FF2010: Keeper League discussion thread

I still don't get how having to basically keep track of the draft non-stop for 2-3 weeks is better than trying to get a time everyone can sit down for 2 hours and get this done. People would definitely miss out on players that were nominated while they were away. For instance, I will be in New York this weekend and wouldn't be able/willing to be checking every couple hours for a draft.

ukickmydog wrote:

I still don't get how having to basically keep track of the draft non-stop for 2-3 weeks is better than trying to get a time everyone can sit down for 2 hours and get this done. People would definitely miss out on players that were nominated while they were away. For instance, I will be in New York this weekend and wouldn't be able/willing to be checking every couple hours for a draft.

I certainly don't think it would hurt to at least see if there's a time everyone can sit down and draft, but the likelihood of it working out that way seems slim.

Landshrk83 wrote:

I certainly don't think it would hurt to at least see if there's a time everyone can sit down and draft, but the likelihood of it working out that way seems slim.

All of the other leagues will be doing this. Aside from the already-mentioned issue of how much more important it is to be present for an auction-style draft, I also worry that, unlike a snake draft with a, for example, 2-minute time limit, which already takes 3-4 hours, an auction draft could go on forever. That being said, _if_ we go the live draft route... someone (or more than one someone) please research an auction draft client. The reason I asked for help is I'm still getting my feet back under me at work after being gone for two weeks and I am (as others have mentioned) feeling the pressure of getting this particular draft rolling, or at least sorted out.

Grumpicus wrote:
Landshrk83 wrote:

I certainly don't think it would hurt to at least see if there's a time everyone can sit down and draft, but the likelihood of it working out that way seems slim.

All of the other leagues will be doing this. Aside from the already-mentioned issue of how much more important it is to be present for an auction-style draft, I also worry that, unlike a snake draft with a, for example, 2-minute time limit, which already takes 3-4 hours, an auction draft could go on forever. That being said, _if_ we go the live draft route... someone (or more than one someone) please research an auction draft client. The reason I asked for help is I'm still getting my feet back under me at work after being gone for two weeks and I am (as others have mentioned) feeling the pressure of getting this particular draft rolling, or at least sorted out.

My experience with auction drafts is that they're unlikely to much beyond what a normal draft goes. The first few rounds tend to take longer, but beyond that they move at a good clip.

As far as clients go, I've been pretty happy with ESPN. For a first year league, it should be no problem to use their client (they support 12 team leagues, have a ton of draft times, decent interface, free). In future years it remains usable, although it might take a little more work on the league manager's part to enter each team's keepers prior to the draft.

EDIT: One issue I caught with ESPN- they don't support RB/WR/TE at the flex position (only RB/WR or WR/TE). I don't think this is a big deal, as a player could draft a backup RB or WR to the flex spot and put his TE in once the rosters were moved over to Fleaflicker.

ukickmydog wrote:

I still don't get how having to basically keep track of the draft non-stop for 2-3 weeks is better than trying to get a time everyone can sit down for 2 hours and get this done. People would definitely miss out on players that were nominated while they were away. For instance, I will be in New York this weekend and wouldn't be able/willing to be checking every couple hours for a draft.

I'm in this boat too... Since I teach school, it makes it terribly difficult during the days to ever check a phone or hop on a computer, especially since my work computers are heavily monitored and all of the sites mentioned are restricted.

Just as a point of order... currently fleaflicker settings are for a 15 man roster, with 8 starting and 7 bench. Is that right? So 180 players total for all teams? If we just get the starters in person, I'd be happy, and that would be 96 players. handling the bench and bye week players online would be OK w/ me if we run out of time.

We just haven't changed the Fleaflicker settings from default yet.

So far, 7 people have voted and _all_ of them have indicated that they would prefer a real-time draft. ESPN is the only place that has been specifically mentioned. Given that, even if everyone else voted the other way, it'd be a 7-4 split so it looks like we'll be going real-time. I'll post up an official whenisgood.net calendar when I get home tonight since I have a premium account that allows a bit more nuance in the responses.

I abstained from the vote but I am perfectly fine with a live draft, especially if most everyone else is in favor of it.

I do like the idea of doing the non-live auction drafts, but it's something we can consider next year when (a) we get started earlier, since we won't be starting the league from scratch, and (b) we're not drafting complete rosters.

Plus since I'm so damn happy Fresno State got out of the WAC, I'm in such a good mood, I'm up for whatever.

*Legion* wrote:

I do like the idea of doing the non-live auction drafts, but it's something we can consider next year when (a) we get started earlier, since we won't be starting the league from scratch, and (b) we're not drafting complete rosters.

That probably makes more sense. Next year this'll all be a hell of a lot easier to do non-live.

Barring costs, are we setting limits on how many of our players we can bring back next year? I mean, if I really wanted to could I keep my entire team the same?

Official GWJFFLK Live Auction draft WhenIsGood selection calendar.

If there are any times/dates that you feel should be added, please let me know. Note that you have the ability to indicate three levels of acceptable:
* perfect for you
* fine for you
* possible, but not ideal

I pay extra so y'all can have that flexibility so please use it.

