Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
ain’t that the truth. I’ve had 2 years of losing with redraft teams that I liked.
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Competitive Dynasty Rebuild? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Hot Sauce Guy
- Start date
Birdie048
Footballguy
Cook & Mattison should be enough for Lance & Gibson without including Fant to the deal. Give him Trautman if he needs a TE.
I agree with @Hot Sauce Guy that a Better QB in return is needed. Since it's SF, Lock/Teddy type at the minimum. I'd target Cousins myself.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
My philosophy in dealing Mahomes was that I wasn’t going to take less than elite talent in return. Or at least players I thought had the chance to become elite.
Cook Is one of those upper-echelon type players. You can only deal him once. Someone will pay more than Lance/Gibson, even in Superflex.
Chad Parsons
Moderator
Will be discussing this topic on this week’s Under the Helmet show
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I think it’s a great topic, and one that isn’t discussed nearly enough. It’s so hard to know when to keep plugging away, or when to turn top assets into new pieces to stay competitive over the long haul - or to blow it all up, as some in here indicate as their preference.
I’ll be checking out that episode for sure. Will there be a link you can post here when it’s up?
battlestar
Footballguy
Really appreciate the replies. It’s a SF and QB’s are valued eve higher than other SF leagues I’ve played in so I’m not even sure the dude would accept this offer. I am clearly higher on Lance than many of you as for me he is a key part of this deal and i’d much prefer him over Cousins or Carr or others of that ilk.
I really like the point that I can only deal Cook once. Helps me be really sure I’m ready to do that or not. I do think this team can compete this year but am leary of my team being another year older and I have no 2022 picks (I’ve got all my 2023’s) so am going to need to deal players likely for a QB upgrade soon because I am done dealing picks for a while in this league.
I really like the point that I can only deal Cook once. Helps me be really sure I’m ready to do that or not. I do think this team can compete this year but am leary of my team being another year older and I have no 2022 picks (I’ve got all my 2023’s) so am going to need to deal players likely for a QB upgrade soon because I am done dealing picks for a while in this league.
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Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I’m a niner fan. I’m definitely high on Lance. But for Cook you should do better than Lance/Gibson. If that dude took more than 6 seconds to accept this deal he’s bonkers.
I’d at least take the time to shop cook - post to the message board that you’re interested in turning Cook into a QB+RB2 and see what offers come in.
As the one in the catbird seat, don’t be impatient to move one of the top assets in FF. Best advice I’ve got.
Chad Parsons
Moderator
I can share a link here. Search Under the Helmet for any podcast app as well. Will be out tonight
Pwingles
Footballguy
Did a start up last year, thought I had a somewhat competitive roster. Realized after some poor performances from some players that it was totally middling. So i decided after about 5-6 weeks to try and do a 1 year turnaround.
12 team, te prem ppr superflex
Post draft roster;
Lamar, Carr, Cousins, A. Smith, Mariota, K. Allen, Stidham
Taylor, Carson, Swift, Breida, L. Perine, McFarland
DJ Moore, Parker, Woods, Higgins, Edwards, G Davis, Hamler, Washington, V Jefferson, Coulter, J. Gordon
Jonnu, OJ Howard, Albert O, Parham
Acquired 2 extra 1's, a few extra 2's, and 3's. Had a solid draft and made some moves from week 6 until now. Here is where i sit currently;
Lamar, Hurts, Lawrence, Tyrod, Mariota
Taylor, Swift, Saquon, Breida, Javonte williams, Jaret patterson, kylin hill
Jefferson, Lamb, Golladay, Reagor, Washington, Hamler, Bateman, fehoko, newsome, strachan, patterson , Toney, A. Rodgers, Callaway
Jonnu, Herndon, OJ howard, Trautman, Albert O, Gransen
*Taxi in bold
Too many deals to list really, but I am really happy with this turnaround and fully expect to compete for the title this year
12 team, te prem ppr superflex
Post draft roster;
Lamar, Carr, Cousins, A. Smith, Mariota, K. Allen, Stidham
Taylor, Carson, Swift, Breida, L. Perine, McFarland
DJ Moore, Parker, Woods, Higgins, Edwards, G Davis, Hamler, Washington, V Jefferson, Coulter, J. Gordon
Jonnu, OJ Howard, Albert O, Parham
Acquired 2 extra 1's, a few extra 2's, and 3's. Had a solid draft and made some moves from week 6 until now. Here is where i sit currently;
Lamar, Hurts, Lawrence, Tyrod, Mariota
Taylor, Swift, Saquon, Breida, Javonte williams, Jaret patterson, kylin hill
Jefferson, Lamb, Golladay, Reagor, Washington, Hamler, Bateman, fehoko, newsome, strachan, patterson , Toney, A. Rodgers, Callaway
Jonnu, Herndon, OJ howard, Trautman, Albert O, Gransen
*Taxi in bold
Too many deals to list really, but I am really happy with this turnaround and fully expect to compete for the title this year
Biabreakable
Footballguy
I dont think that offer is good enough to move Cook. He should fetch more than that.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Made a 5th, and I think final deal to build depth with youth & talent. The 2023 1st I got for Mahomes (plus a 2022 3rd & 2023 4th) for Pittman.
