DRAFT DAY > what do you take to the draft (1 Viewer)

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Just curious what everyone is bringing on draft day this year?

I have always been a Draft Dominator guy but this year I'm considering just color coding my likes/dislikes in the excel sheet and printing that off.

PAPER DRAFTERS:

• Make your own sheet or modify/use the FBG one?

• What other printiouts do you dake iwth you?

LAPTOP DRAFTERS:

• Assuming you use Draft dominator?

• What other sites to you bookmark?

• If the venue doesn't have web access what other files do you have open for reference?

 

[Pittsburgh United]

This will be my first year bringing a laptop to the draft. I'm not planning on bringing much else.

In previous years, I always had the following (keep in mind I'm the commish, so I try to be prepared to help out some of the slacker coaches):

Depth chart

Personal cheatsheet

Scratch paper

Extra pens, in case someone forgets one or they run out

A round by round blank grid (a copy for each person present) so everyone can track the whole draft (still providing these)

That's about it.

 

[moleculo]

I come prepared w/ rankings updated w/ latest injuries and depth charts. Preparation is key. A good draft is made the day before the first pick is selected, IMO.

At the actual draft, I usually bring a 12 pack of beer, plus a 6'er of NA (my secret stash). I'll offer beer to anyone who wants one and I'll have a few, but I switch to the NA after 2 regular beers. I always want to make sure my head is straight. I do encourage my league mates to drink away, however. Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

 

[Gottabesweet]

One excel spreadsheet printed out and one pen. With my own rankings that I update daily.

 

[[icon]]

At the actual draft, I usually bring a 12 pack of beer, plus a 6'er of NA (my secret stash). I'll offer beer to anyone who wants one and I'll have a few, but I switch to the NA after 2 regular beers. I always want to make sure my head is straight. I do encourage my league mates to drink away, however. Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

OH come on man.. Non alcholic beer?! IT's fantasy football not rocket science. Half the fun is pounding a few brews with the guys. Why even drink beer at all if it's NA? Do you pour it in a glass and pretend it's real? I have a draft in a $250 buyin, 16 team lieague this sunday and I'll probably have a buzz before hte draft even starts and likely put down a couple pitchers easy thorugh the course of it.

 

[One]

Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

I never have a drop besides a RedBull or water until this point. ...I'll then have any booze or beer I can get my hands on for the remainder of the night. In the league I've been doing the longest, we hit up a pub after the draft so there's plenty of time to drink on that night.What I bring...

- Laptop (DD, tab'd browsing, excel sheets, notes)

- This stupid stitched wristband with my FF team's name on it. An old college GF had it made for me off the beach from some kid in mexico. I've brought it to every draft since over the last 10 years. It's 22 letters long and is kinda like my good luck charm.

 

[TheFanatic]

I'm only in 1 face to face league and it's a dynasty league. I bring a laptop with a 35 page Excel spread sheet that has the rosters all the way back to 2003, the draft picks all the way out to 2011, current rosters, my signed players and salary cap situation for the following year, NFL Schedule (thanks SuperJohn), Fantasy League Schedule, my list of players I want for each season and season ending stats for every position (non IDP) dating back to 2003.

A lot of what is in the spread sheet is to help me write the newsletters I write for the league. I mainly look at the rosters for the current year, my roster for the following year, draft pick sheet, and my cheat sheet.

I don't take any pen or paper. I don't need it. All I need is the laptop and the spreadsheet.....Oh, and I bring a jump drive for the other 3 guys in the league that bring laptops and use my template for the rosters for the current year. With the jump drive I can copy the up to date rosters over to their computers if necessary....

