Draft Types
Shuffle, Live Online, Immediate, Slow, Offline, and Autodraft — all draft format options explained.
How It Works
The fantasy draft is the single most important event of your season-long league. It's the foundation upon which your entire team is built. During the draft, league members take turns selecting players from the available player pool to assemble their rosters. The goal is to pick a combination of players who will collectively score the most fantasy points throughout the season. A successful draft requires a blend of strategy, research, and a little bit of luck.
The process is typically organized into rounds, with each owner making one pick per round. The order of selection is determined beforehand, often through a random lottery, a manually set order by the commissioner, or based on the inverse of the previous season's standings to promote competitive balance. This turn-based selection continues until all roster spots on every team are filled, creating a unique roster for every member of the league.
Atlas Fantasy provides a comprehensive suite of draft formats designed to cater to every league’s preference and schedule. Whether your league wants the excitement of a real-time, high-pressure live draft, the flexibility of a multi-day slow draft, or the simplicity of an automated selection, our platform has a solution. Understanding the nuances of each format is key to choosing the right one for your league and preparing a winning draft strategy.
Format Types
The classic, real-time draft experience. Owners gather online at a scheduled time and make picks against a clock (e.g., 30-120 seconds).
A faster version of the live draft that begins as soon as the commissioner starts it, perfect for impromptu leagues.
A draft conducted over several days. Owners have an extended clock (e.g., 4-24 hours) per pick, allowing for deep research and flexibility.
The league drafts in person at a draft party. The commissioner then manually enters the results into the Atlas platform.
The system automatically drafts a team for an owner based on their pre-rankings or Atlas's default player rankings.
A fun, luck-based alternative where players are randomly assigned to teams instead of being picked. Great for casual or beginner leagues.
Commissioner Settings
Commissioners have extensive control over the draft process to tailor it to their league's needs:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Draft Type | Choose the primary format: Live, Slow, Offline, Shuffle, or Immediate. |
| Draft Order | Set the pick order: Snake/Serpentine, Linear, or manually configured by the commissioner. |
| Time Per Pick | Define the time limit for each selection, from 30 seconds to 24 hours. |
| Trade Draft Picks | Allow or prohibit owners from trading their draft picks before and during the draft. |
| Keeper Settings | Designate how many players can be kept from the previous season, and the rules for doing so. |
| Player Pool | Restrict the draft to specific player pools, such as rookies-only or veterans-only. |
| Draft Date & Time | Schedule the exact start time for Live and Slow drafts. |
Strategy Tips
- 1Know Your Format. A slow draft allows for deep research between picks, while a fast draft demands quick decisions and a solid pre-draft ranking queue. Adjust your preparation accordingly.
- 2Mock Draft Extensively. Practice makes perfect. Use mock drafts to test different strategies, learn player ADPs (Average Draft Position), and get comfortable with the draft interface and clock pressure.
- 3Value-Based Drafting (VBD). Don't just draft based on raw projections. Draft players who offer the most value over the next-best player at their position. This helps you build a more balanced and powerful team.
Available Sports
Season-long fantasy drafts are the cornerstone of these major sports on Atlas Fantasy: