FAAB Baseline Strategy (1 Viewer)

[just_want_2_win]

I see FAAB recommendations on several sites saying bid "40%" or "10%" of your FAAB on a particular player.

But none are clear (to me at least) as to what that percentage is based on -- your current FAAB amount or your initial -- and I want to see if how I'm taking it is how others are.

Is that percentage based on your FAAB's initial starting point? For example, a week 8 bid recommendation of 20% is $20 based on a $100 FAAB for the season.

Or is it based on your *remaining* FAAB? Same example as above...say I have $40 left as of week 8 out of the $100 I started with -- 20% would be $8.

How do you interpret the recommendations when implementing your bidding strategy?

 

[Jojo the circus boy]

I see FAAB recommendations on several sites saying bid "40%" or "10%" of your FAAB on a particular player.

But none are clear (to me at least) as to what that percentage is based on -- your current FAAB amount or your initial -- and I want to see if how I'm taking it is how others are.

Is that percentage based on your FAAB's initial starting point? For example, a week 8 bid recommendation of 20% is $20 based on a $100 FAAB for the season.

Or is it based on your *remaining* FAAB? Same example as above...say I have $40 left as of week 8 out of the $100 I started with -- 20% would be $8.

How do you interpret the recommendations when implementing your bidding strategy?

I assume your initial FAAB balance, so in your example $20. To be honest I think a lot of the recommendations are low (if you want to win that player), this is coming from a $1000 FAAB 16 team league though so your mileage may vary.

You should also factor in how deep your rosters are and how often you make pickups. If you are making pickups every week then the FBG estimates may be ok since you can get buy spending 5-10% each week and still have something left by the end of the season. If you have deep rosters and don't make pickups that often and you really want the player you are targeting you should bid more.

 

[ebsteelers]

it should come from your remaining budget..

not sure how at this point in the season they would expect anyone to have a full budget remaining

 

[Warrior]

Or is it based on your *remaining* FAAB?

Use some common sense. If someone says Mike James is worth 50% of your auction budget, and you have $4 left out of $100, do you seriously think that it means he's worth $2? So he's worth $2 to your team and $50 to a team with their full budget remaining?

Just sit and think about it for thirty seconds, then get back to us.

 

[just_want_2_win]

Or is it based on your *remaining* FAAB?

Use some common sense. If someone says Mike James is worth 50% of your auction budget, and you have $4 left out of $100, do you seriously think that it means he's worth $2? So he's worth $2 to your team and $50 to a team with their full budget remaining?

Just sit and think about it for thirty seconds, then get back to us.

Extreme example. Duh. But if you have a more realistic $60 at this point out of $100 it's a more valid question. Flip your statement around would the writer recommend 40% of $2? They don't know levels remaining for readers.

 

[INRIhab]

I think it's often difficult to implement those numbers anyway, and you are better served by simply understanding the trends in your league. The league will typically be anchored to whatever the prices were in previous weeks, so the previous few weeks are really your best baseline. For example, Joique Bell was the first major RB to get picked up in my league and he went for $30. After Lacy's concussion the next week, Starks then went for $32. McGahee $33 the week after. Randle went for $38 last week.

I believe that people will typically readjust their anchors to what has occurred over the last 3-5 weeks, so a winning FAAB bid from week 1 is probably not as relevant in week 10. This is especially true because as FAAB budgets decline, the bid required to win a player also typically declines (people are more cautious with their remaining FAAB and simply have less of it), which enables some owners who held their money to get better deals on players (similar to value picks in an auction draft) or to get a higher chance of guaranteeing a player. Woodhead/Stacy went for $13-$15 in my league weeks after all the guys I previously mentioned. Mike James just went for $21 and Ivory $17.

There's a clear benefit to reserving your FAAB for the right time mid-season; however, I remember reading some commentary (I think from FBG or the Shark Pool) stating that the biggest impact players are typically revealed in the first few weeks of a season. That's why I bid high on Joique after week 1. You can also potentially capitalize on the early season hype and owners who are over-eager in the early weeks.

Just my two cents, curious to hear what others think. I know some/most of this isn't relevant to the OP's question, but I think FAAB bidding is one area where a lot of finger waving is done as opposed to using more a thoughtful approach / analytics. I think this is because it's impossible to know what $1 of FAAB is worth until you have hindsight --- you can't project the waiver wire like you can an initial draft.

 

[MattFancy]

This is my first year using FAAB in my redraft league. It's been interesting to see how guys are valued. I was able to scoop up Edelman for $20 after Week 1, at the time that was the most anyone had spent on a player. A couple of weeks later, someone spent $25 for Jacobs, $47 for Bobby Rainey, and $27 for McGahee. I've also seen Kellen Winslow go for $40. I was able to pick up Zac Stacy 3 weeks ago for only $15.

I just think it's hard to give FAAB bidding advice because every league is completly different. Definitely have to know the guys your playing with and which guys they like.