What do leagues do who draft on opening night? (1 Viewer)

[Dexter Manley]

In my 16 team league, we always have our draft on either the Tue, Wed, or Thur after Labor Day. Like half of the people have families and such, so it's impossible to do it on Labor Day weekend. Doing it the week before isn't an option either. Thursday night is of course opening NFL night. Twice within the last 5 years we've done it on this night, with the game going on. What do other leagues do that hold their drafts on this Thursday?

The reason I ask, is because last year we did it on Thursday, and beforehand everyone agreed that if you took a player off of the Steelers or Dolphins, you had to declare whether or not you were starting them in week 1 immediately after selecting them, and you could not change your mind thereafter. This seemed like a pretty cut and dry rule, and everything was going smoothly until the later rounds of the draft.

It was like the 14th round, and the qb's I had previously selected were Kitna and Brooks. Detroit was playing the Bears, so I knew I couldn't start him, and I wasn't excited about starting Brooks vs. SD either. I decided when it was my turn to pick, I would take Batch, who was having a pretty decent game, and start him in week 1.

Well, it got to the pick before me, and my idiot friend, who selected Culpepper and declared him his week 1 starter earlier, tried to pull a fast one and take Batch and declare him as his starter for week 1, since Culpepper was sucking big time. We obviously didn't allow this.

So next pick I take Batch and say I'm starting him. Everyone says I can't. I'm like this is the rule we agreed on before the draft. I argue for awhile and the commish won't budge, saying I can't start him because normally I would never start him if the Mia-Pit game was played on Sunday. I argue, and finally give up, figuring karma will be on my side.

I started Brooks week 1 against a division rival, and lose by a few points. I would of won if I had been able to start Batch. I would have won my division and made the playoffs had I won this game, but the *&$@%! up decision cost me a playoff berth.

I obviously want to avoid any chance of having this happen again this season, as there's at least a 1 in 3 chance we'll draft again on Thursday. How do other leagues drafting on opening night handle this?

 

[ATC1]

Tivo (skip the commercials)

I would try to hold it as early as possible as well.

 

[Dexter Manley]

Tivo (skip the commercials)I would try to hold it as early as possible as well.

Well this isn't an option. Last year for example, one guy was a huge Fish fan. Also, like half of the guys have $$$$ on the game.

 

[freeannyong]

write the rule down before the draft and have everybody sign it. Also, put up a list of teams who have guys starting the game so they don't try to get tricky.

 

[tomarken]

Tivo (skip the commercials)I would try to hold it as early as possible as well.

Well this isn't an option. Last year for example, one guy was a huge Fish fan. Also, like half of the guys have $$$$ on the game.

Start the draft as early as possible. Anyone drafted prior to kickoff of the game is eligible to be started Week 1, as long as they are declared the starter before kickoff. Once the game starts, no more players from that game can be declared week 1 starters, regardless of whether they were drafted before or after kickoff.

 

[Captain Hook]

IF this is really an issue, have the draft on Wednesday night or sack up and just allow everyone to designate their Week 1 lineups as they normally would. There can't be any arguments then although someone may benefit from playing Batch (or Courtney Anderson from previous year), but it's just not a big deal.

 

[Kleck.]

Do it like WCOFF does. Players on Thursday count for week 1, but you don't need to claim them a starter until after your draft is completed.

 

[ShadowMaster]

It is just amazing what kind of stupid ideas people come up with that no doubt - lead to an argument. What did you guys expect here? Who drafts AFTER the season starts? What is wrong with Wednesday night? How about you guys draft any time along the summer before ANY of the games start?

I don't think you will find too many others who have this issue. Most people are done drafting by the time the week 1 Thursday Nighter kicks off.

 

[DanFouts]

It is just amazing what kind of stupid ideas people come up with that no doubt - lead to an argument. What did you guys expect here? Who drafts AFTER the season starts? What is wrong with Wednesday night? How about you guys draft any time along the summer before ANY of the games start?

I don't think you will find too many others who have this issue. Most people are done drafting by the time the week 1 Thursday Nighter kicks off.

You have from now to Sept to draft....what is the problem.....

 

[Dexter Manley]

It is just amazing what kind of stupid ideas people come up with that no doubt - lead to an argument. What did you guys expect here? Who drafts AFTER the season starts? What is wrong with Wednesday night? How about you guys draft any time along the summer before ANY of the games start?

I don't think you will find too many others who have this issue. Most people are done drafting by the time the week 1 Thursday Nighter kicks off.

You have from now to Sept to draft....what is the problem.....

I never said I like the idea. But everyone in our league is adamant about not drafting until after the last preseason game has been played. Labor Day weekend is out, which leaves Tue, Wed, or Thur. Obviously Tue or Wed would be best, but between 15 other people's work committments, night class, etc., there's no gurantee that either day will work. Which has left us stuck on Thursday 2 of the last 5 years.I've pushed the WCOFF rule before, but everyone freaks out about this idea, thinking it will give someone a huge advantage week 1. I'm like if someone wants to reach for a player because he did well in week 1, let them, but nobody will listen.

 

[u999spf]

It is just amazing what kind of stupid ideas people come up with that no doubt - lead to an argument. What did you guys expect here? Who drafts AFTER the season starts? What is wrong with Wednesday night? How about you guys draft any time along the summer before ANY of the games start?

I don't think you will find too many others who have this issue. Most people are done drafting by the time the week 1 Thursday Nighter kicks off.

You have from now to Sept to draft....what is the problem.....

I never said I like the idea. But everyone in our league is adamant about not drafting until after the last preseason game has been played. Labor Day weekend is out, which leaves Tue, Wed, or Thur. Obviously Tue or Wed would be best, but between 15 other people's work committments, night class, etc., there's no gurantee that either day will work. Which has left us stuck on Thursday 2 of the last 5 years.I've pushed the WCOFF rule before, but everyone freaks out about this idea, thinking it will give someone a huge advantage week 1. I'm like if someone wants to reach for a player because he did well in week 1, let them, but nobody will listen.

This is the right play. Its an added advantage for someone for week 1 only and if they want to use it to their advantage they will have the opportunity to draft the guy before everyone else does.

 

[John Mamula]

Do it like WCOFF does. Players on Thursday count for week 1, but you don't need to claim them a starter until after your draft is completed.

 

[Duke1948]

It is just amazing what kind of stupid ideas people come up with that no doubt - lead to an argument. What did you guys expect here? Who drafts AFTER the season starts? What is wrong with Wednesday night? How about you guys draft any time along the summer before ANY of the games start?

I don't think you will find too many others who have this issue. Most people are done drafting by the time the week 1 Thursday Nighter kicks off.

over the years i have been in many drafts that start AFTER the season....including WCOFF, one week will not make a season.. get over it, lots of different twists during that week.put down the ground rules before the draft starts then no problem

 

[Chaz]

I don't think that anyone can argue which night is best for a league to draft on...as long as it works for the given league.

In an auction league that I co commish, we held the auction on the Friday night after the Thursday opener. It's fun to bid up players who have had a big game, or to talk trash that X player isn't worth squat since he will only be worth two points for this weeks games...whatever.

To us, this added an element of fun and strategy.

As for what the original poster should do...I would suggest something similar to what I just referenced. As long as everyone knows the deal going in, it's a level playing field and someone has to plan accordingly.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Either adopt the WCOFF rule or use Best Ball.

Best Ball = Best Possible Lineup for Week 1 is your roster. No declarations necessary.

Week 2 and beyond - normal "set your lineup" format.

 

[Sclaffer]

We, also, used to draft the Tuesday or Wednesday before the season started. No one wanted to draft while preseason was still going on. I finally forced the issue. We now draft the weekend (usually Saturday) before Labor Day weekend. We open the waiver wire after the draft, and everyone gets one free waiver wire pick (anything after the first one costs $2) to cover for any injuries a team may have in the last preseason games, prior to the start of the season.

Our problem was that the draft was held at my house (no one else offered up an alternative site, local establishments weren't an option). I've got two school aged kids, and they go to bed early. Too much disruptions for the kids to go to sleep with a draft going on on a school night. Worked out well last year for us. Doing it again this year, with the draft being held on Aug. 25th.

 

[massraider]

It is just amazing what kind of stupid ideas people come up with that no doubt - lead to an argument. What did you guys expect here? Who drafts AFTER the season starts? What is wrong with Wednesday night? How about you guys draft any time along the summer before ANY of the games start?

I don't think you will find too many others who have this issue. Most people are done drafting by the time the week 1 Thursday Nighter kicks off.

You have from now to Sept to draft....what is the problem.....

I never said I like the idea. But everyone in our league is adamant about not drafting until after the last preseason game has been played. Labor Day weekend is out, which leaves Tue, Wed, or Thur. Obviously Tue or Wed would be best, but between 15 other people's work committments, night class, etc., there's no gurantee that either day will work. Which has left us stuck on Thursday 2 of the last 5 years.I've pushed the WCOFF rule before, but everyone freaks out about this idea, thinking it will give someone a huge advantage week 1. I'm like if someone wants to reach for a player because he did well in week 1, let them, but nobody will listen.

Between this, and the commish basically changing the rules on you last year during the draft, I would say it's pretty clear your leaguemates are a bunch of high-strung, whiny Cocker Spaniels.The only way to make sure it doiesn't happen, is have the rules, and have the commisioner enforce them, and follow them. He essentially broke the rules last year, for a really bad reason.

 

[super sleeper]

Either adopt the WCOFF rule or use Best Ball.Best Ball = Best Possible Lineup for Week 1 is your roster. No declarations necessary.Week 2 and beyond - normal "set your lineup" format.

Best ball sounds like the best option, but I guess you could also determine beforehand which players are "startable" in week 1. Use VBD with baseline of # of starters at each position. Anyone below the baseline can't be used week 1. That way, you don't have late rounds compromised by players taking a TE that might be having great game that week, but is really their #3 TE and would never be started under normal circumstances.The best solution, of course, is to start the draft early and not put the game on until you finish drafting. If there is TIVO, the guys that have money on the game or are a big fan won't miss anything or have any information to spoil the game if it is just paused while the draft is going on.

 

[PHI]

A friend of mine is in a league that likes to draft on Thursday night of the first game of the season. If I recall correctly, that game is considered a bye as far as starters go. Nobody from that game is eligible to start the first week.

This option, or the Best Ball mentioned above sounds like the best options to me if you insist on drafting during the first game.

Really though, I don't see a problem with drafting during the final preseason weekend. By then, teams are pretty close to set on who makes the team, and are almost definitely set on who starts. Injuries are the only thing to really worry about and since starters usually play very little in preseason, that's more likely to happen in the first week of the regular season than it is in the final preseason game.