Trying to assess the Board's view on DD and its (1 Viewer)

[pizzatyme]

After reading many a posts debating the usefullness of VBD or not, I thought it would make some sense to create a poll for the board to get an idea of how the Draft Dominator is viewed here.

I tend to use the DD exclusively for my drafts, but only after 'tweaking' the projections and weighting to my liking. I find the DD invaluable as an organizational tool. While other managers are busy writing down picks of other teams, scratching through players picked, and scrambling later in the draft to find those hidden gems, I am busy scrolling through the player pool by position to see who is left, then looking at the draft needs of teams after me and trying to assess my options.

Maybe I give too much credit to the DD, but for me it works and works well!

What says you?

 

[Da Guru]

I use it as a guide.

I like seeing the ten players available at all positions, and best available.

 

[nygiants56]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

 

[Monty Burns]

Great program. I tweak some of the projections and then print cheatsheets for my drafts. I love the fact you can adjust the parameters for each league you play in, especially if their parameters differ greatly.

 

[JoeSteeler]

I voted other.

I really don't know what it is or how it works. I do know ADP isnt a frat!

 

[Ned]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

 

[beavers]

Last year was my first time using it. I didn't draft every suggestion (it wanted me to draft McNair in the 4th) but it served its purpose. I was able to find those players that fell off the draft board for other owners (CBS Sportsline has a funky way of listing their best available players) -- I was able to draft L. Coles in the 8th.

I will be using it again this year. Definitely worth the $25.

 

[H.K.]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

This guy gets it

 

[Lord Lucan]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

Spending months and months studying players with all the fantasy magazines, websites etc is for sissys. All a real man needs for the draft is a gallon of beer.

 

[Tubalcane]

I use it for my home league. I’m ashamed to admit everybody likes that I use it because of the Timer. Before I used the DD the time limits were badly abused, and nobody wants to be the guy who has to keep time. Now everybody gets a trip out of the countdown timer. Just for fun this year I am going to reposition the surround sound at my Brothers house (where we always hold the draft) and jack up the volume to ear splitting levels.

When the draft is done I just print the Draft summary sheet off, and hand it to the commish so he can have a quick copy of the complete draft, and he greatly appreciates it. It helps guide along the home draft very nicely. It keeps everybody at the draft honest; no late picking, no drafting a player twice, and no “accidentally” drafting ahead of somebody.

 

[Jayrod]

Voted other....

Too cheap to pay for it last year and I didn't trust the data in the free version, so I do my own cheatsheets/tiering.

I'm probably going to pony up the $$ this year and use a modified version for my auction draft.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

It's a great way to run mock drafts too. Especially in leagues that have been together a long time and you have a good idea who folks like to take. One hit of the button and you can start all over again. I really like it. When will it be avaialble again?

 

[Kleck.]

It's a very quick and easy way to track a draft. That's the main reason why I use it. League sites will do that as well, but I do prefer having the multiple small windows from the DD for a quick and easy reference to everything you really need, and more, to track the draft.

Even without the DD, I'd still take my laptop to a draft since I do all of my projections/tiers/rankings in excel.

 

[ookook]

I use it for ALL SORTS OF THINGS. I do many mocks, I use it to study how different starting lineups and scoring systems affect value, I preint cheatsheets and take to the draft.

One thing I do NOT do is let it draft for me. As many will say, you need to consider the drafting tendencies of your leaguemates and ADP. It doesn't matter when it says Gates should go according to VBD.

I really like using it to generate VBD based on median starter and worst starter baselines, export a spreadsheet, and look at that while drafitng.

Great tool to use to generate information that would be very time consuming to do on my own (and I used to before DD).

 

[streamkeeper]

I use it w/o adjusting the projections. I do so becauseI want a assesment of "market value" on each player. I do not pick players based on what the program suggests, but based on my own value, which by draft time is in my head.

I utilize the notes on specific player to a great degreee because it also helps me organize my thoughts on the players individually.

I think DD is a super organization and mock drafting tool.

I use it for all of my drafts.

For me DD alone is worth the price of admission at FBGs.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

i haven't drafted with it; i use a modified versionof the VBD sheet for each league. it's a great tool for mocking & prep.

 

[Usual21]

Been playing FF for 6 years now. Never got higher than 3rd before last year. Last year, I used DD for the first time and I won 1 league and finished 2nd in three others. I highly recommend it.

 

[Joe Bryant]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

That's an interesting observation, nyg. Check out the ad in our FBG magazine when it comes out and you'll probably J

 

[Joe Bryant]

Voted other....Too cheap to pay for it last year and I didn't trust the data in the free version, so I do my own cheatsheets/tiering.I'm probably going to pony up the $$ this year and use a modified version for my auction draft.

