What percentage of leagues use auctions? (1 Viewer)

[pollardsvision]

4 years ago, I would've bet anything that auction drafting would be the new norm by now.

But, by the look of it, that's far from the case.

Sure, it's growing. Most sites support auctions and every site offers at least token analysis geared towards auctions.

But it appears far from the norm and seems to be stalling out.

The vast majority of analysis is still geared towards snake-drafting and most of the threads here seem to refer to draft slot and ADP.

My guess is about 80% still use some sort of drafting, but I really have no idea what the percentage is. I'm curious, so I put up this terribly unscientific poll.

 

[GregR]

4 years ago, I would've bet anything that auction drafting would be the new norm by now.

But, by the look of it, that's far from the case.

Sure, it's growing. Most sites support auctions and every site offers at least token analysis geared towards auctions.

But it appears far from the norm and seems to be stalling out.

The vast majority of analysis is still geared towards snake-drafting and most of the threads here seem to refer to draft slot and ADP.

My guess is about 80% still use some sort of drafting, but I really have no idea what the percentage is. I'm curious, so I put up this terribly unscientific poll.

Auction software is still behind draft software is probably one factor.

Another is I think there's a significant resistance to even just trying auctions in the first place. While there are some people who have tried both and prefer drafting, I believe it's a pretty small segment. But I think there's a big segment that just doesn't want to even try them. And that can create enough votes that a league can't switch over even if many in the league prefer an auction.

Another factor... I think that we underestimate the number of leagues that do slow, online drafts. Auctions aren't well suited to replace such drafts, and would have to be ebay style bidding which I think probably isn't as desirable as live online auctions.

 

[pollardsvision]

4 years ago, I would've bet anything that auction drafting would be the new norm by now.

But, by the look of it, that's far from the case.

Sure, it's growing. Most sites support auctions and every site offers at least token analysis geared towards auctions.

But it appears far from the norm and seems to be stalling out.

The vast majority of analysis is still geared towards snake-drafting and most of the threads here seem to refer to draft slot and ADP.

My guess is about 80% still use some sort of drafting, but I really have no idea what the percentage is. I'm curious, so I put up this terribly unscientific poll.

Auction software is still behind draft software is probably one factor.

Another is I think there's a significant resistance to even just trying auctions in the first place. While there are some people who have tried both and prefer drafting, I believe it's a pretty small segment. But I think there's a big segment that just doesn't want to even try them. And that can create enough votes that a league can't switch over even if many in the league prefer an auction.

Another factor... I think that we underestimate the number of leagues that do slow, online drafts. Auctions aren't well suited to replace such drafts, and would have to be ebay style bidding which I think probably isn't as desirable as live online auctions.

Good points.I haven't had any problems this year, but I've had some awful experiences with auction software.

Part of the issue, I think, is also that the fantasy expert world seems reluctant to make the push. I don't know whether it's a fear of alienating the current majority of readers/viewers or if it's that writing about draft slot/ADP is much more straightforward than auction-centric analysis. Probably a combination of both.

Projections and rankings translate into "draft help" so much more fluidly in the snake draft environment, especially with the VBD concept.

Auctions are such a chaotic environment, comparatively, that player rankings can't do as much to help make the vital decisions in the moment, as they can in snake-drafting.

 

[pollardsvision]

Also, I'm curious from any long-term fantasy baseball players.......It seems to me, as a fairly new fantasy baseball player ('04), that auctions used to be the norm, and the influx of so many fantasy football players, shifted that towards drafting.

Is that somewhat accurate?

It seems "dollar value returned" is a very common phrase among fantasy baseballers, especially the old-schoolers.

I just always figured the influx of fantasy footballers brought drafting into the mainstream (along with the H2H format).

 

[lbouchard]

A part of it might be that auctions are harder to write about. Player values can vary wildly auction to auction, even with same exact settings.

 

[pollardsvision]

A part of it might be that auctions are harder to write about. Player values can vary wildly auction to auction, even with same exact settings.

So true. ADP's will vary, but AAV's can be downright worthless.And the variability can feel endless, if that makes sense.

When ADP's vary, there's a limit. You know, at a certain draft slot, a certain group of players will be available. The margin for error increases as the draft goes on, but there is a limit to the madness.

When an auction gets kooky, it really gets kooky. Everything you thought you knew about what kind of player $20 might get you can go out the window.

 

[Dentist]

I think the vast majority of fantasy leagues are full of people that just want to sit down, knock out a draft with some buddies and drink and eat some food while doing it an enjoy the season.

I don't think an auction is a very good choice for those leagues.

Is it a superior format? I really think so.

