Originally Posted by verbaljitsu
It is hard to explain sound Auction strategy, because ideally it is fluid and responsive to what is going on. Basically, you need to pick between one of two general strategies.
Strategy 1: Studs
In this strategy, you try to get the expensive studs and go thin on your bench. Depending on your league rules, this can be suicide. The pros of this strategy are you will have a baller starting lineup. You will probably be a top team for the first 2-3 weeks before byes and injuries take tolls. You also have sexy trade bait. Cons are you have no depth unless you get lucky on your "darts" (late round/low value players who blow up).
Strategy 2: Go deep
This strategy is all about building depth. Instead of trying to nab 2 or 3 guys who would be 1st round picks in a snake format, you are trying to grab a couple second rounders, two or three third rounders, etc.
This is the strategy I generally use, and it tends to pay off, but you have to have the fortitude to know your team is going to look a little boring and that it is ok.
Tactics:
1. early in the draft, nominate high-demand players you dont want, so other people spend some of their money.
2. Don't be one of the last couple of people to take a player at a position. If six of the teams in your draft have an RB1, you need to go get one. If you wait much longer, you will pay a premium.
3. If you are targeting a receiver that is widely considered the 4th best receiver by the common fantasy rankers, the best time to nominate him is after the top two receivers are gone, but before the third is. It is weird how people are affected psychologically by the players that are on the board. You will pay less for AJ Green if Megatron and Marshall are gone, but Dez and Julio are still on the board. That guy who made the last bid for $27, won't get to $29 a lot of times because he thinks he will just get Dez instead.
4. Use the power of 9's where it makes sense. If you are nominating a player you want, put pressure on the person who will make the first bid. Adrian Peterson has been going for 50+ in drafts I'm doing. If you really want him, make the opening bid $49. This is even easier to do on the second level receivers. Victor Cruz, opening bid $19. This also works with 4's to a lesser extent. Wes Welker $14.
5. If using draft software, type in your bid instead of pushing the "increase by $1" button. People get screwed frequently when someone jumps the bid.
6. The best tactic is to have your values figured out before hand, and roughly stick to them. You can vary by as much as 20% on some players, but try to stay within 10%. Check your sites ADP/AAV, they all publish them.
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