When to choose draft order? (1 Viewer)

[The Goose is Loose]

I've been a co-commish in a redraft league for about 10 years. Every year we choose the draft order about a month before the draft which gives everyone a chance to do their research, make pre-draft trades, talk smack, etc.

This year, one guy in the league is intent on having the draft order selected on the day of the draft. His argument is that it's more "fun" to research all players in the first two rounds rather than just the players that are projected to be chosen near your picks. He also thinks it will be a lot more exciting to have the draft order picked on draft day.

He has now started to call each owner and convince them on the idea. He's actually gotten a couple of people to side with him.

So, my question is...what does everyone think of this idea? Does anyone choose draft order the day of the draft? I'm very against the idea because I think the month leading up to the draft is a lot more exciting when you know what slot you're drafting from. For me, the fantasy football season really begins once I know where I'm drafting.

Thoughts?

 

[Mystery Achiever]

a month seems pretty far in advance to me, but advance trumps "day of".It is not an issue of researching all players in the top two rounds -- wouldn't you do that anyway btw? it is an issue of developing a strategy of how several rounds of your draft might go.

 

[LionsFan78]

How much of a role has pre-draft trades played in your league? If a big role, I think you should stick with what's been done in the past, or at least put it to a vote.

That said, I don't think the change would really effect draft research too much. Any owner worth his salt should already know prior to the draft who you would take in the first round, and it what order. Most rounds after the first few will fluctuate so much, it's pointless to over-analyze how you'd draft in any specific position. Just focusing on the quality of players in the later rounds, and the order in which you'd draft them, is the important factor here, not your draft position. Just my opinion! The only strategy I can see it effecting is pre-planning whether you go RB-RB-WR, RB-WR-RB, etc etc. in the first few rounds.

This isn't a decision I'd make for the entire league. The owners deserve a say in this.

 

[Conqu'ering_Heroes]

Solution:

Determine the draft order a month before the draft.

If an owner wants to know his draft position early, tell him/her.

If the owner wants to know draft day, tell her on draft day.

I personally would like to know ahead of time.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

The earlier the better...it gives a lot more time to make pre-draft trades.

 

[OCC]

The earlier the better...it gives a lot more time to make pre-draft trades.

Agreed.

 

[On The Rocks]

The earlier the better...it gives a lot more time to make pre-draft trades.

Agreed.

I agree. We do our pre-draft selection one week before the draft. I sometimes wish it were done 2 weeks before, but anything is better than the night of. As mentioned it opens the opportunity for trades. It also helps to have a draft strategy.I see the point that it would be fun to find out what your draft spot is minutes before the draft begins because you really have to be prepared and ready to adjust your draft strategy right from the get go. But I think creating trade possiblities outweighs the whole last minute selection option.

 

[mozzy84]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

 

[Varmint]

I've been a co-commish in a redraft league for about 10 years. Every year we choose the draft order about a month before the draft which gives everyone a chance to do their research, make pre-draft trades, talk smack, etc. This year, one guy in the league is intent on having the draft order selected on the day of the draft. His argument is that it's more "fun" to research all players in the first two rounds rather than just the players that are projected to be chosen near your picks. He also thinks it will be a lot more exciting to have the draft order picked on draft day. He has now started to call each owner and convince them on the idea. He's actually gotten a couple of people to side with him.So, my question is...what does everyone think of this idea? Does anyone choose draft order the day of the draft? I'm very against the idea because I think the month leading up to the draft is a lot more exciting when you know what slot you're drafting from. For me, the fantasy football season really begins once I know where I'm drafting.Thoughts?

I understand his position...As with ALL drafts.....half of the league will be disappointed with their draft position.They simply want to put off the FACT that they have absolutely NO CHANCE at some pretty good talent.Ever hear of an auction?

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Last year was the first year we did the draft order in advance (to help facilitate trades, though there were none before the draft). It took away a little of the drama of draft day, but overall I think it helped the draft run more smoothly. However, I always let the owners decide which approach they would prefer.

 

[mwaldo13]

I've been a co-commish in a redraft league for about 10 years. Every year we choose the draft order about a month before the draft which gives everyone a chance to do their research, make pre-draft trades, talk smack, etc.

This year, one guy in the league is intent on having the draft order selected on the day of the draft. His argument is that it's more "fun" to research all players in the first two rounds rather than just the players that are projected to be chosen near your picks. He also thinks it will be a lot more exciting to have the draft order picked on draft day.

He has now started to call each owner and convince them on the idea. He's actually gotten a couple of people to side with him.

