If you're doing an Auction...

[Mike FF Today 607]

... this might be the only resource you need.

Art of the Auction 

[The Football Guru 211]

Doing my first high stakes auction tonight (Sunday, Aug. 28). Will be happy to share a link and my thoughts if anyone wants to hear them.

[AxeElf 787]

12 minutes ago, The Football Guru said:

Doing my first high stakes auction tonight (Sunday, Aug. 28). Will be happy to share a link and my thoughts if anyone wants to hear them.

Well now I wish I would have written a detailed critique of your first effort, so you could have improved.  I just assumed it would be too late now that you had already drafted.

Oh well...

[Gepetto 979]

Good read 

[LaChup 154]

8 hours ago, The Football Guru said:

Doing my first high stakes auction tonight (Sunday, Aug. 28). Will be happy to share a link and my thoughts if anyone wants to hear them.

Yes please.

[Ray_T 587]

I'm always down for auction info.  

[Ray_T 587]

15 hours ago, AxeElf said:

Well now I wish I would have written a detailed critique of your first effort, so you could have improved.  I just assumed it would be too late now that you had already drafted.

Oh well...

As the football guri is one of the experts of this site, this advice isnt for him.

he knows what hes doing.

to anyone who is doing an auction the only advise I give is that you should use a style that fits with the way you organize your data and the way you view the football world.   trying to adapt to someone elses style is almost a guaranteed failure.   You have to work a strategy you are comfortable and happy with.

if you have to change the way you organize your data at the last minute or change your strategy at the last minute, there is no way you can assimilate the changes in a short enough period of time unless you are reverting back to an old strategy you know and are comfortable with.

then again, why in this case would the expert of the website take advice from a shmo on a bulliten board who claims to be an expert?

thats just silly.

 

[AxeElf 787]

1 minute ago, Ray_T said:

why in this case would the expert of the website take advice from a shmo on a bulliten board who claims to be an expert

Maybe he wants to win?

I don't know; I'm not privy to his motivations.

[Ray_T 587]

2 minutes ago, AxeElf said:

Maybe he wants to win?

I don't know; I'm not privy to his motivations.

regardless..... the way each person organizes their data differently and each draft has a personality of its own.   he likely knows many of those he is drafting against and you do not.

taking advice from you would negate the value of that knowledge (in this case  he would be effectively ignoring the know your league rule)

the odds of your advice helping him is not outstanding because you dont know the league.

[AxeElf 787]

The odds of Axe Elf's advice helping anyone in fantasy football never dips below 100%.

[jrokh 567]

11 minutes ago, AxeElf said:

The odds of Axe Elf's advice helping anyone in fantasy football never dips below 100%.

You mean like the time your advice was not to draft Jonathan Taylor because he played his college ball at Wisconsin, and therefore would be a bust. Is that what you mean?

[Sean Mooney 1,184]

How many people drafted Tre'Quan Smith based off of Axe Elf's bad advice last year?

[AxeElf 787]

13 minutes ago, jrokh said:

You mean like the time your advice was not to draft Jonathan Taylor because he played his college ball at Wisconsin, and therefore would be a bust. Is that what you mean?

You would have done better heeding Axe Elf's advice to draft him in the second round.  Most of the leagues in which people did that, they were very happy with him (including several of my own).

[jrokh 567]

34 minutes ago, AxeElf said:

You would have done better heeding Axe Elf's advice to draft him in the second round.  Most of the leagues in which people did that, they were very happy with him (including several of my own).

You said not to draft him at all because he went to Wisconsin and all RBs from Wisconsin would automatically bust. This was his rookie year not last year, for the record. Regardless, it is but one of many examples of where listening to the elf’s advice is the worst thing anyone could do.

 

[AxeElf 787]

17 minutes ago, jrokh said:

This was his rookie year not last year, for the record.

Oh, well yeah, you OBVIOUSLY don't draft a rookie RB out of Wisconsin.

I thought you meant last year, when Axe Elf's shrewd advice was to pick him in the second round.

That worked out well too.

