FF2010: 2010 Fantasy Football catch-all thread

I've been holding off on any dates in the upcoming weeks just to avoid this. Hurry up and pick a day already.

It seems poor form to have people voting while registration is still open.

Also, discussion of league business should probably go in the league discussion thread. (It is, after all, only fair since I prefer to keep non-league business out of that thread.)

Anyone in a league that uses ESPN? I'd be particularly interested if anyone actually ran a league over there. Anyway, I was poking around with the options this evening (after the GWJFFLK draft, which was also pretty slick) and would be very interested in feedback from anyone who has actually used it recently. Thanks.

I've been in a league at ESPN for 4 years. History and all that is there, which is nice. Last year they revamped the autodraft stuff to make it a lot better, and added a little more this year.

Sadly I'm not commissioner, so I can't tell you much of the backend. I know my friend that runs it has had to manual do the schedules. We have 2 divisions, 10 teams, and set it up to play everyone in your division twice, and the other 5 guys once. But ESPN randomizes it or something. He usually has me look over the schedule after he adjusts it to make sure it's right. That's the only complaint I know of from the GM.

And we just use waivers with reverse order of standings on priority. Not sure if it can do a bidding style.

Hm, checking the New in 2010 FAQ: Free Agency Auction Bidding (FAAB) is here (for ESPN Custom Leagues also!) So I guess it's there.

Not sure if there's a "tour" type option or if you just have to create a "League Manager" league and play around with it to see what you can change. It's free so I guess it wouldn't hurt.

This is my third year in a league using ESPN, but I too have never been a commissioner.

ESPN's leagues have all the bells and whistles, but their site is so bloated it's painful to use sometimes. I like the simplicity of Fleaflicker's UI a lot, but in terms of functionality I think ESPN offers everything Fleaflicker does.

I've commished at ESPN for fantasy, but it's been a few years since I did football there. I'm running a baseball league now and I don't really have any complaints other than the aforementioned UI gripes.

Thanks for the input so far. I had to create a League Manager league so we could use their Auction Draft interface for GWJFFLK so I have access to the options. It was when I noticed that they had FAAB that I started poking around. The scoring isn't quite as customizable and Ff and neither is the roster (e.g. no RB/WR/TE option). I'm in no hurry to move the other 3 conferences but I could be convinced to use ESPN for GWJFFLK so I didn't have to manually transfer rosters every year. Eh. I'll worry about it next year. Thanks again.

Grumpicus wrote:

(e.g. no RB/WR/TE option).

My league uses RB/WR spot and WR/TE spot and and OP (offensive player) spot which can be anything, including a 2nd QB.

With only 10 teams in a league the 2nd QB thing seems cool because come on there are 32 teams out there, even if everyone is playing 2 QBs that leaves 12 on the bench.

Landshrk83 wrote:

ESPN's leagues have all the bells and whistles, but their site is so bloated it's painful to use sometimes.

This. The draft room was excellent, but the league page and just getting to the league page was a big fat bloated mess. Too many ads they have to push.

The price to pay for free gaming, and up-to-the-minute stats?

Seriously a touchdown will score on my tv and before the extra point is kicked my points have all been awarded. Fun Sundays.

There's a live chat for your league too, can talk trash with your buddies across town. And a posting board tied to each game to talk during the week and afterwards. Lots of interactive fun.

Sounds like you guys love FF from previous threads though. Looking forward to comparing and contrasting my two leagues this year.

Stele wrote:

The price to pay for free gaming, and up-to-the-minute stats?

Fleaflicker has all that, plus extras like a (free) iPhone app, without the bloat.

Score updates may not be as lightning-fast instantaneous as what you describe with ESPN, but they're timely.

Yeah not knocking FF, haven't seen it in action yet. Apparently ESPN has an iPhone app too.

But do either one have an Android app? Right now just using my web browser on phone to navigate. Still not terrible, but I'm sure it could be streamlined a bit.

Stele wrote:

Yeah not knocking FF, haven't seen it in action yet. Apparently ESPN has an iPhone app too.

They do, it's just a $5 one that I've only seen people whine and complain about.

But do either one have an Android app? Right now just using my web browser on phone to navigate. Still not terrible, but I'm sure it could be streamlined a bit.

No for FF at least. But I was on an Android phone last year, and one of the big reasons I loved FF was that I could easily use the website from the browser. Nice and clean. But a mobile-specific page would still be nice, and an Android native app certainly would be even better.

So I just had my first draft of the season with a group of co-workers and I was hoping to get a quick analysis/grade on my team. We start 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1K, 1DST. Any comments are appreciated.

