Most Valuable Position (1 Viewer)

[torgeson]

If you can only get an elite player at one position in an auction format, which one do you want? QB, RB, WR, or TE? [Elite players: Rogers, Brees, Brady, Foster, Rice, McCoy, Calvin Johnson, Gronk, Graham]

I'm in an auction league where owners place a premium on getting elite players. For example the top QBs will fetch 35-40% of cap. Top RBs 40-50% of cap. Top WR/Megatron 35%. Tight End is a complete unknown because of Gronk's 2011 season inflating prices this year, but in the past top TE is 20+% cap. This year it's gotta be at least 25%, maybe 30% for Gronk.

The only way I can see walking away with two players of elite status and have enough cap room remaining to be involved in bidding on other players is to grab Gronk or Graham and pair him with a top tier guy from one other position. In theory you could grab two studs at other positions (i.e. Foster & Megatron) but you would be left with $1 players - all from the bottom tiers.

Where do you believe the most value can be found if you had to spend such a large chunk of your salary cap for the elite guys (no keepers, $100 cap; non-PPR, 6pts all TDs, and points for yardage, no flex-position/start 2WRs).

Our league's inflated values for studs - at least compared to projections I see in magazines and websites - means players in the middle and lower tiers go more cheaply than projected.

Finally, I've been a subscriber to FBG for years, but seldom post. I intend this to be a very general question on strategy and value, so hope it is acceptable to post it in the Sharkpool.

 

[pizzatyme]

I think it is all relative based on what is happening in an auction. I have seen auctions where the #1 QB went for a 40% premium over the 2nd highest QB value.

For me, I prefer to let others set the benchmark for value wherever possible. Then jump in when I see value.

I would not go into any auction LOOKING to spend a specific premium on a position. You are likely to get bid up when it's not necessary. Also, don't get married to any one player. This will also keep your cap space free.

This may not be what you're looking for, but wanted to give you a response. Thanks for posting.

 

[Late225]

I'd go QB. I think you're more likely to avoid a bust with quarterbacks. If you go Brees, Brady, or Rodgers, it's pretty much an elite lock.

I know Cam gets a lot of love here, but I'd prefer to go with one of the guys that's been putting up elite stats for a number of years.

 

[Meatwad Reloaded]

The bottom line in my opinion is that people often will define 'elite' player as a player who is simply special, but in ff terms it is a player who outscores all others at the position by 4 or 5 points per week in a particular year. For example, for QB Brady , Manning, Vick, Rivers, Rodgers, and Brees were all considered to be elite talents going into the season. As it played out though, only Rodgers, Brees, and to a lesser extent Brady lived up to standard.

Usually there is only one or two per position per year and it is unpredictable. If I were you I would try the strategy of getting a skill player along with a TE. To me, TE is often predictiable ( it was not last year, but in years past Gates and TG have always been at least 3 - 4 points above the fray). If you must start a TE that is a big advantage, especially since you do not have to burn a ton of money to take a chance. If I were you i would be hell bent on getting either JG or RG...as far as the other players go, pick one you can get cheaper than normal and hope it works out.

I could see Chris Johnson blowing up again this year, he will be cheaper in general...try and get a player like him to pair with JG or RG. In terms of qbs, the big three are nice, but people are going to have to blow a ton of cash to get one, and the way i see it, there are many qbs this year who have potential for great value. Don't waste money on high end wrs, they are more boom or bust than rb, and you can always pull great ones off of waivers every single year.

I hope that helps.

 

[chickensoup]

I think auction values are so high because you have low starting requirements. Guessing 1QB/2RB/2WR/1TE/K/D.

If this is the case I throw out Megatron. And don't go for the true elites. Instead if I could get Matthews/stafford or Matthews/Peterson for $50 instead of foster for $40 I'd do that instead.

