Let's talk Auction League Strategies (1 Viewer)

[u999spf]

For those that participate in Auction Leagues (re-drafts, no keepers), which is a better strategy.

1. Spend most of your $$$ (80%) on 2 of the top RB's like LJ and SA

2. Avoid the top 15 or so players and scoop up all the best deals during the rest of the auction.

3. Assure yourself of at least 1 stud rb and add a solid #2rb or top WR and pick up some deals along the way.

If you pick #1 (barring injury and assume that RB's is the highest scoring position) with LJ and SA or LT you would have to be considered a lock for the playoffs, even if you had to fill out the rest of your team with $1 or $2 players, no?

If you went with the 2nd method you should have real solid depth at every position but no studs. Your team wouldn't scare anyone but you should have a real shot at sticking it out and making the playoffs. But once in the playoffs, you could easily be knocked out by any team with a stud that has a big game. Also, deciding on who to start each week could be a real issue with no real pecking order in place. However, due to your depth, you would probably be one of the only teams that could package together any type of deals to upgrade your team.

If you chose strategy #3, I guess this is as close to the team you would get in a draft. Stud player paired with a upper tier player and still have money left over to round out your team and maybe acquire a little depth in case of injuries and trades.

I have participated in a few auction leagues last season and I am trying to figure out which is the best strategy for this year. Last year there was a guy that had a team based on #2, no real studs just a lot of solid guys throughout. (He finished 9th). The team that finished in first, paid for SA and he carried him for the season, he also lucked out with the Colts D. But had no real depth to speak of but it was enough to hold onto the top spot.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to hear from experienced auction owners and which type of strategy they employ in this type of format.

 

[Titans_fan]

I am not an avid aution style FF player (though I'd like to get more involved in that aspect) but did run a redraft league auction style one year.

The problem I see with spending 80% of your money on 1 or 2 players is picking which 1 or 2 to pay for. I agree LJ, LT2 and SA are the top 3, but how is your league scoring setup? I left my redraft last year with Deuce as my top back but was able to grab Thomas Jones, Steve Smith and Santana Moss late...needless to say my WR corps carried me to the top.

I think the best strategy (and the one I employed in the one auction league I participated in) is to creted a VBD-style value chart, then stick to the values for each player.

You obviously have to fill out a roster every week, so why blow all your money early and watch guys go for much less than you expected? Auction leagues are all about value. Get guys at or lower than your expected value and success you will find. Overpay early, and it's catch-up all season.

To answer your question, I think #3 is the safest and smartest option. Overpay a little for your stud back (if necessary) then round out your starting line-up while staying true to your values. Worked for me, and I think it will work for you too.

 

[Bri]

The draft two studs with 80% of your cap is NOT a good option. I did it so I'm guilty. If you relook at the top 8 RBs from two years ago they're different than the top 8 this year. There are some strong odds that you won't get a gem or that something like an injury will happen.

I did really like this idea 4-5 years ago but now I think it's like fool's gold and while it looks good on paper it shouldn't be done.

FWIW I do think you could plan and get LJ or LT but I don't think you could get both.

 

[Bri]

One theory I like is to keep throwing some cheapies out there in the beginning. With a "pocket" full of cash people WILL spend and they won't go for a small fee. IE Suppose you look at other drafts and due to age(or whatever) Isaac Bruce is being picked up at the end for like 2 beans and you don't want him. Throw his name out there early. Of course if you do like some cheapies from other drafts then shhhh and be patient.

I do like the idea of continuing a run. In an auction there are runs as even with folks throwing names out there for bidding you could draft a bunch of TEs and or RBs or such in a row. Continuing it for the sake of continuing it can get people to spend too. Anytime you can get an opposing owner to fear not many players left at a certain position they'll spend more so...

 

[GregR_2]

The best strategy is to be adaptable and not have a strategy set in stone.

You need to get the most value out of your dollars. In some auctions people may overpay for the top talent and leave you enough value at later positions that you can put together a stronger team by waiting. In other auctions, the top positions may go for appropriate amounts, so that if you wait too long to get your money in play you end up with a team with tremendous bench strength, but below-average starters which makes you one of the weaker teams.

