Dynasty Takeover Guest Article (1 Viewer)

[RookieBlitz]

Just wanted to be one of the first to congratulate Andy Miley (aka anakin) on his guest post submission here at footballguys.com

http://subscribers.footballguys.com/2011/11miley_dynastytakeover.php

I encourage everyone to take a read through it.

 

[az_prof]

Just wanted to be one of the first to congratulate Andy Miley (aka anakin) on his guest post submission here at footballguys.comhttp://subscribers.footballguys.com/2011/11miley_dynastytakeover.phpI encourage everyone to take a read through it.

Anakin knows his stuff. Well done Andy.

 

[Mister CIA]

Most people don't like coming home to an empty cupboard when they are hungry, so you wouldn't want to start with a team that had nothing to offer. If you don't have the players and draft picks to build the team you want, you should reconsider taking over the team.

This completely ignores the fact that most dynasty teams are abandoned because they suck. To me, taking over a dynasty team implies a challenge - the suckier the better, because I'm arrogant enough to believe I can make all the difference.

 

[Tony Soprano]

I was recently approached by a league (12 person dynasty league with some of the moderators on another site) to take over a squad.

Here's the roster:

Delhomme, Jake CLE QB

McCoy, Colt CLE QB

Stafford, Matthew DET QB

Tebow, Tim DEN QB

Goodson, Mike CAR RB

McKnight, Joe NYJ RB

Taylor, Chester CHI RB

Woodhead, Danny NEP RB

Avery, Donnie STL WR

Banks, Brandon WAS WR

Bess, Davone MIA WR

Cruz, Victor NYG WR

Jones, Jacoby HOU WR

Knox, Johnny CHI WR

Massaquoi, Mohamed CLE WR

Mitchell, Carlton CLE WR

Royal, Eddie DEN WR

Sims-Walker, Mike JAC WR

Ward, Hines PIT WR

Watson, Ben CLE TE

Winslow, Kellen TBB TE

Browns, Cleveland CLE Def

Chiefs, Kansas City KCC Def

Rams, St. Louis STL Def

Draft Picks:

Year 2011 Draft Pick 1.07

Year 2011 Draft Pick 1.11

Year 2011 Draft Pick 3.07

Year 2011 Draft Pick 3.11

Year 2011 Draft Pick 4.05

Year 2011 Draft Pick 4.11

Blech. I said thanks but no thanks. I don't care how shrewd of an owner you are, it's going to be 2013 before you win any games... and that's only if you draft and trade like a champ.

It just sucks for this league that a team has gotten that bad. That's an incredibly tough sell for potential owners without giving them other incentives to join.

 

[dickey moe]

I was recently approached by a league (12 person dynasty league with some of the moderators on another site) to take over a squad.

Here's the roster:

Delhomme, Jake CLE QB

McCoy, Colt CLE QB

Stafford, Matthew DET QB

Tebow, Tim DEN QB

Goodson, Mike CAR RB

McKnight, Joe NYJ RB

Taylor, Chester CHI RB

Woodhead, Danny NEP RB

Avery, Donnie STL WR

Banks, Brandon WAS WR

Bess, Davone MIA WR

Cruz, Victor NYG WR

Jones, Jacoby HOU WR

Knox, Johnny CHI WR

Massaquoi, Mohamed CLE WR

Mitchell, Carlton CLE WR

Royal, Eddie DEN WR

Sims-Walker, Mike JAC WR

Ward, Hines PIT WR

Watson, Ben CLE TE

Winslow, Kellen TBB TE

Browns, Cleveland CLE Def

Chiefs, Kansas City KCC Def

Rams, St. Louis STL Def

Draft Picks:

Year 2011 Draft Pick 1.07

Year 2011 Draft Pick 1.11

Year 2011 Draft Pick 3.07

Year 2011 Draft Pick 3.11

Year 2011 Draft Pick 4.05

Year 2011 Draft Pick 4.11

Blech. I said thanks but no thanks. I don't care how shrewd of an owner you are, it's going to be 2013 before you win any games... and that's only if you draft and trade like a champ.

It just sucks for this league that a team has gotten that bad. That's an incredibly tough sell for potential owners without giving them other incentives to join.

Speaking of which, what are some good incentives to try to recruit new owners to take over crappy dynasty teams?

 

[anakin]

Thanks for the kind words.

As far as Mr. CIA's comments, I only speak from my experience. I have turned down many league openings.

if you love a fixer-upper, good for you, but not for me.

