FanBall Daily Fantasy Auction Strategy Guide
Editor’s Note: Get an exclusive RotoGrinders Deposit bonus of $20 when you sign up and deposit using this link!
Move over DraftKings and FanDuel, there’s a new game in town!
Although the two DFS giants frequently introduce new game formats, it’s upstart company Fanball that recently unveiled an original game concept melding a traditional year-long format with daily fantasy: Fanball Auctions. Billed as a new way to play daily fantasy, Fanball Auctions are fun, fast and furious!
It’s definitely worth your time to try out a Fanball Auction or two, but first here’s a rundown on the rules, strategy and auction experience.
Fanball Daily Fantasy Auction Rules
The best way to describe Fanball Auctions to those already familiar with DFS is to say they’re similar to five or ten man DK or FD “cash” games, where the top two or three positions are paid out. Also very similar in concept to a sit-and-go (SNG), for those familiar with poker. Where things differ for Fanball Auctions, of course, is the way rosters are constructed. Here’s a snapshot of the Fanball Auction rules as listed on the Fanball site:
To say that Fanball Auctions are fast-paced is a bit of an understatement. I joined a Fanball Auction without really taking a close look at the rules, thinking an auction, is an auction, is an auction. But I was wrong. I felt like I was multi-tabling four SNGs, not doing one auction draft.
The initial concept is simple enough. Fanball Auctions run as soon as they fill, which is once a sixth player has joined the contest. From there, each team drafts a six player roster, made up of a QB, two RBs, two WRs and a TE.
The two things I did not realize before the draft client opened were that a) all six team owners would be simultaneously bidding on four automatically nominated players at the same time. And b) that the player-pool would be a fairly random group of 36-players, with a small percentage of elite options.
Here’s what it looks like once the draft kicks off:
The main takeaway from the Fanball Auction game rules, especially for first-timers, is to be aware that you’ll have to bid and keep tabs on four players at the same time. You also don’t get to nominate players, so the tried-and-tested auction strategy of nominating popular players in hopes of having your opponents overspend doesn’t work in Fanball Auctions.
Fanball Auction Strategy
Step one of playing a new game is always to read the rules and get a good understanding of the format before you dive in. I didn’t do that, but I was playing a free test version of Fanball Auctions and wanted to jump into it as quickly as possible.
There are few very good ways to prepare for Fanball Auctions. The first step, and this is true of any format, is to get a handle on the best players of the week from a fantasy perspective. You will have zero time to check rankings or even glance at a cheatsheet during a Fanball Auction, so all you’ll have to go on is what you already know.
The second thing is easier said than done, but being prepared to process the 36-player pool as fast as humanly possible will give you a significant edge. There are likely to be 3-4 elite options, and if you don’t get at least one of them, you’re probably in trouble.
You will have a few minutes to analyze the player pool, so use the time wisely. Jot down a couple of tiers, and a loose budget structure for your team. I can tell you from my one Fanball Auction experience that you will want to spend a good chunk of change on an elite running back since, like in many fantasy formats, bellcow RBs are the most reliable at delivering winning performances.
Speaking of winning performances, here’s a look at the Fanball Auction scoring system:
The one caveat for the Fanball Auction bonus points is that the bonuses for passing, rushing and receiving are only awarded once. For example, a receiver with 155 yards will only get 3 bonus points for yards between 150 – 199, they will not get the 2 bonus points for yards between 100 – 149.
The last shred of advice I’ve got for you is to make sure you do a Fanball Auction when you know you have 10 minutes to give it your full, 100% focus. Don’t attempt to do a Fanball Auction while you’re making dinner or watching TV. You will lose, I promise you that. Your focus can be a significant edge, so make sure you aren’t distracted.
Fanball Auction Experience
Overall, my experience with Fanball was exceptional. I’ve had a LeagueSafe account for years, and since Fanball is part of the SportsHub Games Network, I was able to login with that account. Fanball needed to verify my identity before my account was activated, and I was able to do that through support in about 20 minutes.
The player experience of a Fanball Auction is fun, exciting and perhaps most relevant, fresh. There is also a significant edge to be had if you’re more prepared than your opponents, which is always a nice bonus.
If you’re looking for a new daily fantasy sports experience, I highly recommend trying a Fanball Auction draft!