Commish 101: Roster Sizes and Draft Options

Coin Flip

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Kids say the funniest things.  I shared this story with friends a couple years back.  My five year old nephew (at the time) knows I love football in every form.  He hears me talk with his father about players, games and more players and games.  One Sunday he comes up to me and says “Why do you love fancy football so much?”  What he meant to say was “fantasy,” but what he heard was fancy football.

Whether you are a first time commissioner or a seasoned one you do not have to get “fancy” in your fantasy league setups.  I would like to share ideas on roster size and draft choices – these are set early on to help you have a successful start to your league.

Roster Sizes

In the following discussions keep in mind I will be focused on the standard Non-IDP (individual defensive players) league format.  A starting lineup would be 1QB, 2RBs, 3WRs, 1TE, 1K and 1Def with 2 flex players being (RB,WR or TE).  This also would be a 12 owner league.  If you would like assistance on a 10, 14 or 16 owner league please contact me on twitter @Coinflip22 or email at [email protected].

Redraft Leagues

These often carry a roster size of 20 players. This is an area where the type of league can depend on what you feel is a perfect amount.  A roster size set at 20 is common when your league requires you to start a kicker and a defense.  I do not suggest carrying more than one kicker or defense in a redraft league.  If you agree with this thought process it allows 18 skill players to use weekly in your starting lineups.   This roster size will allow for depth during bye weeks or times a weekly starter may sit due to an injury.  An owner will not feel the injured player or bye week player has to be dropped into the free agency pool. The player can simply remain on your roster until needed.  This roster size allows a small free agency pool should you need to replace an injured player due to injury.  If you prefer a more active waiver wire, you may want to target a smaller roster limit of 16 or 18 spots.

Dynasty Leagues

[inlinead]Dynasty formats tend to have larger roster sizes. The deeper the league rosters, the more “homework” owners will do to begin and maintain their rosters.  If they do not, they will soon figure out how small the free agency pool of players will be.  Dynasty leagues seem to have a wide variety of roster sizes.  There does not seem to be a “one size fits all” number.  If you would like your league to be more active in trading you will want larger rosters.  This will cause a limited number of players on the waiver wire and/or free agency and encourages a team to fix a weak area on their roster by engaging in a trade.  If you prefer to target this type of activity, I would suggest roster sizes no smaller than 26 per team.  For a beginning league with a new commissioner, 24 can be considered a nice balance.  You can choose to have an off-season roster limit vs. an in-season roster limit to allow time for owners to evaluate their players value.

Draftmaster Leagues

These usually carry a higher roster limit allowing for injuries and byes throughout the year.  This type of league is also known as “best ball “ or “draft and go leagues.”  You merely draft the roster at the beginning of the year and the software system sets your lineup based on highest players scored in each position weekly.  This does not allow for owner participation once the draft is complete.  Allowing a 24 or 26 roster size could help a team stay competitive throughout the season, whereas as a smaller roster size will make a team feel the pain if they sustain even one major injury.  I do recommend owning more than one kicker and defense in these types of leagues.

 

Auction leagues

These types of leagues can follow the same thought process as a redraft or dynasty when determining roster sizes.  For example, the auction league I run is set to purchase 20 players.  The auction mimics a redraft style.  We do not keep players from year to year. If you plan to operate your league similar to a dynasty league, once the auction is complete, you will want larger rosters.

 

Keeper Leagues

These also have smaller rosters from what I have seen through my experiences.   Keeper leagues may allow you to hold three players from the previous year.  A draft is used to obtain the remainder of your roster and may be limited to 18 players.  If you plan to allow a larger number of keeper players (not as many as a dynasty but more than three) you may want to choose a larger roster size.  A higher roster limit of 20 or 22 may be ideal.

 

Types of Drafts

 

There are many options when deciding how your league will obtain a roster.  Common types of drafts are serpentine, 3RR and auctions.

 

Serpentine or Snake Draft

 

In a serpentine draft the first round is set by a randomizer or determined order your league agrees upon.  Each successive round of the draft is the opposite order of the prior round known as snaking back.  This continues throughout the draft.

 

Auction

 

Each owner receives an auction budget.  You will purchase players in a bidding format.  When you are the highest bidder on the player he will be added to your roster.  Purchasing players continues until your roster requirements are met.  There are soft and hard cap auctions as well as proxy or non- proxy style auctions.  I will expand on this during a future article.

 

3RR or Third Round Reversal

 

The third round reversal draft was meant to correct any advantages a serpentine draft provided.  It is meant to even out the draft pick values by adding a twist to the third round of a serpentine draft.  It allows owners at the end of the first round to pick early in the second and again in the third round.  The value of each slot is thought to be evened out.  The remainder of the draft continues in a serpentine format.

Remember future commissioners, you do not need “fancy” settings to run an amazing league!

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