I took over a team in a 12 team dynasty league in 2009 with a core of:

QB-McNabb, Kolb

RB-Bradshaw, F-Jax

WR-Greg Jennings, Fitz

TE-D Clark

Traded Fitz for Mendenhall, drafted Harvin, picked up Vick before McNabb left town, then drafted NE TEs Hernandez and Gronk.

This team made playoffs first year, and next (2010) lost in championship game.

I took over a team in Hyper/Active 4 this year with a core of:

QB-Brady

RB-Gore, Pierre Thomas, Forsett

WR-Roddy, Lloyd, Britt, Bess, Branch, G Tate

TE-Gronk, M Lewis, Witten

I traded Britt for Lynch and 2011 3rd/4th rd picks, I traded my 1st/2nd in 2012 for 1.10/2.10 this year.

My rookie draft this year:

1.10 Kendall Hunter

2.08 Bilal Powell

2.10 Christian Ponder

3.12 Jerrel Jernigan

4.08 Denarious Moore

4.09 DJ Williams

 

[anakin]

I was recently approached by a league (12 person dynasty league with some of the moderators on another site) to take over a squad. Here's the rosterelhomme, Jake CLE QBMcCoy, Colt CLE QBStafford, Matthew DET QBTebow, Tim DEN QBGoodson, Mike CAR RBMcKnight, Joe NYJ RBTaylor, Chester CHI RBWoodhead, Danny NEP RBAvery, Donnie STL WRBanks, Brandon WAS WRBess, Davone MIA WRCruz, Victor NYG WRJones, Jacoby HOU WRKnox, Johnny CHI WRMassaquoi, Mohamed CLE WRMitchell, Carlton CLE WRRoyal, Eddie DEN WRSims-Walker, Mike JAC WRWard, Hines PIT WRWatson, Ben CLE TEWinslow, Kellen TBB TEBrowns, Cleveland CLE DefChiefs, Kansas City KCC DefRams, St. Louis STL DefDraft Picks:Year 2011 Draft Pick 1.07Year 2011 Draft Pick 1.11Year 2011 Draft Pick 3.07Year 2011 Draft Pick 3.11Year 2011 Draft Pick 4.05Year 2011 Draft Pick 4.11Blech. I said thanks but no thanks. I don't care how shrewd of an owner you are, it's going to be 2013 before you win any games... and that's only if you draft and trade like a champ.It just sucks for this league that a team has gotten that bad. That's an incredibly tough sell for potential owners without giving them other incentives to join.

Wow, that team does not have much. As far as incentives go, I have cut league fees in half for first year. If that team won more money than they put in, they would pay back the league for the amount that was fronted the team. I have mentored a team by trying to help them build by paying a little bit more for a handcuff. The trick is to also let a team take available free agents to build the team they want (not rookies). If you get a big stinking pile of doo doo team, at least let the new owner pick the ones they like.

 

[Dave Larkin]

Great article Andrew. I really enjoyed it.

 

[az_prof]

I like the idea of having a special FA draft just for the new guy if the team is bad. Most leagues lock FA during the off season and sometimes there are a couple of good players there who emerge during the summer. You could also have a new team draft just for the new team:

a) every team cuts two players (no D or PK allowed)

b) The new team is allowed to select two players from this group and existing FA list

c) Everyone whose player was not chosen gets their players back

d) The teams who lost a player in this special draft pick from FA list after the new guy to replenish their roster

 

[gandalas]

As far as incentives go, I have cut league fees in half for first year. If that team won more money than they put in, they would pay back the league for the amount that was fronted the team. I have mentored a team by trying to help them build by paying a little bit more for a handcuff. The trick is to also let a team take available free agents to build the team they want (not rookies). If you get a big stinking pile of doo doo team, at least let the new owner pick the ones they like.

For the league I commish, it is only a $25 entry fee, so I generally offer the new owner the first season free, with a deposit for the 2nd year to ensure that they don't just take the free year and bail.

 

[Caveman_Nick]

Taking over a dynasty team can be rewarding, but also a real challenge. I took over a spot in a "Prestigious" league a few years ago and chronicled my moves for the first 2-3 years.

I'd post them here, but it would be very long. It's in a blog I keep elsewhere. This team was an utter disaster when I took it over.

Introductory post

first update

second update

last update

There were lots of swings and misses in there, but there were a enough hits to help me build a player base to work from. patience and a plan were the biggest components of the rebuild. I stopped writing about it at that point, not so much because it was over, but because I felt like I had brought the team from a complete tragedy to a workable roster. I consider the team to be "rebuilt" now and am hopeful of a playoff berth and doing some damage.

