth). I joined a league that conducts an auction draft, was invited by some friends. I have fallen in love with FF since. For about a year after I joined my league, I didn't even know what a snake draft was. Since, I have been in a couple of snake draft leagues. I think that almost everyone who has ever been in on auction drafts agrees with me that they are by far the better way to go for several reasons: - Every team has a shot at every player, making the draft more fair year to year, regardless of the talent mix - There is much more draft strategy - Reduces the luck factor, increases the skill factor - It is a lot more interesting, challenging, and mentally stimulating to participate in an auction draft I just wonder why they are so rare. Seems to me there should be a predominance of leagues auction drafts, instead of the other way around. Any ideas or opinions on this? I guess I'm an ambassador of sorts for auction drafts. They are rare because they are difficult to manage & intimidating to the casual fantasy football owner which makes up the vast majority of people who play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecondString Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 Intimidating to the most casual players, I can see. But there is nothing difficult to manage about an auction draft...strategies get intricate, but they're not hard to manage. Some owners get very serious about their fantasy football, even want to go to the next level, join multiple leagues, add IDP's etc. Seems like more of these guys would buy in to the concept of auction drafts. For any of you who haven't tried one, you should....most of you won't want to go back to the snake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donutrun Jellies Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Initimidating?? You need to start associating with a bit tougher crowd of football fans!! They take so damn long is the biggest problem ... otherwise, they are easier (because you have a shot at every player, so the outcome is fully in your own hands) and more fun (see previous parentheses) than a snake draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskey Pimp Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think what Rajncajn meant by difficult to manage is that while it is very easy to run a draft online (whether it be live or scheduled over a span of a week or so) it's not quite the same for an auction. I've never done an online auction but our local is easy to manage because we have all 12 owners live and present. I'm not sure how easy it would be to schedule an online auction and have it run as easily and smoothly as a draft is. The other reason is that it's not that hard to just follow a cheat sheet and cross names off and grab the next one ranked. In an auction you're completely on your own working your budget and making sure you spend and build accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think what Rajncajn meant by difficult to manage is that while it is very easy to run a draft online (whether it be live or scheduled over a span of a week or so) it's not quite the same for an auction. I've never done an online auction but our local is easy to manage because we have all 12 owners live and present. I'm not sure how easy it would be to schedule an online auction and have it run as easily and smoothly as a draft is. The other reason is that it's not that hard to just follow a cheat sheet and cross names off and grab the next one ranked. In an auction you're completely on your own working your budget and making sure you spend and build accordingly. That too, but I was speaking specifically from the POV of the casual FF owner. Most wouldn't even know where to begin with managing or preparing for a draft of that nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecondString Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 I think what Rajncajn meant by difficult to manage is that while it is very easy to run a draft online (whether it be live or scheduled over a span of a week or so) it's not quite the same for an auction. I've never done an online auction but our local is easy to manage because we have all 12 owners live and present. I'm not sure how easy it would be to schedule an online auction and have it run as easily and smoothly as a draft is. The other reason is that it's not that hard to just follow a cheat sheet and cross names off and grab the next one ranked. In an auction you're completely on your own working your budget and making sure you spend and build accordingly. There are plenty of on-line auction draft leagues, it's a piece of cake. Is there more thinking required? Yes. More strategy required? Yes. That's the appeal! It's not rocket science, and it works in person and/or on-line. These replies that are popping through are providing me the answer to my question. There are obviously a lot of misconceptions about what an auction draft is, how hard it is to administer, etc. People are afraid of what they don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Initimidating?? You need to start associating with a bit tougher crowd of football fans!! They take so damn long is the biggest problem ... otherwise, they are easier (because you have a shot at every player, so the outcome is fully in your own hands) and more fun (see previous parentheses) than a snake draft. Put it this way, if I proposed going to an auction league in my local 16 team, the first question I'm going to hear out of at least 12 of them is "what's an auction?" When I tell them they still won't understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 There are plenty of on-line auction draft leagues, it's a piece of cake. Is there more thinking required? Yes. More strategy required? Yes. That's the appeal! It's not rocket science, and it works in person and/or on-line. These replies that are popping through are providing me the answer to my question. There are obviously a lot of misconceptions about what an auction draft is, how hard it is to administer, etc. People are afraid of what they don't know. That's your answer. When the majority of fantasy owners are still using grocery store rags or ESPN rankings printed the day of the draft it's a bit intimidating for them to actually have to plan out their draft strategy. All I'm saying is that you don't see it as often because people like the fantasy nuts that you're used to dealing with here actually make up the minority of owners and then of the nuts like us a good majority still enjoys a regular draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecondString Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 Put it this way, if I proposed going to an auction league in my local 16 team, the first question I'm going to hear out of at least 12 of them is "what's an auction?" When I tell them they still won't understand. Lol, I hear ya. Pretty funny actually. "Are you smarter than a fifth grader" comes to mind. Simple explanation....Everybody knows what an AUCTION is, so here's how you explain it: - We all have a theoretical $200 to spend to purchase our players to fill our rosters. - We will establish