What’s the correct way to approach your startup dynasty draft? There is not a right answer; there is only not having a plan. Before you start your draft, be aware of a few things. One, is it a slow draft with an eight-hour or longer timer or a quick draft with a two-minute timer. Two, can you make trades during the draft? How far into the future can you trade rookie picks? Usually, startup dynasty drafts are slow and allow you to trade future picks three years out. However, always make sure you know the rules before you start. Three, make sure you know what the starting lineup requirements are, the number of bench spots, the scoring system, and if there will be a taxi squad. These four things could impact how you draft.
After you know the rules of your draft, you have to determine your strategy. Some players like to compete early on, while others take a longer-term approach. The last thing you want to do is go into the draft with the mindset of “winging it.” The fastest way to lock your team in mediocrity for the next several years is by doing so. My favorite strategy is the win in year two approach. You spend the startup draft and the first year focused on the future. Then, you start competing in year two. Let’s look at what you need to do during the startup draft with this strategy.
What’s the correct way to approach your startup dynasty draft? There is not a right answer; there is only not having a plan. Before you start your draft, be aware of a few things. One, is it a slow draft with an eight-hour or longer timer or a quick draft with a two-minute timer. Two, can you make trades during the draft? How far into the future can you trade rookie picks? Usually, startup dynasty drafts are slow and allow you to trade future picks three years out. However, always make sure you know the rules before you start. Three, make sure you know what the starting lineup requirements are, the number of bench spots, the scoring system, and if there will be a taxi squad. These four things could impact how you draft.
After you know the rules of your draft, you have to determine your strategy. Some players like to compete early on, while others take a longer-term approach. The last thing you want to do is go into the draft with the mindset of “winging it.” The fastest way to lock your team in mediocrity for the next several years is by doing so. My favorite strategy is the win in year two approach. You spend the startup draft and the first year focused on the future. Then, you start competing in year two. Let’s look at what you need to do during the startup draft with this strategy.
This Year Doesn’t Count
Consistently remind yourself during the startup draft that the first year doesn’t matter. While your league mates are making moves to add early draft picks or big-name players, keep in mind you want to lose in year one. You should view every loss in year one as a win for your team. The worse you do in year one, the better your draft rookie picks the next year will be. Most important of all, keep your rookie picks. Don’t trade them away to move up for a player no matter what. If the plan is to give up on year one, you want to add rookie picks, not trade them away.
Trade Back, Add Rookie Picks
Speaking of rookie picks, the more, the better. The best time to acquire rookie picks is during the startup draft, as your league mates will be focused on the draft now and not the one a year or two from now. Furthermore, you want to move back during the startup draft since you want to lose in year one. Depending on how much experience your league mates have playing dynasty, you could get away with some massive trade wins. For example, if you can add a future first-round rookie pick by swapping your third-round startup pick for their fifth-round startup pick, that’s a deal you should love.
Another reason you should trade back and add rookie picks is their future worth. We’ve all seen the Family Guy video about the mystery box and the boat. An unknown is always an appealing option. Your opponents will be more willing to trade away rookie picks during the startup draft than later on in the year. However, as the rookie draft approaches months later, they will want to add rookie picks. If you have plenty to spare, you are in a position to take advantage of them in trade negotiations. Even if you keep all your extra rookie picks, that is good for your team. You will have plenty of chances to add youth to your team while your league mates see their team get a year older.
Target a Star QB and TE
Depending on your roster construction and league scoring, drafting a star quarterback and tight end could be somewhat or massively critical. If your league is a super-flex or two-quarterback league, you want to spend your first or second-round pick on a quarterback. The elite young quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes (QB -KC), Josh Allen (QB – BUF), Joe Burrow (QB – CIN), and Justin Herbert (QB – LAC) won’t make it out of the first round. If you wait till the second round, grab a quarterback like Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) or Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE). You will want your QB1 slot to be a weekly advantage for you for the next decade.
If your league has tight end premium scoring, you need to know how much the premium is. Some leagues have a premium of an extra half-point per catch, while others have up to 1.25 points more per catch. The bigger the premium, the more emphasis you want to put on drafting a tight end early, even at the expense of drafting a quarterback. While quarterbacks are the most valuable position in the NFL, the depth at the position is deep for fantasy football. On the other hand, there are only a handful of elite tight ends. If your league is super-flex and tight end premium, don’t be afraid to spend your first two picks on a quarterback and a tight end.
Target Younger Wide Receivers
While you shouldn’t have a hard and fast rule of “don’t draft a wide receiver older than X years old,” you want to target younger wide receivers. Ideally, you want a mix of young proven wide receivers and wide receivers who are potential breakout stars. If you draft young stars like Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) or CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL) early in your draft, target wide receivers with upside in the middle rounds. Some potential mid-round wide receivers to target are Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG), Chase Claypool (WR – PIT), and Rondale Moore (WR – ARI).
All three have a chance to break out this year after changes that have taken place this offseason. Again, this doesn’t mean only target wide receivers on their rookie contracts. Wide receivers like Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF), who turns 29 years old in November, and Tyreek Hill (WR – KC), who recently turned 28 years old, are still quality early-round picks.
Do Running Backs Matter?
The answer to this question is yes and no. Of course, running backs matter, but their short shelf life makes them not very critical. With a win in year two approach, you don’t want to target older running backs like Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN) and Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR). In a year or two, their production should take a massive hit. Consider picking them if you can draft veteran running backs in the middle rounds. You could potentially trade them midseason to playoff-contending teams for future rookie picks. However, don’t go into the draft with this mindset. Only employ this strategy if the opportunity becomes available.
Instead, you want to target several upside running backs in the middle to later rounds. Guys like Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF) and AJ Dillon (RB – GB) from a year ago. Mitchell has a firm grasp on the starting role in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Dillon was a top 24 running back in 0.5 PPR scoring last season despite splitting the workload with Aaron Jones (RB – GB). You also want to target high upside handcuffs. Some potential targets like that are Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE) and Tony Pollard (RB – DAL).
Not only are they great trade chips if the starter gets hurt, but both also have the potential to turn into this year’s version of Dillon. If you want to take one running back early in your draft, target a player with under three years of NFL experience. They should still have value in a year or two. Remember, you can replace running backs in the rookie draft. The more rookie picks you can acquire during the startup draft, the less critical it is to spend early draft capital on running backs.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive follow him @Mike_NFL2.