Studs are great and all but I normally get 3 guys in the near stud category in my auctions

 

[griff321]

I feel like league size and roster requirements play a bigger role than the scoring system. In 12 team leagues with the explosion of RBBC I feel like stud RBs are being overlooked a lot, but you can't deny the PPG drop after Graham and Gronk. WR and QB feel deeper than ever.

 

[meyerj31]

In my auction leagues I plan to spend on two near-stud RBs. With a $200 cap, one can probably get Trich/Murray/Charles for $35-40 compared to $50+ for McCoy/Foster/Rice.

QB is deep this year. There are 10 guys that could easily finish in the top 3. In the auction mocks that I've participated in Matt Ryan has gone for peanuts. I'll take Ryan for $10 over than Rodgers for $50 any day. Given that there is such a huge drop-off in RBs (especially in PPR), I'm more likely to spend money to get them.

 

[pinequick]

Sorry--totally off-topic, but I have never done an auction league. Don't those drafts take *FOREVER*? I mean, if each player's name brought up on each team is subject to a number of bidding wars (or even 1/3 of them cause bidding wars)--don't those drafts take a really long time to complete? Just curious...

 

[SelenaCat]

Sorry--totally off-topic, but I have never done an auction league. Don't those drafts take *FOREVER*? I mean, if each player's name brought up on each team is subject to a number of bidding wars (or even 1/3 of them cause bidding wars)--don't those drafts take a really long time to complete? Just curious...

They don't take all that long, especially if it's a live auction. We run a 12-team, 18-round auction and have never taken more than 3 hours to finish it. Just make sure your auctioneer keeps the pace moving and you'll be fine.

 

[NeonDeion21]

Sorry--totally off-topic, but I have never done an auction league. Don't those drafts take *FOREVER*? I mean, if each player's name brought up on each team is subject to a number of bidding wars (or even 1/3 of them cause bidding wars)--don't those drafts take a really long time to complete? Just curious...

18 team, 20 man rosters and it takes less than 4 hours. The draft feels like it goes by quick because you are not sitting around waiting for your pick to come. You can be involved in nearly every auction.

 

[pizzatyme]

Sorry--totally off-topic, but I have never done an auction league. Don't those drafts take *FOREVER*? I mean, if each player's name brought up on each team is subject to a number of bidding wars (or even 1/3 of them cause bidding wars)--don't those drafts take a really long time to complete? Just curious...

Not at all. In fact, for my money, auctions are the most fun I've ever had when drafting. I wouldn't care if it took 6 hours.Give it a try!!!

 

[torgeson]

The Draft: Sitting, waiting for your pick to arrive. Anxious about that player, your coveted sleeper pick falling to you. After twenty minutes of waiting and anticipation, the person in front of you grabs your guy. Now it's your pick and you're scrambling to manage your frustration, while struggling to come up with another name, another player to select.

The Auction: It begins and you are a potential bidder on every player. You won't find a moment to catch your breath and sit back and relax for a full twenty minutes until you are mid-way through the auction and you halt the bidding to start eating the pizza that the delivery guy just dropped off (that's how it works in our league; we break for supper). No one steals your sleeper, your stud, your under-valued player until you run out of salary cap space.

The auction format rocks. You can bid at any point, on any player. We switched a dozen years ago. There is no way we would return to a draft format.

In addition, the switch seemed necessary when it became apparent that the person who randomly obtained the first draft pick overall always made the playoffs. Always, at least until Terrell Davis blew out his knee after being the consensus #1 pick in 1999. A playoff spot practically guaranteed through nothing but luck - random selection and getting that first pick. No thanks.

I've never spoken to anyone that regrets going to an auction format. It is amazing for so many reasons. I haven't even touched on strategy...wow, there is so much more to consider in an auction.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

Depends on scoring system - in our league if you have one of the elite qbs you are virtually guaranteed a spot in the finals. In PPR you can make a killing with an elite WR or a pass catching stud RB. At the end of the day, though, I think it is really hard to be consistently good without balance and depth that chasing after one stud will not allow you to do.