Please provide your forum name when you submit. Thanks.

I created a when is good calendar if everyone could select their available starting times for a draft, if we go that route.

Edit: Usurped by fancy colors

Listed. Unfortunately the next two weekends are filled up with family trips. This weekend is wide open.

6 responses so far. Some of y'all apparently have no "best times" or forgot there was a third option. On an unrelated note, I'm definitely seeing a trend between East Coast vs. West Coast. Ah well, that's all part of the fun...

I just listed my availability. Is there a deadline here before a decision is made? After realizing yesterday just how tight the timeline is getting, we would need to start on plan B very soon to wrap up in time.

Everything will become clear(er) this weekend when I have time to actually _work_ on fantasy football.

Right now, it _really_ looks like we're going real-time and it's going to be at ESPN (though I'm still open to suggestions on that last bit). Additionally, with two players still to vote, the only time that is good for _everyone_ is 8 or 8:30 on September 1. Now if that's a problem for either of the final 2, I'll have to evaluate options and see who has to get the shaft. As for a deadline on the voting, it's a "soft" deadline since I expect you all to be upright citizens and not keep the rest of us waiting... but I'll eventually run out of patience.

Grumpicus wrote:

Everything will become clear(er) this weekend when I have time to actually _work_ on fantasy football.

Right now, it _really_ looks like we're going real-time and it's going to be at ESPN (though I'm still open to suggestions on that last bit). Additionally, with two players still to vote, the only time that is good for _everyone_ is 8 or 8:30 on September 1. Now if that's a problem for either of the final 2, I'll have to evaluate options and see who has to get the shaft. As for a deadline on the voting, it's a "soft" deadline since I expect you all to be upright citizens and not keep the rest of us waiting... but I'll eventually run out of patience.

8 or 8:30 what? CST?

Of course, don't you know that the world revolves around Texas?

Grumpicus wrote:

Of course, don't you know that the world revolves around Texas? ;-)

Yeah, but I wanted to make sure.

BlackSheep wrote:
Grumpicus wrote:

Of course, don't you know that the world revolves around Texas? ;-)

Yeah, but I wanted to make sure. :)

Pssst, It helps being close to the center of the orbit.

Still waiting on... whoever's not on this list:

Grumpicus
Elliottx
kaostheory
garion333
Blacksheep
*Legion*
ukickmydog
Minase
JollyBill
Landshrk83
Boogle

I'll finalize the date/time tomorrow night, with or without the final data set.

boogle wrote:
BlackSheep wrote:
Grumpicus wrote:

Of course, don't you know that the world revolves around Texas? ;-)

Yeah, but I wanted to make sure. :)

Pssst, It helps being close to the center of the orbit.

Well, I was thinking 'black hole' but that works too

Ok folks, so let it be written, so let it be done. The draft will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 8:00 PM CDT.

I know it's a little extra work but, from here out, let's branch the conversation, please.

Discussion related to logistics of the draft (e.g. where will it be, what's the budget, etc.) stay here. Also, any discussion of keeper algorithms (e.g. how many can we keep, what will be the "cost" of keepers, etc.) can stay here as well. Basically, the stuff that is unique to GWJFFLK.

All other discussion (e.g. General GWJFLL questions) goes over to the preseason thread.

Thanks.

Grumpicus wrote:

Ok folks, so let it be written, so let it be done. The draft will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 8:00 PM CDT.

I know it's a little extra work but, from here out, let's branch the conversation, please.

Discussion related to logistics of the draft (e.g. where will it be, what's the budget, etc.) stay here. Also, any discussion of keeper algorithms (e.g. how many can we keep, what will be the "cost" of keepers, etc.) can stay here as well. Basically, the stuff that is unique to GWJFFLK.

All other discussion (e.g. General GWJFLL questions) goes over to the preseason thread.

Thanks.

Yah! I have dental surgery that day, so I'll be all kinds of on the ball and the Codene! I'mma gonna rock your asshes!

Maybe I just missed it somewhere along the way, but what $ are we using for the draft? $100 per team? $200? From what I can tell $200 is pretty standard. Do we typically need to use up the whole thing by the end of the draft, or is the remainder our budget for waiver pickups?

Maybe I just missed it somewhere along the way, but what $ are we using for the draft? $100 per team? $200? From what I can tell $200 is pretty standard. Do we typically need to use up the whole thing by the end of the draft, or is the remainder our budget for waiver pickups?

Continuing the template of following the lead of WCOFF, the draft budget is $200. Spend it all as that is not your free agent budget ($1000).

wcoff wrote:

Smoking: The Draft will be a non-smoking event.

good to know

Grumpicus wrote:

Continuing the template of following the lead of WCOFF, the draft budget is $200. Spend it all as that is not your free agent budget ($1000).

Is this right, though? My notion of free agency dollar values is that they would carry into the "keeper" formula just like draft values. But if people are bidding on free agents with a $1000 cap, the numbers will be so high that nobody can realistically be kept towards the $200 keeper/draft cap.