Creating a successful team in a dynasty league requires a unique approach compared to standard or keeper leagues. Dynasty leagues, where you keep all or most of your players year-to-year, are a challenging but rewarding venture that test your skills not just as a manager for one season but as a franchise builder for many seasons. We reached out to our featured dynasty experts and asked them to provide one thing fantasy managers should always try to do during dynasty startup drafts.
Here are the strategies our featured analysts employ during their dynasty startup drafts.
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Sleepers: QB | RB
- Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
For more dynasty startup draft advice, see our complete Dynasty Startup Draft Strategies article 
Dynasty Startup Draft Strategies
What is one thing fantasy managers should do (or try to do) in a Dynasty Startup Draft?
“Get your guys. Dynasty is a ton of fun, but it’s way more fun when the players you roster are players you like. In a startup, I like to trade up and trade back depending on where my guys are likely to go. Don’t be afraid to overpay when you need to, and try to gain that value back in other trades later on. As long as your team is one you like, the league itself will be a lot more fun for you to participate in.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
“I recommend trying to find a balance when it comes to drafting older versus younger players. Many dynasty players believe they have to either go all in from the jump or go with a full youth movement and play for draft capital in future years. By going with a hybrid approach, you avoid painting yourself into a corner and give yourself more flexibility to adapt your team’s direction based on the results. I recommend going with youth early, then pouncing on still productive veteran players that slip due to their age.”
– Matt Barbato (BettingPros)
“The most important thing fantasy players should do is have a draft plan. Determine which draft strategy you want to use and if you want to build a contending team right away or build for the future. However, the one thing fantasy players should do, regardless of their draft plan, is acquire future rookie picks. Most fantasy players get caught up in the moment and will be willing to trade away future rookie picks to improve their team during the startup draft. Yet, those same league mates will trade you star players for those draft picks nine months later.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Research Your Opponents. If you’re committing to being in a league with a group of people, there is a good chance you’ll know some of them already, but that shouldn’t stop you from considering how each person thinks about the players in the draft. Whether that’s because a certain person is a massive homer for players for their team or if someone has written 37 threads on Marvin Mims in the last month, these kinds of considerations can help you understand how the board may play out and when you can leverage situations to your benefit.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)
“In Superflex formats, I always draft quarterbacks early. Most of my startups begin with back-to-back quarterback selections. Sometimes that will necessitate trading up in those first two rounds to secure the last passer of a tier, but it’s worth it. In many instances, quarterbacks will never be cheaper to acquire than in a rookie or startup draft. Build the backbone of your team. Get your quarterbacks early.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
For more dynasty startup draft advice, see our complete Dynasty Startup Draft Strategies article
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