Best way to determine Draft order. New league (1 Viewer)

[Limp Dogg Bizkits]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.

What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

 

[FFFanaticc]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

We do an auction, that way is the best.But if you cannot talk them into an auction, we used to use a deck of cards, all the same suit. Ace through 9 for a ten team league, Ace through Jack for a 12 team league....just make sure everybody is clear that Ace is the #1 pick and not the last pick (or vice-versa, just make sure everyone is clear before you start).Then, the commish would give it a good shuffle and offer a cut. He then walks around the room and lets each owner pick his card out of the fanned out deck....this way you don't have some guy complaining that it was rigged.

 

[tulane]

*Go to the dice roller at http://www.irony.com/mailroll.html and set the following parameters.

*Number of dice to be rolled=4

*How many sides on each dice=1000

* Should anything be added or subtracted from the total roll=NO

* Take the check out of the two boxes next to drop highest roll and drop lowest roll.

* To remove the check just click on the check.

* The entire roll can be repeated__ times?=Just put 1 in this box

* The subject will be= Draft Order

* Place your email in next box where it says type in your email address.

* In the alternate email address put the commissioner's email. The commissioner will forward the results to the league.

(which is ofcourse useful prior to a draft when everyone cannot attend live)

 

[broker3d]

We have about 3-4 of us get together about a month before the draft and use the deck of cards to determine the 1-10 slots. But we put a little twist in it. Whatever number you draw from the deck does not necessarily mean that you get that slot. It means that you get that choice for which slot you are in. For instance, if you draw #1 than you have the 1st choice of which slot you want to pick from. After #1 picks his draft slot than #2 chooses what position he would like to draft from, and so on down the line until #10 gets the remaining slot. This way if a guy gets a high choice but actually wants to draft toward the end, he can be rewarded for getting an early choice and select the slot he desires. It has gone over very well for the last 4 years. There has NOT been one year where the choices went in order of one through ten. Atleast one person has chosen out of the normal sequence every year.

We usually choose the slot via the phone or email.

 

[yaheRRdme]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.

What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

Use this free email draft order generator.http://www.fftoolbox.com/draft_order_generator.cfm

 

[goldenchild]

Never used this method, but thought it was pretty cool after my co-worker told me how they do it...

They have two separate draw piles: one with all of their names written on pieces of paper, and the other with numbers written on pieces of paper (1-12 in 12 team leagues, etc).

Then they draw from one pile and match them up with the number they draw from the other... so even if your name is picked 1st, you are not necessarily getting the 1st pick.

Sounds like it would be fun, but I'm sure you'd get some PO owners.

Good luck.

 

[austinke]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

the "draft order setup - all rounds" page on your mfl.com league offers a few different random draft order generation options, including the ability to email owners, verifying that the draft order was completely randomly generated.

 

[bentley]

*Go to the dice roller at http://www.irony.com/mailroll.html and set the following parameters.

*Number of dice to be rolled=4

*How many sides on each dice=1000

* Should anything be added or subtracted from the total roll=NO

* Take the check out of the two boxes next to drop highest roll and drop lowest roll.

* To remove the check just click on the check.

* The entire roll can be repeated__ times?=Just put 1 in this box

* The subject will be= Draft Order

* Place your email in next box where it says type in your email address.

* In the alternate email address put the commissioner's email. The commissioner will forward the results to the league.

(which is ofcourse useful prior to a draft when everyone cannot attend live)

This is how I've done it. Except that we only rolled one 1000 sided die. I agree that you should do something that lets people know the order in advance so that they can plan, which excludes many of the ideas in this thread.

 

[johnnyshaka]

The commish for a league I use to be in would randomly assign each GM a preseason game and then would base the order on how quickly the first points would be scored in each game. The first game to produce points would pick first and so on and so forth. He had all sorts of tiebreakers just in case there was tie.

Made one week of the preseason a little more interesting at least.

 

[GreenNGold]

The commish for a league I use to be in would randomly assign each GM a preseason game and then would base the order on how quickly the first points would be scored in each game. The first game to produce points would pick first and so on and so forth. He had all sorts of tiebreakers just in case there was tie.Made one week of the preseason a little more interesting at least.

