I discovered WIS about 12 years ago, when I was an HBD fanatic. I also dabbled in some of the CBB sim then, too. Like so many others I would imagine, I dusted off the ol' sim chops and returned to this site when fantasy sports was halted due to COVID. I decided to give SLBB a go-round this time. (I was still bitter I didn't get to finish out my NBA fantasy season!)

I thoroughly enjoyed my first season(s) in SLBB. I played in two open leagues and I found myself consumed with the game. Putting every player's historical season into perspective, the strategies, etc. All very addicting. But I can't help but feel this game (at least in an OL) is largely "solved."

I know I'm not saying anything profoundly groundbreaking here, but it seems there is a tried-and-true formula to dominating your league: 2-3 stocktons, a Miami Heat-era Lebron or a Steph, a half-season Magic and Durant, maybe a Boerwinkle or Nikola at center...and of course fifteen Rodmans. I won't lie, this sort of made me lose interest by the end of the season. It's really a conform-or-lose scenario.

Still on the fence about returning to an OL. I might just put all my "hobby time" back to fantasy, though I'm open to considering a specialized league or progressive. But I want one that's really unique and allows for the most variety of strategies. Any suggestions?

come play in the theme leagues - more variation of rosters, more challenging - nice group of owners with a good sense of community

Yeah I’m never going to play in an OL ever again. The Savage draft, the salary capped off off drafts (ODL/DH52), progressive franchises, and scattegories are where it’s at. Come join us in something like that, all organized on theSBB forums

I personally hate the concept of duplicates in a league let alone on one team which is why I'm not sure I've ever participated in an open league. I like single season progressives and some of the more interesting variations such as the URAPP and CAP leagues.

mmangini21 I think the banned league might be to your liking.

It's by no means "solved" and there are absolutely dominating teams that don't have a single one of those players you mentioned... but yeah, for the most part, there are two separate, very distinct, dominant strategies, and you named a lot of the players from the two, though you jumbled them together: there are no Worms in the State Farm strategy (that's the Stockton/Stockon/Magic/Lebron and/or Giaanis/Boerwinkle grouping).

But yeah, there's absolutely at this point (8+ years since a salary structure update) known best deals for a fixed structure like that.

Theme leagues, on the other hand, are absolutely wide open & evolving. I highly recommend the various draft leagues (ODL & DH52 being the two longest running and probably challenging).

Posted by quaker128 on 6/24/2020 4:46:00 PM (view original):
I personally hate the concept of duplicates in a league let alone on one team which is why I'm not sure I've ever participated in an open league. I like single season progressives and some of the more interesting variations such as the URAPP and CAP leagues.

mmangini21 I think the banned league might be to your liking.

We have several openings in the banned league still and we would love to have you!

I second everything that's been said. I haven't played an open league in a decade and have zero interest in returning to that format, but there's a lot of creative energy going into theme leagues and progressive leagues right now, and I'm in a stretch of having more fun on this site than has been the case for quite a while.