CFM tip for acquiring draft picks.

[Trelocke]

This is something I do in my owner sim league a lot, but works well with any league where you run practices diligently. Find a young, good sized RB (230lbs or so) with meh speed (85 or there-abouts) in the draft or off-season FA. Overall doesn't matter. Change his position to FB. Spend the entire season sinking XP into his awareness, run blocking and impact blocking. Add to trade block. Profit. I've started with one as low as 45 overall and had him at 87 by the end of the playoffs. The speed coupled with good size seems to be the most important thing. I've done this with regular FBs that started much higher OVR and were barely low 80s by the end of the season and I've done it with smaller RBs that also barely get to 80s. Nothing else seems to matter much, even if the RBL and/or IBL are really, really low. Their cost doesn't increase until mid-60s so it's really cheap and quick to raise them even if they start super low. If they start with decent pass blocking it's a bonus but still not necessary and really easy to raise to a respectable level.

Once you have created your own FB like this (he'll easily be a 99 OVR in your second season), do it every year with another RB. I always get several offers, with a few 3rd round offers and usually a couple of 2nd round offers. Easy way to collect a decent draft pick that you can then use to keep your team young or as added trade bait to get those players you want from other teams.

[hoopvillian]

Thanks for the tip. Not a bad idea to keep a good blocker for yourself too.

I've been waiting for a good thread to discuss all the best and different ways of acquiring picks.

[Trelocke]

Quote: Originally Posted by hoopvillian

Thanks for the tip. Not a bad idea to keep a good blocker for yourself too. I've been waiting for a good thread to discuss all the best and different ways of acquiring picks.

No problem.

Here's another tip that's probably a little more obvious but took me a while to fully utilize. (I use it in conjunction with lotusfather's draft guide, so I know exactly who I'm targeting.) During the draft, when it's your turn to pick, click the "trade down" button if it is available. You can often pick up a 1st, 2nd AND 3rd round pick for simply trading down a few spots. If you're confident you can still get your guy or just don't see someone you really want with your current pick, it's an easy way to pick up extra picks for the current draft. Later 1st rounds usually garner a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for next year's draft. 2nd round picks usually garner a 1st round pick for next year's draft. All others usually mean multiples in the current draft or a round earlier in next year's draft.

If you are constantly developing your backups and trading away your older starters before they get too old (30-32), you will keep your draft pick screen full and either have plenty of players to target in a draft, or the ability to trade them away to get decent, young players on another team worth developing into a starter.

[MisterCoates]

Great ideas, I'll be sure to try it out in my next CFM.

[CK1981]

How do you change a players position? When I go to edit player it doesn't allow me to move their position. Only their jersey, handedness, and school.

[Trelocke]

Quote: Originally Posted by CK1981

How do you change a players position? When I go to edit player it doesn't allow me to move their position. Only their jersey, handedness, and school.

You can only change certain positions during the off season. This means when the draft is done don't advance the week until all players are moved to the positions you want. Some players can interchange during the season (Guard/Tackles/End/OLB can all be switched from left to right during the season) but most cannot. So from the time the Superbowl is done till the screen that lets you view rookie contracts, you have greater freedom to change players' positions.