I don't think I've done enough startups to know the "normal" amount of future rookie picks that get traded, but I just finished one where 2 teams control 9 of the 2026 2nd rounders and 6 teams traded their 2026 1st. FFPC triflex, so very shallow rosters and you only keep 16. You cannot trade picks more than a calendar year in advance. I see it more of a keeper league than dynasty, but that's for a different day.
Sort of just interested in seeing how market dynamics play out. I got an extra 2026 1st for what I think is cheap. I think it's very unlikely that all 6 teams who traded their 1st are in the playoffs. Or are happy with their roster construction even if they earn the 1.07 that goes to someone else. I'm planning to hold both of my 1sts because my guess is they're going to become expensive to whoever ends up owning the orphans of those teams or the current managers if they stick it out.
I'm going to be a nerd about what those teams do with those 2nds. They've essentially cornered the market. They drafted a bunch of older players that I'd normally think a tanking team was trying to flip for 2nds, but those trades will not be there. FFPC is a little different in that there's a tournament for the 1.01, so I think guys like Kamara will stay on those tanking teams. I'm not a dynasty legend, but I don't really value actually picking 2nds very highly in a shallow format. I think they make excellent trade chips, though.
I'm not a start-up master man, so maybe this is typical? Figured the sharks could give me some ideas about the smart way to play.
I've done a lot of FFPC startups. Historically future 1sts are worth a 6th round startup pick and future 2nds are worth an 11th round startup pick.
I have noticed that the price seems to have risen a bit this year, hard to get a 1st out of just a 6th anymore, usually requires a sweetener or a 5th or both. Future picks seem to be getting more and more valuable every year.
I somewhat disagree on future 2nds being low value in FFPC. I love using them as bargaining chips during the current year draft when everyone is in that NFL draft, wheeling and dealing for picks mood. A great way to move up in the draft, or acquire future 1sts (1.11 + future 2nd for future 1st from a bad team, or 2.04 + 2.08 + future 2nd for future 1st from a mediocre team, etc).
It's really been at the core of my strategy in FFPC that has led to some
pretty good success in that format.