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One fantasy football draft format that is picking up steam is auction or salary cap mode. Kyle Lindemann dishes out some vital strategies for this format.
Doing a fantasy football draft by way of auction or salary cap is becoming a much more popular format for 2024. It is also becoming more common as the go-to format for dynasty startups, ditching the old-school snake draft. The beauty of an auction is crystal clear: everyone's on the table. No more rolling the dice on draft orders or sweating bullets at the back of the first round in a Superflex draft, watching all those top-tier QBs vanish before you even get a shot at one.
Auction drafts ramp up the customization factor, letting you tailor your roster in ways a snake draft can only dream of. That's a huge part of their appeal. With an auction, you're in the driver's seat, totally in control of your lineup's destiny. Given the long haul of a 17-week fantasy season, it only makes sense, right? Why not give everyone in the league the chance to build their team exactly how they want?
You can use this guide for a redraft league or a dynasty -- same rules, same principles. We're diving deep into auction draft tactics here, showing you how to craft a top-tier team. Auction drafts are wild cards; no two are alike, so staying nimble and chill under pressure is key. To ace an auction, you will need nerves of steel to push through the ups and downs. Ready to roll into the deep end of salary cap drafts? Let’s get started!
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Tracking Your League Settings
Map Out a Budget for Each Position
Before diving into your league's auction draft, it pays off -- literally -- to map out how much each player is worth to you and what chunk of your budget you plan to allocate to each position, all tailored to your league's unique settings. This strategic pre-game can keep your bids sharp and focused, ensuring you're gunning for the right players without overspending. Picture a budget in a league where everyone's got a cool $1,000 to play with:
- QB: 40%
- RB: 15%
- WR: 38%
- TE: 7%
This budget breakdown isn't just busywork; it's your bidding blueprint. If you're planning to skip the wallet-busting tight ends early and opt for a bargain-bin strategy later, auction drafts flex their muscles here. You could snag several lower-cost TEs and stitch together the position as the season progresses. This approach echoes the strategy I suggested with Sam LaPorta last season, which, not to toot my own horn, turned out pretty slick. In fairness, at least on paper, a late-round tight-end approach doesn't look as viable for 2024 as it did at this time last year.
One rookie mistake that many auction drafters make is sweating over their starting lineup way too early in the game. Remember, we're a good stretch away from the season's kickoff. Always draft for value, not just to fill spots. Think like an NFL GM -- drafting for value and trading for need is always an option later. By adhering to the predrafted values you've set, you'll outmaneuver most of your league during the auction, staying sharp and strategic with every bid.
Don't Go After the Last Player in a Tier
Keeping Track of Your League Mates' Builds
Keeping an eagle eye on how your league mates are splashing their cash and stacking their rosters is crucial in an auction. Imagine you haven’t snagged a running back yet and notice 20 backs are already off the board. Worse yet, three of your league mates haven’t picked a single running back yet. That’s a recipe for a bidding war you might not be ready for!
Is someone in your league playing the long game, barely touching their budget? That’s a strategy that could backfire on you later. There's nothing like the sting of waiting to snag a sleeper in the final rounds, only to watch a competitor flush with unspent cash drive the price sky-high.
While the go-to move is often to nominate unwanted players early to drain others' budgets, hanging onto nominations until the bitter end can be risky if others still have deep pockets. Make sure to keep tabs on everyone’s spending -- it's not just about building your team but also about playing defense against their strategies as well.
Be Flexible in Your Approach
Auction drafts let you chase your favorites, right? But when two or three other managers in your league are eyeing the same talent, things can get spicy in a hurry. Sure, throwing a few extra bucks at a couple of your must-haves can work (keep it reasonable, folks), but to splash the cash on every player? You’ll burn through your budget very quick.
Here’s the scoop: toss out that rigid draft blueprint. Auction drafts demand flexibility -- like a quarterback dodging the oncoming rush. If your league’s hyped about wide receivers but sleeping on running backs, you might just have to score a couple of RB studs on the cheap. Snagging value where others see none? That’s the secret sauce in an auction.
Think of it like a high-stakes poker game. The best players aren’t just playing their cards; they’re reading the table. Getting a read on your league’s draft flow can be a game-changer, possibly taking a couple of drafts to nail down before you get to that level. And remember, sometimes the best deals are snagged early when the market’s still jittery and your league mates haven’t set their strategies in stone. So, keep your eyes peeled and adapt -- that’s how you draft like a pro.
How Will Your League Do the Bidding?
Navigating your league’s platform can be challenging. While popular sites like Yahoo and Sleeper keep it simple with one player up for grabs at a time, platforms like MyFantasyLeague and League Tycoon crank up the heat by letting up to 36 players be on the auction block simultaneously.
I'm all in for the chaos and strategy of having multiple players up for bid. The ideal scenario? A marathon session where each new top bid resets the clock for another eight hours. This setup gives everyone in your league a fair shot to get in on the action without the dreaded fear of losing out on a player while they catch some Z's.
And here’s a more advanced move: proxy bidding. Think of it like eBay for your fantasy football draft. If Travis Etienne is sitting pretty at $22 and you are game to shell out up to $40 for him, a proxy bid lets you set your max without showing your hand. You might just snag him for less if no one else matches your enthusiasm. Platforms that allow you to juggle multiple players and use proxy bids? They're not just good -- they're gold standard for serious auction leagues.
Nominating Strategically
Tossing out players you aren't keen on early in the draft can be a strategic play. Early on, with wallets full, your league mates might splurge, not yet having a handle on the true market value for players. Get them to burn their budget on players you're cool with skipping is a savvy move to thin out their spending power.
On the flip side, playing the role of the price enforcer can turn sour fast. Rule of thumb: never throw a bid on a player you genuinely don't want. Even if it looks like they're going for a steal, you might just get stuck holding the bag. However, if you're going to play the game, consider bidding up to about 60% of what you've earmarked for that player. This strategy prevents others from snagging a ridiculously good deal, and if you end up with the player, you haven't overshot your budget and might flip them later for a neat profit. Play smart, not hard, and let others gamble while you navigate the draft with precision.
Conclusion
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