Staff and Message Board Auction (1 Viewer)

[David Dodds]

On August 19th, fourteen Footballguys staffers and message board members got together for a Best-Ball Auction. Before the auction started, we asked each of them a series of questions. Hopefully, their answers will help you prepare for your auction.

Pre-Aution Thoughts

Results

We will also have post-auction questions and answers posted on Monday.

 

[Tick]

Thanks as always for these competitions and writeups.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Thank you for posting this, David.

 

[BroadwayG]

Methinks the message board will be getting their clock cleaned in this matchup.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

A few notes involving players of interest to me: G. Jennings $13 and Berrian $12; L. White $8 and C. Brown $5; Curry $8 and Porter $5.

Poor Chase didn't get his beloved Minny D. I guess he must have felt that Chicago was too good a value.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Jeff H. (I see you), you have to be happy with Rudi at $35. I like that value.

 

[Jeff Haseley]

Jeff H. (I see you), you have to be happy with Rudi at $35. I like that value.

Thanks. Yes I am. Both Rudi and Parker are going to see a lot of carries. Both on a team with not much competition from other RBs. Getting Rudi fairly cheap allowed me to go as high as needed to get Parker. To get two top 10 RBs under $85 is an absolute steal.

 

[smackdaddies]

Lhucks had an interesting auction

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Wow, Chase's RBs are virtually nonexistent.

 

[pizzatyme]

Methinks the message board will be getting their clock cleaned in this matchup.

Is this a general thought or is there something you've based this sentiment upon?

 

[LHUCKS]

Lhucks had an interesting auction

I have a feeling not many people will like it, but I fully expect it to be a contender. A little more risk at QB than I would like, but QB is relatively unimportant here IMHO...not to mention I got my mancrush Lefty on my squad.

 

[Tommy Collins]

EastBayFunk drafted like it was dynasty

 

[LHUCKS]

EastBayFunk drafted like it was dynasty

Yeah, he was constantly getting heckled in the chat room...after he drafted the rookie kicker Medlock...we were all ...my girlfriend asked me why I was laughing so hard.To be honest, the chat room banter makes the draft for me.

 

[BroadwayG]

Methinks the message board will be getting their clock cleaned in this matchup.

Is this a general thought or is there something you've based this sentiment upon?

I closed my document I was keeping the order in without saving. I know my top 3 were staff, Pasquino, Rudnicki, and I can't remember the 3rd, even after looking at the teams again.

 

[Chris Smith]

EBF's team will be money by 2011. No doubt about it.

I think we were ALL surprised when a rookie came up and he didn't bid

 

[pizzatyme]

EBF's team will be money by 2011. No doubt about it. I think we were ALL surprised when a rookie came up and he didn't bid

It was quite impressive!

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Methinks the message board will be getting their clock cleaned in this matchup.

Is this a general thought or is there something you've based this sentiment upon?

I closed my document I was keeping the order in without saving. I know my top 3 were staff, Pasquino, Rudnicki, and I can't remember the 3rd, even after looking at the teams again.

I liked Dodds and calbear's team in addition to mine. One issue I had was I think I should have upgraded RB4 to Leon Washington by not buying an extra $5 WR. Replacing Rube with LWash at the cost of, say, Battle would be a trade that I'd dther than that, pretty happy with it.

 

[David Dodds]

Steal of the Auction had to be LHUCKS bid of $3 for the Detroit defense.....

 

[Chris Smith]

Steal of the Auction had to be LHUCKS bid of $3 for the Detroit defense.....

I think we can almost guarantee that is the first time in any auction this year that the Detroit Lions DEF went for $3. Unless the cap was $1000 and it was a start 2 DEF league He didn't really have a choice at that point though. It was the Detroit Lions... or ... The BC Lions

 

[LHUCKS]

Steal of the Auction had to be LHUCKS bid of $3 for the Detroit defense.....

 

[pizzatyme]

Who was it driving up the price of Defenses during the draft? I think I know...

