In Praise of Smaller Leagues

What are your thoughts about smaller leagues?

I run an 8 team league, and a lot of people say, well, that's not enough competition, but after being in both big and small leagues, I think smaller leagues are the way to go.

Main reasons why I believe this:

1. Sure, all the teams are loaded, but that's the point. All the teams are loaded, and anyone can beat you any week. Make a mistake in your lineup and that mistake is magnified because your opponent will plow you.

2. Waiver wire and free agency see serious action, because you can pick guys up who can have a real impact on your team if someone gets injured... and teams that suck at the beginning of the season have a legitimate chance to get better by the end.

3. We do an auction draft and the auction is more fun when you're bidding on players you recognize, which is all you bid on in a smaller league. Plus a smaller league ensures that your chances of having everyone there in person to do your auction are higher. Online auction is nowhere near as fun as live auction.

4. You might say, well, you need to know football better in a bigger league in order to make deep draft choices and free agent sleeper pickups. There is some truth to that, but you need to pay attention to matchups more in a competitive smaller league... because no one on your roster or anyone else's roster is trash, and sometimes the only way to win is to predict when someone will have a big game.

In summary, if you want to freshen up your fantasy experience a little more, try a smaller league, especially if they do an auction draft. Smaller =/= easier if the other owners are good players.