First time trying a part auction/part snake draft, advice needed (1 Viewer)

[Bhdevault]

Basically we have always done a complete auction draft.

This year, we are trying something new. Basically we hold a lottery and everyone gets one free pick. After that we run an auction for 7 rounds. We then move onto a snake draft the rest of the way through.

This IS a ppr league AND IDP league. Basically our scoring structure is pretty evenly spread out where the big points come from QB's of course, but RB'S, WR's and LB's are where you win the league. We start 2/2/flex... We each get $150 to bid.

I'm assuming the following guys will be gone most likely: CJ, AP, Rick, MJD, Ajohnson, Gore, ARodgers, Moss, Turner and probably Sjackson.

Anyways.... I'm completely lost how I should go into this draft. Should I spend big bucks on grabbing a few studs and then try and fill out my team with the snake draft? Or should I try and fill up my roster with bargains after everyone has spent their big money. In a regular auction, that's what I do and I usually end up loving my team, however with the snake draft, we can get some sleepers/good values from there later on.

Any advice from ANYONE who has done anything like this?

 

[Captain Hook]

"Drauctions" are inherently FLAWED

What are the rules when a player is nominated for less and there are two $144 bids?

What are your rules when the first guy who has an auction nomination bids $144?

Either do an auction or do a draft

 

[SloppySeconds]

We have been doing that for 5 or 6 years I beleive. We have one keeper. 4 rounds of auction, $400 each, and then another 10 rounds serpentine draft. I have found it to be fun and no two years are alike. The partial auction means that it is not always the top 48 players in our case who get nominated. You have to be really careful to not run out of money too fast, but to also not get caught with a lot of money and people nominating PKs and Defs.

We have found that it works great for our league. It has kept things interesting. But the only down side is that it is hard to plan your draft around. It is not a given that the top players are going to be nominated during the auction portion. But I like the curve ball that it throws and it really forces you to be able to think on your feet.

 

[Bhdevault]

Either do an auction or do a draft

Well, being that the other 9 guys voted to do this, I have no choice do I? Asked for help, not your opinion on our leagues draft rules.Thanks though!

 

[SloppySeconds]

Anyways.... I'm completely lost how I should go into this draft. Should I spend big bucks on grabbing a few studs and then try and fill out my team with the snake draft? Or should I try and fill up my roster with bargains after everyone has spent their big money. In a regular auction, that's what I do and I usually end up loving my team, however with the snake draft, we can get some sleepers/good values from there later on.

Any advice from ANYONE who has done anything like this?

The first couple of years are crap shoots. I prefer to bid big if there is a star available. last year I bid 240 out of 400 for Chris Johnson. Worked out well for me. But a lot depends on where you rank the players and how much seperation between the next available ones. I try applying value based drafting principles as much as possible in this case but with the variabliity in who gets nominated, it is not easy.

One other side note. The first few picks in the serpentine portions coming out of the draft are really important picks. This is where you can get some really good value I have found. Last year I picked up Dallas Clark with the first pick after the auction.

 

[Bhdevault]

In our Lottery I drew 9, so knowing the guys (we've been in this league for 20 years) I'm thinking Turner, AJohnson or Moss is who I will take with my pick. If that's the case, I may spend a buttload of money on getting 2 of these: Roddy White/Reggie Wayne/Miles Austin/Brandon Marshall/Calvin Johnson.... I'll also try and nab a QB and solid RB, then fill out my team in the snake. That basically means I'll spend most of my cash on 4 players (having gotten 1 free makes 5).

I don't know, we'll see.... I know sometimes in this league people will go NUTS on spending for the top flight players.

 

[Zasada]

Wow, those rules REALLY suck.

So basically if you're unlucky in the draw and get the last pick, you get zero compensation for that? CRAZY. At least in a serpentine draft, if you get stuck with the last pick, you get another one right away on the turn. In this case, you get the last pick, then you head for the auction with the same $ as everyone else.

Unless these were my friends and I was fine tying the loss of my fees to some random number generator, I'd quit the league. And even if they were my friends I'd consider quitting just because the rule is so stupid.

ETA: Assuming this is a 12-team league, the FBG auction values basically indicate that the top player is worth 66% more than the 12th player. Meaning the person to draw the first pick gets roughly 15% more cap to spend than the 12th.

 

[SloppySeconds]

I would disagree that this is an unfair way to do a draft. In any draft with random first round pick order you are going to get some unevenness (sp??). So in a serpentine draft you may get the first pick, but then have to wait another 22 picks for your next one? Whereas in the auction, you can bid on who you want. You could end up with the next two best picks, not just the next one best pick.

I would not call this ideal. But it does add some spice into the draft.

 

[Pastor]

You should auction off the draft order as part of a 5 round auction. That would be interesting.