In all I moved Mahomes, Hopkins, Samuel, Ertz & Gronk.
For: Pitts, Z.Wilson, Higgins, Pittman, CEH, Chase Edmonds, Bourne & an extra 20221st.
My roster feels younger, deeper and still with plenty of upside to grow into, or pieces to trade in future deals.
Fees like a successful rebuild.
CC: @Chad Parsons- nice job on that podcast. Finally had a chance to listen. I think it’s funny that I did basically what you considered the worst time to move players & do a rebuild. In-season I couldn’t get a 1st for Hopkins, but I was able to now. Likewise with Mahomes no one wanted to decimate their competing roster for Mahomes. I got a good package from the Watson owner.
in that light, your thoughts on my “competitive rebuild?” (4th or 5th post in this topic has the before/after)
Feel like I built depth at RB/WR & potentially got an elite TE, but obviously at the risk of QB.
In all I moved Mahomes, Hopkins, Samuel, Ertz & Gronk.
For: Pitts, Z.Wilson, Higgins, Pittman, CEH, Chase Edmonds, Bourne & an extra 20221st.
My roster feels younger, deeper and still with plenty of upside to grow into, or pieces to trade in future deals.
Fees like a successful rebuild.
CC: @Chad Parsons- nice job on that podcast. Finally had a chance to listen. I think it’s funny that I did basically what you considered the worst time to move players & do a rebuild. In-season I couldn’t get a 1st for Hopkins, but I was able to now. Likewise with Mahomes no one wanted to decimate their competing roster for Mahomes. I got a good package from the Watson owner.
in that light, your thoughts on my “competitive rebuild?” (4th or 5th post in this topic has the before/after)
Feel like I built depth at RB/WR & potentially got an elite TE, but obviously at the risk of QB.
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Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Was going to post a brand new topic, but then remembered I’d already started this one.
I ended up turning my “competitive rebuild” into a different type - the “scorched earth” strategy.
Slow news day, so I figured I’d revisit this adventure with the SP. Maybe you care, maybe you don’t. Either way, please be kind, as I’m posting in the interest of fun & self- deprecation. At the height of the trading frenzy, a few folks had asked me to share the results once completed, so I started tracking. So many members were helpful in the value topic when making many of the trades & I’m grateful for all of the advice. I’m well aware that a couple of my moves ended up well, not great, so no need to “kick in the open door” as the Dutch would say.
Only allowed 1K characters per posts so I’ll break this into parts:
Maybe @Chad Parsons is interested as I know rebuilds are a subject he’s keen on.
Note: I’m not looking for pats on the back here, as I’m not even sure if this rebuild was successful at this point. Only time will tell. On paper I like where I’m at better than where I was, which I guess is about all I can really hope for.
It was an adventure for sure. Losing for 2 years sucks, but eye on the prize & stick to the plan, right? It was certainly interesting, and as this strategy is sort of rare (and often deeply frowned upon by FF writers/YouTubers) I thought it was worth sharing with the Shark Pool.
League details: 12 team, SF PPR, start 10, no K, no D. 1 QB, 1 SF, 2-5 RB, 3-6 WR, 1-4 TE. 6 pts all TD, .03/1 PaYd, -3 Int, -2 FL
Before rebuild:
QB - Mahomes
SF - DJones (Carr)
RB - C. Carson, Edmonds, Sony, RoJo, Damian Williams, Royce Freeman
WR - Nuk, Evans, ARob, Kendrick Bourne, Pringle, KJO
TE - Evan Engram, Robert Tonyan
I’d made the playoffs 3 straight years, knocked out by younger, better teams all 3. My lack of quality at RB, and my aging WR corps wasn’t helping & I’d be down a player or more to injury every postseason. I wasn’t particularly deep anywhere. And Engram & Danny Dimes to that point had been busts.
June 10th, 2021
I gave: Robert Tonyan
I received: Curtis Samuel
June 19, 2021:
during the FF draft I dealt Hopkins for the 1.08 + 2022 2nd.
Took Pitts with the 1.08 (my other choice at that point was JaWill, so I’m still happy with Pitts.)
June 20th, 2021:
I gave: Mahomes + Ertz
I received Z.Wilson, CEH + Higgins + 2022 1st + 2023 1st.
June 21. 2021:
I gave: Curtis Samuel + 2.xx (turned out to be 2.08) that I obtained in Hopkins deal
I received: Chase Edmonds
I ended up turning my “competitive rebuild” into a different type - the “scorched earth” strategy.
Slow news day, so I figured I’d revisit this adventure with the SP. Maybe you care, maybe you don’t. Either way, please be kind, as I’m posting in the interest of fun & self- deprecation. At the height of the trading frenzy, a few folks had asked me to share the results once completed, so I started tracking. So many members were helpful in the value topic when making many of the trades & I’m grateful for all of the advice. I’m well aware that a couple of my moves ended up well, not great, so no need to “kick in the open door” as the Dutch would say.