[The Football Guru 211]

On 8/28/2022 at 9:59 AM, LaChup said:

Yes please.

https://fantasy.espn.com/football/league/draftrecap?leagueId=1101700738

Ignore the commish team (obviously). I am Team Orth ... shocking, I know.

Quick initial thoughts: I want McCaffrey in a big way this year (again), but I can't (and do not think I ever will be able to) justify spending more than $60 on one player with a $200 cap. The prices seem to be influenced greatly by the default prizes on ESPN, so don't hesitate to shop at the low-end RB1/WR1 store if it happens. Metcalf for $12 and Robinson for $17 are ridiculous values IMO.

[AxeElf 787]

16 minutes ago, The Football Guru said:

https://fantasy.espn.com/football/league/draftrecap?leagueId=1101700738

"You do not have permission to view this page."

[weepaws 2,452]

Can’t seem to look at it.  

[craftsman 1,045]

Concerning #4 - You need to have a plan at positional values. They are not overrated. But as the draft goes on, you need to be flexible with them. I set up a simple spreadsheet for myself, like most people probably do, with formulas that make it simple to add and subtract to positions based on dollars spent and remaining dollars under the cap. But you need to set it up visually to see where your cap money is going. 

Nice write up overall. 

[AxeElf 787]

28 minutes ago, craftsman said:

I set up a simple spreadsheet for myself, like most people probably do, with formulas that make it simple to add and subtract to positions based on dollars spent and remaining dollars under the cap. But you need to set it up visually to see where your cap money is going.

This is hilarious.  I have never done this, and I have never heard of anyone doing anything like this.  Maybe back in the days when we had to bring our own player lists to the draft, but not in this century, anyway.

[The Football Guru 211]

27 minutes ago, craftsman said:

Concerning #4 - You need to have a plan at positional values. They are not overrated. But as the draft goes on, you need to be flexible with them. I set up a simple spreadsheet for myself, like most people probably do, with formulas that make it simple to add and subtract to positions based on dollars spent and remaining dollars under the cap. But you need to set it up visually to see where your cap money is going. 

Nice write up overall. 

Thanks.

I've been doing auctions for 13 years. I'm not saying they are useless; flexibility is vital. I think I say that in so many words. You definitely need to have a plan, I don't think I say otherwise.

What I don't think is helpful is saying I'm going to spend 45% of my budget (or $90 of my $200 cap) at RB before the draft only to quickly realize that your league is willing to go crazy at the position. Ninety dollars should be more than enough to have a competitive RB room, but it may not be if every other manager is willing to spend more. There aren't 24 RBs worthy of starting consideration every week. I think it is more important to have "my guys" (especially at the lower and middle levels) and get a sense of what players in certain tiers are going for.

[craftsman 1,045]

38 minutes ago, AxeElf said:

This is hilarious.  I have never done this, and I have never heard of anyone doing anything like this.  Maybe back in the days when we had to bring our own player lists to the draft, but not in this century, anyway.

Well, if you don't know how to use Excel, I could see your problem here. 

Good luck this year dude. 

[AxeElf 787]

1 minute ago, craftsman said:

Well, if you don't know how to use Excel, I could see your problem here. 

Good luck this year dude. 

Well if you don't know how to do fantasy football in your head, I could see your problem here.

Good luck this year dude.

[craftsman 1,045]

8 minutes ago, AxeElf said:

Well if you don't know how to do fantasy football in your head, I could see your problem here.

Good luck this year dude.

So you are saying, in your auction drafts, you keep track of every team's salaries at each position as the draft goes on in your head. Including what each team is in need of, and what they have to spend on their rosters at every moment in the draft. 

And in your head you remember every player that is off the board and what they went for?

[AxeElf 787]

4 minutes ago, craftsman said:

So you are saying, in your auction drafts, you keep track of every team's salaries at each position as the draft goes on in your head. Including what each team is in need of, and what they have to spend on their rosters at every moment in the draft. 

I can see their max bids remaining or their total budget remaining listed by their names in the draft software.  I can see the positions they've drafted under the "Draft Results" tab.