 

[David Dodds]

There was a lot of gamesmanship for the last kickers and defenses making people pay $2 and $3 because we knew they needed a backup, etc. This was the hardest auction I have ever participated in. No players went dirt cheap. No players were huge reaches. Multiple strategies were all in play (stud RBs, deep Rbs, bad RBs/stud Wrs, quantity vs quality, handcuffing, etc).

Although LHUCKS still ended up with a decent team, I think he expected that better players would be available by sitting out the entire middle (after getting Maroney, LT and Gates). But no one overpaid and when he did come back in, people were bidding up the few kickers, defenses, etc...

 

[LHUCKS]

I liked Dodds and calbear's team in addition to mine. One issue I had was I think I should have upgraded RB4 to Leon Washington by not buying an extra $5 WR. Replacing Rube with LWash at the cost of, say, Battle would be a trade that I'd dther than that, pretty happy with it.

Dodds - I don't like his WR depth...the strength of his team is RB depth. I like his strategy, but I just don't like a lot of his players. I think his strategy will definitely carry him for a while. Calbear - An odd team...I don't like his RB depth and he wasted two roster spots on QBs IMHO. Still pretty solid if he avoids RB injury. I think he's a contender.Pasquino - Meh...I'm not a fan of Ronnie Brown...generally speaking I'm not real high on his players. His WRs may be able to carry him though.

 

[BroadwayG]

After looking at it more, JP and AR are the only teams that had me nodding in agreement all the way through. All the other rosters have some kind of 'eeks' in there. That's expected in a 14 team league though, especially with WCOFF lineup requirements.

The ballsiest roster has to be EBF, not only for the rookies, but also the whopping 3 RBs he decided to roster.

 

[LHUCKS]

He didn't really have a choice at that point though. It was the Detroit Lions... or ... The BC Lions

yeah, I was screwed...you need to have two defenses in this format...I really wanted three but completely lost track of defenses taken. Totally snuck up on me...I was cursing for about 10 minutes. I hate when I make draft mistakes.

 

[pizzatyme]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.

My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...

We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

 

[PahtyTom]

I'd like to hear how the bidding for Edge went. $32 seems high when compared with guys like Ahman, Jacobs, and Benson going for less and guys like Maroney, Rudi, MJD, and McGahee going for a little more but relatively in the same price range.

 

[David Dodds]

I think Calbear has the team to beat. He got exceptional value with LJ and was able to parlay that into an extra stud WR. It could easily be the difference. Others team I like beside mine: Pasquino, Capt Hook. That said none of the teams are horrible. I am interested to see this thing play out. Quality vs Quantity will be in play with many of the positions.

 

[David Dodds]

I'd like to hear how the bidding for Edge went. $32 seems high when compared with guys like Ahman, Jacobs, and Benson going for less and guys like Maroney, Rudi, MJD, and McGahee going for a little more but relatively in the same price range.

I waited forever to land a back and decided that I was just going to overpay to get someone decent. I agree Edge went for a little too much, but in a 14 team league you have to bid something to land decent backs usually. I think my total price I paid for backs was reasonable (Edge too much, but others were a tad low). In hindsight I should have bid more on some previous backs that went before Edge.

 

[EBF]

I tend to be a "glass is half full" guy when it comes to rookies. I didn't go into this auction planning to land both Lynch and Peterson, but that's just the way the chips fell. I probably see more value in them than the other owners do. But I certainly don't think having Lynch and Peterson as my RB2 and RB3 in a 14 team league is going to be the kiss of death. They're going to get a lot of playing time for their teams and they have the talent to hang some big games on the board.

That said, I think it would've been wiser to use some of that money on Thomas Jones, Deuce McAllister, or Ahman Green instead. I got a little caught up in the heat of the moment. If I have one major flaw as a drafter it's that I sometimes get enchanted by bright lights of "upside" and "potential." Rookies are risky, but when they hit, they can hit BIG. I'm attracted to that. The downside is that they can be pretty big busts when they don't hit. I think that risk is minimal in the case of Peterson and Lynch since they're both easily the best backs on their teams.

The Medlock thing was a fiasco. Nothing more. It was a panic pick that I explained in my post-draft comments (which should be published on Monday). I wasn't targeting him at all.