I played 4 years with virtually no hope of winning anything. This team should not only be competitive, but also have a fair chance to stretch that competitiveness out for a few years. At least that's my hope

 

[The Real Hipster Doofus]

Took over a challenging rebuild last season. I took a less than talented team because this was my first dynasty league and I was anxious to get started in a league. Start 1 QB/2 RB/2 WR/1 TE/1 FLEX/1 K/1 DEF. .5 PPR for WR and TE. I started with this horrid roster January of 2010....

Campbell, Jason WAS QB 19

Flacco, Joe BAL QB

Kolb, Kevin PHI QB

Leinart, Matt ARI QB

Forte, Matt CHI RB

Hightower, Tim ARI RB

Jennings, Rashad JAC RB

Maroney, Laurence NEP RB

Scott, Bernard CIN RB

Wynn, DeShawn GBP RB

Avery, Donnie STL WR

Clowney, David NYJ WR

Crayton, Patrick DAL WR

Edelman, Julian NEP WR

Knox, Johnny CHI WR

Mason, Derrick BAL WR

Robiskie, Brian CLE WR

Stroughter, Sammie TBB WR

Walter, Kevin HOU WR

Celek, Brent PHI TE

Fasano, Anthony MIA TE

Winslow, Kellen TBB TE

Gould, Robbie CHI PK

Hartley, Garrett NOS PK

Packers, Green Bay GBP Def

Draft picks:

1.02, 1.13, 2.02, 2.07, 3.02, and 4.02

Basically blew up my team for 2011 draft picks, with the idea that the picks would be underpriced, while at the same time ensuring my team would end up with the 1.01 pick. Sold Kolb, Forte, Flacco, Celek, Winslow, Knox, Maroney, Scott, Edelman, Leinart and Mason for draft picks soon after taking over. I have probably made 20+ trades overall, some that I felt I won (a 3rd in 2010 for Steve Johnson before he blew up) and others I wish I could have back.

First draft netted me

1.02 Dez Bryant

2.09 James Starks

3.06 Rob Gronkowski

4.06 Tony Moeaki

This draft, from previous trades, I ended up with the 1.01 (mine), 1.02, 1.07, 1.09, 1.11, and 1.12. I traded the last 4 picks for the 1.03

This years draft netted me

1.01 AJ Green

1.02 Mark Ingram

1.03 Julio Jones

3.03 Blaine Gabbert

4.01 Johnny White

4.03 Julius Thomas

My roster today is...

Gabbert, Blaine JAC QB

Stafford, Matt DET QB

Ingram, Mark NOS RB

Ivory, Chris NOS RB

Jackson, Fred BUF RB

Johnson, Jeremiah DEN RB

Starks, James GB RB

White, Johnny BUF RB

Avery, Donnie STL WR

Bryant, Dez DAL WR

Ford, Jacoby OAK WR

Gettis, David CAR WR

Green, AJ CIN WR

Heyward-Bey, Darius OAK WR

Jones, Julio ATL WR

Murphy, Louis OAK WR

Cameron, Jordan CLE TE

Dickson, Ed BAL TE

Gronkowski, Rob NE TE

Housler, Robert ARI TE

Keller, Dustin NYJ TE

Moeaki, Tony KCC TE

Thomas, Julius DEN TE

Gould, Robbie CHI K

Green Bay Packers DEF

Still need a lot in the way of depth and RB, but I feel on the whole the talent level difference is huge. I feel that I could have built differently and had a playoff team now, but with the ways teams are built in this league (a couple of teams with stacked rosters) I felt I had to swing for the elite players to try and compete. One of my favorite dynasty moves is loading up on late round rookie draft picks at TE. The price is very low, and I feel the possible return on that low investment is worth it.

I still have my own first round pick as well as a 1st rounder from one of the top teams in the league for 2012. I am still exploring options to shore up my RB, get a better TE, etc. Obviously this team is not there yet, but I feel happy about the progress.

In short I think the quickest path to turning around a team is blowing it up for future picks. You ensure a high pick yourself, and you have valuable chips for trade at a reduced cost. I could have easily traded away all those 1st's for some more proven talent if I chose to. It may be a few years before I can compete, or if things break the right way I could be competing sooner rather than later.

 

[domvin]

As I mentioned on the board kid, nice article, and a huge kudos.

 

[snellman]

Very good article:

I enjoy taking over a dynasty team that is in serious need of a rebuild, but that is just me. I enjoy the challenge, but I also understand where someone would not, especially in a money league (I only play in 2 money leagues, neither which I have taken over a bad team).

