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Yeah, I'd love to see this data too. I've been playing FF for 12 years and Ive never seen a team with one of the top picks make the playoffs without depth and/or sleepers in later rounds. Even if the top backs have more value, it is not siginificant enough to carry a team to the playoffs by itself, sorry. If that were the case, then why wouldnt you bid 80% of your salary cap on a top back in an auction?
I think it's because the founding fathers of rotisserie baseball, as explained in their series of books in the mid-eighties, grasped that the fundamental concept that made the game what it became was building the best team you could while having the same amount of money to spend as everyone else.It is, indeed, an issue of preference but for the life of me I don't understand why someone would surrender this most fundamental of concepts.
Page 95 of "Dominating Fantasy Football" by Randy Giminez -- source ESPN leagues (data with which to look at this not available on CBS)
Ok, I haven't posted here in a really long time, but I'm fascinated with this topic so I thought I'd jump in.I looked up the book at amazon.com and browsed to page 95 using the online reader. The book is actually called "Your Official Guide on How to Dominate Fantasy Football," and the desired reference actually runs pages 95- 96. Here's the quote of interest:
Why there are more drafts than auctions:1) Because they are easier2) Because they take less time3) Because they are easier4) Because they can read but can't use a calculator or computer5) Because no one could keep track of the money after the 5th pitcher6) Because they are easierJack Tripper said:I'm new to the site and love it.I've played this game for 8 years and the first 6 were snake drafts. The last 2 we've done an auction and will never go back. It would be like going back to manually calculating stats from the newspaper.Auctions are the most fair since any owner can have any player he wants if he's willing to pay $1 more than the next owner. I also believe they require more strategy - much like playing poker. And not the poker you play with your buddies in your mom's basement - Baseball, pass the trash, Guts...etc. What I can't understand is why 99% of magazines, internet sites and boards like this one are dedicated to what is really an antiquated draft style. I mean I realize a snake is easy so any moron with a 4 month old magazine can sit down and go for it and might luck into a good team but this site, as a perfect example, caters mostly to at least somewhat serious players(Sharks) so why so little talk relating to the most realistic draft format?Anyone care to shed some light on this?
Weak argument. The NFL also doesn't throw veterans into the draft pool, give points for yards gained, start 2 or 3 halfbacks per team, etc.We do this for fun, not to pretend we're real NFL GMs.Because the NFL doesn't hold an auction draft.OK I'll bite. Closer how? I guess I don't play fantasy ball, because I don't understand this claim at all.
Auctions are simply more fun IMO.
Even if you don't believe there is an advantage to picking early in a serpentine draft, you have to at least acknowledge that it can be argued. In an auction, there is no argument. Everyone starts out on equal ground. Period. Is it simply due to the fact that baseball fans are smarter than football fans? :baitingjoe:
But again, if you know this is true than why not break the bank on one of the top backs in an auction? This still does not give evidence that an auction eliminates the fact that if you have one of the top backs youre more likely to win. Last year, Alexander was the guy taken at #2 in most snake drafts. I'd bet the farm that in auction drafts the guys that had Alexander won more titles than the guys that didn't, as is claimed above of snake drafts. And to reiterate someone elses point, if you know a player is going to have a monster year, then trade up in your snake draft, it's as simple as that.
You're unwittingly making the argument FOR auctions. Getting one of the coveted elite players "costs more" in auctions than it does in drafts. That's where some of the strategy and leveled playing field thoughts come in. Instead of being given the gift of a top 3 RB, you have to pay (literally) for their services.To keep the example simple, let's assume that the first four rounds are where draft position really matters. Let's also assume a 12 team league, using FBG scoring, in which all participants draft straight off the VBD App cheatsheet.
This is the point in time when auctions really become interesting. Let Excel keep track and pour another one.
You obviously haven't played in many auction leagues. If you buy Alexander or Larry Johnson for 35% of your budget (~ $90 out of standard $260), your advantage over that slot will be evened out by the disadvantage of your spending power over the balance of the draft. I was in an auction earlier this year in which 1 team drafted both Larry Johnson AND Alexander for 70% of his budget ($183 of $260). In this league there are 10 starting positions. Does he have an advantage? Personally, I much prefer the team that I put together by spending my $260 in a different manner.
You make a good argument, but what it really comes down to is that no matter what if you dont know how to identify breakout players, sleepers and good value, you wont win in any format. These players can be had in any draft format - and these players are the ones that win titles. Last year, I had the first pick (14 tms), took LT, came back with Holt and Javon Walker. LT faded in the playoffs and Walker went down in week 1 - I still won my league. Why? Because I drafted guys like Shockey, Galloway, Stallworth & Thomas Jones. Depth wins, not draft position.Even though auction may level the playing field as you say, I dont think the "advantage" of this is enough to make serpentine drafting irrelevant. I dont care where I pick in a snake draft, I know I will make the playoffs in any draft position, Ive done it time and time again. To me, guys that complain about their draft position just don't know what their doing when it comes to drafting, and end up out of the playoffs every year.
What part do you find anticlimatic? To me the auction is much more exciting than a serpentine. It's boring to sit there waiting on someone to pick, crossing guys off your cheatsheet while you passively wait for your turn. Especially if you are near one end, it can be a LONG boring wait between picks.An auction, on the other hand, has you on the edge of your seat as you're involved in every pick (assuming you don't blow your load early).
Don't kid yourself, most people on this site are idiots who only THINK they are sharks. There's about 20-30 guys here who post worthwhile info. A shark would know that whether you run a draft OR an auction you dont luck into good teams. You get the best values you can and you keep working all season through the waiver wire to improve.Personally I've run drafts and auctions myself for 15 years and I there's plenty of good reasons to use either. I've found drafts to be a lot more fun and a lot less headaches than auctions. In reality, the best thing about an auction to many people is that they feel big bragging about how much better they are than drafts. It's like the guy with a small package who wastes big money on a mercedes to feel good about himself. To each his own.I'm new to the site and love it.
I've played this game for 8 years and the first 6 were snake drafts. The last 2 we've done an auction and will never go back. It would be like going back to manually calculating stats from the newspaper.
Auctions are the most fair since any owner can have any player he wants if he's willing to pay $1 more than the next owner. I also believe they require more strategy - much like playing poker. And not the poker you play with your buddies in your mom's basement - Baseball, pass the trash, Guts...etc.
What I can't understand is why 99% of magazines, internet sites and boards like this one are dedicated to what is really an antiquated draft style.
I mean I realize a snake is easy so any moron with a 4 month old magazine can sit down and go for it and might luck into a good team but this site, as a perfect example, caters mostly to at least somewhat serious players(Sharks) so why so little talk relating to the most realistic draft format?
Anyone care to shed some light on this?
. Of course I want the 200 mil teamI think I just found out who 2 of them are.
Last year would actually be evidence against your point. I would "bet the farm" that Larry Johnson (drafted in later rounds), or in ppr leagues perhaps the Lamont Jordan/Steve Smith 3rd/4th rounder equated to more championships than Shaun Alexander... by a long shot. The only guy on any of the leagues I played or kept up with last year (7) to win with Alexander really struggled until LJ emerged (drafted LJ in the 7th).