I know what players I'm targeting in my head.

[craftsman 1,045]

4 minutes ago, AxeElf said:

I can see their max bids remaining or their total budget remaining listed by their names in the draft software.  I can see the positions they've drafted under the "Draft Results" tab.

I know what players I'm targeting in my head.

I'm better at spreadsheets than the software that is out there for fantasy football. Plus, we don't draft online. We draft in person. Because we like hanging out with each other. 

[AxeElf 787]

25 minutes ago, craftsman said:

We draft in person.

Well, I did say "in this century."

[craftsman 1,045]

1 hour ago, The Football Guru said:

Thanks.

I've been doing auctions for 13 years. I'm not saying they are useless; flexibility is vital. I think I say that in so many words. You definitely need to have a plan, I don't think I say otherwise.

What I don't think is helpful is saying I'm going to spend 45% of my budget (or $90 of my $200 cap) at RB before the draft only to quickly realize that your league is willing to go crazy at the position. Ninety dollars should be more than enough to have a competitive RB room, but it may not be if every other manager is willing to spend more. There aren't 24 RBs worthy of starting consideration every week. I think it is more important to have "my guys" (especially at the lower and middle levels) and get a sense of what players in certain tiers are going for.

Yeah. Sometimes you get unexpected bargains and then unexpectedly overpay for someone you really want. Gotta ride the wave. Also, in my league, we carry over our unspent dollars and add it to our FAB for the year. So there can be a motivation to not spending it all. But that is just league specific stuff. No big deal. 

[AxeElf 787]

1 hour ago, craftsman said:

Also, in my league, we carry over our unspent dollars and add it to our FAB for the year.

Has anyone ever saved any money?

I haven't been in a lot of drafts like that, but I've been in some that had $400 budgets and people still spent all their money.  I saw one guy once add $1 to his FAB.

[Ray_T 587]

2 hours ago, craftsman said:

So you are saying, in your auction drafts, you keep track of every team's salaries at each position as the draft goes on in your head. Including what each team is in need of, and what they have to spend on their rosters at every moment in the draft. 

And in your head you remember every player that is off the board and what they went for?

I do this but I dont do it in my head.  i have a sheet with each team.  when they win an auction I add the player and subtract the cash they paid. 

it is helpful because when bidding against someone, you know what they need and how much they can spend.   one year a guy with 3 QB's tried to bid me up on a QB I wanted but not that badly.   we got to a point where I looked at his roster, realized spending another 25 bucks on a QB would wreck his auction and let him have it.   He ended up selling the QB back to me 10 minutes later for 20 auction dollars which was a reasonable price for the player.

so the strategy has its merits.

[Ray_T 587]

2 hours ago, AxeElf said:

Well, I did say "in this century."

normal long running leagues (especially keeper leagues) draft in person.  in most cases everyone in the league are buddies.   theres beer, burgers, cigars.   its nice.

usually the host arranges something special for the boys.  one year this guys wife made up a 5 course meal that was better than any restaurant I've ever eaten at.  it was amazing.

another year one of the boys had us out to his cabin at the lake which involved waterskiing, boating, firepits and the whole nine yards.

thats what in person drafts are all about. 

[Hardcore troubadour 12,593]

That’s a great article. Unfortunately for me I draft with some lunatics so all that logic goes out the window about 10 minutes in. 

[Gepetto 979]

14 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

That’s a great article. Unfortunately for me I draft with some lunatics so all that logic goes out the window about 10 minutes in. 

Look at your last year's draft and amounts paid.  If it's like my auction league the very top players go for about 20% of one teams auction budget.  Consider building your team without the highest priced say top 8-12 players, maybe get one of those.  Here's my best advice for any fantasy football draft...get quality starters for all starting positions, don't leave even one weak, and have a good back up for each position as well, with no weaknesses.

[The Football Guru 211]

6 hours ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

That’s a great article. Unfortunately for me I draft with some lunatics so all that logic goes out the window about 10 minutes in. 

Thanks!

