Strategies for 16-Team Dynasty Leagues (1 Viewer)

[DAG]

Hey guys, I didn't see a thread on this after searching a bit. Also, I apologize if this is better suited for the AC; I'm not asking about specific players/choices so I though it'd be a good fit for the SP.

I'm in a new, 16-team dynasty startup and I would really value input, advice and experiences from any of you who play in larger dynasty leagues (16 teams, but also perhaps 14-teamers). I've been playing FF and dynasty for quite a while now, but I've always participated in 12-team leagues, so this will be new for me. What do you see as the primary considerations for draft strategy and roster management in larger dynasty leagues? How do/did you approach your startup drafts? If anyone is thinking in terms of specific advice, this league is a pretty standard ppr, with a flex lineup (1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DST, and 2 flex (RB/WR/TE with a max of 2 total RBs)) and TE premium scoring (1.5 ppr). But I'm also hoping for a more general discussion on large dynasty league strategies. Thanks so much!

 

[snellman]

I play in IDP so my strategy depends a lot on scoring and lineup rules, but with 16 teams the talent is spread out a little more so I pick on position I am going to be very strong at therefore sacrificing roster strength at another position.

 

[opensourcebeer]

Hey guys, I didn't see a thread on this after searching a bit. Also, I apologize if this is better suited for the AC; I'm not asking about specific players/choices so I though it'd be a good fit for the SP.

I'm in a new, 16-team dynasty startup and I would really value input, advice and experiences from any of you who play in larger dynasty leagues (16 teams, but also perhaps 14-teamers). I've been playing FF and dynasty for quite a while now, but I've always participated in 12-team leagues, so this will be new for me. What do you see as the primary considerations for draft strategy and roster management in larger dynasty leagues? How do/did you approach your startup drafts? If anyone is thinking in terms of specific advice, this league is a pretty standard ppr, with a flex lineup (1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DST, and 2 flex (RB/WR/TE with a max of 2 total RBs)) and TE premium scoring (1.5 ppr). But I'm also hoping for a more general discussion on large dynasty league strategies. Thanks so much!

Don't get caught on the wrong side of a run at qb. I'll try to post more when I'm not on my phone.

 

[Adam Harstad]

Hey guys, I didn't see a thread on this after searching a bit. Also, I apologize if this is better suited for the AC; I'm not asking about specific players/choices so I though it'd be a good fit for the SP.

I'm in a new, 16-team dynasty startup and I would really value input, advice and experiences from any of you who play in larger dynasty leagues (16 teams, but also perhaps 14-teamers). I've been playing FF and dynasty for quite a while now, but I've always participated in 12-team leagues, so this will be new for me. What do you see as the primary considerations for draft strategy and roster management in larger dynasty leagues? How do/did you approach your startup drafts? If anyone is thinking in terms of specific advice, this league is a pretty standard ppr, with a flex lineup (1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DST, and 2 flex (RB/WR/TE with a max of 2 total RBs)) and TE premium scoring (1.5 ppr). But I'm also hoping for a more general discussion on large dynasty league strategies. Thanks so much!

Don't get caught on the wrong side of a run at qb. I'll try to post more when I'm not on my phone.

This. 16-teamers drop the baseline at QB and make getting a top one much more valuable than you're used to if you're usually playing in 12-teamers.

 

[Acrobat7]

Hey guys, I didn't see a thread on this after searching a bit. Also, I apologize if this is better suited for the AC; I'm not asking about specific players/choices so I though it'd be a good fit for the SP.

I'm in a new, 16-team dynasty startup and I would really value input, advice and experiences from any of you who play in larger dynasty leagues (16 teams, but also perhaps 14-teamers). I've been playing FF and dynasty for quite a while now, but I've always participated in 12-team leagues, so this will be new for me. What do you see as the primary considerations for draft strategy and roster management in larger dynasty leagues? How do/did you approach your startup drafts? If anyone is thinking in terms of specific advice, this league is a pretty standard ppr, with a flex lineup (1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DST, and 2 flex (RB/WR/TE with a max of 2 total RBs)) and TE premium scoring (1.5 ppr). But I'm also hoping for a more general discussion on large dynasty league strategies. Thanks so much!

Don't get caught on the wrong side of a run at qb. I'll try to post more when I'm not on my phone.

In my experience runs per se tend to happen a whole lot more often than in a 12-teamer. It is the fear that you'll only be able to pick again in 30 picks which probably triggers the impuls to join the flow.