But i know that it can be pretty hard to find 10-14 guys that are passionate enough about football and fantasy football in general to make it work.

There are a lot of rules/formats, etc that continue to cater to making FFL more skill based and less luck based... and I applaud that.

But eventually unless you can find those 10-12 diehards, it becomes difficult to field a league if there isn't a way for people to luck into winning. It's like you need the luck to support the league...

if the same 2-3 guys win the league every few years, eventually someone is going to realize they suck and get out.

I've run the same two leagues for well over a decade now... i've pitched auctions, and I've had no luck.. and it's probably a good idea if we don't have them.

In that same time frame, i've never once been invited into another league (and i know of the guys that I play with, most of them have 1 other league).

I'd love to play in a league where I didn't have to run it.

 

[pollardsvision]

I think the vast majority of fantasy leagues are full of people that just want to sit down, knock out a draft with some buddies and drink and eat some food while doing it an enjoy the season.I don't think an auction is a very good choice for those leagues.Is it a superior format? I really think so.But i know that it can be pretty hard to find 10-14 guys that are passionate enough about football and fantasy football in general to make it work.There are a lot of rules/formats, etc that continue to cater to making FFL more skill based and less luck based... and I applaud that.But eventually unless you can find those 10-12 diehards, it becomes difficult to field a league if there isn't a way for people to luck into winning. It's like you need the luck to support the league... if the same 2-3 guys win the league every few years, eventually someone is going to realize they suck and get out.I've run the same two leagues for well over a decade now... i've pitched auctions, and I've had no luck.. and it's probably a good idea if we don't have them.In that same time frame, i've never once been invited into another league (and i know of the guys that I play with, most of them have 1 other league).I'd love to play in a league where I didn't have to run it.

Makes sense, and you've probably hit the nail on the head.Fantasy football has broad appeal, and auctions can seem daunting for a more casual player.In my main casual league, I will have to say people did seem to love the switch. These aren't people that take FFL very seriously. Switching to the auction format was simple because they don't care enough to argue. Not that they don't care at all, they just aren't interested in helping make decisions. Just give them a head's up about rule changes and tell them when the draft/auction is.Anyway, after the first one, "holy #### that was awesome" was the common theme. I don't get "how long do you think this will last" anymore. Aside from the adrenaline rush of bidding, you are "always on the clock", not waiting for others to make picks for 90% of the draft time. At least until you run out of money anyway, but by then, you've got the bulk of your team.

 

[Dentist]

I think the vast majority of fantasy leagues are full of people that just want to sit down, knock out a draft with some buddies and drink and eat some food while doing it an enjoy the season.I don't think an auction is a very good choice for those leagues.Is it a superior format? I really think so.But i know that it can be pretty hard to find 10-14 guys that are passionate enough about football and fantasy football in general to make it work.There are a lot of rules/formats, etc that continue to cater to making FFL more skill based and less luck based... and I applaud that.But eventually unless you can find those 10-12 diehards, it becomes difficult to field a league if there isn't a way for people to luck into winning. It's like you need the luck to support the league... if the same 2-3 guys win the league every few years, eventually someone is going to realize they suck and get out.I've run the same two leagues for well over a decade now... i've pitched auctions, and I've had no luck.. and it's probably a good idea if we don't have them.In that same time frame, i've never once been invited into another league (and i know of the guys that I play with, most of them have 1 other league).I'd love to play in a league where I didn't have to run it.

Makes sense, and you've probably hit the nail on the head.Fantasy football has broad appeal, and auctions can seem daunting for a more casual player.In my main casual league, I will have to say people did seem to love the switch. These aren't people that take FFL very seriously. Switching to the auction format was simple because they don't care enough to argue. Not that they don't care at all, they just aren't interested in helping make decisions. Just give them a head's up about rule changes and tell them when the draft/auction is.Anyway, after the first one, "holy #### that was awesome" was the common theme. I don't get "how long do you think this will last" anymore. Aside from the adrenaline rush of bidding, you are "always on the clock", not waiting for others to make picks for 90% of the draft time. At least until you run out of money anyway, but by then, you've got the bulk of your team.

i agree, when you have someone in the 1/12 spots.. in my casual leagues those people then just leave for about 20 minutes (they go smoke, hit the hot tub, make a drink, take a dump, watch some porn, etc) and then come back.... and make their 2 picks and then go away again.with auction they'd be into it.yet at the same time it would be 3 hours of madness that wasn't conducive to general conversation... not to mention it's a lot of work for the commish, to track and follow your money, and passive types won't like all the boorish bidding.I'd like to do it... but i'd sure like to participate in one first before I tried to host it for my own league.