 

[Pittsburgh United]

At the actual draft, I usually bring a 12 pack of beer, plus a 6'er of NA (my secret stash). I'll offer beer to anyone who wants one and I'll have a few, but I switch to the NA after 2 regular beers. I always want to make sure my head is straight. I do encourage my league mates to drink away, however. Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

OH come on man.. Non alcholic beer?! IT's fantasy football not rocket science. Half the fun is pounding a few brews with the guys. Why even drink beer at all if it's NA? Do you pour it in a glass and pretend it's real? I have a draft in a $250 buyin, 16 team lieague this sunday and I'll probably have a buzz before hte draft even starts and likely put down a couple pitchers easy thorugh the course of it.

$150 buy in, 12-team league, 10 years running and I'm always sloppy drunk. Everyone is, that's half the fun! Like you said, I usually have a solid buzz going before the draft even starts, and I'll be stumbling by the time it's over.Drafting this Sunday and I can't wait. It's the best day of the year!

 

[TheFanatic]

Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

I never have a drop besides a RedBull or water until this point. ...I'll then have any booze or beer I can get my hands on for the remainder of the night. In the league I've been doing the longest, we hit up a pub after the draft so there's plenty of time to drink on that night.What I bring...

- Laptop (DD, tab'd browsing, excel sheets, notes)

- This stupid stitched wristband with my FF team's name on it. An old college GF had it made for me off the beach from some kid in mexico. I've brought it to every draft since over the last 10 years. It's 22 letters long and is kinda like my good luck charm.

So some chick you were dating respected your FFB hobby enough to do this for you and you did not marry that woman on the spot?!?!?! My wife thinks this is the stupidest thing on the planet....

 

[LionsFan78]

PAPER DRAFTERS:• Make your own sheet or modify/use the FBG one?• What other printiouts do you dake iwth you?

My laptop is crap. I use the DD in prep for the draft, but for the real thing I bring good ole paper, including...- My own ranking sheet, with comments- Schedule printout w/ bye weeks- Chart of my league's tendencies (RB-RB-WR, etc) over the last few years. It's pretty accurate, I'm usually able to guestimate where/when they'll take QB's, TE's and K's, not to mention other little trends and tidbits.

 

[Gr00vus]

PAPER DRAFTERS:• Make your own sheet or modify/use the FBG one?• What other printiouts do you dake iwth you?

My laptop is crap. I use the DD in prep for the draft, but for the real thing I bring good ole paper, including...- My own ranking sheet, with comments- Schedule printout w/ bye weeks

Same here, although I cram as many comments/notes (including the player's bye week) on the line for the player on the print out.I also have a blank league roster sheet organized by position that I fill in as the draft goes along. Very valuable to see who needs what at a glance - I'm never surprised by position runs and can focus on my likely options as a result.Also an ADP to round number conversion chart depending on league size.

 

[One]

Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

I never have a drop besides a RedBull or water until this point. ...I'll then have any booze or beer I can get my hands on for the remainder of the night. In the league I've been doing the longest, we hit up a pub after the draft so there's plenty of time to drink on that night.What I bring...

- Laptop (DD, tab'd browsing, excel sheets, notes)

- This stupid stitched wristband with my FF team's name on it. An old college GF had it made for me off the beach from some kid in mexico. I've brought it to every draft since over the last 10 years. It's 22 letters long and is kinda like my good luck charm.

So some chick you were dating respected your FFB hobby enough to do this for you and you did not marry that woman on the spot?!?!?! My wife thinks this is the stupidest thing on the planet....

Hah, there's a lot to it.. to make a long story short,The ex was cute, but way too clingy. Used to try and watch football with me and the dude's all day on sundays, wanted to go out to the same places I did & tried to lock up Mr. One when he was still in his prime.

The wife now is good times when the time's right and laid back when I need space. Football Sunday's are her favorite since her and her GF's usually head out to coffee and shopping all day. It's a beautiful thing.

 

[Warehouse Nasty]

I take a one page cheat sheet. If you show up at my draft with a laptop you'll get your ### kicked. We get drunk as hell and make fun of each other all night.

If you've done all the work before hand, you don't need to stay sober during the draft.

 

[nygiants56]

Just curious what everyone is bringing on draft day this year?