Figure out how much players are worth and (for the most part) stick to those values. In some cases you may need to go over them though. If everyone is overpaying for RBs, you may have to overpay as well just to get any guys who are worth starting. That is ok, the trick is to overpay less than everyone else. If you do so, you are still getting better value for your dollar there and will have more money to use on other positions.

 

[BigRed]

The best strategy is to be adaptable and not have a strategy set in stone.

You need to get the most value out of your dollars. In some auctions people may overpay for the top talent and leave you enough value at later positions that you can put together a stronger team by waiting. In other auctions, the top positions may go for appropriate amounts, so that if you wait too long to get your money in play you end up with a team with tremendous bench strength, but below-average starters which makes you one of the weaker teams.

Figure out how much players are worth and (for the most part) stick to those values. In some cases you may need to go over them though. If everyone is overpaying for RBs, you may have to overpay as well just to get any guys who are worth starting. That is ok, the trick is to overpay less than everyone else. If you do so, you are still getting better value for your dollar there and will have more money to use on other positions.

Very well said. That pretty much sums it all up, on a high level anyway. In fact IMO good posts overall here. I basically tend to go with #3 above ie try and get one of the top-tier RBs (overpaying a little if necessary but not way over), then a solid (roughy top 10 or so) RB2 and a top WR. Great core, but the downside is this tends to tap me out a lot and I end up stuck with limited depth and a lot of prayers. It worked out for me last year, but that was partly luck as Dunn was an unexpected deal as my RB3 who I got pretty cheap...bad luck as R Moss, who as a top WR I got for "only" $20, fizzled after getting hurt, and my Favre/Plummer combo (both gotten cheaper than expected, was very happy with at the time) was often disappointing.

Seems to me it generally comes down to patience vs being aggressive at the right time....waiting and watch players fly by is often very hard tho, esp when a player looks like a "good deal" (cheaper than expected value).

Depth is important because at least some of your players are bound to disappoint, but too much end up being pointless, unless you're doing some total pts thing.

The one thing I didn't see mentioned is to keep in mind it's not just a question of good "value shopping" - you have more to worry about than your money situation......ie you only have so many roster spots. Get players who are "good deals" won't feel so great if it turns out there are better players avail who you can't get because you don't have an open spot for them.

 

[Z-Dog]

You have to see what your league is giving you. In one league I'm in, the league undervalues the top 1-2 RBs. It's not that LJ or LT2 are coming cheap, its that the players in my league appear to shy away from the strategy of grabbing one or two super studs. While both of these guys cost a lot, based on my calculations, they are still a bargain compared to what they should cost. On the flipside, my league overvalues WRs, and top WRs often go for 50% more than their value according to my math. I avoid them.

It's also important to remember that in an auction, you have to buy production, not just value. You can pay buy 20 players for $10 each, and daance all the way home b/c each of these players is actually work $20. But you won't win your league with them, b/c you won't have enough production in your starting lineup, even though you have a very deep team. Figure out how many points you need in an average week to get a win, and build a roster tha can generate that many points.

 

[inca911]

My experience is that ~85% of total auction dollars are spent on "premium" players. These are the players who stand out from the rest of the regular players, and who generally are every week starters. Determining the breakpoint between premium and regular players is important to determine the depth of the positions and how auction dollars should be spent. There might be only 4 premium QBs in a 8-10 team league because the players start to be bunched up. Using worst starter isn't accurate. Once the 4th QB is off the board, nobody is paying a premium. The remaining ~15% of total auction dollars are spent on reserves. Going below 75% of your team's auction total will give you a deeper team, but without the higher scoring starters you'll need to win.

In order to accurately value a player, you need to determine the total number of premium players in the entire league based on your scoring system. Then you allocate 85% of total league dollars across those players to calculate auction value. If you want a deeper team, use 80% on premium players. If you want to gamble more, use 90%. What's most important is that you use your scoring system to determine the breakpoints, and not an arbitrary guesstimate like worst starter. Unless you set the premium-to-regular cutoffs based on actual projections and scoring system, you're at a disadvantage and your values won't add up in the end.

Do not choose ahead of time to avoid the top 15 players, because they might represent the highest value in your league. Your accurate auction dollar projections will tell you true value, and then you take what is given to you by your league mates. Figuring out how much each player is really worth is the key to all auctions. Your projections are essential to this task, but the system you use to translate projections into auction values is equally critical, must not be arbitrary, and must be well understood in order to use it effectively as a tool.