Rice and Robinson are my only other rookies and they're hardly expected to play major roles. I think they're viable WR9-10 types in a league this deep.

It will be interesting to see how my team performs. I was testing a strategy (bargain bin WR). I think a lot of the quality of elite WRs can be approximated by quantity in a best ball league. Last year my team was carried at WR by Bernard Berrian, Reggie Williams, Marty Booker, and Chris Henry. I don't think I spent more than $3-4 for any of them. I'm hoping that this year's team can yield similar results. We'll see.

If I could go back I would probably do some things differently, but this is a pretty deep league and I think my team definitely has a chance if I catch a few breaks. Winning these things often comes down to having that one Frank Gore or Larry Johnson type breakout. Maybe Lynch or Peterson can be that guy this season.

 

[LHUCKS]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

You're just too shallow at WR. If you would have drafted WRs instead of Dayne/Frerotte/Duckett I think you would have one of the top squads. You got steals with Chrissy and Julius Jones...you didn't need to go so deep at RB.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I think Calbear has the team to beat. He got exceptional value with LJ and was able to parlay that into an extra stud WR. It could easily be the difference. Others team I like beside mine: Pasquino, Capt Hook. That said none of the teams are horrible. I am interested to see this thing play out. Quality vs Quantity will be in play with many of the positions.

Actually I had Capt. Hook in my Top 3, come to think of it. Calbear was good but too many handcuffs for my taste.I will say that it was a very solid auction (and well paced). 14 teams makes a BIG difference with scarcity at QB, K and D for those who want to force the issue and take 2 or more.

 

[pizzatyme]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

You're just too shallow at WR. If you would have drafted WRs instead of Dayne/Frerotte/Duckett I think you would have one of the top squads. You got steals with Chrissy and Julius Jones...you didn't need to go so deep at RB.

I definitely agree I needed another WR or 2. I was kicking myself for the Duckett pick. I really waited too long on the WRs. I could have easily jumped up and snagged another 15-25-type WR. I ended having $7 left over as most of the WR talent was dried up.To me, there are too many teams with a weakness at RB. In a start 2 and Flex league, I'll take the consistency that my RBs will deliver over having a stud like #85 who may have huge games and duds in between.

 

[LHUCKS]

If I could go back I would probably do some things differently, but this is a pretty deep league and I think my team definitely has a chance if I catch a few breaks. Winning these things often comes down to having that one Frank Gore or Larry Johnson type breakout. Maybe Lynch or Peterson can be that guy this season.

I think you can contend personally. I like some of your WR buys like Northcutt(who you stole from me), Roddy White and Randle El. Those late round steals make a world of difference in week 10.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Name three players you expect to land. These are likely people you think will smash their ADP and therefore would be willing to pay more than the average cost to get the player. Why are you targeting these players? What do you see in their games/opportunities that makes them the key to winning this league?

I'll be shocked if I don't get Travis Henry. I'll spend up to $45 to do so, but I think he'll go in the high 30s after his knee scare.
I will likely get Rex Grossman. I'm higher on him than anyone in a regular league, but he's perfect for a best ball format since you don't have to guess whether he'll score 20 points or negative three.
I fully expect one of my backup TEs will be Visanthe Shiancoe. I don't think anyone else has him on their radar, so I should get him for $1.

Sorry Clayton.

I still remember his comments.... "Did I really just not get Shiancoe?"

 

[David Dodds]

the highlight of this auction for me was LHUCKS nominating RB Chris Henry (who we all know he hates for a $1). He did this because he wanted to rib anyone bidding him up.....but guess what......no one bid the $2. I was in tears for a bit after that.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I like my team but am not in love with it. Generally happy with the top-4 RBs and the price I paid for them, but would likely do things differently at WR and probably QB too.

I liked CalBears, Dodds, Pasquino's teams as some of the strongest competition.

I didn't understand Chase's strategy to spend all his money on 4 stud WRs, Caddy, and the Bears D.

