Chances are, you’ve already drafted (or at least mock drafted) a few times this year, and might have another scheduled before the season starts. But when it comes to making your own league – or which one is really the best – this is a debate that may never truly be solved.
Which is better for fantasy football: The traditional snake draft, or new up-and-comer auction format?
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each. Note: Keeper leagues add a whole new dimension to the game; in the interest of keeping this simple, I’m ignoring keeper leagues. Feel free to add comments below as to your thoughts!
Snake: The traditional, tried-and-true method. Usually, a computer randomizes the draft order an hour prior to the beginning of the draft, and then it’s all a matter of who’s available on the board when it’s your turn. (It’s often funny seeing which position becomes the ‘preferred’ spot to be in, depending on how many must-haves are available: Some years you absolutely want to be first, others fourth, and in 2011, fifth wasn’t a terrible position, either.)
It’s simple, straightforward, and the only thinking you have to do in-draft is: Who do I want, and will he still be there when it’s my turn?
However, there is no flexibility – if you get stuck with the last pick in the first round, then you’ll be waiting awhile. Plus, you already know you won’t get a top running back, because everyone else will get them. In fact, there’s always a wait for your next pick, no matter what position you get. That can really kill the mood when you’re choosing between Lee Evans or A.J. Green for a bench spot late in the draft.
Auction: The challenger, one becoming steadily more popular on ESPN.com as The Talented Mr. Roto, Matthew Berry, keeps plugging it. Each team starts with the same set budget (often $200, but it can vary) and is allowed to spend it as he sees fit. One by one, owners nominate a player – any player – and the bidding wars begin.
The nice thing is an aspect of fairness – if you have the money and want a player bad enough, just spend the most. Plain and simple. Each owner has a chance at every player, provided he has the available budget remaining. Do you want Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles? It’s possible. Looking to stack your team at WR? If you’re willing to pay, then you can do it. Just as long as you don’t let yourself get outbid, that is.
It’s also fast paced at times: Who doesn’t want a chance at Drew Brees, or Calvin Johnson? The bidding can be fast and furious, and even those who want no part of a player can watch the price skyrocket, and see an opposing owner’s budget sharply drop.
The problems are two-fold, however: Auction drafts take much longer, and it can get extremely complicated balancing a budget and keeping up with everyone else. Toss in the possibility of owners nominating kickers, defenses, and players nobody else is interested in, and the draft can become tedious at times.
The verdict: It’s really up to each person, though the prospect on having everyone on an equal playing field come draft day is what tilts the tables for me. Hey, there’s mock draft lobbies everywhere – if you don’t know how to auction draft, you can always find out for free and on your own time! But for those who like it simple, the snake draft will likely always be around, and the strategies of guessing who will be gone by the time your next pick comes up is fun in itself.
In the end, as long as you and your league have fun, then that’s a win in everyone’s book.