I've got a spreadsheet that is a work in process. Drop me a line if you are interested.

 

[HeirCoryell]

I'll almost always go with some combinations of options #2 and #3. You can't win the Championship if you don't make the Playoffs first, so I don't want to gamble my entire season on two running backs A. staying healthy and B. performing up to expectations. Usually the bar will be set early when LJ, LT, and SA are nominated. After that is when I'll throw out some of the lower tiered running backs like Chester, Foster, and Dayne and such. Most times I can get them below market value since everyone is still saving there dollars for Portis, Tiki, Edge, etc. If I do get them cheaper than expected, that gives me more money to spend on a bigger name running back or if I get more than 1 it tells me that I now have a little more to spend on other positions. If the lower tiered guys go for above market value than I know that some of the middle tiered guys should be udervalued when they are nominated.

 

[BigRed]

I'll almost always go with some combinations of options #2 and #3. You can't win the Championship if you don't make the Playoffs first, so I don't want to gamble my entire season on two running backs A. staying healthy and B. performing up to expectations. Usually the bar will be set early when LJ, LT, and SA are nominated. After that is when I'll throw out some of the lower tiered running backs like Chester, Foster, and Dayne and such. Most times I can get them below market value since everyone is still saving there dollars for Portis, Tiki, Edge, etc. If I do get them cheaper than expected, that gives me more money to spend on a bigger name running back or if I get more than 1 it tells me that I now have a little more to spend on other positions. If the lower tiered guys go for above market value than I know that some of the middle tiered guys should be udervalued when they are nominated.

I like this strat for getting my WR2 on down cheaply, ie I can better dictate who I get among the lessers vs just taking (maybe even overpaying) for ones I didn't prefer.

 

[Warpig]

I've been in a autcion redraft league for 10 years now.

I usually lean toward getting good depth. What this usually gets me is into the playoffs and sometimes into the championship rounds. What prevents me from winning championships is pure bad luck. My players would end up being "rested" or would get pulled early and the other guy's team would have someone absolutely go off!

I've seen guys (last year for example) blow their entire cap on two "stud" RB's. One guy spent $87 of our $100 cap on LT ($50) and Jamal Lewis ($37) and picked up scraps the rest of the way. He was able to find some gems for cheap and ended up being fairly competitve but didn't make the playoffs. There was another guy that tried this approach 2 years ago and ended up getting Bettis for dirt cheap the year he had like 13 TD's. He too was competitive but didn't make the playoffs.

As far as strategies go, you can't be one of those people that sit there and hoard all your money until the end because there is always one or two other guys that do the same thing and you end up getting into bidding wars with the same few guys and since by this time the pickings are slim, you end up OVERPAYING for players since you will likely be in panic mode.

I usually make up a list of 5 players at each position and I make sure I get atleast one of those players for each position. If I can get two at one position from my list then that is a BONUS. After my top 5 list I have another listing of players I feel are under the radar (as far as guys in my league are concerned) but are primed for a big year. I try to add depth with guys that have the potential to contribute or guys that aren't hyped. Veterans (old guys) are also value! Don't shy away from a Keenan McCardell or Ike Bruce or Rod Smith due to age...for the price you will end up paying for them they will normally produce better than expected!

From what I've seen in my league (which is a TD league) the guys that win normally have a stud at QB and WR and have a couple RB #2's. I'd almost be tempted to say that the best strategy is to load up on stud WR's because you know the RB's are gonna go hot and heavy and be overpriced.

 

[The Ref]

I have been a a fairly competitive Auction Keeper League for 6 years now. The one argument the reigns supreme over all else is Depth vs Studs. It's like Guns vs Butter in any Economics 101 class in that you can't have both (unless lucky).

If you know what the perfect balance is please PM and let me know. In my own personal experiances it's better to be on the "Studs" side of the curve then the Depth side. You really do need a stud RB to make your team work for you. But you don't always need a preseason top 12 player to be your RB2. You will need a top WR on your squad, but you can spread out your WR2 money on a few players and see what you can land.

In short, you need some bankable players you can count on but not to the tune of having nothing left if someone gets hurt for a few weeks.