Only allowed 1K characters per posts so I’ll break this into parts:
Maybe @Chad Parsons is interested as I know rebuilds are a subject he’s keen on.
Note: I’m not looking for pats on the back here, as I’m not even sure if this rebuild was successful at this point. Only time will tell. On paper I like where I’m at better than where I was, which I guess is about all I can really hope for.
It was an adventure for sure. Losing for 2 years sucks, but eye on the prize & stick to the plan, right? It was certainly interesting, and as this strategy is sort of rare (and often deeply frowned upon by FF writers/YouTubers) I thought it was worth sharing with the Shark Pool.
League details: 12 team, SF PPR, start 10, no K, no D. 1 QB, 1 SF, 2-5 RB, 3-6 WR, 1-4 TE. 6 pts all TD, .03/1 PaYd, -3 Int, -2 FL
Before rebuild:
QB - Mahomes
SF - DJones (Carr)
RB - C. Carson, Edmonds, Sony, RoJo, Damian Williams, Royce Freeman
WR - Nuk, Evans, ARob, Kendrick Bourne, Pringle, KJO
TE - Evan Engram, Robert Tonyan
I’d made the playoffs 3 straight years, knocked out by younger, better teams all 3. My lack of quality at RB, and my aging WR corps wasn’t helping & I’d be down a player or more to injury every postseason. I wasn’t particularly deep anywhere. And Engram & Danny Dimes to that point had been busts.
June 10th, 2021
I gave: Robert Tonyan
I received: Curtis Samuel
June 19, 2021:
during the FF draft I dealt Hopkins for the 1.08 + 2022 2nd.
Took Pitts with the 1.08 (my other choice at that point was JaWill, so I’m still happy with Pitts.)
June 20th, 2021:
I gave: Mahomes + Ertz
I received Z.Wilson, CEH + Higgins + 2022 1st + 2023 1st.
June 21. 2021:
I gave: Curtis Samuel + 2.xx (turned out to be 2.08) that I obtained in Hopkins deal
I received: Chase Edmonds
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Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Pt 2:
June 24th, 2021
I gave:
2022 3rd + 2023 1st (acquired in the Mahomes deal) + 2023 4th
i received: M. Pittman
September 14th, 2021:
I gave: CEH
i received : 2023 1st. (Ended up being 1.07)
September 14th, 2021:
I gave: 2022 1st (that I received for CEH) + Mike Evans, who I’d been trying to deal for 3 years.
I received: 2023 early 1st (my own first that I dealt away 2 years ago, ended up 1.01) + 2023 mid 1st + 2023 mid 2nd + Gabriel Davis
September 14th, 2021:
I gave:
Allen Robinson + Chris Carson
i received: 2022 late 1st + 2023 mid 1st + 2023 mid 2nd
September 16th - “the yard sale”
I gave: Chase Edmonds + Sony Michel + Damian Williams + 2023 late 2nd (likely 2.08-2.12)
I received: 2023 mid 1st + Kellen Mond
September 18th, 2021
I gave: Royce Freeman
i received: 2023 early 5th
(I ended up taking Pacheco with this pick)
November 12, 2021:
I gave: D’Ernest Johnson
I rec’d: 2023 3rd (ended up 3.02)
Feb 7, 2022
I gave Derek Carr + Kendrick Bourne + Cedrick Wilson + 2023 mid-1st pick (turned out to be 1.09) + 2023 mid-3rd + 2022 4.02
I received: Aman-Ra St. Brown + 2023 projected top 4 pick (turned out to be 1.02) - this worked out.
This deal turned out to be pivotal down the road, and not just because ARSB turned out to be the real deal. It also gave that team a 3rd QB, which allowed them to deal me Fields down the road, so that was unexpectedly helpful of past me to future me.
March 9th, 2022
I gave: 2022 1.08, Daniel Jones
I got: 2022 2.04, Michael Carter
*What a terrible deal this turned out to be. Finally gave up on Jones, 1 year too soon. Was able to later flip Carter, fortunately. But god it’s awful in hindsight.
March 13th, 2022
I gave: Tyler Huntley (to the LJax owner)
I received: Marcus Mariota
March 20, 2022
I gave: 2022 2.09, 2023 2nd (2.06) 2024 3rd (3.07) + Michael Carter + Evan Engram
I received: 2023 1st (turned out to be 1.04)
April 21st, 2022
Gave: Michael Pittman+Will Fuller
Received: ETN
April 30, 2022
My worst trade. It still hurts.
i gave: ‘23 1st (expected to be 10-12, back to back LCG loser) + ‘24 1st (TBD, but should be mid-round)
I received: 23 1st, which was expected to be top 5
*narrator: it was not top, 5, it was 1.08. And the 2023 1st I gave up ended up 1.05 because that LCG Loser’s team fell apart at the seams & then did a surprise sell-off late season.
So in summary I paid a 2024 1st to drop 3 spots in the 2023 draft. And FWIW, @Gally was totally
right that this was a dumb move. He was more diplomatic about it, but I’m not. It was super extra dumb. To be fair, (to be faiiiiir) I had COVID and should not have been making trades. But of all 6 of the 2023 1sts I acquired, this was the only one that missed, and it took just an incredibly unlikely turn of events, but there ya go.