I have always been a Draft Dominator guy but this year I'm considering just color coding my likes/dislikes in the excel sheet and printing that off.

PAPER DRAFTERS:

• Make your own sheet or modify/use the FBG one?

• What other printiouts do you dake iwth you?

LAPTOP DRAFTERS:

• Assuming you use Draft dominator?

• What other sites to you bookmark?

• If the venue doesn't have web access what other files do you have open for reference?

I usually just bring FF magazines and the latest updates.as for laptops, I'm against using them at any football draft, especially the ones that have wireless modems and internet access.

I think its a bit unfair for someone to bring a laptop to the draft, while you have just a pen,paper and a magazine..the laptop owners could be in a chat room getting advice,etc..

its also supposed to be fun. not sure bringing a laptop is fun , it kinda makes a draft seem more like work, or business...

I like the old school approach..

 

[JimmyD]

I take a one page cheat sheet. If you show up at my draft with a laptop you'll get your ### kicked. We get drunk as hell and make fun of each other all night.If you've done all the work before hand, you don't need to stay sober during the draft.

Sweep the leg, Nasty, sweep the leg..cheetsheetdepth chartblank draft sheet to keep track of draft And this year a print out of the "Big Picture" - it might come in handy during the late rounds.

 

[stevo]

I'm the Commish so I bring a laptop to so the picks are on the projector. For myself, I live and die by the Draft Dominator with my own modified projections.

I'm in three money leagues each with different scoring and starting lineups. Draft Dominator and ADP drafting is the only way to go. Keep track of value picks and our teams needs easily. Fixed cheatsheets do not account for league differences. And magazines are a joke. Haven't bought one since '00.

 

[Wingnut]

Laptop w/DD, a magazine, blank draft sheets, a couple of pens, and beer.

 

[Da Masses]

Just a sheet, some highlighters to keep track who I/who was drafted and a bunch of out of date FF mags for the newbs, and beer.

I did the laptop one year and got yelled at for cheating.

 

[YoUnG GuNz]

Lap tops IMO are kinda nerdy.

 

[Darcimer]

OK, I'll admit to bringing a cheatsheet and a pen, but I am dying to show up with nothing. Lately, I just bring my cheetsheat, neatly hidden in my back pocket. I got sick of feeling like I am going to take my high school finals, and forgot to study. At some point, you are going to have to trust your homework. And if you are on these boards, there is a good chance your pretty familiar with the top 200. Honestly, by the end of August, and 500 drafts over at mockdraftcentral, you ought to remember most of it. I am in mostly IDP leagues, I'd give myself about a B at my first draft, but I am still rusty.

I just think that it would be awesome to kick the crap out of the league, being the drunkest guy who forgot to even bring a magazine...

 

[BigRed]

At the actual draft, I usually bring a 12 pack of beer, plus a 6'er of NA (my secret stash). I'll offer beer to anyone who wants one and I'll have a few, but I switch to the NA after 2 regular beers. I always want to make sure my head is straight. I do encourage my league mates to drink away, however. Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

OH come on man.. Non alcholic beer?! IT's fantasy football not rocket science. Half the fun is pounding a few brews with the guys. Why even drink beer at all if it's NA? Do you pour it in a glass and pretend it's real? I have a draft in a $250 buyin, 16 team lieague this sunday and I'll probably have a buzz before hte draft even starts and likely put down a couple pitchers easy thorugh the course of it.

Any openings in your leagues?And it's a cold day in hell that I bring a laptop to any FF draft. My cheat sheet and beer is it most years (in prev leagues something to grill also).

 

[BigRed]

At the actual draft, I usually bring a 12 pack of beer, plus a 6'er of NA (my secret stash). I'll offer beer to anyone who wants one and I'll have a few, but I switch to the NA after 2 regular beers. I always want to make sure my head is straight. I do encourage my league mates to drink away, however. Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

OH come on man.. Non alcholic beer?! IT's fantasy football not rocket science. Half the fun is pounding a few brews with the guys. Why even drink beer at all if it's NA? Do you pour it in a glass and pretend it's real? I have a draft in a $250 buyin, 16 team lieague this sunday and I'll probably have a buzz before hte draft even starts and likely put down a couple pitchers easy thorugh the course of it.