 

[BoltBacker]

I think it completely depends on your league size/rules.

A 10 team league with small rosters really makes studs more important than depth.

A 16 team league with large rosters really makes depth more important than studs.

 

[Warhogs]

It really may depend on what the tendencies are of the other league owners. I have one auction league where you can keep players but a large majority are tossed back each year. In that league I am not afraid to spend a huge chuck on a few elite players because too many owners wait early and then overpay for average players. I tend to bid early on a few guys I want and than wait. I will even nominate players that will command high prices that I do not want. I then steal a lot of value players at the end.

 

[MLBrandow]

A quick analogy for you in deciding against studs v. depth:

A few years ago in a money league my brother plays in, the guy with the #2 pick traded it to the guy with the #1 pick for #23 and #26...

so the one guy had #1, 2, and the other guy had #23, 24, 25, 26.

Well, the guy with 1, 2 won the championship and the guy with 23-26 went 2-12....

All the mediocre players in the worldl don't equal a great one. Points on the board, not the bench.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Could use some vets for this mock auction. Get the juices flowin'?

 

[hacman]

Another advantage for the “big spenders” over the “deep and balanced drafters”: The big spenders are more likely to have the roster space and the inclination to take a flier on late-season waiver pick-ups.

This allows them to take chances on a Samkon Gado or Mark Clayton from last year or a Larry Johnson or Billy Volek from 2004- every year these types of players can impact and fuel a fantasy league championship run. The more fliers you can harbor on your roster, the better your shot at finding an impact player.

This can also apply to redrafts - in one league I was in last year, an owner who drafted Peyton and wideouts early was left with Reuben Droughns and Tatum Bell as his starters. His team stalled until the week he picked up Gado, whereby his team was steamrolling the rest of the league until his injury- but it was enough to qualify him for the playoffs.

 

[LawFitz]

4 studs and then dollar diamonds...

I've tried this theory a few times and find it to work quite well. Figure out who the studs are at the various positions and get at least four of them. It doesn't matter what position as long as they are legit studs that don't bust.

If you hit on all four and are good at finding gems late in the auction or on the wire you will be competitive.

This is my list of studs for this year...

Manning

LJ

LT

Alex

Portis

Barber

TO

Smiff

Harrison

Holt

Fitz

Gates

I figure to spend 70% of my cap on 4 of these guys and the remaining 30% filling out my roster with value picks and sleepers.

I can see myself getting Gates, Barber, Fitz and Harrison. Then I'll load up on sleeper RBs like Dayne, Gore and Herron and bum QBs like Warner, Brooks and Bledsoe.

 

[BigRed]

I think it completely depends on your league size/rules.

A 10 team league with small rosters really makes studs more important than depth.

A 16 team league with large rosters really makes depth more important than studs.

That can make a diff, but IMO not as much as you seem to be implying.

 

[BoltBacker]

I think it completely depends on your league size/rules.

A 10 team league with small rosters really makes studs more important than depth.

A 16 team league with large rosters really makes depth more important than studs.

That can make a diff, but IMO not as much as you seem to be implying.

Why is that?I don't really play in them anymore because imo small leagues are really boring since you don't really have to do much homework and can just pick up a starting WR in the middle of the season off the waiver-wire. Depth doesn't count for anything in those leagues. If you were completely wrong how a WR situation was going to play out in CLE for instance it's not that big a deal..... some team in the NFL will be hit by injuries at WR and a #3 or #4 WR going into the season will be peforming like a FF #2 WR. Happens every year. The waiver-wire has so much talent on it you have a safety net so really you may as well simply focus on getting the best starters you can.

In large leagues all those #3 or #4 WR's are already taken so if you didn't put some thought into how you would cope with injuries before the season begane then you could very easily find yourself getting a "0"s each week from a starter because you can't just pick up a productive player of the waiver-wire. You don't have that safety net of talent sitting on the waiver-wire so you have to make your own "luck" by planning for the injuries that everyone knows will take place over the course of a season.

At least that's been my experience and I've played in everything from 8-team leagues to 32-team leagues.

 

[Warpig]

I think it completely depends on your league size/rules.

A 10 team league with small rosters really makes studs more important than depth.

A 16 team league with large rosters really makes depth more important than studs.