As was also stated, it makes a BIG difference how active other owners are in trading to being able to make over your team. If you get into a league with very few active owners, it takes a lot more luck of hitting on picks.

 

[Andrew Garda]

I like the idea of having a special FA draft just for the new guy if the team is bad. Most leagues lock FA during the off season and sometimes there are a couple of good players there who emerge during the summer. You could also have a new team draft just for the new team:a) every team cuts two players (no D or PK allowed)b) The new team is allowed to select two players from this group and existing FA listc) Everyone whose player was not chosen gets their players backd) The teams who lost a player in this special draft pick from FA list after the new guy to replenish their roster

In one cntract/dynasty league we did something similar - we had two guys leave at the same time and both teams were meh - we had a draft where all of us put up players we had under contract and the new guys drafted from that pool as well as the players on their team. It worked out very well, I thought and the teams are at least a little better off than they were before.ps - nice work on the piece Andy

 

[anakin]

I like the idea of having a special FA draft just for the new guy if the team is bad. Most leagues lock FA during the off season and sometimes there are a couple of good players there who emerge during the summer. You could also have a new team draft just for the new team:a) every team cuts two players (no D or PK allowed)b) The new team is allowed to select two players from this group and existing FA listc) Everyone whose player was not chosen gets their players backd) The teams who lost a player in this special draft pick from FA list after the new guy to replenish their roster

In one cntract/dynasty league we did something similar - we had two guys leave at the same time and both teams were meh - we had a draft where all of us put up players we had under contract and the new guys drafted from that pool as well as the players on their team. It worked out very well, I thought and the teams are at least a little better off than they were before.ps - nice work on the piece Andy

Thanks AG. ROD-replacement owner drafts are the best way to go. You get a chance to build the team your way. When I do those, I thrown in the rookie draft picks of the teams that left as well. An owner can choose to draft a veteran player or a rookie draft pick as a "selection" in the ROD.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Good article. It is important as you said to state the time commitment that a rebuilding effort would take. Taking over a mediocre team can be a challenge if there are a few stacked teams, and a terrible team rebuild could take years.

I find that it is important to mention to people who take over these kinds of efforts to pick a time when you envision that the team will be competitive (say in 2 or 3 years). Once you know what the end goal is, EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE between now and then should have that goal in mind. Trade everyone over 30, for example. Collect rookie picks for the next 2-3 years. Trade handcuff RBs to their primary back owners and get something. Get young, rebuild, and make every single decision with that timeline in mind. DO NOT add guys off the waivers that don't meet your criteria for that process unless it is a bye week filler to complete a roster during the season.

 

[anakin]

Good article. It is important as you said to state the time commitment that a rebuilding effort would take. Taking over a mediocre team can be a challenge if there are a few stacked teams, and a terrible team rebuild could take years.I find that it is important to mention to people who take over these kinds of efforts to pick a time when you envision that the team will be competitive (say in 2 or 3 years). Once you know what the end goal is, EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE between now and then should have that goal in mind. Trade everyone over 30, for example. Collect rookie picks for the next 2-3 years. Trade handcuff RBs to their primary back owners and get something. Get young, rebuild, and make every single decision with that timeline in mind. DO NOT add guys off the waivers that don't meet your criteria for that process unless it is a bye week filler to complete a roster during the season.

Great points Jeff. I look forward to our discussion tomorrow.

 

[thriftyrocker]

DO NOT add guys off the waivers that don't meet your criteria for that process unless it is a bye week filler to complete a roster during the season.

On waivers, you're looking for any value you can find. Would you have passed on Brandon Lloyd last year or Ricky Williams after his yoga training or Warner when he became a "relief QB" in Arizona? Those players might not be relevant when you need them, but anyone with value can be traded. Take a UFA WR over Lloyd (Stephen Williams, Victor Cruz, etc.) ended up being a bad move regardless of situation.

 

[Captain Hook]

Speaking of which, what are some good incentives to try to recruit new owners to take over crappy dynasty teams?

Dynasty or even keeper leagues where a bad/thoughtless owner (or one who suddenly faces tragic situations at home or work) argue heavily for League Fees to be paid one year IN ADVANCE.That way when an owner bails for whatever reason, the league/commissioner can recruit a good owner who is willing to take up the challenge without having to pay for taking over a bad roster [and the rule on that should have a clause that IF a NEW owner is playing without paying the current league fees that IF he cashes in that year the league fees are deducted prior to any payout]