What's the next BIG thing? (1 Viewer)

[FantasyTrader]

Fantasy Sports is a phenomenon that isn't going away any time soon. And when you consider the amount of growth in only 25(ish) years not a whole lot other than the technology by which the game is played and info. is distributed has changed. What's the next big thing you see on the horizon?

My opinion?

Advances in software applications continue shrinking the fantasy landscape every day. More and more info. is being condensed into tighter/neater packages all the time. I see a day in the not so distant future where the majority of online leagues are somehow tied together in one HUGE community. More and more I see leagues "screening" potential owners and I only think it's going to become more refined.

I'm not describing it very well. I guess if I have to draw a comparison - I could see the equivilant of Match.com or MySpace for fantasy sports.

Interested in what others think.

 

[Couch Potato]

I wouldn't call it any next big thing, but I believe that in 10 years the hobby will have shifted its starting lineup and scoring emphasis so that RBs don't dominate the first two rounds and QBs don't get mostly ignored until round 4 and beyond.

I think that's begun somewhat with some tweaks I've seen, but in general we're still forced to overvalue RBs and undervalue other positions (esp. QBs and TEs) far too much. I look forward to the day when 'mainstream' rules result in drafts that have roughly equal numbers of players drafted among QB, RB, WR, TE in early rounds, determined by their production vis-a-vis others at their position, rather than huge runs on positions because value/scarcity require it under most current rules systems.

 

[jswalker1981]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

 

[GregR_2]

I wouldn't call it any next big thing, but I believe that in 10 years the hobby will have shifted its starting lineup and scoring emphasis so that RBs don't dominate the first two rounds and QBs don't get mostly ignored until round 4 and beyond.



I think that's begun somewhat with some tweaks I've seen, but in general we're still forced to overvalue RBs and undervalue other positions (esp. QBs and TEs) far too much. I look forward to the day when 'mainstream' rules result in drafts that have roughly equal numbers of players drafted among QB, RB, WR, TE in early rounds, determined by their production vis-a-vis others at their position, rather than huge runs on positions because value/scarcity require it under most current rules systems.

My dynasty league's got a 1 QB, 2 RB, 1 flex QB/RB. 4 WR, 2 TE, 1 flex WR/TE lineup. Which 90% of the time turns into 2 QB, 2 RB, 5 WR, 2 TE. Add in 1 pt TE receptions, .5 WR, .25 RB, and you have a lot more parity, but not so much that there aren't still areas of better value for each positions for skill to differentiate.

This system has gotten so much love from the league we're looking to export it to a keeper league I also run where about 1/3 of that league also play in the dynasty league. When we mentioned it lessens the value of RBs the other guys in that league jumped on it.

 

[BGP]

Advances in software applications continue shrinking the fantasy landscape every day. More and more info. is being condensed into tighter/neater packages all the time. I see a day in the not so distant future where the majority of online leagues are somehow tied together in one HUGE community. More and more I see leagues "screening" potential owners and I only think it's going to become more refined.

That would probably stagnate creativity to a large degree. When I started a league in 1997, I went out of my way to avoid looking at ANY ruleset. So I had no idea about scoring systems or starting lineups. I had no influences to guide me. You only get one chance to approach something in such a way, because once you read about other people's ideas, you can't forget them. Here are my rules from 1997. Again, I never read ANY FFL rules prior to setting this up.10 yards rushing/receiving = 1point30 yards passing = 1 pointTD = 7 pointsStarting lineups:1 QB2 RB2 WR1 TESerpentine draft.Starting lineups were submitted prior to week 1. The starting lineup was semi-PERMANENT which meant the starters you chose for week 1 counted all the way thru to the final week. We'll refer to this as the SL going forward. You had a bench of players as well, selected in the draft. You COULD sub players into your SL. For example, let's say in week 1 I named Tom Brady to my SL. In week 6, I want to replace him with Bret Favre. I can do this once, free of charge, and Favre now becomes my starter from week 6 until the end of the season. That was my one "freebie" move. From that point on, I can sub additional guys into my SL, but I will start taking a penalty. The next time I change my SL, I get 95% of the points of the new starter. The third time I do it, I get 90%. And every time thereafter, the penalty increases by 5%. Injuries:Injured players can be subbed without penalty at any time. That means If I have Travis Henry at RB at 90% of his points, and he gets hurt and doesn't play, I can sub in Julius Jones and I will get 90% of Julius Jones' production. GMs are required to submit "injury depth charts" for QB, RB, and WR, and they can be altered at any time until kickoff. That way, if a starter is hurt during the week, the player at the top of the depth chart automatically gets subbed in. Once a sub becomes a starter thru injury, he cannot be changed out unless you use a "5% move". If the original starter plays, he automatically moves back into the SL and the sub returns to the top of the depth chart. No waiver wire.In general, this format rewarded GMs who knew enough about the NFL to build a strong SL in week 1.

