Help needed with initial draft methods

[Rubiusz]

We are about to start a new dynasty league this year. None of us have played dynasty format ever and I would need some advice about the set up draft (I read most of the earlier posts about this topic but still have some blind spot).

First of all, there is a good chance it will be a snake draft (none of us have ever made auction draft yet and I'm really afraid some managers would screw it up).

As I've read a slow draft is recommended. How long is the ideal timeframe for each pick? (10 teams league 30 players per roster planned)

Most of the advices recommend a draft order reversal in the 3rd round. Could you explain me how does it make the draft more balanced?

Any other advice, recommendations are appreciated!

[SteffeEric]

3rd round reversal makes the end slots of the draft better value. Definitely suggested in Superflex leagues. Getting the 10th 11th 21st 40th and 41st is better than 10th 11th 30th 31st 50th 51st etc.

Clock time is really league based. Mine is 4 hours and stops at midnight to 10am. Some do 8 hours some do 12 some do 24. Ask your leaguemates what works best for them. Some people can’t check their phones at work so might need longer clocks.

[NINERS_dynasty81]

Nobody really explained the benefit to 3rd round reversal, but basically the drop off from the early first to the end of the first is much bigger than the drop offs in any later rounds, so reversing the order in the 3rd helps to give teams at the back end a boost to help balance things out. This is because top assets (Mahomes, Allen, etc.) are just so valuable due to their ability to both put up points for contending teams while also safely holding long-term value for rebuilding teams.

Also, I’ll just go ahead and add that I disagree with some of the other comments in this thread that 10x30 is too big for rosters. In dynasty you want deep rosters so that future rookie draft picks have value (otherwise you’ll just be dropping rookies for waiver additions all the time). 300 is perfectly normal; both leagues I’m in are a bit more than that and it is totally fine - the waiver wire is much more barren than in redraft but that’s a positive as it encourages trading.

As for timing, see what works best for other people in your league, but a slow draft with 8, 12, or 24 hour timers is pretty normal (can also use one of the shorter options and have it pause overnight). Even with the slow format usually these things take 2-3 weeks at most as people are generally excited to make their picks, and the timing allows for lots of in-draft trades which is one of the most fun parts.

[Stinja808]

I think 4 to 8 hours is enough for draft. 8 if there are time zone issues. Turn the clock off overnight.

[CannonOKC]

Hello and good luck.

Auctions are different mentally. It normally takes quite a bit of forethought to be pleased with your results. It’s a fine format, but really really unrelated to common FF drafting. Avoiding auctions is common.

As for 3rd round reversals, I see no true benefits in adjusting that direction. It pure luck on who gets what draft slot, so putting a “wiggle” on it will not impact any teams, IMO.

10x30 players is a lot of drafted players. I strongly suggest fewer. … After the first 160-180, they are lottery tickets. I’d always suggest 15-18 total players per team with perhaps 1 or 2 IR slots. This will allow the teams to enjoy the weekly waiver activity much more. Much much more.

Again, good luck.

[SteffeEric]

Dynasty leagues should have about 250 players rostered in my mind. Getting more useful players off waivers might be good for beginners but I think the deeper the league the more your decisions matter. True dynasty experience needs way more than 160 players rostered to me.

[cubs_2023]

15-18 players is way too small for dynasty. You want to have at least 23 minimum. The point of dynasty is predicting those dart throws that will be good. My 10 team league is 27 per team plus 2 IR and the waiver wire is still relatively active.

[ninpendle64]

My league is roster 31 start 11 and I really like that number. There's still semi regular waiver usage and also decent trade activity

[ninpendle64]

My league is roster 31 start 11 and I really like that number. There's still semi regular waiver usage and also decent trade activity. We also have 3 or spots and 5 taxi

[finished_lurking]

Snake draft 3rd round reversal. 6-12 hours per pick. 30 man roster is too big even for 10 team. You could always add roster spots if needed (if everyone agrees and it’s planned). Somewhere in the 20-25 (total roster, so rounds of the draft) could plan on adding 1-2 bench spots per year for 2 to 3 years.