Any openings in your leagues?And it's a cold day in hell that I bring a laptop to any FF draft. My cheat sheet and beer is it most years (in prev leagues something to grill also).

 

[moleculo]

At the actual draft, I usually bring a 12 pack of beer, plus a 6'er of NA (my secret stash). I'll offer beer to anyone who wants one and I'll have a few, but I switch to the NA after 2 regular beers. I always want to make sure my head is straight. I do encourage my league mates to drink away, however. Once the draft is secure and we are down to kickers and defense, back to the good stuff.

OH come on man.. Non alcholic beer?! IT's fantasy football not rocket science. Half the fun is pounding a few brews with the guys. Why even drink beer at all if it's NA? Do you pour it in a glass and pretend it's real?

I have a draft in a $250 buyin, 16 team lieague this sunday and I'll probably have a buzz before hte draft even starts and likely put down a couple pitchers easy thorugh the course of it.

SERIOUS BUSINESS

 

[Darth Cheney]

Pants.... and a pen.

 

[Dreamer]

Printed Excel cheatsheet

Highlighter/Pen

Magazine

Brownies

Jello Shots

It's business time.

 

[george]

1. A 2 page Cheetsheet with positional tiers I make up for each league’s scoring system.

2. A page with a) place for all my draft picks, b) a grid for tracking other’s positional picks and c) last year’s PPG range for each different positional tiers based on ppg from last year.

That’s pretty much it. I might bring a depth chart this year, but doubt it.

I’ve usually done enough research/mocks that I drink freely. I know who I want and what round I want them in. I use the grid to track the other team’s positional picks to decide if I can wait a round or not when I pick in the middle. The draft I’m doing Saturday, I’m drafting on the elbow, so may not mess with the grid as everyone will pick 2x before I do every time.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

A cheatsheet I've generated using Projections Dominator, marked up to highlight the tiers, a modified grid so I can track the draft pick by pick noting which positions the other teams have filled (I like this more than just tracking pick by pick - makes it easier to see who needs what in the next few rounds), an updated depth chart, and a magazine for quick access to the NFL schedule, a few pens.

 

[butcher boy]

dollar bills for the strippers.

 

[Ilov80s]

List of all players ranked by position with bye weeks, a pen, and plenty of beer.

 

[YoUnG GuNz]

Folder

Cheatsheets in Tiers and some comments

Magazines

Pen

Scrap paper

 

[JimmyD]

Anybody have a condensed one page depth chart showing only offensive skill pos?

 

[george]

 

[cjack]

List of all players ranked by position with bye weeks, a pen, and plenty of beer.

That's pretty much all you need right there, with special emphasis on the last item.How can people on this site do the countless hours of research they seem to do and still need depth charts on draft day? It's not like it's set in stone anyway, but how can you not know where players basically sit on their team's depth chart at this point. Especially those players who you have any intention of drafting.I could see it for verrrry large leagues or dynasty leagues, but for your average 10-14 team re-draft, do you really need to know the 3rd string QB on the Dolphins? If he merits any consideration, you would certainly know his name and whether he's worth picking up at the end of the draft. I really hope these are only for 20 team redrafts or dynasty leagues.Just because a depth chart still lists Foster over Williams in Carolina, does that really mean anything as the season gets started?More importantly, does your aptitude drop so quickly that you can't drink a few/several beers at the draft without slurring out Fred Lane in the 10th round?

 

[Mr. Sparkle]

The one live draft party I have, I have at my house. I have cheatsheets, depth chart, injury report.

ALso will have beer, soda, chips, dip, lasagne, chicken fingers, pigs in a blanket, rice balls and baked clams from the italian specialty store by my house. The mrs will be making a buffalo chicken pizza for us as well.

 

[Ilov80s]

List of all players ranked by position with bye weeks, a pen, and plenty of beer.

That's pretty much all you need right there, with special emphasis on the last item.How can people on this site do the countless hours of research they seem to do and still need depth charts on draft day? It's not like it's set in stone anyway, but how can you not know where players basically sit on their team's depth chart at this point. Especially those players who you have any intention of drafting.I could see it for verrrry large leagues or dynasty leagues, but for your average 10-14 team re-draft, do you really need to know the 3rd string QB on the Dolphins? If he merits any consideration, you would certainly know his name and whether he's worth picking up at the end of the draft. I really hope these are only for 20 team redrafts or dynasty leagues.Just because a depth chart still lists Foster over Williams in Carolina, does that really mean anything as the season gets started?More importantly, does your aptitude drop so quickly that you can't drink a few/several beers at the draft without slurring out Fred Lane in the 10th round?

Exactly. I think most of us come on here enough (too much?) to know who we like, who is hurt, who is likely going to play, etc. I don't need depth charts, ADP, rankings, or injury reports- for better or worse that stuff is all in my head.

 

[brettdj]

My spreadsheet, all players 1 page ranked by position.

Pen, highlighter

magazine for byeweek matchups

empty draft spreadsheet to write in team names and picks so I can watch the serpentine to predict others picks

 

[cjack]

One other serious comment. It looks like several of you should have your league invest in a draft board. A good one goes for about $25-$30, divided by 10-12 guys, it costs essentially nothing. But, it's a much better, easier way to track picks throughout the draft. You get these nice color coded (by position) labels so you can see how each team is drafting, what their needs are, etc. Many of the labels also list the bye weeks, so you don't even have to track that separately. It's all in one place, easy for everyone to see, no time is spent by individual owners trying to figure out who's been taken, and who they forgot to right down (that's the #### that will slow a draft down).

I ordered one through DraftKits.com this year, and ordered the optional cardboard stand as well. Honestly, that's the best improvement we've made to our draft since the early 90's when we stopped using USA Today to track stats.

 

[Gr00vus]

One other serious comment. It looks like several of you should have your league invest in a draft board. A good one goes for about $25-$30, divided by 10-12 guys, it costs essentially nothing. But, it's a much better, easier way to track picks throughout the draft. You get these nice color coded (by position) labels so you can see how each team is drafting, what their needs are, etc. Many of the labels also list the bye weeks, so you don't even have to track that separately. It's all in one place, easy for everyone to see, no time is spent by individual owners trying to figure out who's been taken, and who they forgot to right down (that's the #### that will slow a draft down).I ordered one through DraftKits.com this year, and ordered the optional cardboard stand as well. Honestly, that's the best improvement we've made to our draft since the early 90's when we stopped using USA Today to track stats.

They don't arrange things the way I want to see them for my own use in drafting, usually they're just round by round - not helpful strategy wise. Plus I can write whatever I want on my own sheet. I keep my own sheet even in leagues that have a draft board for these reasons.

 

[[icon]]

Brownies

Are we talking Brownies or Brownies?

 

[Prof. Chaos]

My gf in her Hooters outfit.

 

[[icon]]

One other serious comment. It looks like several of you should have your league invest in a draft board. A good one goes for about $25-$30, divided by 10-12 guys, it costs essentially nothing. But, it's a much better, easier way to track picks throughout the draft. You get these nice color coded (by position) labels so you can see how each team is drafting, what their needs are, etc. Many of the labels also list the bye weeks, so you don't even have to track that separately. It's all in one place, easy for everyone to see, no time is spent by individual owners trying to figure out who's been taken, and who they forgot to right down (that's the #### that will slow a draft down).I ordered one through DraftKits.com this year, and ordered the optional cardboard stand as well. Honestly, that's the best improvement we've made to our draft since the early 90's when we stopped using USA Today to track stats.