So, my question is...what does everyone think of this idea? Does anyone choose draft order the day of the draft? I'm very against the idea because I think the month leading up to the draft is a lot more exciting when you know what slot you're drafting from. For me, the fantasy football season really begins once I know where I'm drafting.

Thoughts?

I understand his position...As with ALL drafts.....half of the league will be disappointed with their draft position.

They simply want to put off the FACT that they have absolutely NO CHANCE at some pretty good talent.

Ever hear of an auction?

We have actually had people not show up for the draft and quit the league when we started picking the draft order 2-3 weeks before the draft. We were glad to see them go. We have a good set of owners that appears to take it in stride. Funny thing is we are FINALLY moving to an acution this year. A couple of us have been pushing this for about 5 years. It should be fun!

 

[Del Griffith]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

Same here...

 

[zed2283]

In one league I'm in we used to draw the order the night of the draft and it was pretty exciting. Everyone would be sitting around talking and laughing and then as soon as the numbers were drawn everything would get real quiet and you could cut the tension with a knife, as everyone sort of gathered up their stuff and started plotting their strategy. Definitely drama and excitement and fun, so I wouldn't be so against it like many of the posters here.

 

[murph420]

we used to do it day of the draft. the guys started asking for it in advance about two seasons ago.

as an owner drafting, i prefer it in advance

as the commish, i do miss the excitement of the draft order at our live draft a little bit.

the last two seasons, i've videotaped myself making the picks and then putting the video on YouTube. just me picking #'s out of a hat with my brother (league member) as a witness.

this year, i'm going to step it up a little and try to setup a little "BIG FFL Sportscenter" and put on a jacket and tie as i reveal the picks

 

[Tom Servo]

My re-draft league use to decide draft position the night of the draft but now does it this way:

About 3 weeks before the draft, the commissioner draws numbers for each owner. This is the selection position (i.e., #1 gets first choice where they want to draft and #16 is SOL). Then, each owner has about a day to decide where they want to draft from. Since draft position also determines your division and schedule, there is strategy involved (e.g., "Do I want to be in the same division as HIM?"). It creates a lot of anxious moments and I love observing the selection process as much as I do the draft.

 

[Pictus Cat]

I really like the random draw for order of draft pick selection.

It gives everyone one some say in where they draft and (taking what yall didn't want and gonna whoop ya for the last guy.)

Sooner allows for draft pick trades. Later adds to the drama.

You could let your league vote, explain the advantages to both, and ask for no hard feelings when some owners don't win the vote because it will be fun either way. You could vote every year too in redraft. Or alternate. Have fun.

 

[GregR_2]

I can't think of a good reason to have it the day of the draft. Interaction is something we try to increase in my leagues, and removing the ability to do pre-draft trades removes a big chunk of the league's interaction before the season.

I also think this kind of rule favors the owner who does no prep at all over the owner who devotes time to it. A lot of time in draft prep should be spent on understanding how various decisions you are faced with affect the rest of your draft. When you have no clue where you pick that severely limits how much you can do it, which hurts the skilled owner. The guy who was going to just draft from a cheatsheet isn't affected at all however.

So, I don't see any positives to waiting.

 

[Godsbrother]

We do ours a month in advance. I like it as I know these guys pretty well and it is fun to do mocks beforehand and then see how well I do after the draft.

 

[Warhound]

Our league holds a selection party 2 months before the draft. Then we draft a week before the season starts.

 

[ImTheScientist]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

it creates a scramble to develop a stradegy in a few minutes. If you have your slot 2 weeks before the draft a prepaired person will do a series of mock drafts and be able to focus in on one slot....where the less prepaired owner will show up having looked at info the night before.My league has had draft picks decided at the draft for 10 years now.....this year we have finally decided to pick our slots 2 weeks before...

 

[GregR_2]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

it creates a scramble to develop a stradegy in a few minutes. If you have your slot 2 weeks before the draft a prepaired person will do a series of mock drafts and be able to focus in on one slot....where the less prepaired owner will show up having looked at info the night before.My league has had draft picks decided at the draft for 10 years now.....this year we have finally decided to pick our slots 2 weeks before...

I agree. Choosing right before the draft helps the owner who is going to draft from a cheatsheet regardless of where he's at, because his decisions are being made for him already. It hurts the guy who would put research into figuring out how his early picks are going to ripple down through his entire draft.

 

[Family Matters]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

it creates a scramble to develop a stradegy in a few minutes. If you have your slot 2 weeks before the draft a prepaired person will do a series of mock drafts and be able to focus in on one slot....where the less prepaired owner will show up having looked at info the night before.My league has had draft picks decided at the draft for 10 years now.....this year we have finally decided to pick our slots 2 weeks before...