 

[my man otis]

Sabermetrics for football. This site has some good stats, but to my knowledge there's nothing out there aside from targets, red zone opps, etc. Those are great, but there has to be more.

Something akin to BABIP for pitchers - you can tell pretty easily if a SP is about to have a bad stretch or "regress to the mean" if they've got an unusually low BABIP. Same w/ contact rate (and BABIP) for hitters.

YPA is good for QBs, or completion %, but is football so nonstandard that there cannot be good statistics that can lead to better FF player decisions?

Or is targets, carries, red zone opps, etc all there is to make statistically based decisions?

One example that I'd like to see is player stats cross referenced to stats from players in the same position in a similar offensive scheme overlayed with the coach's history.

For example, let's look at Thomas Jones' stats w/ both AZ and Chi cross referenced with RBs in the same system as the Jets use with offenses on which Schottenheimer had a hand in wrapped up in a few numbers.

I wish I took more stats classes, but I have to imagine something can be made of the numbers.

 

[theedge]

Otis, check out Football outsiders

 

[Jene Bramel]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

If only....keep fighting the good fight brother.

Sabermetrics for football. This site has some good stats, but to my knowledge there's nothing out there aside from targets, red zone opps, etc. Those are great, but there has to be more.

Something akin to BABIP for pitchers - you can tell pretty easily if a SP is about to have a bad stretch or "regress to the mean" if they've got an unusually low BABIP. Same w/ contact rate (and BABIP) for hitters.

YPA is good for QBs, or completion %, but is football so nonstandard that there cannot be good statistics that can lead to better FF player decisions?

Or is targets, carries, red zone opps, etc all there is to make statistically based decisions?

One example that I'd like to see is player stats cross referenced to stats from players in the same position in a similar offensive scheme overlayed with the coach's history.

For example, let's look at Thomas Jones' stats w/ both AZ and Chi cross referenced with RBs in the same system as the Jets use with offenses on which Schottenheimer had a hand in wrapped up in a few numbers.

I wish I took more stats classes, but I have to imagine something can be made of the numbers.

I don't think you'll ever see a wave of sabermetric-like statistics for football. Football is too team-oriented. Sabermatricians have loads and loads of purely individual statistics with which to crunch advanced formulas in baseball. When you get to subjective issues like defense, they struggle. There's just too much going on. Your Thomas Jones example could be affected by offensive line play, difference in philosophy, caliber of backup running back, success of passing game, strength of schedule from year to year, minor injury to anyone on the offense. Those are things that could be normalized over a long period of time but, IMO, not a 16 game season. Using multiple backs in the same system, as you suggest, is better but could still be problematic to predict a future player's value.

I think what's needed are better and more uniform game charting to give those of us without access to coaches tape better information to evaluate players. It'll still be subjective, but very helpful.

Football Outsiders and KC Joyner (Football Scientist) do a reasonably good job with charting, but many of their statistical conclusions are flawed by small sample sizes and no way to control for the play of teammates. If you look at their rank lists based on game charting data for, to give a couple of examples, LB who best eludes blockers or CB who gets beaten least deep, you'll come away much of the time. I appreciate what Joyner tries to do, but his columns in ESPN last year predicting next week's player production are way off more often than not. He pimped David Carr unbelievably hard two seasons ago on the strength of conclusions made by his charting data alone. FO (and other outlets) published a stat on "tackles made downfield" last year. Donnie Edwards was panned as a poor LB by many because some 60% of his tackles were made more than five yards beyond the LOS. Without understanding the context of the team, even non-sabermetric-like stats like that can be very misleading.