I find the ESPN auctions tend to bring out the crazies when it comes to pricing the high-end guys. You can't drop $65-70 on one player and believe you will come away with enough $1-2 players to compete against a team with a bunch of $10-15 starters complementing a pair of $30-40 foundation pieces.

[The Football Guru 211]

Not exactly how I wanted to display it, but here were the results:

SkolNation Skol

PLAYER    Winning Bid
Austin Ekeler LAC, RB    $53 
Justin Jefferson Min, WR    $54 
Leonard Fournette TB, RB    $37 
Josh Allen Buf, QB    $19 
Cordarrelle Patterson Atl, RB    $14 
K.J. Osborn Min, WR    $1 
Melvin Gordon III Den, RB    $8 
Mike Gesicki Mia, TE    $1 
Daniel Carlson LV, K    $1 
Marvin Jones Jr. Jax, WR    $2 
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Ten, WR    $1 
Jamaal Williams Det, RB    $2 
KJ Hamler Den, WR    $1 
Donovan Peoples-Jones Cle, WR    $2 
Eagles D/ST Phi, D/ST    $1 
Cedrick Wilson Jr. Mia, WR    $1 
Kendrick Bourne NE, WR    $1 
Devin Duvernay Bal, WR    $1 
    
    
Miami Team Boss    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Cam Akers LAR, RB    $19 
Buccaneers D/ST TB, D/ST    $2 
Josh Jacobs LV, RB    $13 
Tyler Bass Buf, K    $2 
Terry McLaurin Wsh, WR    $17 
David Montgomery Chi, RB    $16 
J.K. Dobbins Bal, RB    $17 
JuJu Smith-Schuster KC, WR    $14 
Justin Herbert LAC, QB    $9 
Gabriel Davis Buf, WR    $15 
Rashod Bateman Bal, WR    $13 
Chris Godwin TB, WR    $24 
Patrick Mahomes KC, QB    $9 
Elijah Moore NYJ, WR    $12 
Cole Kmet Chi, TE    $4 
DeVonta Smith Phi, WR    $10 
Kirk Cousins Min, QB    $1 
Justin Fields Chi, QB    
    
    
Marinelli Bros BMF    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Cooper Kupp LAR, WR    $51 
Justin Tucker Bal, K    $2 
James Conner Ari, RB    $26 
Dalvin Cook Min, RB    $52 
Saints D/ST NO, D/ST    $1 
Breece Hall NYJ, RB    $19 
Darren Waller LV, TE    $11 
DeVante Parker NE, WR    $4 
Robert Woods Ten, WR    $5 
Tyler Lockett Sea, WR    $3 
Jarvis Landry NO, WR    $2 
Matthew Stafford LAR, QB    $2 
Dawson Knox Buf, TE    $3 
Marquez Valdes-Scantling KC, WR    $5 
George Pickens Pit, WR    $7 
Derek Carr LV, QB    $1 
Michael Gallup Dal, WR    $2 
Raheem Mostert Mia, RB    $4 
    
    
Team Cuttin Heads    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Jonathan Taylor Ind, RB    $67 
Najee Harris Pit, RB    $52 
George Kittle SF, TE    $18 
Travis Kelce KC, TE    $39 
Patriots D/ST NE, D/ST    $1 
Matt Gay LAR, K    $1 
Tom Brady TB, QB    $4 
Aaron Rodgers GB, QB    $4 
Van Jefferson LAR, WR    $1 
Wan'Dale Robinson NYG, WR    $2 
DJ Chark Det, WR    $2 
Alec Pierce Ind, WR    $1 
Khalil Herbert Chi, RB    $2 
Sammy Watkins GB, WR    $1 
Darrel Williams Ari, RB    $1 
Corey Davis NYJ, WR    $2 
Boston Scott Phi, RB    $1 
Nelson Agholor NE, WR    $1 
    