That can make a diff, but IMO not as much as you seem to be implying.

Why is that?I don't really play in them anymore because imo small leagues are really boring since you don't really have to do much homework and can just pick up a starting WR in the middle of the season off the waiver-wire. Depth doesn't count for anything in those leagues. If you were completely wrong how a WR situation was going to play out in CLE for instance it's not that big a deal..... some team in the NFL will be hit by injuries at WR and a #3 or #4 WR going into the season will be peforming like a FF #2 WR. Happens every year. The waiver-wire has so much talent on it you have a safety net so really you may as well simply focus on getting the best starters you can.

In large leagues all those #3 or #4 WR's are already taken so if you didn't put some thought into how you would cope with injuries before the season begane then you could very easily find yourself getting a "0"s each week from a starter because you can't just pick up a productive player of the waiver-wire. You don't have that safety net of talent sitting on the waiver-wire so you have to make your own "luck" by planning for the injuries that everyone knows will take place over the course of a season.

At least that's been my experience and I've played in everything from 8-team leagues to 32-team leagues.

 

[BigRed]

imo small leagues are really boring since you don't really have to do much homework and can just pick up a starting WR in the middle of the season off the waiver-wire. Depth doesn't count for anything in those leagues.

Sorry that's pure BS. First, depth (ie obtained from the draft) counts, although I agree not as much as in larger leagues/rosters. Second, smaller leagues/rosters (to a point) are IMO way more interesting than really big ones, because the season isn't as "set in stone" after the draft, basically, and working the FA system is an added element of strategy/etc throughout the season. In bigger leagues, the WW is practically worthless. THAT'S boring.

If you were completely wrong how a WR situation was going to play out in CLE for instance it's not that big a deal..... some team in the NFL will be hit by injuries at WR and a #3 or #4 WR going into the season will be peforming like a FF #2 WR. Happens every year.

Yes it happens every year. But even if it happens as much as you seem to be implying (which it doesn't IMO):1 - You act like YOU will automatically be the one to benefit, ie get that given player. I don't know about your leagues, but in ours we have a lot of FA activity and somewhat smaller rosters, which means you have to move fast if it APPEARS a worthwhile player is out there.2 - You often have to really think about whether that FA is really worth cutting a guy, ie someone who might be as or more valuable to you in the near future (ie someone who is out a short time or who may be ready to break out, etc etc). More than once we've had someone cut a player for a FA who had a hot week, only to realize he was a "1 week wonder" type and the guy he cut proved way more valuable.3 - If you have weaker depth (ie draft less for depth), there's a good chance they may cost you wins (when you're forced to use them for whatever reason) till you find a good replacement. And that's assuming you can.

The waiver-wire has so much talent on it you have a safety net so really you may as well simply focus on getting the best starters you can.

You exaggerate how much talent is on the wire IMO, and it depends on the position somewhat, but generally I agree w/that. The nice thing about having some talent on the FA wire is it gives teams who suffer an injury or whatever a chance to rebound somewhat. The odds still aren't exactly in their favor though.

In large leagues all those #3 or #4 WR's are already taken so if you didn't put some thought into how you would cope with injuries before the season begane then you could very easily find yourself getting a "0"s each week from a starter because you can't just pick up a productive player of the waiver-wire. You don't have that safety net of talent sitting on the waiver-wire so you have to make your own "luck" by planning for the injuries that everyone knows will take place over the course of a season.

Unfortunately, no matter how well you plan (ie think you plan), something unexpected is bound to happen - often due to bad luck. There is actually more luck involved in larger leagues IMO because you don't have the added element of FA strategies. And again, just because there is the "safety" of potentially good players on the WW doesn't mean you will be the one to get them...or even that you should.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Could use some vets for this mock auction. Get the juices flowin'?

We've got five and need seven more by Thursday. Auction vets, auction noobs, anyone interested in finding out why auction players like it so much more. Let's fill this.

 

[BigRed]

Other discussion w/o pimping mock drafts appreciated.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Other discussion w/o pimping mock drafts appreciated.

Fine. Simple practice I start about this time every year and continually update until my main league has it's live draft. This goes back to the discussion of targeting specific players, which I love to do, and others think is a mistake. I target players because I think they're going to have exceptional seasons or represent exceptional value. But, I'm limited by the available budget.