I agree. Choosing right before the draft helps the owner who is going to draft from a cheatsheet regardless of where he's at, because his decisions are being made for him already. It hurts the guy who would put research into figuring out how his early picks are going to ripple down through his entire draft.

First off I think you should do what the majority of the league wants to do. I would think that because you've set the expectation as knowing in advance then you would need a majority vote to make the change.With that said, I agree with these guys. The prepared woner won't really care becuase you draft a winner from any position. If anything, it helps a FBG because he will be prepared for anything. The weak owners that think this move helps them will merely be shooting themsleves in the foot with a bigger caliber bullet byt making this type change.

 

[Pictus Cat]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

it creates a scramble to develop a stradegy in a few minutes. If you have your slot 2 weeks before the draft a prepaired person will do a series of mock drafts and be able to focus in on one slot....where the less prepaired owner will show up having looked at info the night before.My league has had draft picks decided at the draft for 10 years now.....this year we have finally decided to pick our slots 2 weeks before...

I agree. Choosing right before the draft helps the owner who is going to draft from a cheatsheet regardless of where he's at, because his decisions are being made for him already. It hurts the guy who would put research into figuring out how his early picks are going to ripple down through his entire draft.

Draft selection of selection ordermight be interesting an hour before the draft. Pick what pick you want. You have 2min. Next.

PS: The cheatsheet guy gains some advantage over someone that would only prepare for thier draft slot. I don't think cheatsheet guy gets much of an advantage for someone that prepares for the selections in the first and second rounds plus general strategies.

 

[fanofchiefs]

I play in two leagues. In both of them we know the draft order at the end of the previous season. The draft order is determing by the previous season's finish order.

 

[mozzy84]

we do it ten mins before the draft starts, I like it like that anyways, helps the more prepared imo and it is kind of fun not knowing where you draft right up until the time.

it creates a scramble to develop a stradegy in a few minutes. If you have your slot 2 weeks before the draft a prepaired person will do a series of mock drafts and be able to focus in on one slot....where the less prepaired owner will show up having looked at info the night before.My league has had draft picks decided at the draft for 10 years now.....this year we have finally decided to pick our slots 2 weeks before...

That was my thinking I guess, you are going to want a strategy before hand for the beginning, middle and end picks. Its seems to make it easier to me to just focus on the 12 spot or if you know your going to end up with lt or jackson before hand to think of a good strategy to go along with them. Maybe its just my league but I see people stressing when they get a slot they don't like, like they havnt even thought about getting the 8 spot or whatever.

 

[titan20]

i like picking that day, cause you can go in knowing you can get any draft position, just adds to the excitemnt if you ask me

 

[GoBears84]

I've been a co-commish in a redraft league for about 10 years. Every year we choose the draft order about a month before the draft which gives everyone a chance to do their research, make pre-draft trades, talk smack, etc. This year, one guy in the league is intent on having the draft order selected on the day of the draft. His argument is that it's more "fun" to research all players in the first two rounds rather than just the players that are projected to be chosen near your picks. He also thinks it will be a lot more exciting to have the draft order picked on draft day. He has now started to call each owner and convince them on the idea. He's actually gotten a couple of people to side with him.So, my question is...what does everyone think of this idea? Does anyone choose draft order the day of the draft? I'm very against the idea because I think the month leading up to the draft is a lot more exciting when you know what slot you're drafting from. For me, the fantasy football season really begins once I know where I'm drafting.Thoughts?

We choose about 3-4 weeks out. It's important to know if you are planning on using historical data to determine drafting patterns and who may or may not be available to you. This year I'll be using the custom ADP and custom drop-offs available in DD. Joel

 

[The Goose is Loose]

My re-draft league use to decide draft position the night of the draft but now does it this way:About 3 weeks before the draft, the commissioner draws numbers for each owner. This is the selection position (i.e., #1 gets first choice where they want to draft and #16 is SOL). Then, each owner has about a day to decide where they want to draft from. Since draft position also determines your division and schedule, there is strategy involved (e.g., "Do I want to be in the same division as HIM?"). It creates a lot of anxious moments and I love observing the selection process as much as I do the draft.

Thanks for all of the responses.I really liked the suggestion above so I proposed it to a couple of other owners (including the one who was pushing for the draft day selection process) and everyone seemed really into it. It's something different and exciting but still gives everyone enough time to prepare for the draft. I think this is how we'll do it this year.