In other words, the raw data is helpful but the conclusions you draw may not be particularly trustworthy. I'd love to see it, and the game charting data may eventually be good enough to lend itself to isolated individual statistics and sabermetric-like wrangling. I'd love to be a part of it, but I strongly doubt it can happen.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Fantasy Sports is a phenomenon that isn't going away any time soon. And when you consider the amount of growth in only 25(ish) years not a whole lot other than the technology by which the game is played and info. is distributed has changed. What's the next big thing you see on the horizon?

My opinion?

Advances in software applications continue shrinking the fantasy landscape every day. More and more info. is being condensed into tighter/neater packages all the time. I see a day in the not so distant future where the majority of online leagues are somehow tied together in one HUGE community. More and more I see leagues "screening" potential owners and I only think it's going to become more refined.

I'm not describing it very well. I guess if I have to draw a comparison - I could see the equivilant of Match.com or MySpace for fantasy sports.

Interested in what others think.

This is coming.Stay tuned.

 

[Butt-Head]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

And when I suspend Terrell Owens for conduct detrimental to the team, he'll retreat back to his driveway and do sit ups.

 

[jgb95]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

The only way the game should be played in my eyes!!!!!!

 

[FantasyTrader]

Something else I could see is an application that would be capable of nationally ranking owners (or maybe even grading the level of competitiveness in a league) based on the quality of draft, trades and waiver transactions.

It would have to be capable of literally billions of calculations - but I could see something like that as well.

 

[bentley]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

The only way the game should be played in my eyes!!!!!!

We started using IDP in 1995. Dropped it in 1999. Second best decision we ever made (after going from a draft to an auction).

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Something else I could see is an application that would be capable of nationally ranking owners (or maybe even grading the level of competitiveness in a league) based on the quality of draft, trades and waiver transactions. It would have to be capable of literally billions of calculations - but I could see something like that as well.

This is also coming.I'd love to tell you more, but I'm still working out the details.Stay tuned.

 

[Nugget]

Something else I could see is an application that would be capable of nationally ranking owners (or maybe even grading the level of competitiveness in a league) based on the quality of draft, trades and waiver transactions. It would have to be capable of literally billions of calculations - but I could see something like that as well.

This is also coming.I'd love to tell you more, but I'm still working out the details.Stay tuned.

I probably won't make the top million.

 

[radballs]

The REALLY next BIG thing? Players over the next 30 to 40 years get too big, too fast, and the results are concussions and injuries like we've never seen before. Finally, in a crazy hit that takes place on opening day in 2038, a defensive end named Razor Crabshaw literally decapitates the opposing quarterback Tracy Phinn.

The league continues on after a season long moratorium under the new name of CNFL (Cybergenics NFL) much like the old Sega Genesis game here Cyberball. Humans no longer play the game of football again.

 

[Couch Potato]

Finally, in a crazy hit that takes place on opening day in 2038, a defensive end named Razor Crabshaw literally decapitates the opposing quarterback Tracy Phinn.

The league continues on after a season long moratorium under the new name of CNFL (Cybergenics NFL) much like the old Sega Genesis game here Cyberball. Humans no longer play the game of football again.

... except Brett Favre and Jeff Garcia, who decide to return for one more year.Again.

And again.

And again.

And...

 

[Raiders37]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

That's an interesting thought. With what has happened to poker and TV in the last few years, I can definately see something like this happening to fantasy football. Even if it's not ESPN, I am sure there will be someone out there willing to take a shot at it to make a buck. Unfortunately, though, it will probably start out as yet one more reality TV show.

 

[QUEZILLA]

1 centralized place to keep track of all your teams

 

[3nOut]

My Vision of Fantasy Football in the future. This may be a bit far-fetched (if it doesn't exist somewhere already) but...