Thanks, jayrod.J

 

[B-Deep]

I use it, love it, it is worth the price of admission

I don't draft everyone it says, by any means, but no more fiddling with sheets and scribbling down lineups for me.

 

[David Dodds]

Of course I am highly biased, but the Draft Dominator is a great tool to have in your hands at a draft.

It's primary goal is one of organization. It shows who got picked, what teams have (to better show their tendencies going forward), Fantasy Points calculated based on your league's scoring criteria (and my projections that can be changed to your projections), Average Draft Position, Schedule Strength, Depth Charts, etc.

It allows you to add up to three notes per player. Things you want to remember at the draft. Add your relative rank by position (or tiering/bucket info here).

It brings everything together using multiple windows to allow you to perform complex thinking in a very small window of time. And it organizes everything so you aren't rifling through lots of paper to find what you are looking for.

Need a WR? Click on the WR tab and it shows who the next few guys are and their ADP.

Need a complimentary QB late that will fit nicely with Brees? Run the tool that looks for a QB that will score well on Brees bye week and his tougher games.

Need a second opinion on who to grab? Let the computer recommend a pick.

Simply put the Draft Dominator is an ORGANIZATIONAL TOOL. It uses Dynamic VBD to try and predict what others will do so you can end up with the best team possible. It is an ASSIST. It's not the cure all. But as far as organizational aids at a draft, I have seen nothing in the industry even close.

 

[Mark Wimer]

I use the draft dominator for all my fantasy league drafts. It is adjustable on many different levels and gives a fantasy owner a LOT of control over the fine-grainedness that they wish to inject in their drafts. I do modify some of the projections (on players where my own projections differ from those loaded into the DD) and I also use the ability to weight different weeks more important than others in those leagues where divisional play is more important than non-divisional.

IMO, there is no better draft application available, and I've seen a lot of them come and go over the years.

 

[Jayrod]

Voted other....Too cheap to pay for it last year and I didn't trust the data in the free version, so I do my own cheatsheets/tiering.I'm probably going to pony up the $$ this year and use a modified version for my auction draft.

Thanks, jayrod.J

No, Joe......thank YOU! I probably owe something for all of the time I spend in all of the forums throughout the year anyway. FFA, SP, AC and the new Baseball Forum are my official iHangoutsThat and I'm hell bent on winning one of my leagues this year after finishing 3/12, 3/12 & 6/8 in my leagues last year.

 

[Pickle Rody]

I voted: "Use it, adjust projections"

I've been using the DD for a number of years now. Made the Super Bowl 3 straight years in my main money league, winning last year. It helped me bring home $1560 total over those 3 years.

I commish this league. I use the DD at our live draft and use it for two reasons. It helps me track the draft and the picks, while allowing me the advantage of seeing ahead and what I should/shouldn't be targetting for my next pick. I tweak the projections myself to more closely resemble my own expectations. Not a single league mate thinks I'm a fool for using this software, considering the results. In fact, I have to fend them off during the draft. Most couldn't look at it and decipher what they are seeing, so it's really no big deal. The use of the DD and my repeated success has convinced others in the league to join FBG. At least 4 of them have now become paid subscribers here, 2 went for the 3-year subscription offered last year.

If you think the DD is the answer to all of your FF woes, you will be sorely mistaken. It's not meant to be used solely as a "who-to-pick" tool. It's meant to be used in conjunction with other tools, like your brain.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

Spot on.

 

[Cixelsyd]

Not sure what the debate it sbout... it's a very smart, effective, tool... how you use it is up to you... and your skill level... I've seen people with limited computer skills stumble... but if you post here, hopefully you have the fundamentals.

It's a tool, just like a list, a magazine, a website, YOUR MIND... use the information it gives to your advantage...

We draft 20 rounds, it's an invaluable tool for me... It keeps everything ogranized and at my finger tips... whos been drafted, by which team, who's left... but whats great, is I can keep a eye on the teams around me, seeing what they drafted in each position, to not only look at my rankings, but determine the likelyhood of who they may draft...

Some people prefer to drive a nail with a two by four, handle of a screw driver, a regular claw hammer, or a hammer gun that makes it all easier... you pick your tool and use it accordingly...

 

[Pickle Rody]

I would say you two (nygiants56 & BigSteelThrill) haven't a clue. Just because you've done your homework does not mean everyone else has. And when you get screwed in a draft because some league mate went and took your target well before you had planned to, you always adjust accordingly huh? So you find it easy to track everyone's team and know what they need vs. what you need?

And just because someone chooses to bring a laptop to a draft does not mean they are a sissy. They may be the commissioner and find it easier to track the entire draft that way. They are also more likely to draft smarter and not get caught off gaurd. So, if being smart means you are a sissy, so be it.