Starters:

Kevin Kolb (8th pick; QB's went early and fast; I think the Eagles will throw a ton as usual)

Michael Turner
(1st pick and should have a great year)

Jonathan Stewart (4th pick; best RB at the time)

Roddy White (2nd pick; solid WR with strong numbers every year)

Greg Jennings (3rd pick; should have a monster year with Rogers)

Owen Daniels (7th pick; all of my targeted TEs went immediately before me and I took Daniels even though he's hurt)

No Kicker (I opted to take an extra TE with my last pick so now I have to do an add/drop to get a K)

Saints DST (13th pick; I figure most teams will be playing from behind and be forcing throws; should be lots of INTs and sacks)

Bench (I love all of these picks and got them at a good value):

Arian Foster (5th pick)
Marion Barber (6th pick)
Johnny Knox (9th pick)
Ahman Bradshaw (10th pick)
Mike Williams (TB) (11 pick)
Derrick Mason (12th)
Zach Miller (OAK) (14th pick

93_confirmed wrote:

So I just had my first draft of the season with a group of co-workers and I was hoping to get a quick analysis/grade on my team. We start 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1K, 1DST. Any comments are appreciated. :-)

Analysis is completely dependent on league size. A champion-winning team in a 12-man league is a garbage team in an 8-player league.

Its a 12 team league with 3 divisions.

93_confirmed wrote:

Its a 12 team league with 3 divisions.

PPR? QB heavy scoring?

Landshrk83 wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:

Its a 12 team league with 3 divisions.

PPR? QB heavy scoring?

Non-PPR, standard scoring (QB get 4pts for TDs & WR/RBs get 6pts for TDs)

*relieved sigh*

Now I'm ready for some football!

karmajay wrote:

*relieved sigh*

Now I'm ready for some football!

I don't know what you're so excited about. I've already won the whole thing.

Poor Phish - Autodraft stuck him with 5 QBs and only two bench WRs.

Perhaps showing up for the draft would have been a good idea

Nightmare wrote:

Poor Phish - Autodraft stuck him with 5 QBs and only two bench WRs.

And one of those was Roy Williams, so really, only one bench WR.

Also, one of his starting receivers is currently a free agent, although Housh is bound to be a Redskin soon enough.

*Legion* wrote:
Nightmare wrote:

Poor Phish - Autodraft stuck him with 5 QBs and only two bench WRs.

And one of those was Roy Williams, so really, only one bench WR.

Also, one of his starting receivers is currently a free agent, although Housh is bound to be a Redskin soon enough.

Close... Housh is a Raven... according to Rotoworld

Dan Kelly wrote:
*Legion* wrote:
Nightmare wrote:

Poor Phish - Autodraft stuck him with 5 QBs and only two bench WRs.

And one of those was Roy Williams, so really, only one bench WR.

Also, one of his starting receivers is currently a free agent, although Housh is bound to be a Redskin soon enough.

Close... Housh is a Raven... according to Rotoworld

That sucks - my D. Mason pick now loses a lot of value.

93_confirmed wrote:
Dan Kelly wrote:

Close... Housh is a Raven... according to Rotoworld

That sucks - my D. Mason pick now loses a lot of value.

He's 36 years old now... how much value did he have?

I kid a little... had Mason a few years ago pre-Flacco and I remember being very disappointed with his projections vs performance.

Stele wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:
Dan Kelly wrote:

Close... Housh is a Raven... according to Rotoworld

That sucks - my D. Mason pick now loses a lot of value.

He's 36 years old now... how much value did he have?

I kid a little... had Mason a few years ago pre-Flacco and I remember being very disappointed with his projections vs performance.

We'll he would have been a nice value being he's my 4th receiver and I picked him up late. Pre-Housh - I thought he'd have solid numbers and decent TDs with Boldin on the opposite side and Rice catching out of the field.

Mason had about 70 catches, 1000 yards, and 7 TDs last year.

Of course, that was before Boldin unseated him as the team's top WR.

*Legion* wrote:

Mason had about 70 catches, 1000 yards, and 7 TDs last year.

Of course, that was before Boldin unseated him as the team's top WR.

I just saw that BAL traded Mark Clayton to STL. I wonder if he automatically takes the #1 spot over Laurent Robinson and if so, I think he could do well if Bradford keeps playing like he has been. Albeit it's preseason, but the dude plays like a solid QB.

He'll probably have to work at it. I mean, new playbook and all. But it all comes down to who performs, so by week 4 he might be the #1. But really, I don't think it matters. Clayton will be a starter at some point. Robinson, Clayton and Amendola in the slot is what I'm expecting.

Regardless, the Rams have a little more depth and experience now, so that's good for them, at least.

93_confirmed wrote:

I just saw that BAL traded Mark Clayton to STL. I wonder if he automatically takes the #1 spot over Laurent Robinson

Not likely. I could possibly see him playing WR2 and moving Danny Amendola to his more natural role as a slot WR.

Unless Clayton shows up to St. Louis as a completely new man. So far, his career seems destined to be "just a guy". Robinson has some potential to be more than that, though he hasn't totally lived up to it yet.