Dynasty is arguably the best form of fantasy football. It’s a year-round game that allows fantasy players so many ways to build their team into a contender. However, which draft strategy is the best?
The honest answer is that there is no answer. You can only screw up your dynasty team by not having a draft strategy. However, having a draft strategy and executing it are two different things.
This dynasty strategy primer won’t cover every possible startup draft strategy, as there are too many strategies to cover. However, I’m going to highlight five of the more popular draft strategies fantasy players use when wanting to compete in the first year. Unfortunately, I won’t get to cover my favorite draft strategy: Tanking the first year.
We’re here to help you prepare for your dynasty draft. Let’s look at our Hero RB dynasty draft strategy. For more dynasty fantasy football content and advice, check out the FantasyPros Dynasty Draft Kit.
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings
Dynasty Draft Strategy
Hero RB Strategy
Overview
This strategy is also referred to as Anchor RB. With this strategy, fantasy players want to draft a running back with their first-round pick. That player is the hero or anchor of your team. He is the superstar you are relying on each week to get you the win. When picking out your hero or anchor running back, you want a player with a history of success in the NFL. You want a player that has finished as a top-five running back over the past two years.
After selecting your superstar running back, fantasy players want to load up at other positions. You want to use your next 6-7 picks on wide receivers, a stud tight end and a star quarterback. Then, you load up on running backs in the middle to late rounds to rotate as your weekly RB2 and to provide depth. The logic with this strategy is to sacrifice at the RB2 slot so you can build a roster with studs at other positions.
Pros:
- Running back is the easiest position to replace throughout the season because of injuries and backfield changes.
- You can prioritize other positions, giving you a weekly advantage at the quarterback or tight end spot.
Cons:
- Your team will struggle if your Hero RB busts or misses significant time.
- The running back position is deep but lacks massive upside in the middle to later rounds.
Players to Target:
Yes, these are three of the top running backs in fantasy football. Yet, that’s what you want when using the Hero RB strategy. Younger running backs are oozing with appealing upside. However, they haven’t proven to be elite fantasy players yet. Furthermore, you want a safe floor with your hero running back. Even if they don’t finish as a top-three running back, you know they won’t end the year outside the top 10.
Dynasty Draft Advice
- Fitz’s Dynasty Draft Primers
Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.