June 22nd:
Gave: Byron Pringle
Received: 5.06 (took Abram Smith, RB NOS)
An attempt was made
October 4, 2022
I gave: Marcus Mariota+Zay Jones, 2023 4th
I received: David Bell+Alexander Mattison
March 29th, 2023
I gave: pick 1.04+1.10+Pacheco
I received: Fields
April 23rd, 2023
I gave: 1.03+1.08
I received: A.J. Brown
April 24, 2023
I gave: 2023 3.01+2024 2nd
I received: A.J. Dillon
April 27th, 2023
I gave: 2025 3rd
I received: Garner Minshew
*planning on ARich, so this makes sense
Next week:
Draft: 1.01 - Bijan Robinson
Draft 1.02 - Anthony Richardson
5.01, 5.04, 5.08 TBD
June 24th, 2021
I gave:
2022 3rd + 2023 1st (acquired in the Mahomes deal) + 2023 4th
i received: M. Pittman
September 14th, 2021:
I gave: CEH
i received : 2023 1st. (Ended up being 1.07)
September 14th, 2021:
I gave: 2022 1st (that I received for CEH) + Mike Evans, who I’d been trying to deal for 3 years.
I received: 2023 early 1st (my own first that I dealt away 2 years ago, ended up 1.01) + 2023 mid 1st + 2023 mid 2nd + Gabriel Davis
September 14th, 2021:
I gave:
Allen Robinson + Chris Carson
i received: 2022 late 1st + 2023 mid 1st + 2023 mid 2nd
September 16th - “the yard sale”
I gave: Chase Edmonds + Sony Michel + Damian Williams + 2023 late 2nd (likely 2.08-2.12)
I received: 2023 mid 1st + Kellen Mond
September 18th, 2021
I gave: Royce Freeman
i received: 2023 early 5th
(I ended up taking Pacheco with this pick)
November 12, 2021:
I gave: D’Ernest Johnson
I rec’d: 2023 3rd (ended up 3.02)
Feb 7, 2022
I gave Derek Carr + Kendrick Bourne + Cedrick Wilson + 2023 mid-1st pick (turned out to be 1.09) + 2023 mid-3rd + 2022 4.02
I received: Aman-Ra St. Brown + 2023 projected top 4 pick (turned out to be 1.02) - this worked out.
This deal turned out to be pivotal down the road, and not just because ARSB turned out to be the real deal. It also gave that team a 3rd QB, which allowed them to deal me Fields down the road, so that was unexpectedly helpful of past me to future me.
March 9th, 2022
I gave: 2022 1.08, Daniel Jones
I got: 2022 2.04, Michael Carter
*What a terrible deal this turned out to be. Finally gave up on Jones, 1 year too soon. Was able to later flip Carter, fortunately. But god it’s awful in hindsight.
March 13th, 2022
I gave: Tyler Huntley (to the LJax owner)
I received: Marcus Mariota
March 20, 2022
I gave: 2022 2.09, 2023 2nd (2.06) 2024 3rd (3.07) + Michael Carter + Evan Engram
I received: 2023 1st (turned out to be 1.04)
April 21st, 2022
Gave: Michael Pittman+Will Fuller
Received: ETN
April 30, 2022
My worst trade. It still hurts.
i gave: ‘23 1st (expected to be 10-12, back to back LCG loser) + ‘24 1st (TBD, but should be mid-round)
I received: 23 1st, which was expected to be top 5
*narrator: it was not top, 5, it was 1.08. And the 2023 1st I gave up ended up 1.05 because that LCG Loser’s team fell apart at the seams & then did a surprise sell-off late season.
So in summary I paid a 2024 1st to drop 3 spots in the 2023 draft. And FWIW, @Gally was totally
right that this was a dumb move. He was more diplomatic about it, but I’m not. It was super extra dumb. To be fair, (to be faiiiiir) I had COVID and should not have been making trades. But of all 6 of the 2023 1sts I acquired, this was the only one that missed, and it took just an incredibly unlikely turn of events, but there ya go.June 22nd:
Gave: Byron Pringle
Received: 5.06 (took Abram Smith, RB NOS)
An attempt was made
October 4, 2022
I gave: Marcus Mariota+Zay Jones, 2023 4th
I received: David Bell+Alexander Mattison
March 29th, 2023
I gave: pick 1.04+1.10+Pacheco
I received: Fields
April 23rd, 2023
I gave: 1.03+1.08
I received: A.J. Brown
April 24, 2023
I gave: 2023 3.01+2024 2nd
I received: A.J. Dillon
April 27th, 2023
I gave: 2025 3rd
I received: Garner Minshew
*planning on ARich, so this makes sense
Next week:
Draft: 1.01 - Bijan Robinson
Draft 1.02 - Anthony Richardson
5.01, 5.04, 5.08 TBD
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Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
pt 3:
Good timing; ARob, Freeman, Carson, Edmonds, Sony, Bourne, Pringle, Nuk got suspended 6 games.
