Division vs. No Divisions (1 Viewer)

[tytyty]

I have been in a 10 team, redraft league for years. Every year we have done two divisions of five teams. Now we are just putting all 10 teams in and the top 6 records during the season from head to head matches get in the playoffs. (With tie breakers, first being Total Points)

In the past with divisions (like this year too) you need to worry about fielding the best team you can, however, you really needed to worry about the other 4 guys in your division. Not so much the other.

Ex: Division (years past) - I have 9th pick and a guy in the other division has 10th in a Serpentine draft. If I know he has a certain need, I don't really need to try and block him because I wont have to really worry too much about him until possibly the playoffs and the one regular season game.

It seems to me when there is no divisions, I need to worry about looking back down at the earlier picks with my 9th because I have to try and beat everyone.

Ex: Might take 2 stud WR with picks, 9 and 12, so the guys who got LJ, LT,SA have less of a chance at another stud going back down.

Now don't get too stuck on the 2 WR thing. I know RB is gold and wouldn't do that but more wanted to see conversation on if there is a different draft strategy when you do divisions compared to not.

Fyi, normal league - start 1,2,3,1,1,1

 

[J-Rock]

I've never been in a league with no Divisions. Having said that, My draft strategy is definitely affected by who is in my division. I want to know I am in a position first and foremost win my division. The draft dominator is great for this because you can weight the weeks you play against division rivals and the DD will calculate SOS for players still on the board for those weeks.

I'd think drafting with Divisions would be more complicated than without. If I were in a league with no divisions I'd just try to draft the best possible team. Don't worry about blocking or trying to take something away from the rest of the league. Just try to give yourself any kind of advantage as possible. You need to have a team built to win consistently as opposed to a team built to be strong in weeks you play your division rivals.

You might consider picking a lot of guys with the same bye week and conceding that week to have all of your studs in weeks where the rest of the league will be struggling to find suitable back ups.

 

[MLBrandow]

I have been in a few leagues with divisions.

It's silly. And since the goal is to win a championship (no one cares that you make the playoffs every year), gameplanning shouldn't change.

 

[J-Rock]

I have been in a few leagues with divisions.

It's silly. And since the goal is to win a championship (no one cares that you make the playoffs every year), gameplanning shouldn't change.

Great idea. You should email the new commissioner of the NFL and share your concept with him. 32 teams, no divisions, top 6 records make the playoffs.

 

[MLBrandow]

I have been in a few leagues with divisions.

It's silly.  And since the goal is to win a championship (no one cares that you make the playoffs every year), gameplanning shouldn't change.

Great idea. You should email the new commissioner of the NFL and share your concept with him. 32 teams, no divisions, top 6 records make the playoffs.

It's a good thing you have a clear understanding the difference between fantasy football and the NFL.

 

[tytyty]

I've never been in a league with no Divisions. Having said that, My draft strategy is definitely affected by who is in my division. I want to know I am in a position first and foremost win my division. The draft dominator is great for this because you can weight the weeks you play against division rivals and the DD will calculate SOS for players still on the board for those weeks.

I'd think drafting with Divisions would be more complicated than without. If I were in a league with no divisions I'd just try to draft the best possible team. Don't worry about blocking or trying to take something away from the rest of the league. Just try to give yourself any kind of advantage as possible. You need to have a team built to win consistently as opposed to a team built to be strong in weeks you play your division rivals.

You might consider picking a lot of guys with the same bye week and conceding that week to have all of your studs in weeks where the rest of the league will be struggling to find suitable back ups.

Hey I really like the bye weeks statement. That is a great idea. Really works in this format too.

 

[T Man]

In a ten team league with no divisions, the key is the schedule.

Is your schedule put out before the draft??? (I think it should always be available before the draft).

If so, you will likely have to face 4-5 teams twice. Because of this, you may want to consider this just like you would a "division" because you have to fare well in these games to make the top 6.

 

[GregR_2]

To me, the reason you have divisions is to create more rivalries that fuel more interest in the league.

Whether they add (or detract) from strategy is to me such a small consideration compared to that, that I wouldn't even waste time thinking about it.

 

[tytyty]

In a ten team league with no divisions, the key is the schedule.

Is your schedule put out before the draft??? (I think it should always be available before the draft).

If so, you will likely have to face 4-5 teams twice. Because of this, you may want to consider this just like you would a "division" because you have to fare well in these games to make the top 6.

Another great point. I shall do that. But if those teams are the bottom 4 I guess it won't help that much.