 

[culdeus]

It's a nice program for having multiple leagues drafting slow at the same time.

That being said it pretty much serves to pop up the 4 or 5 next guys on the ranking then I'll make the call from there.

It helps me to not overlook things like bye weeks and late season schedules and things like that, but really last year was pretty bad for DD projections. Two years ago was $$$ and four years ago was the best ever IIRC.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

I would say you two (nygiants56 & BigSteelThrill) haven't a clue. Just because you've done your homework does not mean everyone else has. And when you get screwed in a draft because some league mate went and took your target well before you had planned to, you always adjust accordingly huh? So you find it easy to track everyone's team and know what they need vs. what you need?

And just because someone chooses to bring a laptop to a draft does not mean they are a sissy. They may be the commissioner and find it easier to track the entire draft that way. They are also more likely to draft smarter and not get caught off gaurd. So, if being smart means you are a sissy, so be it.

But Im answering about how it applies to me. Not how it helps my little sister be as good as many bait-fish owners. Or anyone else.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I would say you two (nygiants56 & BigSteelThrill) haven't a clue. Just because you've done your homework does not mean everyone else has. And when you get screwed in a draft because some league mate went and took your target well before you had planned to, you always adjust accordingly huh? So you find it easy to track everyone's team and know what they need vs. what you need?

And just because someone chooses to bring a laptop to a draft does not mean they are a sissy. They may be the commissioner and find it easier to track the entire draft that way. They are also more likely to draft smarter and not get caught off gaurd. So, if being smart means you are a sissy, so be it.

But Im answering about how it applies to me. Not how it helps my little sister be as good as many bait-fish owners. Or anyone else.

No worries bigsteel. I would agree that for some it can be "sledgehammer to a fly". And I'm ok with that. But for some folks, that is a bad thing. And I understand some think laptops at drafts are for sissies. If that's the case, then DD is not for them. It's not for everyone. But I think if you do want to be super organized and use it as a tool to help you make great decisions, it has no peer. (and you have to be ok with using a laptop... )

J

 

[BigSteelThrill]

I think it helps many others immensly Joe. For the record.

 

[burd]

Last year was my first time using it. I didn't draft every suggestion (it wanted me to draft McNair in the 4th) but it served its purpose. I was able to find those players that fell off the draft board for other owners (CBS Sportsline has a funky way of listing their best available players) -- I was able to draft L. Coles in the 8th. I will be using it again this year. Definitely worth the $25.

i got Coles in the 11th ... and i don't use DD. I agree w/ the sledgehammer to an ant scenario ... tiers and common sense work well enough.

 

[Bartguy]

If you're the commish at a live draft, the DD is worth it simply for capturing your whole draft, so you don't have to transcribe it later.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I think it helps many others immensly Joe. For the record.

Thanks bigsteel. J

 

[LHUCKS]

I use it as an organizational tool during drafts...tracking what other teams have drafted and what they need etc. etc.

Awesome tool even for the most experienced "experts."

 

[LAUNCH]

Can anyone verify (@work ) if they changed the way the drafting of players is handled? It's always been set up for a serpentine draft instead of giving you the option of drafting as a salaried league. So when LT would get drafted it would automatically jump to the next team in the order instead of just waiting until you clicked the team you really needed. (example if you have keepers and want to add them you would have to keep clicking back to the team after each player or during the draft you have to make sure that you click back to the correct team.)

LAUNCH

 

[Monty Burns]

Great program. I tweak some of the projections and then print cheatsheets for my drafts. I love the fact you can adjust the parameters for each league you play in, especially if their parameters differ greatly.

Just to add a little to this: I don't use it at drafts as I prefer to watch my opponents reactions to things closely, rather than to have my head buried in a computer. To gauge their reactions to players picked is very valuable to me in "in person" type drafts. As far as slow "email type drafts" done online, I use more of its functions.

 

[TheLastDispatch]

i pretty much just use it for mocks. like someone else said, by the time the draft rolls around i've mocked so much i know who i want and who i should take. that being said, i might use it as a guide once in a while.

 

[k2isabeast]

I think a big factor in who uses it and why depends on league size, roster limits, keeper limits, and IDP vs team def, in addition to its organizational attributes. I love reading the big ego posts like "ah only wussys need it blah blah blah"..then you read their 10 team, 3 keeper, team D sig..wow. add about 252 IDP'ers to the mix and talk to me..Bottom line is it is very helpful. I use it every year. Id say after round 4 Im checking it to see next best avail..Love the timer as my group starts drinking around 10am while our draft usually starts around 1.. The price is free since the forums alone are worth the $20-25 fee. My GF joined me in a friendly 12 teamer with team def last year; I gave her the laptop and she followed it to a T. Ended up with the best recored goin into the playoffs only to get beat in 2nd round (easiest $400) I ever made. Point is she knew 2 NFL players; 1 was Tom Brady the other was Winslow-browns homers.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

errr 16 team, 20+ years of full IDP (among the originals), 16 starting players.