Bad timing: Daniel Jones popped as soon as I dealt him. Same with Evan Engram after holding him since the auction startup when he was a 2nd year player. Sonova-
Team After Roster Rebuild:
QB - Fields
SF - Anthony Richardson (1.02) (Minshew, Zappe, Z.Wilson)
RB - Bijan (1.01), ETN, AJ Dillon, (Mattison, Deon Jackson, Justin Jackson, RoJo - lol, he’s like a good luck charm now)
WR - A.J. Brown, Higgins, ARSB, Bateman, (G.Davis, KJO, David Bell)
TE - Pitts (JuJohnson, Likely, Conklin)
Average age starting lineup before rebuild: 27.6
Average age starting lineup after rebuild: 23.4
Summary: How did it all work out?
Well, it’s a mixed bag.
• Nuk is still pretty good, though very old & maybe without a quality QB.
• Evan Engram finally learned to play football when he left the Giants, and Daniel Jones turned into a top 12 option. That one hurt.
• Carr is still serviceable and he landed in a pretty good spot, but his ceiling was limited & his floor is what we saw last year.
• Mike Evans is still pretty good, but also another year older, with weak QBs, and seems to have lost a step. Mayfield/Trask behind center, hard to say what he’ll do.
• I don’t miss Bourne, Freeman, CEH, Sony, Damian Williams, ARob, Pittman, or Carson - lots of injuries/age/retirement/situations.
• Curtis Samuel had a nice little resurgence after I dealt him, but first he missed a season with injury, so it took well over a year for that to happen.
Good timing; ARob, Freeman, Carson, Edmonds, Sony, Bourne, Pringle, Nuk got suspended 6 games.
Bad timing: Daniel Jones popped as soon as I dealt him. Same with Evan Engram after holding him since the auction startup when he was a 2nd year player. Sonova-
Team After Roster Rebuild:
QB - Fields
SF - Anthony Richardson (1.02) (Minshew, Zappe, Z.Wilson)
RB - Bijan (1.01), ETN, AJ Dillon, (Mattison, Deon Jackson, Justin Jackson, RoJo - lol, he’s like a good luck charm now)
WR - A.J. Brown, Higgins, ARSB, Bateman, (G.Davis, KJO, David Bell)
TE - Pitts (JuJohnson, Likely, Conklin)
Average age starting lineup before rebuild: 27.6
Average age starting lineup after rebuild: 23.4
Summary: How did it all work out?
Well, it’s a mixed bag.
• Nuk is still pretty good, though very old & maybe without a quality QB.
• Evan Engram finally learned to play football when he left the Giants, and Daniel Jones turned into a top 12 option. That one hurt.
• Carr is still serviceable and he landed in a pretty good spot, but his ceiling was limited & his floor is what we saw last year.
• Mike Evans is still pretty good, but also another year older, with weak QBs, and seems to have lost a step. Mayfield/Trask behind center, hard to say what he’ll do.
• I don’t miss Bourne, Freeman, CEH, Sony, Damian Williams, ARob, Pittman, or Carson - lots of injuries/age/retirement/situations.
• Curtis Samuel had a nice little resurgence after I dealt him, but first he missed a season with injury, so it took well over a year for that to happen.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Pt 4:
All told my team got a *lot* younger. 4.1 years on average.
I do believe this is a more competitive roster. With Mahomes I was just good enough to make the playoffs and lose every year.
Overall I’m pretty happy with the result of this rebuild. Had I stood pat, my team would be an utter train wreck right now. I went from 1 serviceable RB (Carson) to having Bijan/ETN.
My WR, the strength of my original auction-drafted team, were rapidly aging out, ARob became irrelevant, Evans’ hammies were problematic, Brady was getting older.
Now I have 3x top ~10 WR.
QB I went from Mahomes/Carr (D.Jones) to Fields/ARich, so TBD, but I probably took a hit here since Mahomes >> Fields & I have no idea what ARich is going to be. Lord I hope he’s a lot better than Carr or “bad Danny Dimes”.
I also feel like the resulting roster at average 23.4 years of age (as of this write-up) is likely to improve over time. At the very least, it gives me a longer window of opportunity to compete.
Was it worth it?
As I don’t believe I would have had enough return to truly be competitive with a soft-rebuild, keeping Mahomes, the answer is probably yes.
I’m at least giving myself a chance to have a more complete roster. Had I nibbled around the edges I likely would have kept suffering the same fate of barely making the playoffs and getting bounced.
the return on Mahomes also facilitated many of the subsequent deals, so I doubt I could have improved enough regardless, even with the hindsight of knowing Danny 2-nickels would be better. We’ll see if his value holds.
And now there are 4 teams who just started rebuilding, and 2 who probably should as they’re getting older. So it’s likely a 6-team race this year. If I hit on ARich & Bijan I might even compete for a ‘’ship.
For sure best part of the “scorched earth rebuild” is having a roster of players who I want to root for. It adds something to the game. That, and making 20+ deals to get it all done was extremely challenging & fun. I traded with almost every team in the league through this process. Got to know my league-mates better. Laid the ground for future deals.