I can imagine that within 10 years someone will create a 32-team dynasty league with rosters as big as NFL rosters. Almost every player in the NFL would be drafted and be accumulating points every week. A small pool of players at each position would be available as "emergency" players. There would be no need to set your rosters since EVERYONE plays.

Drafts would be rookie drafts only.

Salary caps would be necessary since you would not want certain teams to draft all the best and most expensive players. You shouldn't be able to afford Manning, LT, and TO without having any consequences on the quality of the rest of your team. And if you can somehow manage to do that, then the scoring system should be such that it evens everything out and does not make it worthwhile to have such an expensive team.

There would be no need for injury reports since you will not be "sitting" anyone any given week. If you have too many injured players, oh well...

No FA pickups just trading of players and "emergency" pickups due to injuries.

This would managing as close as you can get to the NFL. I'm not sure if this is even realistc. I don't think this exists anywhere yet, so if anyone has the time to set something like this up, I call dibs and get one of the first franchises (first year free since I thought of it )

 

[Zoomanji]

My Vision of Fantasy Football in the future. This may be a bit far-fetched (if it doesn't exist somewhere already) but...

I can imagine that within 10 years someone will create a 32-team dynasty league with rosters as big as NFL rosters. Almost every player in the NFL would be drafted and be accumulating points every week. A small pool of players at each position would be available as "emergency" players. There would be no need to set your rosters since EVERYONE plays.

Drafts would be rookie drafts only.

Salary caps would be necessary since you would not want certain teams to draft all the best and most expensive players. You shouldn't be able to afford Manning, LT, and TO without having any consequences on the quality of the rest of your team. And if you can somehow manage to do that, then the scoring system should be such that it evens everything out and does not make it worthwhile to have such an expensive team.

There would be no need for injury reports since you will not be "sitting" anyone any given week. If you have too many injured players, oh well...

No FA pickups just trading of players and "emergency" pickups due to injuries.

This would managing as close as you can get to the NFL. I'm not sure if this is even realistc. I don't think this exists anywhere yet, so if anyone has the time to set something like this up, I call dibs and get one of the first franchises (first year free since I thought of it )

Like this?

 

[WhoDat]

Real Time FF...

Given techology and the unique allure of this hobby, which is ultimately the illusion of control, the game will migrate towards Real Time play. Rules, scoring and guidelines will be altered and owners will have the ability to make changes, as needed, on Sundays and Mondays. This will quickly being to alleviate "luck" from the equation especially in leagues with weighted scoring or IDP. Actually, it will specifically alter the talent pool in IDP play. You will need to know how the game is actually played to get ahead in a format like this.

Quarter...half...pre-snap...play by play...

Owners will be given the ability to "coach" their team. Now, many...not all...many FF fans will cast an archaic glance on this idea, as it begins to populate sports bars, much as they did the idea of taking a WR in the second round of a draft many years ago. However, those "draft RB early and often" thinkers will finally come around.

I remember reading a report that video poker is the most addictive form of gambling. This was during that time Louisiana was pushing to legalize the machines. A hardcore card player or dice roller would need 2-3 years to completely lose everything they had. The video poker player would lose their net worth in 12 months. Why? The illusion of control the video game of chance offers.

Take that idea and apply it towards Real Time football. Rolling out the technology would be simple and it is an easy fit with a sports bar or pool hall. Putting it into the home will be harder but it will come in time. The arm chair quarterback would finally have the ability to make changes on an as needed basis. The hobby will become live and interactive.

What guy that comes here between February and May would not sign up for that league?

 

[32 Counter Pass]

Interesting timing for this topic. The announced change in ownership of the WCOFF event got me thinking about just this subject. Marketing and promotion will be their primary emphasis in the next year. WIth that in mind, I could see these big events becoming something like the WSOP, including televising of the draft.

I do not know if sports books offer prop bets on individual player performance yet, but I think that will be another avenue that will cause the popularity of fantasy sports to increase. For example, betting the over/under on individual rushing yardage total an so forth.

And I agree that some sort of national rating system would seem to be a logical next step.