So, using resources like the AI tool at FantasyAuctioneer and Auction Values like those listed at Xperts, I customize a list of auction values that I hope closely approximates my coming auction always taking into account what I know about my leaguemates. Using those numbers I try to build the best roster I can. It's like a $300 dollar roster puzzle of the team I would most prefer-- my ideal based on estimated prices. I fiddle with dozens of combinations of players and prices. I analyze the combinations over and over again. As news breaks and ADPs go up and down, I am constantly adjusting my ideal roster and the values. I don't just target a few key players. I target my entire roster. Of course, Plans B, C, D, and E are at my fingertips should my estimated values prove flawed on auction day, but twice in 6 years I have walked away from the auction with exactly the teamed I planned the day before. Btw, this is simple and fun.

 

[Bri]

Other discussion w/o pimping mock drafts appreciated.   

ahh but now you want his results from last night for this discussion don't ya?

 

[BigRed]

Btw, this is simple and fun.

Oh yeah, that's obvious.

 

[Rattle and Hum]

So I'm in theis auction draft (survivor) and the 1st tier guys went relatively cheap. Now the third tier are going very high in my opionion. Would I be better off staying out of the RB sweepstakes and bulking up on WRs, TE, and QBs? I guess I am asking, can I have a shot without RB power? Feel free to visit http://www.xpertsports.com/league/index.php?id=16249. I am Intervention

 

[BigRed]

So I'm in theis auction draft (survivor) and the 1st tier guys went relatively cheap. Now the third tier are going very high in my opionion. Would I be better off staying out of the RB sweepstakes and bulking up on WRs, TE, and QBs? I guess I am asking, can I have a shot without RB power? Feel free to visit http://www.xpertsports.com/league/index.php?id=16249. I am Intervention

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showforum=12 TIA

 

[Rattle and Hum]

Let's talk Auction League Strategies, Studs vs Depth

TIA

So I'm in theis auction draft (survivor) and the 1st tier guys went relatively cheap.  Now the third tier are going very high in my opionion.  Would I be better off staying out of the RB sweepstakes and bulking up on WRs, TE, and QBs?  I guess I am asking, can I have a shot without RB power?  Feel free to visit http://www.xpertsports.com/league/index.php?id=16249.  I am Intervention

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showforum=12 TIA

 

[Warpig]

Let's talk Auction League Strategies, Studs vs Depth

TIA

So I'm in theis auction draft (survivor) and the 1st tier guys went relatively cheap.  Now the third tier are going very high in my opionion.  Would I be better off staying out of the RB sweepstakes and bulking up on WRs, TE, and QBs?  I guess I am asking, can I have a shot without RB power?  Feel free to visit http://www.xpertsports.com/league/index.php?id=16249.  I am Intervention

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showforum=12 TIA

To reply to your original question. You have to go for the value. If there are stud WR's there that you can get cheap or at projected costs, you take them. Don't follow along with the RB run when people go into panic mode and start jacking up the price of the last few RB's. However, I would only do this if you already have atleast 1 good RB. IF you can't get 1 good RB, your chances are pretty much hosed.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Btw, this is simple and fun.

Oh yeah, that's obvious.

You asked for more auction discussion. I offerred a simple pragmatic approach to targeting an ideal roster. Thanks for your insightful reply. The roster I made last night followed this approach, but my estimated values were way off. It's June. I backed down at 40% on LJ and went with plan B, which included JJ, Dunn, and AJ as upgrades to plan A. You want to criticize that team, fine but projections are a different topic. Results from last night's test run can be seen here under FBG.

Back to pimpin' mocks. FBG Mock Auction II has spots available. Post in the link and PM me for the details. Hope to see you there this time.

 

[stickboy]

As others have said, an adaptive strategy is best, essentially "go where they ain't". If most of your league is bidding for depth, then stud out and play the higher risk game, they should come cheaper. If everyone is paying big for the stud RBs, get your value and differentiation elsewhere and get "good enough" RBs to stay in the game. If you are in a shark league where good FAs must be taken early as fliers, then drafting for depth is a smart move.

Value is not absolute as shown by the VBD numbers, it is relative to your scoring system and league.