That is a damn good idea. In our league, we would always resort to dance-off.

 

[schooner44]

Never used this method, but thought it was pretty cool after my co-worker told me how they do it...They have two separate draw piles: one with all of their names written on pieces of paper, and the other with numbers written on pieces of paper (1-12 in 12 team leagues, etc).Then they draw from one pile and match them up with the number they draw from the other... so even if your name is picked 1st, you are not necessarily getting the 1st pick.Sounds like it would be fun, but I'm sure you'd get some PO owners.Good luck.

I do something very similar in my main league. I send a request to 2 different owners asking one to email the numbers 1-12 back in random order and have another owner email back the team names i random order. Hold the lists side by side and match up the team names to the corresponding number and thats their draft spot.This works well plus it gets the owners involved. The problem with doing it on your own is that someone could say you repeated the process until you got the results you wanted.

 

[Blackstar]

Never used this method, but thought it was pretty cool after my co-worker told me how they do it...They have two separate draw piles: one with all of their names written on pieces of paper, and the other with numbers written on pieces of paper (1-12 in 12 team leagues, etc).Then they draw from one pile and match them up with the number they draw from the other... so even if your name is picked 1st, you are not necessarily getting the 1st pick.Sounds like it would be fun, but I'm sure you'd get some PO owners.Good luck.

We've used this method every year for 6 years now. Much more random than just picking them out of a hat.

 

[Tom Baker]

An Alternative to the Traditional Fantasy Draft

During my second fantasy draft, prior to the 1997 season, I sat in quiet amazement as the player I coveted, Barry Sanders, continued to fall towards the #9 selection—my pick. I had gone into the draft with Sanders rated as my #1 overall player, and, if given the opportunity, I would have taken him at #1. As it was, the luck of the draw had stuck me at #9, and now I could only watch helplessly as the guy with the 8th pick coolly drafted the Lion RB. Needless to say, my competitor rode Barry’s 2300 yards and 14 TDs to an easy league title while I suffered through a nightmare season in which the player I selected at #9, Jerome Bettis, lost nearly a touchdown a week to the vulturing Kordell Stewart.

At the time of the draft, it seemed horrendous to me that my fantasy fate for that year was essentially sealed by a single stroke of bad luck. The fact was that I had pegged Sanders as the fantasy goldmine of 1997, and yet I had nothing to show for my tremendous foresight. I asked myself how I could help others avoid a similar fate. The obvious answer seemed to be the traditional auction format, but few leagues are willing to completely abandon the less-complicated draft format. What I needed to do was devise a draft format which still allowed a participant the option of moving up to snag the premier player that he or she wanted.

Since I was using a traditional draft as my starting point, I kept the random selection of draft order as the first step in my alternative draft process. The league owners would throw dice to select an initial draft order. From there, I wanted to give each owner the opportunity to move up to whatever slot he or she desired. The obvious way to do this, it seemed, was simply to auction off each draft spot using real dollars (which would be added to the league pot). The randomly selected draft order would be the default in case the owners were content with their positioning.

In practice, I have found that the best way to run this kind of draft is to set a minimum initial bid amount (say $5) for each pick and then minimum increments for successive bids (say $2). Bids should be taken until the owner who wants the first overall pick the most outbids everyone else; then that owner makes his or her selection before the bidding begins for the second pick. It’s important that the draft-picks are made before bidding begins on the next pick so that the owners know who is left and thus whom they are bidding on (after all, we want to encourage bidding as this helps to grow the pot!). If the owners stop bidding at some point, then the default draft order is used to determine the remainder of the round.

Theoretically, this bidding process could be used for every round in a draft, though I have used it only to determine the order of the first round and have then proceeded with snake order the rest of the way through. I have yet to find an owner who is opposed to this alternative draft system. Its merits are twofold: it gives each owner the opportunity to draft an LT, and it puts even more cash in the league pot!