    
American SATAN    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Ja'Marr Chase Cin, WR    $51 
Miles Sanders Phi, RB    $11 
Mike Evans TB, WR    $28 
Javonte Williams Den, RB    $38 
Michael Thomas NO, WR    $16 
Diontae Johnson Pit, WR    $17 
Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC, RB    $12 
Allen Lazard GB, WR    $7 
Pat Freiermuth Pit, TE    $3 
James Robinson Jax, RB    $8 
Steelers D/ST Pit, D/ST    $1 
Mark Ingram II NO, RB    $1 
Mecole Hardman KC, WR    $1 
Romeo Doubs GB, WR    $2 
Trevor Lawrence Jax, QB    $1 
Mitch Trubisky Pit, QB    $1 
Kenny Pickett Pit, QB    $1 
Nick Folk NE, K    $1 
    
    
The Goat    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Saquon Barkley NYG, RB    $43 
Christian McCaffrey Car, RB    $73 
Mark Andrews Bal, TE    $36 
Colts D/ST Ind, D/ST    $1 
Lamar Jackson Bal, QB    $12 
Brandon McManus Den, K    $1 
Jakobi Meyers NE, WR    $4 
DeAndre Hopkins Ari, WR    $13 
Nico Collins Hou, WR    $2 
Rondale Moore Ari, WR    $7 
Jalen Tolbert Dal, WR    $1 
Christian Watson GB, WR    $1 
Isaiah Spiller LAC, RB    $1 
Amari Rodgers GB, WR    $1 
Shi Smith Car, WR    $1 
Odell Beckham Jr. FA, WR    $1 
KaVontae Turpin Dal, WR    $1 
Devon Allen Phi, WR    $1 
    
    
Team 7    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Derrick Henry Ten, RB    $47 
Ezekiel Elliott Dal, RB    $24 
Tyreek Hill Mia, WR    $30 
Mike Williams LAC, WR    $21 
Elijah Mitchell SF, RB    $18 
Brandin Cooks Hou, WR    $18 
Tyler Boyd Cin, WR    $3 
Dak Prescott Dal, QB    $3 
Cowboys D/ST Dal, D/ST    $1 
Chris Olave NO, WR    $6 
Greg Joseph Min, K    $1 
Zach Ertz Ari, TE    $5 
Treylon Burks Ten, WR    $3 
Skyy Moore KC, WR    $5 
Irv Smith Jr. Min, TE    $2 
Michael Carter NYJ, RB    $4 
Kenneth Gainwell Phi, RB    $3 
Isaiah McKenzie Buf, WR    $3 
    
    
Team Orth    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Aaron Jones GB, RB    $38 
D'Andre Swift Det, RB    $44 
Jalen Hurts Phi, QB    $10 
Michael Pittman Jr. Ind, WR    $28 
DK Metcalf Sea, WR    $12 
Adam Thielen Min, WR    $9 
Allen Robinson II LAR, WR    $17 
AJ Dillon GB, RB    $21 
Nyheim Hines Ind, RB    $4 
Jake Elliott Phi, K    $1 
49ers D/ST SF, D/ST    $1 
Damien Harris NE, RB    $5 
Julio Jones TB, WR    $4 
Gus Edwards Bal, RB    $1 
Russell Gage TB, WR    $2 
Tyler Allgeier Atl, RB    $1 
Brevin Jordan Hou, TE    $1 
Jameson Williams Det, WR    $1 
    
    
IBCNUL8R IBC    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Drake London Atl, WR    $9 
Marquise Brown Ari, WR    $13 
Dallas Goedert Phi, TE    $8 
Tee Higgins Cin, WR    $28 
Dalton Schultz Dal, TE    $8 
Tony Pollard Dal, RB    $9 
Amari Cooper Cle, WR    $5 
Courtland Sutton Den, WR    $19 
Amon-Ra St. Brown Det, WR    $18 
Chase Edmonds Mia, RB    $11 
Dustin Hopkins LAC, K    $1 
Christian Kirk Jax, WR    $13 
Kyler Murray Ari, QB    $8 
Brandon Aiyuk SF, WR    $13 
Packers D/ST GB, D/ST    $1 
Rashaad Penny Sea, RB    $12 
Rhamondre Stevenson NE, RB    $17 
Darrell Henderson Jr. LAR, RB    $7 
    