Its good if you arent able (or dont have the time) to make your own system that works.

A good system starts and ends with the ability to evaluate and judge NFL talent incl players/coaches and teams.

And noone said wussys need DD.... it was said "laptop" computers at the draft are for sissys. Regardless of what software you use.

Heck there are lots of similar softwares and some just use basic spreadsheets.

 

[redman]

I chose the "use but modify" option, but I also use it more as a guide than as a rigid "draft chooser".

 

[lebowski]

I really appreciate in about the 15th round and everyone has been . Inevitably, someone keeps asking if Shaun Alexander has been drafted yet and I can tell them yes with confidence. Its also good for late in the draft when people are yelling "I need a reciever...whose left?" Of course you read them ones you wouldn't want, but I am definately the most organized person at the draft.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Draft Dominator is BY FAR the most valuable tool I've used in ~ 15 years of playing fantasy sports. Having up to the second access to best players available ranked overall and by position, as well as instant access to the current roster of your opponents is impossible to overestimate.

In experienced leagues where every owner knows their stuff, the DD separates the haves from the have-nots. It is simply impossible to replicate the organization or quick access to information that the DD provides on one screen.

If you're not using the DD and someone else in your league is, you're at a disadvantage. Period.

 

[redman]

Draft Dominator is BY FAR the most valuable tool I've used in ~ 15 years of playing fantasy sports. Having up to the second access to best players available ranked overall and by position, as well as instant access to the current roster of your opponents is impossible to overestimate. In experienced leagues where every owner knows their stuff, the DD separate the haves from the have nots. It is simply not possible to replicate the organization or quick access to information that the DD provides on one screen.If you're not using the DD and someone else in your league is, you're at a disadvantage. Period.

You won't catch me doing this in the FFA, but

 

[Bruce Henderson]

Voted other....

Too cheap to pay for it last year and I didn't trust the data in the free version, so I do my own cheatsheets/tiering.

I'm probably going to pony up the $$ this year and use a modified version for my auction draft.

The auction calculations have been totally revamped based on Maurile Tremblay's article from last year: Auction Pricing, so definitely check out this year's version.

 

[redman]

BTW, why don't we have a Data Dominatrix?

 

[tommyGunZ]

Draft Dominator is BY FAR the most valuable tool I've used in ~ 15 years of playing fantasy sports. Having up to the second access to best players available ranked overall and by position, as well as instant access to the current roster of your opponents is impossible to overestimate. In experienced leagues where every owner knows their stuff, the DD separate the haves from the have nots. It is simply not possible to replicate the organization or quick access to information that the DD provides on one screen.If you're not using the DD and someone else in your league is, you're at a disadvantage. Period.

You won't catch me doing this in the FFA, but

You should try it more often.

 

[Cixelsyd]

its a good program , but after months and months of studying players with all the fantasy magazines,website,etc, taking a laptop to a draft to run DD is a bit much. Its like using a sledgehammer to kill an ant. if you don't know who you're targeting, after having all summer to formulate a game plan, no DD software suite is going to save your season. and laptops at fantasy drafts, are for sissys..

Spot on.

Spot on? Do you run your league on paper? Are you sporting 80's hair do's?I've used the DD the last 3 years, it's great... a laptop at the draft is smart... it's a tool... it doesn't mean you know everything and it doesn't mean you know anything... it's a tool... Set up properly and it can be very powerful... it's not the software, its the data you put in it... just like you build your list of who you are targeting... this just makes your list easier to manage...

 

[Bruce Henderson]

Can anyone verify (@work ) if they changed the way the drafting of players is handled? It's always been set up for a serpentine draft instead of giving you the option of drafting as a salaried league. So when LT would get drafted it would automatically jump to the next team in the order instead of just waiting until you clicked the team you really needed. (example if you have keepers and want to add them you would have to keep clicking back to the team after each player or during the draft you have to make sure that you click back to the correct team.)LAUNCH

Here you can always right click on the player in the player pool and select the team that you want the player to go to from the popup menu. This overrides the serpentine draft order.

 

[TheLastDispatch]

Great tool, but i wish there was a way to work keepers into it. A lot of people run keeper leagues in which you give up a pick in exchange for keeping a player. It'd be cool if you could do that in the dominator too. For instance, say I drafted MJD in the 12th last year and I want to keep him this year. It'd be cool if I could delete my 12th round pick and put him on my team.

Maybe an idea for a DD improvement?

ETA: My bad if this can already be done. If it can, can someone tell me how? TIA