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With the NFL season now concluded, it’s dynasty fantasy football’s time to shine. It’s also an ideal time to join a startup draft. This is PlayerProfiler’s series covering some of the most popular dynasty startup strategies. Today we’ll discuss drafting a team to win a fantasy football championship immediately. Since many teams adopt a longer-term approach to dynasty, there often aren’t many strong contenders in the first year of a dynasty league. Considering that a league championship is worth potentially a decade of league dues and bragging rights, fantasy managers would be wise to take advantage.
Dynasty Startup Strategies: All-In Win Now
Prioritize Production Over Youth
With each early selection, drafters face a choice: selecting the talented younger player or the established veteran. When trying to field a championship contender right away, it’s crucial to value production over talent. Talented prospects enter the NFL every year, but there are few consistent fantasy producers.
In recent years, players like Mike Evans, Keenan Allen, and Derrick Henry have been highly productive but drafted at a discount in fantasy drafts due to their age. Many managers building a young team won’t consider drafting players past a certain age. That presents an advantage for savvy fantasy managers as it allows them to build a stronger team than they could in a traditional redraft league.
Particularly early in drafts, fantasy managers should focus on drafting players in their prime, with a strong two to three-year window ahead of them. This means players like Tyreek Hill, Christian McCaffrey, and Dak Prescott are great building blocks in Superflex formats. Later in startups, consider targeting players being drafted much later in dynasty drafts than they are in redraft leagues. Mike Evans, Davante Adams, and Derrick Henry will be great examples this offseason.
Dynasty Startup Strategies: NFL Combine Preview
Embrace Running Backs
In dynasty leagues, running backs are often disregarded outside of premier talent due to year-to-year volatility. A productive running back can be cast aside the following year, and players experience sharp declines in production as they age. Consequently, they can also be had at a value in a startup draft. These are players that offer immediate upside but are discounted in dynasty drafts due to a lack of long-term upside.
Similar to aging players, many managers in a startup draft won’t touch aging running backs because of their team build. Christian McCaffrey, arguably the greatest fantasy player of all time, won’t be drafted in the first round of many dynasty drafts. Players like McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Josh Jacobs are going to get large roles next season and will out-produce their ADP in year one.
Draft Handcuff Running Backs
Wide receivers should be the foundation of any dynasty roster, but filling flex positions with productive running backs rather than speculative wide receivers is smart for contending teams. Furthermore, any starting running back can be a valuable fantasy contributor. Targeting second- and third-string running backs in productive offenses later in drafts can be a smart maneuver as well. These players are just an injury away from being a top waiver wire priority and a fantasy league winner.
Kyren Williams, Isiah Pacheco, and Raheem Mostert are just a few names in the last two seasons to go at the back end of drafts. The wide receiver position has become extremely saturated. As a result, it’s getting tougher and tougher for fantasy managers to find real difference-makers. Running back production, on the other hand, is largely dependent on the talent around them. A mediocre talent at running back can find a lot of success in a high-scoring offense with a strong offensive line. Every running back faces significant injury risk as well, making these handcuffs very valuable.
Trade Future Draft Capital
Approach the prospect of trading future picks with caution. However, many managers are willing to give premium capital for picks that are more than a year away. For teams looking to build a contender right away, this presents an opportunity to get a leg up on the competition.
A 2025 first-round pick could likely fetch managers a player like Deebo Samuel, DJ Moore, or Tee Higgins. Another strong starter can be the difference between a playoff team and a championship team. Nonetheless, don’t trade away picks frivolously. Wait for the right deal, as these can be used as trade bait anytime between the draft and the fantasy playoffs.
Avoid Trading Up
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and no one should ever turn down a great deal. However, too often fantasy managers put themselves in a bind when moving up in a draft. Valuable picks often require multiple early selections, which can leave dynasty teams too thin. For example, acquiring Justin Jefferson would likely require two to three starters in a trade.
Jefferson is a great player, but much of his value comes from his age and projected longevity for dynasty leagues. Using a significant amount of draft capital on this type of player will significantly weaken your overall starting lineup. While Jefferson may be more valuable three years down the line, it compromises your ability to compete for a championship in the near-term.
Consider Offensive Situation
Talent tends to win out in the long run, but for dynasty teams trying to compete right away, a player’s offensive situation is crucial. Think of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Drake London last year. While these players are immensely talented, they failed to deliver for fantasy football managers. A bad offense means fewer total plays and scoring opportunities.
Dynasty Startup Strategies: Deep Stashes
Be Flexible
This applies to any team build, but taking what the draft board gives you is essential to building a dynasty roster ready to win. Don’t get locked into any strategy or particular player before the draft. Often, dynasty managers overreact to off-season headlines, and there will be outstanding values in every draft. Taking the best player available and building value is how to make a strong dynasty team.
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Balance is Key
While it is important to value production, balance is still needed to create the best dynasty team. While winning year one is great, no one wants to put themselves in a situation where their team is a disaster after only one season. Instead, target players (particularly wide receivers) with three to five years of experience who are in their primes. Players with a strong two to three-year projection should be the foundation of any dynasty roster. Draft a team not only to compete this season but for years to come as well.
See Seth Diewold’s Dynasty holds post-free agency here: 8 Under the Radar Players to Buy in Dynasty Post-Free Agency