 

[FantasyTrader]

Real Time FF...Given techology and the unique allure of this hobby, which is ultimately the illusion of control, the game will migrate towards Real Time play. Rules, scoring and guidelines will be altered and owners will have the ability to make changes, as needed, on Sundays and Mondays. This will quickly being to alleviate "luck" from the equation especially in leagues with weighted scoring or IDP. Actually, it will specifically alter the talent pool in IDP play. You will need to know how the game is actually played to get ahead in a format like this. Quarter...half...pre-snap...play by play...Owners will be given the ability to "coach" their team. Now, many...not all...many FF fans will cast an archaic glance on this idea, as it begins to populate sports bars, much as they did the idea of taking a WR in the second round of a draft many years ago. However, those "draft RB early and often" thinkers will finally come around.I remember reading a report that video poker is the most addictive form of gambling. This was during that time Louisiana was pushing to legalize the machines. A hardcore card player or dice roller would need 2-3 years to completely lose everything they had. The video poker player would lose their net worth in 12 months. Why? The illusion of control the video game of chance offers. Take that idea and apply it towards Real Time football. Rolling out the technology would be simple and it is an easy fit with a sports bar or pool hall. Putting it into the home will be harder but it will come in time. The arm chair quarterback would finally have the ability to make changes on an as needed basis. The hobby will become live and interactive.What guy that comes here between February and May would not sign up for that league?

In the sports bars, I could see something like this right around the corner. But bringing it into people's homes for a cost that's feasible to the common FF player? No way. That's a LONG way off. Between snaps, there's not enough time via the internet to switch from Santana Moss to Cotchery because the Jets are facing a 3rd and 13 situation. You would almost need a game pad which had your team downloaded into it with buttons labeled QB1-2-3 RB 1-2-3-4, etc. that logged all of your selections and couldn't be screwed with.

 

[WhoDat]

Real Time FF...

Given techology and the unique allure of this hobby, which is ultimately the illusion of control, the game will migrate towards Real Time play. Rules, scoring and guidelines will be altered and owners will have the ability to make changes, as needed, on Sundays and Mondays. This will quickly being to alleviate "luck" from the equation especially in leagues with weighted scoring or IDP. Actually, it will specifically alter the talent pool in IDP play. You will need to know how the game is actually played to get ahead in a format like this.

Quarter...half...pre-snap...play by play...

Owners will be given the ability to "coach" their team. Now, many...not all...many FF fans will cast an archaic glance on this idea, as it begins to populate sports bars, much as they did the idea of taking a WR in the second round of a draft many years ago. However, those "draft RB early and often" thinkers will finally come around.

I remember reading a report that video poker is the most addictive form of gambling. This was during that time Louisiana was pushing to legalize the machines. A hardcore card player or dice roller would need 2-3 years to completely lose everything they had. The video poker player would lose their net worth in 12 months. Why? The illusion of control the video game of chance offers.

Take that idea and apply it towards Real Time football. Rolling out the technology would be simple and it is an easy fit with a sports bar or pool hall. Putting it into the home will be harder but it will come in time. The arm chair quarterback would finally have the ability to make changes on an as needed basis. The hobby will become live and interactive.

What guy that comes here between February and May would not sign up for that league?

In the sports bars, I could see something like this right around the corner. But bringing it into people's homes for a cost that's feasible to the common FF player? No way. That's a LONG way off. Between snaps, there's not enough time via the internet to switch from Santana Moss to Cotchery because the Jets are facing a 3rd and 13 situation. You would almost need a game pad which had your team downloaded into it with buttons labeled QB1-2-3 RB 1-2-3-4, etc. that logged all of your selections and couldn't be screwed with.

Given the revenue at stake, I could see Direct TV and the NFL getting something together for launch in a 3-5 year window. I agree. Not an easy task but not impossible. Roll it out as part of the NFL Sunday Ticket at no additional charge. It could be worked with an additional, special use remote. I see the primary interface being the TV not the Internet. Your changes made real time and relayed back to an Internet site keeping score or shot to a wireless handheld. How? You are asking the wrong guy. All would come at no additional cost. This is is Year 1.Year 2 a small cost. Year 3 a larger cost. The cost, though, will be enough to make money but affordable enough that the guy buying the ticket year in and out will have to have it.

