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Tip Drill: Revisiting the Draft vs. Auction debate

The perfect sandwich, the perfect cocktail, the perfect design of a fantasy league, there are no obvious answers. These sorts of things are constantly debated and argued, with a consensus unlikely to be reached. One person’s mistake is another person’s perfect mix. (You really like mayo? Get the hell out of my kitchen.)

On my fantasy clipboard, there’s certainly room for both of the major formats – but I decisively prefer the auction game when push comes to shove. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with me, of course. Some of my oldest friends don’t agree with me.

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To start off today’s debate, I’ve collected some reasons why you might prefer a Fantasy Draft or a Fantasy Auction. Sure, the auction section is longer. I can’t help what I love, what I prefer. I want you to love auctions, too. I want you to carry a gavel everywhere you go.

Why you might prefer a Fantasy Draft 

- They’re unquestionably shorter than an auction, anywhere from 30 percent to 70 percent shorter (depending on the specs of your room). In a world where everyone is busy, this is not an insignificant point.

- It’s the format most people grew up playing. It’s the known format.

- It’s less intimidating to new owners. It's simpler.

- It’s more user-friendly if someone gets bumped offline. Assuming the bumped party has a queue arranged, they’ll get players they want. I’ve yet to see a strong artificial intelligence offered by any auction software  the game is too dynamic to get it just right.

- The pricing is more likely to make sense in a draft room. This is not necessarily an argument I care very much about, but it’s been mentioned by people I respect.

Why you might prefer a Fantasy Auction 

- Anyone can land Mike Trout, or Clayton Kershaw, or Andrew McCutchen. Heck, you could roster all three of them if you’re willing to accept scrambling elsewhere. The entire player pool is open to you.

You have significantly more structuring options at your disposal. You decide how you want to arrange the flow of your payroll. No one can run a stars-and-scrubs plan in a competitive draft, but it’s on board for an auction. More choices, more fun.

- You potentially have a say on every player who’s on board. Contrast this to a draft, where owners in different neighborhoods have little influence on each other’s decisions. You're truly opposing everyone in the room, directly.

You constantly need to monitor the resources of other owners, trying to get into their heads a bit as the evening moves on. You’re being challenged at the poker table. These elements exists in drafts, too, but to a far simpler degree.

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- The flow of players can come out in any order. Have some fun with it. Nominate a popular closing handcuff before the incumbent closer. Get a hot sleeper on the table when people still have money. Play a game of chicken late, hoping your final targeted piece won’t be mentioned until the room’s financial structure is in your favor.

You have more opportunity to mess with your opponents. Bid someone up just for the fun of it. Of course if you take it one step too far and get left holding the bag, it can knock you off your game for a while.

- If you’re out of leverage late, you have to play a delicate guessing game with the burden of nomination. Propose a weak player and you’re likely stuck with him for the minimum. Select a bigger name and watch those with resources trample your bid. Can you find the right pocket of name when you’re tied to this position? Challenge is good.

- An auction will scramble your brain, and I say that in a good way. I’ve never walked out of any auction without notable regret, and a feeling that I probably missed out on several good pockets of opportunity. Again, these are things you’ll get from the draft, but it’s to a lesser extent.

Start your engines, gamers. Name your preferred format in the comments. Fill in the draft gaps that you feel I missed, or accept the inevitable  auctions are the best way to do business.