an order 1 through 16. - #1 "nominates" a player for $1 - Anyone can bid on that player, minimum $1 increments - Highest bidder wins - # 2 nominates a player, same process, highest bidder wins - Repeat this process until everyone has a full roster - If you run out of $$ before you fill your roster, you can only nominate players for zero dollars when it is your turn to nominate. If nobody is willing to bid $1 or more, you get that player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 (edited) I'm in 6 leagues this year, 3 snake, 3 auction. The more knowledgable the owners the more likely the league will do/become an auction league, IMHO. For those leagues that have the more casual owners it's easier to run a snake draft league on auction day. I would love for all my leagues to be auctions. I have an auction tonight online that starts at 10:30 , but that's the only time all 12 of us can be online together so that's when we're rolling. I doubt any of us would show the same dedication to a snake draft. (I don't think I'd get out of bed at 10:30pm if it was the POPE coming thru town, but for an auction...you betcha! Edited September 5, 2011 by The Holy Roller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecondString Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 See, that's what I'm talkin about....they're a lot more fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinger Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 My 6th year of running an auction league and we wouldn't have it any other way. I guess the hardest part was getting someone to be the auctioneer, but I've finally found someone willing to be the auctioneer as long as I'm the auctioneer for the league he runs. Everyone in the league looks forward to draft night. We are all there in person, we have food, I provide the beer [to help with stupid money management] and just lots of laughs to go around. Though the more years we have of our auction league, the wiser some are getting with their draft money. Here are some pics of our 2011 draft night: http://www.twincitiesdailyphoto.com/2011/0...y-football.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenkinssssss Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I run a $200 local 12 team PPR auction redraft. last year was the first fantasy football auction for all of us, first fantasy sports auction for 10/12. the guy who had never played any fantasy won the league of course. everyone agreed it was the funnest draft ever-for the following reasons: 5. bar basement. 4. giant projection screen for roster spreadsheet (inc $, max bid, etc) 3. short draft - 3 hours for 12 teams of 16 person rosters to fill 2. hot waitress . . 1. professional auctioneer. he was f*in awesome (used him again this year) and definitely promoted exciting action on virtually every player. he only asked for $40/hr but we paid him twice that because he rocked so much. lots of random people came down to watch and stuff which was pretty hilarious. to find 1 i had to make a few calls to various auctioneers in the area (try searching for your state auctioneer licensing board website, should have solid area auctioneer directory). i also advise telling the auctioneer if the player nominated is a K or D so he doesnt waste much effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 There are plenty of on-line auction draft leagues, it's a piece of cake. Is there more thinking required? Yes. More strategy People are afraid of what they don't know. There ya go. They aren't much harder and they certainly don't take longer, in fact are quicker as there's no "hurry up and pick" while some putz fiddles with his cheatsheat or his laptop with some gay value calculation or whatever. Snooze you lose. I'd say about 90%+ of all people I have seen/heard of doing an auction draft say it's way better than the lame snake drafts. Yet people still resist. Stoopit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Put it this way, if I proposed going to an auction league in my local 16 team, the first question I'm going to hear out of at least 12 of them is "what's an auction?" When I tell them they still won't understand. I was thinking the same thing. I am in a 16 team league thats been around since the late 80's early 90's. They don't like change all that much. It took a little to get them on the internet. I remember when CBS sportsline was free. I can't get them to add a flex position...I could imagine trying get them to change to an auction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Agent Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Had our first auction draft in my local this year. Obviously a few kinks but it was awesome. Will never go back to the snake draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grogansghost Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I'd love to convince my league to do an auction draft. We're not a local league, so we'd probably be doing either an all online draft or a mix of online and in person. I've never done an auction league, so I have a few questions. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Do most people use specific services for an online auction, or put together their own draft rooms? what's the typical length for a twelve team online auction? I'm sure it can vary a lot, but assume a reasonable roster size. Post draft, is leftover auction money worth anything? (for example, added onto a FA budget.) Can players be dropped (i.e. replaced) during the draft? For example, someone unknowingly drafts an injured player, or drafts a full roster but still has enough money to improve a previous pick. If two owners spend their entire budget, how do you break a tie between 0$ bids for the same player? Thanks for any help in converting me from the dark side. Sincerely, Aspiring Auction Noob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 (edited) I think the point that rajn is making, which is 100% valid, is that many of us play in leagues with friends who aren't so gung-ho. It's the same thing when people crap all over 8 and 10 team leagues. Some people are not looking for the ultimate challenge. Some people just want to have a good time and I've been in a number of leagues with guys who specifically didn't want to increase the league size because they realized that the smaller league was an equalizing element for those who were less insane about this as those of us who come here. That if we went to 12 team leagues, then they'd actually have to research this stuff more and didn't want to do that. They just want a reason to care on Sunday, and a simpler FF league is a perfect balance. Same goes with a simpler form of drafting. Again, not everyone is so committed. So, most of us have our "friendly leagues" as well as testing our abilities in BOTH leagues where everyone is more on top of it. And we owe it to those in our less competitive leagues to not push the envelope so far in terms of requirements that really test FF acumen. That said, auctions are freaking rad. Edited September 7, 2011 by detlef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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