SI ran an article a year or two ago and the average...average incomce...of the FF player was just shy of $100,000 per year. I think it was in the 80-95 K range. That is a TON of liquid income. Hypothetical...if you liked and needed Car A and it was $20,000, would you not consider Car B, which you want; need and like, for $25,000? Folks have a hard time delaying/denying gratification and, if this theoritical product was available for an additional $50-100 per year, Direct TV would have no issues finding buyers. Actually, they already have the buyers. They just need to bring them the product.

Remember when CBS Sportsline was free? Everyone got hooked. Everyone became used to their functionality and ease of use. The cost or ability to change became hard despite the fact MFL has a more reliable product....product branding. If/when things head this way Direct TV would be an innovator.

Direct TV and the NFL already have right of way access to the client base. The network backbone is in place to deliver the product/content. That is the most expensive part of the equation. Everything is lit up and connected. Now, the interface just needs to be designed. If...BIG if...a wireless carrier were to be brought on board as a partner, then launching this would be even easier.

Like anything else I would invision it starting small and being enhanced over each successive year(s) but it is totally within reach and reason.

 

[Rev]

Next best thing: a fantasy football version of the whizzenator for owners who need that extra edge.

I'm calling it now.

 

[Penguin]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

The only way the game should be played in my eyes!!!!!!

We started using IDP in 1995. Dropped it in 1999. Second best decision we ever made (after going from a draft to an auction).

Why do you feel that dropping IDP in 1999 was such a good idea? The only negative I can see is if 2/3 of the league members are IDP clueless and the competitiveness of the league suffers. That would be a knock on the leaguemates not IDP IMHO

 

[FantasyTrader]

I could see more leagues going to IDP instead of defensive teams. This way it adds more of a challenge to the draft. I could also see ESPN hosting a draft weekend like they do for the NFL with a big-time fantasy football league. Maybe have each team playing for a particular charity. But basically you would have two days of drafting and each team would have a couple of coaches, one for offense, and one for defense. And each team would have a war room, and they would call in their picks to the league commish. There would be analysts just like they have for an NFL draft, and teams could call the players and tell them they've been drafted by a team. And every week, ESPN would have a segment on their NFL shows to update everyone about the league. Coaches would win serious money, and then ESPN would donate the same amount to that team's charity.

The only way the game should be played in my eyes!!!!!!

We started using IDP in 1995. Dropped it in 1999. Second best decision we ever made (after going from a draft to an auction).

Why do you feel that dropping IDP in 1999 was such a good idea? The only negative I can see is if 2/3 of the league members are IDP clueless and the competitiveness of the league suffers. That would be a knock on the leaguemates not IDP IMHO

I don't think the next BIG thing will have anything to do with IDP. It's not mainstream enough. The truth is your average FF owner isn't even THINKING about football right now...let alone on a message board, researching and interacting with others about it. If you were to take away the top 10% most serious leagues in existence what you'd be left with is an entire population of leagues where "2/3 of the members are IDP clueless" many of whom wouldn't know what IDP stands for. The next big thing will somehow be a new wrinkle that draws the masses.

 

[Loomba]

Professional Fantasy Football Players.

 

[FantasyTrader]

Professional Fantasy Football Players.

Yep. I could totally see Pro F.F. players emerge IF there was ever a standard developed that linked leagues together fluidly. Right now, the way the business is - the most leagues you can play in (and still devote the amount of attention to them that it takes to win) is around 10-15 - and that's seriously pushing it. And the problem is that there aren't too many $10,000 entry leagues out there. If ease of use ever makes it so the guy that dedicates himself can effectively manage 40-60 leagues (not likely), you'll begin seeing people playing for a living. Either that, or else 200-300 team leagues become more a norm where you could pocket 30-40 grand for a $1,000 entry fee.

