Auction drafts are a great way to add a strategic element to your fantasy football experience. They can also be a bit daunting, especially if you're new to the format. The biggest hurdle: figuring out how to spend your auction budget.
Here's a breakdown of how to budget for your fantasy football auction draft:
1. Understand Your League's Settings
Before you start drafting, you need to know the rules of your league. Specifically, these things matter:
- Total Budget: How much money does each team start with?
- Starting Lineup: How many players do you need to start each week?
- Positional Requirements: Are there any specific positional requirements in your league?
2. Set Your Priorities
With your league settings in mind, you can start making some decisions about your budget. The most important thing is to figure out what positions are most valuable to you.
For example, if your league requires two wide receivers to start, you might want to allocate a larger portion of your budget to WRs. Or, if your league only allows one tight end, you might not need to spend a lot of money on that position.
3. Research Player Values
Now it's time to do some research and figure out how much different players are worth. There are a ton of resources available online, including:
- Fantasy football experts: Many sites provide auction value data and projections.
- Mock drafts: These can give you a sense of how much other managers are willing to spend on specific players.
- Auction draft simulators: Use these tools to practice and refine your bidding strategy.
4. Create Your Auction Budget Spreadsheet
It's highly recommended to build a spreadsheet to track your budget during the auction. Here's what your spreadsheet should look like:
| Position | Player | Bid | Result | Remaining Budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | |||||
| RB | |||||
| RB | |||||
| WR | |||||
| WR | |||||
| TE | |||||
| Flex | |||||
| K | |||||
| DEF | |||||
| Bench |
You can use this spreadsheet to track your bids, remaining budget, and even add notes on players you want to target or avoid.
5. Don't Be Afraid to Spend (But Don't Overspend)
It's important to be aggressive in an auction draft, but don't get caught up in a bidding war. It's OK to let players go if the price gets too high.
6. Be Flexible
Things don't always go according to plan. Be ready to adjust your strategy as the draft progresses. If a player you really wanted goes for a lower price than you expected, be prepared to take advantage of the situation.
7. Enjoy the Process
Auction drafts are a fun and exciting way to build your fantasy football team. Relax, have fun, and good luck!