One of the most intriguing events at the World Championship of Fantasy Football “WCOFF” is known as the GridIron League. This league, introduced to the WCOFF in 2007 by WCOFF participant and fantasy sports expert Perry Van Hook, is like nothing you have ever competed in previously.
The magic potion that makes the GridIron League so special consists of 2 parts auction and 18 parts draft. That is, the league format is auction for the first two rounds followed by 18 rounds of serpentine draft. Making this format even more intriguing, the owners are using real dollars in the auction. The order of selection in the first round becomes the basis for the serpentine draft beginning in round 3. Additionally, the owners have up to $1,000 of free agent money (also real dollars) to acquire free agents throughout the season.
The draft process may be unique, but so is the prize structure. The real dollars used for the auction and waiver wire are put into a weekly prize pool that is paid out equally to the winners of each week. The highest scoring team in Week 4 wins 1/17th of the weekly prize pool, and so on. In addition to weekly prizes, owners are competing for a $10,000 overall league award. Teams are divided into 3 divisions of 4 teams each. A franchise plays the other teams in its league twice, while playing all other teams once for a 14-week regular season. After 14 weeks, the teams with the top 2 records and top 2 scoring teams qualify for a two week playoff to crown the league champion.
The GridIron League's format in auctioning off the draft slots not only provides the funds for the weekly high score prizes, but offers the participants tremendous strategy in determining their draft slots for the first three rounds, said Perry Van Hook."
This format allows an owner to choose from a variety of strategic approaches:
a) The front-runner – top picks in the first, second and third rounds create a loaded offensive roster. Obviously this approach will be more expensive than a more conservative tact, but if drafted properly this team should be a contender each week.
b) The economical approach – spending as little money as possible in the first two rounds will be a handicap to this team. However, if this team can find its way to win a week or two it will likely prove to be a profitable season.
c) The value seeker – this team will look for value wherever it can be found in the first two rounds. This team will likely be feast or famine ending up as either a disappointment or surprise contender for the crown.
d) The unknown – this league is new and there are new approaches still to be discovered. Show us what you got!
The entry fee for this league is $2,000, not including any funds used for the auction portion of the draft and waiver wire. More information about the GridIron League can be found at http://www.wcoff.com/. Register and reserve your spot today in the most unique league in the World Championship of Fantasy Football.