    
Team 10    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Alvin Kamara NO, RB    $44 
Kyle Pitts Atl, TE    $35 
Stefon Diggs Buf, WR    $44 
Travis Etienne Jr. Jax, RB    $24 
DJ Moore Car, WR    $25 
Trey Lance SF, QB    $3 
James Cook Buf, RB    $8 
Isiah Pacheco KC, RB    $3 
Robbie Anderson Car, WR    $3 
Kenny Golladay NYG, WR    $3 
Albert Okwuegbunam Den, TE    $1 
Curtis Samuel Wsh, WR    $1 
Evan Engram Jax, TE    $1 
Randall Cobb GB, WR    $1 
Jerick McKinnon KC, RB    $1 
A.J. Green Ari, WR    $1 
Broncos D/ST Den, D/ST    $1 
Matt Prater Ari, K    $1 
    
    
Whodey 23    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Joe Mixon Cin, RB    $45 
Evan McPherson Cin, K    $1 
Nick Chubb Cle, RB    $26 
Deebo Samuel SF, WR    $33 
Hunter Renfrow LV, WR    $11 
A.J. Brown Phi, WR    $28 
Darnell Mooney Chi, WR    $15 
Devin Singletary Buf, RB    $5 
T.J. Hockenson Det, TE    $7 
Garrett Wilson NYJ, WR    $2 
Joe Burrow Cin, QB    $5 
Alexander Mattison Min, RB    $2 
Kadarius Toney NYG, WR    $9 
Ravens D/ST Bal, D/ST    $1 
Rachaad White TB, RB    $3 
Jahan Dotson Wsh, WR    $3 
Joshua Palmer LAC, WR    $3 
Zamir White LV, RB    $1 
    
    
4th And Forever    
PLAYER    Winning Bid
Bills D/ST Buf, D/ST    $1 
Antonio Gibson Wsh, RB    $10 
Davante Adams LV, WR    $42 
Harrison Butker KC, K    $1 
CeeDee Lamb Dal, WR    $41 
Keenan Allen LAC, WR    $21 
Jaylen Waddle Mia, WR    $20 
Dameon Pierce Hou, RB    $11 
Jerry Jeudy Den, WR    $15 
Tua Tagovailoa Mia, QB    $1 
Kenneth Walker III Sea, RB    $1 
Brian Robinson Wsh, RB    $2 
Kareem Hunt Cle, RB    $14 
David Njoku Cle, TE    $3 
Russell Wilson Den, QB    $4 
Hunter Henry NE, TE    $2 
Chase Claypool Pit, WR    $8 
J.D. McKissic Wsh, RB    $3

[The Football Guru 211]

I have since put Jameson Williams and Gus on IR and picked up Hooper and Everett. I think Jordan will be the real deal at TE, but one of the other two should give me a decent floor.

[Ray_T 587]

that's a lot of work thanks for entering in all the data for us to view.

[AxeElf 787]

7 hours ago, The Football Guru said:

You can't drop $65-70 on one player and believe you will come away with enough $1-2 players to compete against a team with a bunch of $10-15 starters complementing a pair of $30-40 foundation pieces.

Depends on the size of the league and the scoring system, but it CAN work even in a normal league.

My most perfect draft this season so far started with $62 for Jefferson and $54 for Henry.  I added Zeke for $20, Mahomes for $19, Allen Robinson for $13 and Amon-Ra for $9; everyone else was $4 or less (Singletary, Patterson, DWilliams, Sermon, Mack, Goedert, Woods, MVS, Gallup and Doubs--who I dropped for Aiyuk when some idiot dropped him).

[AxeElf 787]

7 hours ago, The Football Guru said:

I have since put Jameson Williams and Gus on IR and picked up Hooper and Everett.

I was wondering why you neglected to draft a TE.

[The Football Guru 211]

2 hours ago, AxeElf said:

I was wondering why you neglected to draft a TE.

I really like Jordan. Hooper and Everett are insurance in case I am wrong about Jordan.