Kentucky Derby Style is the system that the NFBC utilizes to assign draft spots in the vast majority of fantasy baseball leagues. Instead of assigning draft spots on an entirely random basis, KDS allows fantasy managers to rank their desired spots in order of preference. KDS then randomly selects teams and they are assigned, in order, the manager’s highest-preference draft spot that is still available.
For instance, if Team 1 in a 15-team league sets its KDS as 1-15 and is selected first, that team will get Spot 1. If Team 13 sets its KDS as 1, 10-2, 11-15 and gets selected second, that team will get Spot 10 (its second preferred choice because Spot 1 was taken). Thus, while managers are at the mercy of the NFBC’s randomizer, KDS provides them with the opportunity to influence draft spot selection in accordance with their preferences. This article explores potential considerations for managers in setting their KDS as the first step in implementing draft strategies.
How Not to Use KDS
Initially, let’s address how not to use KDS. It should not be used as a crutch to blame or excuse poor fantasy performance, either before or after the fact. First, our dedicated team at FTN is putting out tremendous content and updating drafting tools every week (and, in some cases, more frequently). Second, our team is available on Discord all season long to help subscribers perform well in their leagues. Third, and most importantly, managers can win a league from any draft spot, and history bears this out. Here is a summary of where NFBC Main Event league winners have drafted from over the past four seasons: