This is really a two part question.

1) does anyone have a strategy they employ for allocation drafts? I kind of fly by the seat of my pants, but I would rather have a "gameplan" going in to the draft.

2) In a regular draft I usually only concern myself with the early round picks. What do you look for in later round picks to increase their perceived value?

In allocations, decide if you want a defensive or offensive style team. Then switch between the two styles by picking the best available position each round. For instance, say you want a defensive balance team. Pick Defense in odd rounds and Offense in even rounds. Or if you want a defensive team, Pick Defense in 1 and 2, and Offense in third and then alternate between the two.

In a regular drafts, the late rounds are for finding depth at positions where you have strengths and not weaknesses. I use a spread sheet that I designed that lets me know the weakest position on my team, which I target in early rounds, and then age related because of possibility of retirement.

Yes, I set my board like this.

1) Divide draft into position groups based on the most important position in the game: DB > DL > WR > RB > QB > TE > LB > OL. I may mix up this position importance if I'm trying different things. Also, RBs may be overvalued in the current order. It's up to you what you think is more important.

2) Evaluate players in 5-10 overall point increments depending on how much time I want to spend on each position group and add players to my manual draft like. So all DBs in the 100-95 range, then all DL, WR, etc.

I work my way through position groups like that putting players into their best future position. Then as the draft progresses, I remove position groups as I fill one up.

1.) Set your weights to ignore slow skill players . Early in the allocation , the younger the player the lower his volatiliy should be. Position importance DB > WR > DL> QB > OL > TE > RB > LB ......I think the middle can vary , but DB is the most important and LBS the least.

2) this works for allocations as well, but look a position converts later in the draft. QB to RB. TE to OL. DE to LB and vice versa. LB to FS and FB to RB or WR.

Then Think of situational players. Speed and pass rush for blitzes and strength and run defense for run stuffing . High route and Man with punish/courage for slot db and wrs works pretty good as well. As speed is gobbled up these guys can do well in space during certain defense calls where speed is not essential . Sometimes boomers here can turn out to be decent role players.

Everyone has their own opinions and there is not only one way. As boogie said, figure out what identity you want your team to have and try to build around that. Me personally, depending the talent on the board, and all being equal, I look for DBs and DEs on that side, and WR on the other side. A QB with accuracy and intel above all else for me. This is all my preference, not right or wrong. Speed is the best attribute.

Players with 3-5 yrs experience tend to have less bust potential as most of their attributes are already higher than a rook. Some people shy away from older players but a 26 yr old will still get you 5-6solid years and they are way ahead of rookies. Food for thought. Patent Pending.

Oh, in a regular draft later rounds I sort by most volatile then take the highest future value and hope they boom. Even if it’s not a position of need.