 

[roadkill1292]

Also, I'm curious from any long-term fantasy baseball players.......It seems to me, as a fairly new fantasy baseball player ('04), that auctions used to be the norm, and the influx of so many fantasy football players, shifted that towards drafting.

Is that somewhat accurate?

It seems "dollar value returned" is a very common phrase among fantasy baseballers, especially the old-schoolers.

I just always figured the influx of fantasy footballers brought drafting into the mainstream (along with the H2H format).

When I first started to play fantasy football, I remember being a little confused about people drafting instead of buying players via auction because the foundations of the game (the original roto baseball guys) were deeply rooted in the auction/salary cap concept. The very point of the game was to optimally value players better than your opponents and that meant that player salaries had to be a factor. FF got away from that idea very early in its development for some reason but that may actually be why it soon became the most popular. A draft is a pretty simple thing to do and an auction, alas, for all its benefits, is not.

 

[Godsbrother]

Our league has been going since 1995 and I have tried unsuccessfully for years to convert to an Auction format. I have given up.

 

[TheCommish]

I'm in three leagues, and one went to auction this year. Just had the draft, and we're all going to have to get used to it, because players went for incredible values in the middle of the draft.

It definitely takes a LOT more preparation than a snake draft, but I think we all liked the format. Took a while, though. Only 10 teams and 15 roster spots, but it still took almost 4-1/2 hours, which is longer than it takes my 12-team 28 roster spot league to finish.

 

[roadkill1292]

Our league has been going since 1995 and I have tried unsuccessfully for years to convert to an Auction format. I have given up.

Bummer. We had our 21st auction yesterday at a bar owned by one of our league owners. I drank beer and insulted nearly everyone's bids. Good times.

 

[belljr]

One league we switched to auction a few years ago.

I just want to know - do all auctions just end up being a draft for the last 4 rounds or so

 

[Shawn]

The problem i think a lot of people have is that they have to learn a new drafting style. kind of like the same reason that we all agree that the Metric system is more fluid, yet we dont switch over in the US.

 

[Apeman]

One league we switched to auction a few years ago.I just want to know - do all auctions just end up being a draft for the last 4 rounds or so

Not if you plan on holding back a few bucks until the end. As long as you don't sacrifice too much up front, it's great to be able to outbid everyone at the end and fill your bench with the sleepers you actually want, instead of just taking the gyre that are left.

 

[roadkill1292]

One league we switched to auction a few years ago.I just want to know - do all auctions just end up being a draft for the last 4 rounds or so

Yesterday's auction didn't become a total draft until there were 14 roster spots left, involving the last 4 or 5 teams.FBGs Md/Va/etc league had 68 $1 players, though. I think it was a total draft for the last 30 or so players, which isn't bad out of 256 bought, I guess.

 

[Amused to Death]

Another factor... I think that we underestimate the number of leagues that do slow, online drafts. Auctions aren't well suited to replace such drafts, and would have to be ebay style bidding which I think probably isn't as desirable as live online auctions.

I agree with this. Auctions are much better suited, imo, for live drafting/bidding with a dedicated group of people. I've done on-line drafts and slow email drafts. It would be very difficult to convert that to auction. My auction's coming up this weekend (entering year 12?) and its by far the best time I have all FFL season (well besides winning the championship of course).For any league that does a live draft, I'd recommend trying an auction, even if you set up a new league for free or a low buy-in so everyone can try it out. Adding contracts later if everyone agrees adds a new, more challenging element to the league.

 

[Spock]

I've been running my league (14-team) since '90 and while we've made quite a few changes over the years, the one constant has been the draft. We started with an auction and never looked back. I'd rather cut the tip of my ear off than change to a snake draft.

 

[Shawn]

I've been running my league (14-team) since '90 and while we've made quite a few changes over the years, the one constant has been the draft. We started with an auction and never looked back. I'd rather cut the tip of my ear off than change to a snake draft.

And I would rather cut the tip of my ear off than switch to auction. To each his own!

 

[wudaben]

If given the choice every league would be an auction.

 

[pollardsvision]

One league we switched to auction a few years ago.I just want to know - do all auctions just end up being a draft for the last 4 rounds or so

I'd say that's often the case in my auctions.I love the last half of the auction. First half is pretty straightforward (even if unpredictable). Toss out names of guys you don't want hoping to milk your opponents and eliminate competition, maybe overpay for some guys, maybe find some mid-grade value.Back half is where you really get to adjust based on the mayhem that just happened. Some teams still loaded, leaning on the rest. Broke teams trying to wait the rich guys out, hoping not to get their sleepers stolen.