Would I recommend “scorched earth” to others as a rebuild strategy? Depends. If your team isn’t winning, and is way outgunned by some of the aging teams in your league, then sure - go for it. Wait until before the trade deadline, announce that you’re blowing it up, and say your best assets (outside of the young core you intend to build around) will be going to the highest bidder. Teams that are going for it will throw future 1sts at you for those assets like it’s cool.
And be comfortable with losing. A lot. It’s not tanking if you simply don’t have the assets to compete - I was loaded with draft picks & had very little on my roster.
Also, have a plan, and stick to it - right up until you change plans. But then still have a plan & stick to that one.
Not everyone will have the time, stomach, or patience for this type of rebuild. I paid league fees for 2 years of losing, intentionally. I’m looking at that as my investment in my future team success. I wasn’t winning anyway - just enough to lose at the critical time of year & get bad draft picks. A lot of folks do startup dynasty punting year 1. This was sort of like that, only with a 4 year old team.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I hope this was helpful, or at the very least, can be used as a cautionary tale.
All told my team got a *lot* younger. 4.1 years on average.
I do believe this is a more competitive roster. With Mahomes I was just good enough to make the playoffs and lose every year.
Overall I’m pretty happy with the result of this rebuild. Had I stood pat, my team would be an utter train wreck right now. I went from 1 serviceable RB (Carson) to having Bijan/ETN.
My WR, the strength of my original auction-drafted team, were rapidly aging out, ARob became irrelevant, Evans’ hammies were problematic, Brady was getting older.
Now I have 3x top ~10 WR.
QB I went from Mahomes/Carr (D.Jones) to Fields/ARich, so TBD, but I probably took a hit here since Mahomes >> Fields & I have no idea what ARich is going to be. Lord I hope he’s a lot better than Carr or “bad Danny Dimes”.
I also feel like the resulting roster at average 23.4 years of age (as of this write-up) is likely to improve over time. At the very least, it gives me a longer window of opportunity to compete.
Was it worth it?
As I don’t believe I would have had enough return to truly be competitive with a soft-rebuild, keeping Mahomes, the answer is probably yes.
I’m at least giving myself a chance to have a more complete roster. Had I nibbled around the edges I likely would have kept suffering the same fate of barely making the playoffs and getting bounced.
the return on Mahomes also facilitated many of the subsequent deals, so I doubt I could have improved enough regardless, even with the hindsight of knowing Danny 2-nickels would be better. We’ll see if his value holds.
And now there are 4 teams who just started rebuilding, and 2 who probably should as they’re getting older. So it’s likely a 6-team race this year. If I hit on ARich & Bijan I might even compete for a ‘’ship.
For sure best part of the “scorched earth rebuild” is having a roster of players who I want to root for. It adds something to the game. That, and making 20+ deals to get it all done was extremely challenging & fun. I traded with almost every team in the league through this process. Got to know my league-mates better. Laid the ground for future deals.
Would I recommend “scorched earth” to others as a rebuild strategy? Depends. If your team isn’t winning, and is way outgunned by some of the aging teams in your league, then sure - go for it. Wait until before the trade deadline, announce that you’re blowing it up, and say your best assets (outside of the young core you intend to build around) will be going to the highest bidder. Teams that are going for it will throw future 1sts at you for those assets like it’s cool.
And be comfortable with losing. A lot. It’s not tanking if you simply don’t have the assets to compete - I was loaded with draft picks & had very little on my roster.
Also, have a plan, and stick to it - right up until you change plans. But then still have a plan & stick to that one.
Not everyone will have the time, stomach, or patience for this type of rebuild. I paid league fees for 2 years of losing, intentionally. I’m looking at that as my investment in my future team success. I wasn’t winning anyway - just enough to lose at the critical time of year & get bad draft picks. A lot of folks do startup dynasty punting year 1. This was sort of like that, only with a 4 year old team.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I hope this was helpful, or at the very least, can be used as a cautionary tale.
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League Champion
Footballguy
I recently took over a crappy orphan Dynasty Team. It was a decent but mainly older roster with the likes of Mixon, Kamara, D. Cook, D. Hopkins, etc. It was just an older team all around.
I ended up trading most of the roster and stockpiled picks for this draft. I had 2 first round picks including 1.02 (A. Richardson), five 2nd round picks, 2 third round picks, some futures, etc. I'm probably going to suck the next couple years but I'll be loaded. I also got LaPorta and Mayer in this draft to rebuild my TE position.
If anything I'll have a ton of assets to maneuver next year's draft board as well.
I ended up trading most of the roster and stockpiled picks for this draft. I had 2 first round picks including 1.02 (A. Richardson), five 2nd round picks, 2 third round picks, some futures, etc. I'm probably going to suck the next couple years but I'll be loaded. I also got LaPorta and Mayer in this draft to rebuild my TE position.
If anything I'll have a ton of assets to maneuver next year's draft board as well.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I would suggest also looking to move some of those picks for proven assets. Especially once your roster starts to get fleshed out a bit.
League Champion
Footballguy
Thats a great idea. I would definitely like to add some veteran WR depth. I'm decent there but not deep IMO.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Maybe better to go after elite youth. If you can get an AJB, ARSB, Higgins, Smith, Olave, etc you can get a proven asset to anchor your rebuild.
