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Drafts vs. Auctions

The added value of the salary cap system

I like auctions more than drafts. You have more control over your roster, and I like giving everyone a fair shot at the elite players. Especially with guys like Jonathan Taylor and Cooper Kupp, I would rather have them assigned to the teams willing to pay the most, rather than those who happening to hold the early draft slots.

I’ve completed a couple of “player selection meetings” in the last two weeks – one by draft, one by auction – and my player values suggest I was (as usual) able to capture more “value” in the dollar-driven format.

Both leagues have 20-man rosters and PPR scoring, with teams having the ability to start four wide receivers (there’s a flex player). Assigning my player auction values to the players I drafted, I finished with a team “worth” about $253. In a similar format my auction team grades out at $267.

I really should have finished with another $10-20 in the auction, but I was away from the bidding for much of Friday and Saturday (I blame my son – he got married on Saturday).

There is a slight difference in the two leagues. With the draft league, it’s best ball. Hence the decision to carry two kickers and two defenses. The auction league includes starting lineups and waiver moves. Hence, just one player at the two later spots. I and picked both Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams in the auction, giving me a better chance of having the next-man up in Arizona should James Conner break down.

Players selected in both leagues are tagged with black dots.

IAN'S MOST RECENT DRAFT TEAM
ValuePosTmPlayer
$23.29QBCINJoe Burrow
$1.49QBJACTrevor Lawrence
$11.34RBIND• Nyheim Hines
$7.68RBSEARashaad Penny
$7.66RBMIAChase Edmonds
$1.00RBARI• Eno Benjamin
$1.00RBMIASony Michel
$35.87TEKCTravis Kelce
$6.59TEJACEvan Engram
$5.90TEPITPat Freiermuth
$41.92WRCINJaMarr Chase
$32.87WRIND• Michael Pittman
$26.79WRHOU• Brandin Cooks
$19.27WRBUF• Gabriel Davis
$11.35WRNYG• Kadarius Toney
$10.84WRNEKendrick Bourne
$4.64KBALJustin Tucker
$1.00KPHIJake Elliott
$1.00DGBGreen Bay
$1.00DMIAMiami

To clarify on the auction roster below, the dollar figures represent the players’ values (their suggested retail price) rather than what I paid for them.

IAN'S MOST RECENT AUCTION TEAM
ValuePosTmPlayer
$29.62QBLACJustin Herbert
$13.22QBLVDerek Carr
$26.59RBARIJames Conner
$21.31RBNEDamien Harris
$11.34RBIND• Nyheim Hines
$1.00RBARI• Eno Benjamin
$1.00RBARIDarrel Williams
$5.32RBDENMelvin Gordon
$18.86TEDALDalton Schultz
$9.37TEBUFDawson Knox
$32.87WRIND• Michael Pittman
$26.79WRHOU• Brandin Cooks
$19.27WRBUF• Gabriel Davis
$16.32WRGBAllen Lazard
$11.90WRPITChase Claypool
$11.35WRNYG• Kadarius Toney
$2.26WRGBChristian Watson
$1.00WRINDParris Campbell
$3.74KLVDaniel Carlson
$3.53DBUFBuffalo

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index