For fantasy football managers who want more control building their teams than they might get with a draft, auction formats are the way to go. The most common format features a $200 budget for a 20-man roster in 12-team leagues. Each team will start a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, a kicker and a defense. Flex position (RB/WR/TE) is the standard in the high-stakes market. The most progressive formats offer two flex spots instead of three wideouts. By using this setup, a team has a better chance of covering an injury at wide receiver with their running back depth or even a second viable tight end.
Game plan
The first order of business is developing a plan for your team structure. One decision is whether to invest the bulk of your budget into your starting lineup or build a core of players while saving enough money to secure multiple bench players with upside.