 

[shadyridr]

Never used this method, but thought it was pretty cool after my co-worker told me how they do it...They have two separate draw piles: one with all of their names written on pieces of paper, and the other with numbers written on pieces of paper (1-12 in 12 team leagues, etc).Then they draw from one pile and match them up with the number they draw from the other... so even if your name is picked 1st, you are not necessarily getting the 1st pick.Sounds like it would be fun, but I'm sure you'd get some PO owners.Good luck.

We've used this method every year for 6 years now. Much more random than just picking them out of a hat.

I have used this method every year as well but technically I dont think it is more random.

 

[Cleat Spike]

*Go to the dice roller at http://www.irony.com/mailroll.html and set the following parameters.

*Number of dice to be rolled=4

*How many sides on each dice=1000

* Should anything be added or subtracted from the total roll=NO

* Take the check out of the two boxes next to drop highest roll and drop lowest roll.

* To remove the check just click on the check.

* The entire roll can be repeated__ times?=Just put 1 in this box

* The subject will be= Draft Order

* Place your email in next box where it says type in your email address.

* In the alternate email address put the commissioner's email. The commissioner will forward the results to the league.

(which is ofcourse useful prior to a draft when everyone cannot attend live)

This is how I've done it. Except that we only rolled one 1000 sided die. I agree that you should do something that lets people know the order in advance so that they can plan, which excludes many of the ideas in this thread.

Same here, but we roll one 1000 sided die 12 times too. That will give you the 12 roll numbers that you matchup to each team # which I just put in alphabetical order according do the coaches last name (which is pretty random as well).So coach with last name of A is Team #1.........they would get the # that goes with Roll #1.....and so on. Go from lowest to highest as 1st to 12th.

The dice server is nice cause you can cc your league mates as it happens so they know it's on the up and up and it's totally random.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

IF you are looking for a simple way, e-mail two of the more honest owners in your league. Have one e-mail you a list of random numbers (#of however many owners are in your league). Have the other owner e-mail you a random list with each owners name on it. Then match up the numbers and owners.

 

[hephner]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.

What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

Use this free email draft order generator.http://www.fftoolbox.com/draft_order_generator.cfm

We used this in a start-up dynasty league I just joined, and it was very easy.

Unfortunately, I drew the 12th slot. (I still managed to grab Parker in the first though.)

 

[The Kansas Comet]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.

What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

Use this free email draft order generator.http://www.fftoolbox.com/draft_order_generator.cfm

My league has used this the last two years - it's good for getting the order determined ahead of time (though I sort of miss the tension of picking cards on draft day) since the league members are scattered throughout California.

 

[Silver&BlackSmith]

We use names and cards. Put all names in a hat and pick a name and a card then repeat! Completely random!

 

[Blackstar]

I have used this method every year as well but technically I dont think it is more random.

technically and factually it is more random1 hat scenario:first name out of the hat has 1 possible draft position; 1stsecond name out of the hat has 1 possible draft position; 2ndetcetc etc2 hat scenario: first name out of the hat has 12 possible positions; 1st thru 12thsecond name out of the hat has 11 possible positions 1st through 12 minus 1etc etc etc

 

[Limp Dogg Bizkits]

We have about 3-4 of us get together about a month before the draft and use the deck of cards to determine the 1-10 slots. But we put a little twist in it. Whatever number you draw from the deck does not necessarily mean that you get that slot. It means that you get that choice for which slot you are in. For instance, if you draw #1 than you have the 1st choice of which slot you want to pick from. After #1 picks his draft slot than #2 chooses what position he would like to draft from, and so on down the line until #10 gets the remaining slot. This way if a guy gets a high choice but actually wants to draft toward the end, he can be rewarded for getting an early choice and select the slot he desires. It has gone over very well for the last 4 years. There has NOT been one year where the choices went in order of one through ten. Atleast one person has chosen out of the normal sequence every year.We usually choose the slot via the phone or email.

I'm going with this idea. Sounds like a good twist

 

[Bristol]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

Why not have a cockoff?