 

[BigRed]

To reply to your original question. You have to go for the value. If there are stud WR's there that you can get cheap or at projected costs, you take them. Don't follow along with the RB run when people go into panic mode and start jacking up the price of the last few RB's. However, I would only do this if you already have atleast 1 good RB. IF you can't get 1 good RB, your chances are pretty much hosed.

I agree about at least 1 good RB, mixed feelings about the rest. Getting value makes sense in general, but in the end it's about fielding the best team, not getting players that are just "good deals" but aren't the best players/team you could've gotten. If the last few RBs of a given tier (in your opinion of course) are being snapped up, you may very well have to - and should - overpay to get one. If a player you really think is going to have a big year and you really want ends up costing a buck or 3 more than you really wanted to spend, it is probably still well worth it to go after him.

 

[BigRed]

You asked for more auction discussion. I offerred a simple pragmatic approach to targeting an ideal roster. Thanks for your insightful reply. The roster I made last night followed this approach, but my estimated values were way off. It's June. I backed down at 40% on LJ and went with plan B, which included JJ, Dunn, and AJ as upgrades to plan A. You want to criticize that team, fine but projections are a different topic.

Just messing w/you....well mostly ie your idea may work well, it's just too "busy" for me. Then again keep in mind I used to work for the gubmint and all.

 

[Chaos Commish]

You asked for more auction discussion. I offerred a simple pragmatic approach to targeting an ideal roster. Thanks for your insightful reply. The roster I made last night followed this approach, but my estimated values were way off. It's June. I backed down at 40% on LJ and went with plan B, which included JJ, Dunn, and AJ as upgrades to plan A. You want to criticize that team, fine but projections are a different topic.

Just messing w/you....well mostly ie your idea may work well, it's just too "busy" for me. Then again keep in mind I used to work for the gubmint and all.

You'd be surprised how simple this is. Current Auction Values at Xperts.

Just start filling in your roster requirements and adding up the total cost with players you value higher than most. Make a few adjustments, seek the best value/point potential, and there you have the basic idea.

 

[ChampBailey24]

I like the 3rd option. I don't like to get one of the big three for 40% of my cap. I'll go for 2 solid backs but half the price. I like quality over quantity. Here's what I ended up with in CC's mock :

QB Byron Leftwich - Jaguars (JAC)

RB Rudi Johnson - Bengals (CIN)

RB Kevin Jones - Lions (DET)

WR Terrell Owens - Cowboys (DAL)

WR Roy Williams - Lions (DET)

WR Donald Driver - Packers (GB)

TE L.J. Smith - Eagles (PHI)

K Shayne Graham - Bengals (CIN)

DEF New York Giants - Giants (NYG)

B-QB Mark Brunell - Redskins (WAS)

B-QB Jon Kitna - Lions (DET)

B-RB Ryan Moats - Eagles (PHI)

B-WR Brandon Lloyd - Redskins (WAS)

B-TE Marcedes Lewis - Jaguars (JAC)

B-DEF New England Patriots - Patriots (NWE)

I probably wouldn't have won the championship but I think I believe I would've been fairly competitive. It all depends of you. Some owners like to have choice and use the opponent to determine who to start. I like my starters to remain starters week after week. You've gotta be really confident in the players you draft though.

 

[BigRed]

You asked for more auction discussion.  I offerred a simple pragmatic approach to targeting an ideal roster.  Thanks for your insightful reply.  The roster I made last night followed this approach, but my estimated values were way off.  It's June.  I backed down at 40% on LJ and went with plan B, which included JJ, Dunn, and AJ as upgrades to plan A.  You want to criticize that team, fine but projections are a different topic. 

Just messing w/you....well mostly ie your idea may work well, it's just too "busy" for me. Then again keep in mind I used to work for the gubmint and all.

You'd be surprised how simple this is. Current Auction Values at Xperts.

Just start filling in your roster requirements and adding up the total cost with players you value higher than most. Make a few adjustments, seek the best value/point potential, and there you have the basic idea.

I'll pass on "xperts" - GDB that eye chart - but anyway, aside from the obvious cost considerations, my strat isn't really that much diff then in a traditional draft, really. I rank players with some general "tiers," tend to target or not target certain players depending on how I think they'll do, etc.