 

[LHUCKS]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

You're just too shallow at WR. If you would have drafted WRs instead of Dayne/Frerotte/Duckett I think you would have one of the top squads. You got steals with Chrissy and Julius Jones...you didn't need to go so deep at RB.

I definitely agree I needed another WR or 2. I was kicking myself for the Duckett pick. I really waited too long on the WRs. I could have easily jumped up and snagged another 15-25-type WR. I ended having $7 left over as most of the WR talent was dried up.To me, there are too many teams with a weakness at RB. In a start 2 and Flex league, I'll take the consistency that my RBs will deliver over having a stud like #85 who may have huge games and duds in between.

There was late round WR value to be had...Hook and I were picking off starters for 1 or 2 bucks late in the draft.My WR cheatsheet going into this was 130 deep.

 

[LHUCKS]

the highlight of this auction for me was LHUCKS nominating RB Chris Henry (who we all know he hates for a $1). He did this because he wanted to rib anyone bidding him up.....but guess what......no one bid the $2. I was in tears for a bit after that.

And I was pissed off because it cost me a spot at WR.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

You're just too shallow at WR. If you would have drafted WRs instead of Dayne/Frerotte/Duckett I think you would have one of the top squads. You got steals with Chrissy and Julius Jones...you didn't need to go so deep at RB.

I definitely agree I needed another WR or 2. I was kicking myself for the Duckett pick. I really waited too long on the WRs. I could have easily jumped up and snagged another 15-25-type WR. I ended having $7 left over as most of the WR talent was dried up.To me, there are too many teams with a weakness at RB. In a start 2 and Flex league, I'll take the consistency that my RBs will deliver over having a stud like #85 who may have huge games and duds in between.

There was late round WR value to be had...Hook and I were picking off starters for 1 or 2 bucks late in the draft.My WR cheatsheet going into this was 130 deep.

I agree with this, and this was part of the reason I should have waited for my last 1-2 WRs and bid harder on RB4. Those of us who draft all year round in Survivor leagues like PDSL which is quite deep (16 teams, 20 picks) know that 100+ WRs exist and have value.Drew Carter, IIRC, went for $1 and that's a huge steal.I'd certainly trade Battle and RDroughns for LWash and DCarter in this format.Also remember you really need FIVE solid WRs to win here, as with bye weeks and the flex spot, 4 WRs are going to be scoring for you most weeks.

 

[LHUCKS]

I like my team but am not in love with it. Generally happy with the top-4 RBs and the price I paid for them, but would likely do things differently at WR and probably QB too.

Yeah, your WRs bother me...I still think you have a shot though because your team is relatively balanced.

I didn't understand Chase's strategy to spend all his money on 4 stud WRs, Caddy, and the Bears D.

Yeah...it was the anti LHUCKS strategy...I purposely avoided top 20 WRs. I don't think he has a chance, but weirder things have happened.

 

[pizzatyme]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

You're just too shallow at WR. If you would have drafted WRs instead of Dayne/Frerotte/Duckett I think you would have one of the top squads. You got steals with Chrissy and Julius Jones...you didn't need to go so deep at RB.

I definitely agree I needed another WR or 2. I was kicking myself for the Duckett pick. I really waited too long on the WRs. I could have easily jumped up and snagged another 15-25-type WR. I ended having $7 left over as most of the WR talent was dried up.To me, there are too many teams with a weakness at RB. In a start 2 and Flex league, I'll take the consistency that my RBs will deliver over having a stud like #85 who may have huge games and duds in between.

There was late round WR value to be had...Hook and I were picking off starters for 1 or 2 bucks late in the draft.My WR cheatsheet going into this was 130 deep.

Where are the starters?Nate BurlesonJames JonesEric ParkerSamie ParkerCraig DavisI mean J. Jones might end up doing okay, but he isn't a starter by any means. I can't necessarily say I'd rather have any of these from my six. I guess if you mean strictly for depth, yes, but not for quality starters.