They don't arrange things the way I want to see them for my own use in drafting, usually they're just round by round - not helpful strategy wise. Plus I can write whatever I want on my own sheet. I keep my own sheet even in leagues that have a draft board for these reasons.

Actually to be honest wtih the color coded labels it makes it VERY obvious what posiions a team has picked. The labels are usually very bright and distinct so you an quickly scan ahead to look for QB/RB/etc... The large draftboards are the ONLY way to go IMHO... sure you can keep your own sheets but I'd question any live draft that didn't use a large tracking board of some sort (either stickers or projected chart).

 

[2and2is5]

my draft is in a reserved section at our favorite bar, PJs, we set up the big board, beer towers all day, 7th round jager bombs....it gets most serious, the picks in the later rounds are hysterical, thats what free agency is for, no?

 

[Pittsburgh United]

My gf in her Hooters outfit.

 

[massraider]

Just a laptop, with a copy of the schedule stuffed in a pocket somewhere. I usually refer to the schedule later, when filling in guys for bye weeks.

I am in one big league, that I joined as an expansion team 2 years ago. Bunch of drinking, gambling South Jersey guys that all referred to me as the "Laptop Guy from Boston". One championship later, that was the last year I was the only one with a laptop, and suddenly, there are power strips and laptops all over the place the last two years.

 

[Christo]

1. VBD spreadsheet (now with ADP activated )

2. Blank sheet of paper

3. Pen

4. Highlighter

 

[Gr00vus]

Actually to be honest wtih the color coded labels it makes it VERY obviously what posiions a team has picked. The labels are usually very bright and distinct so you an quickly scan ahead to look for QB/RB/etc... The large draftboards are the ONLY way to go IMHO... sure you can keep your own sheets but I'd question any live draft that didn't use a large tracking board of some sort (either stickers or projected chart).

Disagree. On my grid I can tell at a glance exactly how ever roster in my league is constructed at the current time - I can tell you exactly how many of each position all the teams still need in a couple of seconds. Those colored stickers are nice, but those boards just don't measure up in the way they arrange the information.

 

[Dreamer]

Brownies

Are we talking Brownies or Brownies?

What they don't know won't hurt them.

 

[[icon]]

Actually to be honest wtih the color coded labels it makes it VERY obviously what posiions a team has picked. The labels are usually very bright and distinct so you an quickly scan ahead to look for QB/RB/etc... The large draftboards are the ONLY way to go IMHO... sure you can keep your own sheets but I'd question any live draft that didn't use a large tracking board of some sort (either stickers or projected chart).

Disagree. On my grid I can tell at a glance exactly how ever roster in my league is constructed at the current time - I can tell you exactly how many of each position all the teams still need in a couple of seconds. Those colored stickers are nice, but those boards just don't measure up in the way they arrange the information.

Once again.. not saying you can't keep your own sheet... but frankly I'd seriously question any league that didn't ahve a large centralized, visible draft board of some sort.

 

[17seconds]

Being a commish that has to track the draft, Draft Dominator is the only way to go.

 

[One]

Actually to be honest wtih the color coded labels it makes it VERY obviously what posiions a team has picked. The labels are usually very bright and distinct so you an quickly scan ahead to look for QB/RB/etc... The large draftboards are the ONLY way to go IMHO... sure you can keep your own sheets but I'd question any live draft that didn't use a large tracking board of some sort (either stickers or projected chart).

Disagree. On my grid I can tell at a glance exactly how ever roster in my league is constructed at the current time - I can tell you exactly how many of each position all the teams still need in a couple of seconds. Those colored stickers are nice, but those boards just don't measure up in the way they arrange the information.

Once again.. not saying you can't keep your own sheet... but frankly I'd seriously question any league that didn't ahve a large centralized, visible draft board of some sort.

I've never been to an in-person draft that didn't.