 

[matuski]

We have about 3-4 of us get together about a month before the draft and use the deck of cards to determine the 1-10 slots. But we put a little twist in it. Whatever number you draw from the deck does not necessarily mean that you get that slot. It means that you get that choice for which slot you are in. For instance, if you draw #1 than you have the 1st choice of which slot you want to pick from. After #1 picks his draft slot than #2 chooses what position he would like to draft from, and so on down the line until #10 gets the remaining slot. This way if a guy gets a high choice but actually wants to draft toward the end, he can be rewarded for getting an early choice and select the slot he desires. It has gone over very well for the last 4 years. There has NOT been one year where the choices went in order of one through ten. Atleast one person has chosen out of the normal sequence every year.We usually choose the slot via the phone or email.

I'm going with this idea. Sounds like a good twist

 

[massraider]

We have about 3-4 of us get together about a month before the draft and use the deck of cards to determine the 1-10 slots. But we put a little twist in it. Whatever number you draw from the deck does not necessarily mean that you get that slot. It means that you get that choice for which slot you are in. For instance, if you draw #1 than you have the 1st choice of which slot you want to pick from. After #1 picks his draft slot than #2 chooses what position he would like to draft from, and so on down the line until #10 gets the remaining slot. This way if a guy gets a high choice but actually wants to draft toward the end, he can be rewarded for getting an early choice and select the slot he desires. It has gone over very well for the last 4 years. There has NOT been one year where the choices went in order of one through ten. Atleast one person has chosen out of the normal sequence every year.We usually choose the slot via the phone or email.

I'm going with this idea. Sounds like a good twist

We do this as well. Very cool.

 

[captgus]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

Why not have a cockoff?

I email the entire league and specifically ask one person to 'reply to all' with the numbers of teams in the league (12) in random order, i.e. 8-4-12-1-6 and so forth. I then ask another league member to do the same, this time with a list of all of the team owners, again replying to all, in random order. This keeps everyone involved and eliminates any shenanigans. Simple and takes all of 5 minutes.

 

[shadyridr]

I have used this method every year as well but technically I dont think it is more random.

technically and factually it is more random1 hat scenario:first name out of the hat has 1 possible draft position; 1stsecond name out of the hat has 1 possible draft position; 2ndetcetc etc2 hat scenario: first name out of the hat has 12 possible positions; 1st thru 12thsecond name out of the hat has 11 possible positions 1st through 12 minus 1etc etc etc

Umm no. In both scenarios there are 12! possibilities. In other words they are both equally random. I am an actuary.

 

[shredhead]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.

What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

But if you cannot talk them into an auction, we used to use a deck of cards, all the same suit. Ace through 9 for a ten team league, Ace through Jack for a 12 team league....just make sure everybody is clear that Ace is the #1 pick and not the last pick (or vice-versa, just make sure everyone is clear before you start).

How do you decide who doesn't get a card???

 

[NinerK]

Never used this method, but thought it was pretty cool after my co-worker told me how they do it...They have two separate draw piles: one with all of their names written on pieces of paper, and the other with numbers written on pieces of paper (1-12 in 12 team leagues, etc).Then they draw from one pile and match them up with the number they draw from the other... so even if your name is picked 1st, you are not necessarily getting the 1st pick.Sounds like it would be fun, but I'm sure you'd get some PO owners.Good luck.

This is EXACTLY what I was going to post. We did it this year for the first time. Worked pretty well. Suggested by an owner in our league last year.

 

[BroadwayG]

I'd set up some sort of physical combat tournament. Somewhere between armwrestling and fights to the death.

 

[shredhead]

We have our draft Sunday. I was going to just draw names at the draft, but was thinking that it would be better if people knew ahead of time so they could get a plan together.What is the best way to do this so that no one questions the outcome? We are using myfantasyleague.com. Is there a way to randomise the league there?

Why not have a cockoff?

I email the entire league and specifically ask one person to 'reply to all' with the numbers of teams in the league (12) in random order, i.e. 8-4-12-1-6 and so forth. I then ask another league member to do the same, this time with a list of all of the team owners, again replying to all, in random order. This keeps everyone involved and eliminates any shenanigans. Simple and takes all of 5 minutes.

How do you know one guy didn't read the other guys list before he sent his list?