Rather than talking about specific roster moves dynasty managers could make this week, I’ll cover something a little different. Instead of finding specific trades to send out, let’s zoom out and look at the dynasty game on a larger scale.

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A lot of new dynasty leagues started recently

It shouldn’t come as a shock that many dynasty startup leagues formed in the last year and a half. Being cooped up and unable to do normal things made many of us feel stir crazy. Drafting a new team was a great way to flex those mental muscles and engage with friends, both new and old. However, a dynasty league means new responsibilities as well.

Managing a re-draft or keeper team is much easier than managing a dynasty team. For starters, re-draft and keeper leagues generally shut down from January to August, and no activity is expected for about eight months. You’re free to live your life and never check your roster because you don’t have one.

Dynasty leagues are different. Managing a dynasty roster takes much more commitment and dedication. Truly running your dynasty team and building it to be the best it can be is a 24/7/365 operation. It can be draining, tiring, and downright exhausting, but it can also be rewarding, inspiring, and fulfilling. At least, they can be if the league stays active.

Leagues could become stale around now

Every year, dynasty leagues tend to get a little slow around now. It’s the calm before the storm. Most leagues have a trade deadline at Week 12, still two weeks away. Teams out of it know they’re out of it, and contenders know they’re contending. Those teams in the middle still have to decide, and a 4-5 or 5-4 record doesn’t help their choice.

Half of the league has already traded, either for this year or for the future. The other half is sitting with what they got, waiting for the decision to become clear. Historically, I find my slowest weeks for trading are Weeks 10 and 11. I’m a big advocate for picking a direction early, as I’ve mentioned before, so I’m likely already sitting pretty if I’m contending. But on the handful of teams where I’m still in the middle, I’m holding still.

See, 5-4 might be good enough to squeak into the playoffs. I don’t want to sell players who could help down the stretch right before I need them. On the flip side, I might miss the playoffs entirely and kick myself for not making a move sooner. This lull in activity comes at the worst time for these middling teams.

In almost every league, I’ve sent multiple offers to nearly every other manager by now. They know I’m active and interested in trading. Sending another offer likely won’t move the needle much. Ultimately, it’s up to them to make a move now. I’m staying active in chats where I can and sending DMs to managers about their intention, but for the most part, I’m taking it easy right now.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint

Managing a dynasty can be grueling, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep your eyes on the prize, and you’ll never feel behind the curve. Just focus on the long game, and the short game will take care of itself. As they say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

If a trade doesn’t feel right, don’t make it. If you get rejected without a counter, move on. There’s no need to dwell, especially if you’re in the top half of the league in scoring. Let the wins come to you.

Exuding patience may feel odd if this is your first year or two in a dynasty league, But seriously, sit back and enjoy the game for what it is. We play a game based on another game. Dynasty is basically a game within the game of fantasy, which is a game within football. Don’t take it too seriously, and don’t forget to have fun. That’s what it’s all about, remember?

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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Trade Analyzer – that allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

Andrew Hall is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive or follow him @AndrewHallFF.