 

[Couch Potato]

If you were to take away the top 10% most serious leagues in existence what you'd be left with is an entire population of leagues where "2/3 of the members are IDP clueless" many of whom wouldn't know what IDP stands for.

IDon't

Participate?

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Professional Fantasy Football Players.

Yep. I could totally see Pro F.F. players emerge IF there was ever a standard developed that linked leagues together fluidly.

Right now, the way the business is - the most leagues you can play in (and still devote the amount of attention to them that it takes to win) is around 10-15 - and that's seriously pushing it. And the problem is that there aren't too many $10,000 entry leagues out there. If ease of use ever makes it so the guy that dedicates himself can effectively manage 40-60 leagues (not likely), you'll begin seeing people playing for a living. Either that, or else 200-300 team leagues become more a norm where you could pocket 30-40 grand for a $1,000 entry fee.

This site is in development.

 

[Cecil Lammey]

more info coming soon on The Audible

 

[jwb]

In the sports bars, I could see something like this right around the corner. But bringing it into people's homes for a cost that's feasible to the common FF player? No way. That's a LONG way off. Between snaps, there's not enough time via the internet to switch from Santana Moss to Cotchery because the Jets are facing a 3rd and 13 situation.

That also doesn't sound like much fun.

 

[FantasyTrader]

Okay Pasquino,

That's 1...2...3 too many innuendo. I gotta know. I'm DYING to know. You have to make me a part of this thing. Even if it's a .5% part of this thing. I know this sh** and I'm a tireless worker. You could put my skills to great use - you know you can! PM me. I can keep a secret I swear.

 

[videoguy505]

I could see a smaller version of "real-time" as mentioned above. Nothing I hate more than playing a guy who gets hurt on the first series of the game or whatever. I could see "halftime alternates" or something happening--where prior to the lineup deadline for the week, you select an alternate at each position type (If you start 1 QB and 2 RBs, you only name 1 alt QB and 1 alt RB, so if both RBs go down you still get a bit hosed, although it'd be unlikely). If one of your starters doesn't finish the game, you get half the starter's point total for the game and half what the alternate ended up scoring.

When Favre gets banged up in a game, the Packers don't continue with just 10 guys on the field for the rest of the day, Rodgers puts his helmet on and goes out there. But in fantasy, if 1 of your 8 guys gets hurt on play 1 (Trent Green Week 1, Steve McNair in Week 15 last year), your week is pretty much shot.

 

[reg]

Real Time FF...

Given techology and the unique allure of this hobby, which is ultimately the illusion of control, the game will migrate towards Real Time play. Rules, scoring and guidelines will be altered and owners will have the ability to make changes, as needed, on Sundays and Mondays. This will quickly being to alleviate "luck" from the equation especially in leagues with weighted scoring or IDP. Actually, it will specifically alter the talent pool in IDP play. You will need to know how the game is actually played to get ahead in a format like this.

Quarter...half...pre-snap...play by play...

Owners will be given the ability to "coach" their team. Now, many...not all...many FF fans will cast an archaic glance on this idea, as it begins to populate sports bars, much as they did the idea of taking a WR in the second round of a draft many years ago. However, those "draft RB early and often" thinkers will finally come around.

I remember reading a report that video poker is the most addictive form of gambling. This was during that time Louisiana was pushing to legalize the machines. A hardcore card player or dice roller would need 2-3 years to completely lose everything they had. The video poker player would lose their net worth in 12 months. Why? The illusion of control the video game of chance offers.

Take that idea and apply it towards Real Time football. Rolling out the technology would be simple and it is an easy fit with a sports bar or pool hall. Putting it into the home will be harder but it will come in time. The arm chair quarterback would finally have the ability to make changes on an as needed basis. The hobby will become live and interactive.

What guy that comes here between February and May would not sign up for that league?

A company from MN tried this approach. It allowed you to make subs at any time of the game. Let's say you have LJ and MB3. KC is playing defense at the time, while Dallas is on the 10 yard line, so you sub out LJ for MB3. MB3 scores a TD, and now KC is playing offense, so you switch them back.

Maybe the company was a little too early in their vision, but they went out of business. They were called Game Day Sports