Fantasy basketball auction drafts are becoming more popular every season. Unlike a snake draft, every player is available to every manager, making bidding strategy just as important as player analysis. The key is understanding fantasy basketball auction values and how they're determined so you can balance stars with sleepers and avoid overspending too early.
When combined with all the tools available with RotoWire's fantasy basketball draft kit, knowing how to apply auction values can help you build a winning roster.
What Are Fantasy Basketball Auction Values?
Fantasy basketball auction values represent the expected dollar amount that managers will spend on players during a draft. These values are estimates rooted in NBA projections and historical draft data.
Most leagues set budgets at $200, with stars like Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama often valued at a large chunk of that budget. On the other end, you'll find players valued at $1 or even $0, bench-fillers with replacement-level value unless you see them as a breakout sleeper.
Keep in mind, values fluctuate in real drafts. A bidding war can easily push a player several dollars higher than projections, especially for local favorites or hype-driven prospects.
How Are Auction Values Calculated?
Auction values are generated by weighing NBA fantasy ADP, statistical projections and your league's scoring settings. The total auction pool must account for every dollar in the league, so the top players command significant bids while role players are priced modestly.
Values also factor in expected NBA starting lineups and, in some cases, adjustments because of injuries. For example, if a star is projected to miss extended time, his value drops accordingly.
In short, auction values provide guidelines, not fixed prices, so you can budget effectively heading into draft day.
Using Auction Values in Your Draft
Auction values work best as a compass for your NBA fantasy draft, not a rulebook. Here's how to use them:
- Stick to ranges, not absolutes. If you love a player and he fits your team, it's fine to bid a few dollars over his listed value.
- Balance stars and depth. Overspending on one superstar forces you to fill the rest of your roster with $1 players.
- Target bargains. Look for players projected at $10-$15 who may outperform expectations, giving you more value for less money.
Having an NBA fantasy draft cheat sheet at your side helps you quickly adapt when bidding runs hotter or colder than expected.
Tips for Maximizing Auction Value in Fantasy Basketball
Every auction draft plays out differently, but these strategies consistently give managers an edge:
- Nominate players you don't want. Force other managers to drain their budgets early on players you have no intention of drafting.
- Track your dollars. If your top targets go for less than expected, you can redistribute savings toward mid-tier players. If you overpay, you'll need to find more $1 role players.
- Watch for injured bargains. Players on the NBA injury report often slide in value, creating buy-low opportunities.
- Stay active. Unlike snake drafts, there's no downtime, you need to pay attention to every nomination and bid.
Get the Edge with RotoWire
Auction drafts demand preparation, quick thinking and constant adjustment. With RotoWire's tools, including our fantasy basketball rankings, real-time lineups, customizable projections and advanced draft software, you'll always be a step ahead of your league.
For the ultimate advantage on draft day, don't just prepare, subscribe to RotoWire and access every tool, cheat sheet and projection you'll need to dominate your league.