Rookies are always risky, and this year’s draft isn’t strong at WR.
Other teams will have rookie fever - if they’re getting a 1st & a 2nd they might part ways with something good.
Suggest not dealing for RBs until your roster is more fleshed out - that should be the last piece since they have a shorter window & you don’t want to waste 1-2 years of their production.
If you can move 2023 1st for a 2024 1st/2nd, or some other moves that bet you even more assets in the 2024 draft, that’s also a strong move. The less talent you have the better your own pick, and meanwhile you’re stacking even more picks to trade for even better assets next year.
It never gets old hearing this...hahahah@Gally was totally
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
It’s the first and last time I’ll ever say it. It pained me to write it.It never gets old hearing this...hahahah@Gally was totally
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greenmountaingoat
Footballguy
14 team1QB/ PPR orphan
Before- March 2022ish
NOW (after draft so not the same time of year).
QB:
Russ, Fields, Darnold, Love, Newton
Fields, Lance, Purdy
RB:
Gurley, Javonte, Eli Mitchell, Damien Harris, Ingram, Snell, Bolden
Bijan, Hall, Pacheco, Javonte, Mitchell, Kendre Miller, Mckinnon, Penny, Tucker, Warren
WR:
ARSB, C Patt, Calloway, Hardman, Golladay, Cole, Cobb, Mims
ARSB, Aiyuk, Diontae, Flowers, Lazard, Hodgins, Metchie
TE:
Kmet, Knox, Trautman, Granson
Andrews, Juawan, Darnell Washington
When I took over, I had 1.01, 1.11, 2.01, 2.08 and a couple other later picks.
As of right now, I don't have a 24 first but do have one each 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Traded 1.04 (my pick) +24 first for 1.01 (Bijan), traded 1.02+ for Andrews.
Won a few, lost a few. Feels like it's coming together but we'll see. Light on higher end WRs, however Bijan/ARSB/Andrews/Hall/Fields should give this team some some real punch. Can see some spike weeks in that group that will be wild. Just have to figure out which 2 to start among Aiyuk, Diontae, Javonte, Pacheco, Lazard, Eli Mitchell, Penny, Mckinnon etc. Feels like a team that's going to score a lot of points on the bench.
Before- March 2022ish
NOW (after draft so not the same time of year).
QB:
Russ, Fields, Darnold, Love, Newton
Fields, Lance, Purdy
RB:
Gurley, Javonte, Eli Mitchell, Damien Harris, Ingram, Snell, Bolden
Bijan, Hall, Pacheco, Javonte, Mitchell, Kendre Miller, Mckinnon, Penny, Tucker, Warren
WR:
ARSB, C Patt, Calloway, Hardman, Golladay, Cole, Cobb, Mims
ARSB, Aiyuk, Diontae, Flowers, Lazard, Hodgins, Metchie
TE:
Kmet, Knox, Trautman, Granson
Andrews, Juawan, Darnell Washington
When I took over, I had 1.01, 1.11, 2.01, 2.08 and a couple other later picks.
As of right now, I don't have a 24 first but do have one each 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Traded 1.04 (my pick) +24 first for 1.01 (Bijan), traded 1.02+ for Andrews.
Won a few, lost a few. Feels like it's coming together but we'll see. Light on higher end WRs, however Bijan/ARSB/Andrews/Hall/Fields should give this team some some real punch. Can see some spike weeks in that group that will be wild. Just have to figure out which 2 to start among Aiyuk, Diontae, Javonte, Pacheco, Lazard, Eli Mitchell, Penny, Mckinnon etc. Feels like a team that's going to score a lot of points on the bench.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Looks like a nice job retooling to me. Before you had too many QB for a 1 QB league so I like concentrating down to Fields & [the presumed 49ers starter]
The good news about Javonte came at a pretty good time for you. With Bijan/Hall in the fold, I might be tempted to try to deal (straight up, or package him with a pick/player) him for one more top flight WR. Like a Metchie+Javonte package might get you there - there’s a lot of optimism about those guys at the moment.
greenmountaingoat
Footballguy
Thank HSG.
If I'm reading my league right, I'm not so sure about that. The format flexibility (1 of each and 3 flex) is great but there's not the typical RB THIRST in the must start 2 typical format. The WR I'd be shopping for would probably be a "Hall for" type of guy but until he starts lighting up the scoreboard, not sure it's worth selling at this point in his market. Javonte+ for a WR feels like it's going to land me in the same tier as Aiyuk-Diontae. His price won't be right until a year from now. Too much risk on both sides of a Javonte trade IMO.
