What is a slow auction draft in fantasy football?

A slow auction draft is an auction-format draft that runs over days or weeks instead of a single live session. Players are nominated in rotation, bids are placed asynchronously using proxy bidding, and each auction has an independent timer. When the timer expires, the highest bidder wins the player.

How long does a slow auction draft take?

Most slow auction drafts on League Tycoon complete in 1-3 weeks, depending on league size, timer settings, and how active the league is. With up to 20 simultaneous nominations, the draft stays moving even with longer timers.

What are the default timer settings?

Nomination clock: 12 hours (time to nominate a player when it is your turn). Initial bid timer: 24 hours (how long the first auction runs). Bid reset timer: 16 hours (how much time is added when a team is outbid, for anti-sniping). All three are configurable by the commissioner.

What is proxy bidding?

Proxy bidding lets you set a maximum bid for a player. The system automatically bids the minimum necessary to keep you in the lead, up to your max. Other teams only see the current winning bid, not your maximum. You can raise your max at any time, or lower it down to the current winning bid amount.

How does anti-sniping work?

When a team is outbid, the auction timer extends by the bid reset duration (default 16 hours). This prevents last-second sniping by ensuring every outbid team has time to respond. The timer only extends when a new team takes the lead, not when the current high bidder raises their own max.

Can multiple players be auctioned at the same time?

Yes. League Tycoon supports up to 20 simultaneous active nominations by default. This keeps the draft moving and creates strategic decisions about how to allocate your budget across multiple auctions at once.

Can I set a nightly pause so the draft doesn't run at 3 AM?

Yes. Commissioners can set a pause time and resume time for the draft. When paused, nomination clocks and auction timers freeze. This lets leagues run drafts during reasonable hours without anyone missing activity overnight.

Guide

Slow auction drafts for dynasty leagues

Q: How is slow contract bidding different from slow auction?

Slow contract bidding is an optional draft format available in contract dynasty leagues. It works the same way as slow auction (nominations, proxy bidding, anti-sniping), but adds contract length to every bid. Instead of bidding just a salary, you bid with a salary and a contract length (1-5 years). Longer contracts come with a per-year discount, so you pay less per year for a longer commitment. Discounts are configurable by the commissioner.

Traditional live auctions require every owner to be online for 3-4 hours straight. For dynasty leagues with busy adults across different time zones, slow auction drafts are a better answer. They run over days or weeks, with up to 20 players auctioned simultaneously, and every bid is placed on your own schedule from the app or the web.

Default timer settings

Nomination Clock

12 hours

Initial Bid Timer

24 hours

Bid Reset (Anti-Snipe)

16 hours

Max Active Nominations

Must Fill Roster

Yes (default)

Nightly Pause

Optional

All settings are configurable by the commissioner.

How the slow auction draft works

1
Nomination. Teams nominate players in draft-order rotation. When it is your turn, you have 12 hours (default) to nominate a player and set your opening max bid. Up to 20 nominations can be active simultaneously. If the limit is reached, the next nomination waits until one auction closes.
2
Bidding. Once a player is nominated, all teams can bid. Each auction runs on its own independent timer, starting at 24 hours (default). Bidding uses a proxy system: you set your maximum, and the platform bids the minimum necessary to keep you ahead. Other teams only see the current winning bid, not your max.
3
Anti-sniping. When a team is outbid, the auction timer extends by 16 hours (default). This prevents last-second sniping and ensures every outbid team has time to respond. The timer only extends when a new team takes the lead, not when the current high bidder adjusts their own max.
4
Winning. When the timer expires, the high bidder wins the player at their bid price. The winning bid becomes the player's salary for the season.
5
Completion. The draft continues until all rosters are filled. With "must fill roster" enabled (the default), teams are required to have enough budget remaining to fill all open roster spots at minimum salary, so no team can spend everything and leave empty slots.

Proxy bidding

Proxy bidding is the core mechanic that makes slow auctions practical. Instead of watching every auction in real time, you set your maximum bid and walk away.

How it works

You enter your maximum bid for a player. The system places a bid at the minimum amount needed to lead the auction. If another team bids, the system automatically raises your bid (up to your max) without you needing to be online.

What other teams see

Other teams see the current winning bid, not your maximum. If your max is $50 and the current bid is $22, other teams see $22. They do not know how much room you have left.

Adjusting your max

You can raise your max bid at any time. You can also lower it, but not below the current winning bid amount. If you are the high bidder at $22 with a max of $50, you could lower your max to $22 but not remove your bid entirely.

Tied bids

If two teams set the same max, the team that bid first wins at that amount.

Slow contract bidding for contract dynasty leagues

Contract dynasty leagues have the option of using a separate draft format called slow contract bidding. It works the same way as a slow auction (nominations, proxy bidding, anti-sniping timers), but adds contract length to every bid. Instead of bidding just a salary, you bid with a salary and a contract length. Contract leagues can also use the standard auction or slow auction formats.

Longer contracts come with a per-year discount, meaning you pay less per year for a longer commitment but take on more total cap obligation. The default discounts are 8% for 2-year, 16% for 3-year, 24% for 4-year, and 32% for 5-year contracts. Discounts are configurable by the commissioner.

Full guide to contract bidding with bidding playground →

Nightly pause and draft schedule

Commissioners can set a nightly pause window so the draft does not run while everyone is sleeping. When paused, all nomination clocks and auction timers freeze. When the draft resumes, timers pick up where they left off. This lets leagues run drafts during reasonable hours without anyone missing activity overnight or over the weekend.

Why slow auctions work for dynasty leagues

Schedule flexibility

No need to find a 4-hour window that works for 10-14 busy adults. Everyone bids when it fits their day.

Better decisions

More time to think means better budget management. Less panic bidding in a live environment.

Time zone friendly

League mates across the country or internationally can all participate fully on their own schedule.

Extended engagement

Instead of one big day, the draft creates a week or more of ongoing league conversation and strategy.

20 auctions at once

With 20 simultaneous nominations, the draft stays active and creates strategic tension around budget allocation.

Mobile-friendly

Place bids from your phone between meetings, during lunch, or from the couch. The draft comes to you.