 

[EBF]

There were probably 6-7 teams that looked pretty solid to me after the draft. Rudnicki, Pasquino, and Dodds are the guys I named as contenders, but there were definitely some other teams that caught my eye. I thought LHUCKS got some nice WR buys. His WR corps looks like the type I was trying to assemble. LT and Maroney is a nasty 1-2 punch. What scared me off is the weak QBs and the total lack of a RB3. I think those shortcomings could hurt him.

 

[LHUCKS]

I am happy with my RBs. Some might feel I overpaid for the Skins tandem, but I'm good there for $44.My obvious weakness is WR. However, I am hopeful that Curry is a surprise and V. Jackson gets some single coverage love from Rivers. The others were just guys who I hoped could jump up now and again...We'll see. It was a great draft in that as Dodds mentioned, you could really see several different strategies playing out very clearly.

You're just too shallow at WR. If you would have drafted WRs instead of Dayne/Frerotte/Duckett I think you would have one of the top squads. You got steals with Chrissy and Julius Jones...you didn't need to go so deep at RB.

I definitely agree I needed another WR or 2. I was kicking myself for the Duckett pick. I really waited too long on the WRs. I could have easily jumped up and snagged another 15-25-type WR. I ended having $7 left over as most of the WR talent was dried up.To me, there are too many teams with a weakness at RB. In a start 2 and Flex league, I'll take the consistency that my RBs will deliver over having a stud like #85 who may have huge games and duds in between.

There was late round WR value to be had...Hook and I were picking off starters for 1 or 2 bucks late in the draft.My WR cheatsheet going into this was 130 deep.

Where are the starters?Nate BurlesonJames JonesEric ParkerSamie ParkerCraig DavisI mean J. Jones might end up doing okay, but he isn't a starter by any means. I can't necessarily say I'd rather have any of these from my six. I guess if you mean strictly for depth, yes, but not for quality starters.

Craig Davis and Parker are starters.

 

[CalBear]

Calbear - An odd team...I don't like his RB depth and he wasted two roster spots on QBs IMHO. Still pretty solid if he avoids RB injury. I think he's a contender.

I felt like roster spots weren't very valuable; with 24 rosters spots in a 14-team league, the players left on the board after we were all done were pretty much zero value. For a total of $11 I was able to lock down what should be solid production at QB while mitigating risk. I'd rather do that than have Travis Taylor on my squad.

 

[CalBear]

I think Calbear has the team to beat. He got exceptional value with LJ and was able to parlay that into an extra stud WR. It could easily be the difference. Others team I like beside mine: Pasquino, Capt Hook. That said none of the teams are horrible. I am interested to see this thing play out. Quality vs Quantity will be in play with many of the positions.

I have my team as #1 in starter strength, and yours as #1 in overall strength. It definitely might work to have a number of mid-range players in this format like you do; we'll have to see.I got a little lucky with the timing on LJ; if the auction were held today, he'd go for at least $10 more and I probably wouldn't wind up with him.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I like my team but am not in love with it. Generally happy with the top-4 RBs and the price I paid for them, but would likely do things differently at WR and probably QB too.

Yeah, your WRs bother me...I still think you have a shot though because your team is relatively balanced.

Andre Johnson, 10Hines Ward, 6Reggie Brown, 5DJ Hackett, 8Joe Jurevicius, 7Josh Reed, 6Robert Meachem, 4Nate Washington, 6I spread out the bye weeks well, which was by design so I could have basically 4 of my top-5 guys playing each week. I think Reed will have some good weeks and generally be steady. Meachem was a flier, and Washington is basically a handcuff for Ward.

 

[Chase Stuart]

I think I have the top team at 5 of the 9 positions. We'll see how that works.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Craig Davis and Parker are starters.

Davis is fighting with Floyd for a starting job, no?Parker will lose his spot to Bowe in a matter of weeks.

 

[LHUCKS]

I thought LHUCKS got some nice WR buys. His WR corps looks like the type I was trying to assemble. LT and Maroney is a nasty 1-2 punch. What scared me off is the weak QBs and the total lack of a RB3. I think those shortcomings could hurt him.

RB3 is definitely a concern, particularly on LT's bye week. I'm not really concerned about my QBs as I don't see it as a critical position.