Auction strategies

[Cstriker 2]

So all the mock drafts i did, i was left with less than $2 for the remainder of the season. I cant imagine that being a good strategy. Can you experienced auction league players please chip in how your leagues were won last season? I understand looking for bargains and signing upside players cheaply compared to name brands is the way to go, but I still lack the discipline to execute this strategy effectively. All thoughts and advice are welcome.

[Cara 0]

I have played in a few auction leagues and have to say they were some of my favorites. My strategy was always to bid on players that I knew were going to cost a fortune (Chris Johnson, AP, Andre Johnson), but never "win" any of them. I simply drove the price as high as I could without getting stuck with said player. This strategy can seriously backfire, so you have to know when to stop the bidding. I did this on a lot of players and I'm quite certain other owners were doing the same thing.

 

I never paid for a top player at any position. The people paying for CJ2K or AP will not have enough money left to bid on the middle of the pack type players. Most of those owners play with a 'win with a couple studs' strategy. They tend to have a couple major studs, however, the rest of their team is below average. You can counter that by saving your money for the mid-tier players.

 

Example using a $100 salary cap: (these are totally made up numbers, so don't crucify me for the example)

Team A pays $40 for AP and $30 for Calvin Johnson. They have only thirty dollars left to fill out the rest of their roster.

 

Team B pays $18 for Jamaal Charles and $22 for Moreno. They take Ocho Cinco for $14 and Dwayne Bowe for $11.

 

Sooooooo.............

 

Team A is left praying to hit on a few of the $1/$2 bargain bin sleepers in order to have a chance for the title. Team B can put together a solid roster from top to bottom by leaving the studs alone and going to mid-tier players.

 

It's late, so I hope this made sense. If not, I apologize. It is well past my bedtime. lol

[Cstriker 2]

Thanks Cara.

 

To further elaborate on my question here is a recent mock with all 10 players and no computer picks.

 

1. Pierre Thomas (NO - RB) $37

2. Drew Brees (NO - QB) $27

3. Shonn Greene (NYJ - RB) $50

4. Brandon Marshall (Mia - WR) $27

5. Sidney Rice (Min - WR) $22

6. Hakeem Nicks (NYG - WR) $15

7. Vernon Davis (SF - TE) $13

8. Baltimore (Bal - DEF) $2

9. Lawrence Tynes (NYG - K) $1

10. Ricky Williams (Mia - RB) $1

11. Santonio Holmes (NYJ - WR) $1

12. Kenny Britt (Ten - WR) $1

13. Ben Roethlisberger (Pit - QB) $1

14. Todd Heap (Bal - TE) $1

15. Dallas (Dal - DEF) $1

 

In a draft where Tom Brady ($14), Matt Schaub ($10), Tony Romo ($16), I obviously over paid for Brees. I was hoping to get Shon Greene for less than $50 , but one team ran the cost up. I think anyone can come to that realization pretty easily with a couple of mock drafts under their belt. What I am asking is, how much $$ should you have typically left over so you can sign some waiver/FA players that come up during the season or sign players to cover injuries? Would be nice if anyone with an year or two of experience atleast can comment.

[brtdud7 0]

on players you know will go for high amounts (top RB/QB/WR) make your first bet like pretty high, but not high enough that you know youll lose. do this for every top player. then, on the average guys you want, start the bidding at like the max youll pay. they'll think you'll keep bidding higher. at least it works for me

 

if i were in an auction league i take all 2nd-3rd tier players, like jay cutler, moreno, sidney rice, ochocinco, etc. better to full your entire roster with decent guys than a few studs and get screwed at every other position

[truebigdog 0]

I have yet to do one where remaining monies goes toward signing free agents/waiver pickups throughout the season. In mine (and I imagine most others) the money for waiver claims is a totally different entity. I generally leave an auction with nothing left.

[kutulu 1,660]

I have yet to do one where remaining monies goes toward signing free agents/waiver pickups throughout the season. In mine (and I imagine most others) the money for waiver claims is a totally different entity. I generally leave an auction with nothing left.

 

This.

[Gepetto 1,301]

I don't play in auction leagues, would like to though. Just wanted to say that's a really nice team you drafted cstriker.

[Homerj24 0]

Most Auctions don't carry over the draft cap into the season. There is a draft cap and then there would be FAAB for waivers.

 

My auction does however carry the draft cap over, but we are also given an additional $60 after the draft that can be used toward a weekly silent bidding process. So any money left over from our draft can be used in addition to the $60. Usually, there are not many teams that leave money on the table though ... at least not purposely.

 

In draft strategy depends on the scoring system (obviously) and roster types. I've been in leagues that have shallow starting rosters and I've been in leagues where I need to start 2 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE and 2 Flex. In the more shallow leagues, I prefer to stock up on top (yet "safe" talent). In the deeper leagues with a lot of starters, it's best to find the bargains wherever you can. Perhaps 1 top "safe" bet and then wait it out while others blow their loot. You'd like to walk away from the auction with roughly 20% more value than what you paid for.

 

A general rule of thumb for auction is to not nominate a player that you intend to bid on as long as you're sure someone else will bid up. Usually, the longer your guy stays in the pool the cheaper the price will be.

[huskerinct 1]

My advice is this....

Do not nominate players that you want, until later in the auction. Instead, nominate guys in the same tier as players you want. That way, you force other owners to spend on players you don't want. Plus, it gives you an idea of what those same tier players are selling for.

As for having money left over......you may want to check the rules of your league. Normally, the money for the auction is not carried over to the season.

The secret to success in an auction, is to get great value, e.g. Wes Welker in 2008 (I pd $2 for him). Pick out a cpl of sleepers that you think you can get cheap....Forsett, Henne, etc... and hope to get lucky with them. Most of the time, you can get these type of players for just a cpl dollars.

Also, don't overpay for an elite QB. In most leagues, the point per week difference between the #1 QB (Brees or Rodgers) and the #8 QB (Schaub, Brady, or Rapistburger) was only 2-3 pts per week. You can get a top 8-10 QB for 1/2 the price of the top QBs. Use that money elsewhere to grab a stud WR or RB.

I would not recommend bidding on guys just to drive the price up, unless you 100% would not mind having that player. Because if you have no desire to have D. Bowe for $20, you could get screwed. As for the big names....those guys' prices will soar regardless.

I hope this info helps.

[fatguylittlecoat 13]

What Husker said, he's got it. Also, usually, the very first player in hindsight is a value. If AP or MJD or anyone goes for say, $80.00, the next player like Frank Gore or Ray Rice will probably go for $72 - $76, it doesn't matter that you spent $80.00 for AP, what matters is he's on your roster.

[fatguylittlecoat 13]

Forgot to mention, be very aware of your pts system and how it compares to last year's players, stats because the QB's are starting to become very valuable if you look at last year's top 5. The pt. differential is substantial to mid tier QB's and good (not great) RB's and WR's.