Even the playoffs in our league is 8/14 so losing a week or two is not catastrophic. We have two non-competitive teams so it's down to 12 teams for 8 spots. 3 very strong teams and 9 good-ish teams. One "good" team didn't make it last year but the rest of the teams with this sort of profile did. So things would have to go kind-of-bad for me to not get in with this team. That's life in FF so kind of half expecting it lol.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
eighsse2
Footballguy
Okay, I'll try not to get too far off topic. I will post the changes I've made to my team, but it's less of a rebuild, and more of a "large scale churn". Reading some of the posts here, I feel like I may be naively thinking my idea will work, when it is doomed to failure. I'm still of the opinion that it's best to just "keep on building" rather than build a champion and then spend two or three or four or five years rebuilding. I love rookies -- even if they're just cheap second late rounders -- because nobody know what they will do or how well they will do. Love to trim my roster down to just the stars and a few of the better prospects during the offseason, get 5-8 rookies every year, and hope a couple are studs within a year or two. We'll see 
it's going okay for now.
This is a RB-crazy league, 12-team, 20-man, QRRWWFKD, 6 pts all TDs. (Also no trading future year draft picks. Only one year if picks tradable at any time.)
Early in the 2022 season
I gave Aaron Jones.
I received a first round pick that I hoped would be pretty high. That team had one of the luckier seasons and it ended up being the 1.09.
Midway through the 2022 season
I gave Tua Tagovailoa, my first round pick (ended up being the 1.10), and another team's first round pick (he's known for having very good teams, but it ended up being the 1.07).
I received a first and second round pick from the team that clearly had the inside track, by a good margin, to be #1 in the order (fortunately for me, those did end up 1.01 and 2.01).
During the offseason
I gave Joe Mixon (post-alleged-road-rage incident, but after the charges were dropped) and the 2.10.
I received the 1.08.
I gave Terrace Marshall, Jr.
I received the 2.08.
I gave Kenny Pickett.
I received Geno Smith and the 2.06.
I gave Elijah Moore, Hunter Renfrow, and James Robinson.
I received Jahan Dotson and the 2.07.
I gave Jameson Williams (post-suspension).
I received the 1.11.
SUMMARY
Who I used to have
Who I have now
Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Kenny Pickett
Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith
D'Andre Swift, Travis Etienne, Joe Mixon, Aaron Jones, James Robinson
Bijan Robinson* (foregone conclusion at with the 1.01), Travis Etienne, D'Andre Swift
CeeDee Lamb, AJ Brown, Chris Godwin, Jameson Williams, Garret Wilson, Elijah Moore, Rashod Bateman, Jahan Dotson (traded him away; the trade listed above was to re-acquire him), Robert Woods, Alec Pierce
AJ Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Garrett Wilson, Chris Godwin, Jahan Dotson, Rashod Bateman
1.07, 1.10, 2.10
1.01*, 1.08, 1.09, 1.11, 2.01, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08
If I had to guess at this instant who I will get with those picks, after Bijan, come August or September, it would be: Tyjae Spears, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Israel Abanikanda, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Sean Tucker, Bryce Young
Yes, it would feel nice to have Mixon and Aaron Jones back about now ... but my hope is my three guys can get it done this year, and after I draft 3 or 4 rookie RB's this year, one might be looking really good, and maybe one other looking decent, for next year.
it's going okay for now.This is a RB-crazy league, 12-team, 20-man, QRRWWFKD, 6 pts all TDs. (Also no trading future year draft picks. Only one year if picks tradable at any time.)
Early in the 2022 season
I gave Aaron Jones.
I received a first round pick that I hoped would be pretty high. That team had one of the luckier seasons and it ended up being the 1.09.
Midway through the 2022 season
I gave Tua Tagovailoa, my first round pick (ended up being the 1.10), and another team's first round pick (he's known for having very good teams, but it ended up being the 1.07).
I received a first and second round pick from the team that clearly had the inside track, by a good margin, to be #1 in the order (fortunately for me, those did end up 1.01 and 2.01).
During the offseason
I gave Joe Mixon (post-alleged-road-rage incident, but after the charges were dropped) and the 2.10.
I received the 1.08.
I gave Terrace Marshall, Jr.
I received the 2.08.
I gave Kenny Pickett.
I received Geno Smith and the 2.06.
I gave Elijah Moore, Hunter Renfrow, and James Robinson.
I received Jahan Dotson and the 2.07.
I gave Jameson Williams (post-suspension).
I received the 1.11.
SUMMARY
Who I used to have
Who I have now
Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Kenny Pickett
Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith
D'Andre Swift, Travis Etienne, Joe Mixon, Aaron Jones, James Robinson
Bijan Robinson* (foregone conclusion at with the 1.01), Travis Etienne, D'Andre Swift
CeeDee Lamb, AJ Brown, Chris Godwin, Jameson Williams, Garret Wilson, Elijah Moore, Rashod Bateman, Jahan Dotson (traded him away; the trade listed above was to re-acquire him), Robert Woods, Alec Pierce
AJ Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Garrett Wilson, Chris Godwin, Jahan Dotson, Rashod Bateman
1.07, 1.10, 2.10
If I had to guess at this instant who I will get with those picks, after Bijan, come August or September, it would be: Tyjae Spears, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Israel Abanikanda, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Sean Tucker, Bryce Young
Yes, it would feel nice to have Mixon and Aaron Jones back about now ... but my hope is my three guys can get it done this year, and after I draft 3 or 4 rookie RB's this year, one might be looking really good, and maybe one other looking decent, for next year.
