Handling FAAB Bids During Bye Weeks In 2011

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:04 am

I'm obviously in the minority here, but I prefer the two FAAB dates, both Wednesday and Friday.

I hear what everyone says and I agree with Wayne. FAAB is my least favorite part of the game, also because of the the huge time commitment needed when you play numerous leagues. (Wayne, you should try baseball. FAAB is even more brutal there.)

However, I play in another football contest that has two FAAB periods. It really doesn't add any time. The Wednesday FAAB period is where all the heavy bidding on breakout players takes place and is where the time is spent. By the Friday period, any decent free agent has already been gobbled up and that FAAB date is usually just utilized for late breaking injury news.

Also we should remember, we're only talking about 4 weeks of the season where this situation takes place.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:26 am

These are all great points and obviously no setup is going to please EVERYONE. But I want to hear from the folks who have to spend the time on these moves and make the best possible decision for the players. I'll also ask STATS about a Wednesday FAAB deadline that only affects the two Thursday teams while still keeping FAAB on Fridays for all 30 other teams. I'm not sure that can be done, but that is one simple solution and really wouldn't add much time for owners.

All good ideas and keep 'em coming. I'm sure we can find common ground. After all, we're fantasy players not politicians. It's not like we're shutting down the government!!

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:49 am

There are downsides to all three of the options but in my opinion the high stakes leagues should do all they can to make sure every contestant has the best chance posible to field the best team possible each and every week.

IMHO, that would mean having two periods in each of those weeks.

Those Thursday games could offer FA fodder that some of us might need or covet to cover bye week issues or for injury related roster moves that go far beyond the kicker position. Why eliminate that pool of players and handcuff a team when you are playing at this level.

I believe in the KISS concept but this is not a home league, this is supposed to be the best of the best and they deserve to have every tool available to play.

Not having enough information to make these decisions on Wednesday? It is the same for every player.

Too many trams to manage two periods each week is a concern because this level of fantasy player probably does have numerous teams but something tells me folks will adjust.

Two FAAB periods in each of those weeks can also add another level of strategy to the mix. More periods means that you have to manage your time and funds better.

My vote would be for two FAAB periods.

pmfarley21 · Post by **pmfarley21** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:00 am

I would definitely vote for just 1 FAAB period per week, but I don't particularly care if it is just Fridays or if it is the same as last season. I feel like having 2 FAAB periods makes the contest less skills-based and more opportunity-based, because some of us struggle to have the time to sift through 2 FAAB pools. I think if we are concerned about injuries affecting outcomes, that should be something that a good owner plans for well in advance, not just a few days before any given week. That involves placing a certain amount of risk in roster construction, and to me, that is all a part of the fun and strategy of the contest.

RedRyder · Post by **RedRyder** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:01 am

I'm on the two FAAB periods side and agree with Glenn & Rob's post. I've taken a doughnut from a kicker because of a hurricane, every point is important to me, thus I want the scenario that gives me the best shot at putting points on the board.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:32 am

Wednesday pickups ONLY for players playing in a Thursday game (players cut cannot be picked up until the following week)

Friday pickups for everyone else (players from the Thursday game(s) can't be picked up until the following week)

Best of both worlds. Done, and done.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:03 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:
Wednesday pickups ONLY for players playing in a Thursday game (players cut cannot be picked up until the following week)

Friday pickups for everyone else (players from the Thursday game(s) can't be picked up until the following week)

Best of both worlds. Done, and done. I would think that if this is doable from a programming standpoint it would be the best of both worlds for fantasy players. They would still have much of a full week to know injury updates and make their bids on 93.75% of all players and if they needed a player for the Thursday game they'd still have time to make that pickup. And I think we all agree that spending a few minutes to know the FAs available just for Wednesday wouldn't take that much extra time during the week.

I haven't talked with the IT department about this, but this seems like a winner if we can do it. That keeps the Friday FAAB deadline intact year-round yet covers the Thursday games for the last four weeks of FAAB. It's two FAAB deadlines but not two COMPLETE FAAB deadlines. Agreed?

Coltsfan · Post by **Coltsfan** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:38 am

Jules,

If I remember right the week that Kris Brown didn't play was early in the season when waivers were done on Friday. I remember it very well because I took a zero with Kris Brown and with Matt Schaub because the only other QB on my roster was his backup.

Rob,

The information available on Wednesday is definitely the same for every player. But my point is that if you have better information you can make a better decision. And if you can make a better decision you eliminate some of the luck. I see people pick up what ends up being impact players because they bid $1 on someone who comes out of the woodwork on Thursday or Friday and ends up starting. This isn't great foresight for the person making the bid - it's a shot in the dark. If that person is announced as the starter then everyone knows what they are bidding on.

I'm all for minimizing luck in these contests and I really feel that waiting until Friday helps minimize the luck. I can't think of anything that is gained by having it on Wednesday.

Wayne

RedRyder · Post by **RedRyder** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:40 am

Wayne,

A zero is a zero anyway you slice. Some zeroes are easier to swallow then others though. Losing my kicker because he gets hurt Tuesday in practice before his Thursday night game AND there is no FAAB on Wednesday, well, that would be a hard nut to swallow.

-Jules

Coltsfan · Post by **Coltsfan** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:24 am

Originally posted by RedRyder:
Wayne,

A zero is a zero anyway you slice. Some zeroes are easier to swallow then others though. Losing my kicker because he gets hurt Tuesday in practice before his Thursday night game AND there is no FAAB on Wednesday, well, that would be a hard nut to swallow.

-Jules I agree Jules but I just meant that the waiver wire didn't really matter in that case. In fact, the later the FAAB, the less chance there is at taking a zero.

Wayne