 

[Bob Barker]

Its a lot harder to trade for a good QB, most teams only have 2 starting QBs with their QB2 usually weak. So to get someone to give up a good QB at likely the highest scoring position will take a lot more than in 10-12 team leagues. I like to lock up a good young QB even if i have to slightly over draft them

 

[nirad3]

I agree with the sentiment that grabbing a very solid QB is likely a good strategy. The key is timing when you take one of the very last upper (1 or 2, IMO) QBs. You don't want to have to scramble and assemble a hodgepodge of Ryan Fitzpatricks and Alex Smiths.

 

[DAG]

Thank you so much for the replies so far guys. QB value/scarcity wasn't something that I had even considered as a primary issue so this is already enormously helpful.

 

[utahandy]

I'm one who generally prefers 16-team leagues. The leagues I'm in have larger starting lineups than yours (1/2/3/1/Flex) without a TE premium. I agree with most of the previous comments:

#1 It's very hard to win without a top QB option. I went with a late-round QB in a 2008 startup & didn't make the playoffs until I traded for Drew Brees before the 2010 season.

#2 You almost have to 'punt' at one position, drafting late-round guys. For me, that position is usually RB. In a 2013 startup I led the league in scoring & finished 3rd (ran into Jamaal Charles in the semis) with a core of Stafford, Graham, Gordon, Garcon & K. Allen. My RBs were Woodhead, MJD, Blount & Quizz.

#3 With the smaller starting lineups in your league, the emphasis will be on studs. I would consider using my 2015 picks in packages to upgrade my starting lineup---especially after Weeks 3 & 4 with league mates who only have one win. In a startup, it seems nobody wants to give up on the season before it starts; but a 1-2 or 1-3 start often opens up trading avenues.

Just my two bits---hope it helps....

 

[nirad3]

I'm one who generally prefers 16-team leagues. The leagues I'm in have larger starting lineups than yours (1/2/3/1/Flex) without a TE premium. I agree with most of the previous comments:

#1 It's very hard to win without a top QB option. I went with a late-round QB in a 2008 startup & didn't make the playoffs until I traded for Drew Brees before the 2010 season.

#2 You almost have to 'punt' at one position, drafting late-round guys. For me, that position is usually RB. In a 2013 startup I led the league in scoring & finished 3rd (ran into Jamaal Charles in the semis) with a core of Stafford, Graham, Gordon, Garcon & K. Allen. My RBs were Woodhead, MJD, Blount & Quizz.

#3 With the smaller starting lineups in your league, the emphasis will be on studs. I would consider using my 2015 picks in packages to upgrade my starting lineup---especially after Weeks 3 & 4 with league mates who only have one win. In a startup, it seems nobody wants to give up on the season before it starts; but a 1-2 or 1-3 start often opens up trading avenues.

Just my two bits---hope it helps....

I totally agree with the premise and position selection of #2, above. I'm not going to say that RB has become the new DB (for you IDP guys, you'll agree that they're a dime a dozen and can be had during the season on the waiver wire), but I find that if you're not in a position to draft a uber-stud RB, then you can grab one or two "very solid" ones and then load up on PPR RBs that happen to be in RBBCs. Two things: one, if the "main" RB in the committee were to ever go down, you're staring at what could be a pretty nice every-week RB. If not, at least you know they can get you 10ish points every week.

Love having guys like Joique Bell, Danny Woodhead, Fred Jackson... those guys are obviously not elite names but you know what you're going to get every week. And if you've concentrated your earlier efforts on building an elite set of QB/WR/TE, then you are in a great spot to win.

 

[Adam Harstad]

I agree with the sentiment that grabbing a very solid QB is likely a good strategy. The key is timing when you take one of the very last upper (1 or 2, IMO) QBs. You don't want to have to scramble and assemble a hodgepodge of Ryan Fitzpatricks and Alex Smiths.

Actually, Alex Smith isn't a bad fallback plan if you miss out on the top QBs. He's got job security, and he's likely to produce numbers in the 10-15 range at a fraction of the cost. Guys that are weak starters in 12-teamers become better bets in 16-teamers, because the baseline is lower. If I couldn't get a good young cornerstone, I wouldn't be opposed to waiting until 20 quarterbacks were off the board and then assembling a group like Alex Smith, EJ Manuel, and Mike Glennon. Smith gives you a reliable starter in the short-term, and Manuel and Glennon give you a pair of upside plays for the future.

If people aren't used to playing in 16-team leagues, though, they're going to want to wait at QB, so you can get one of the top ones pretty easily.

 

[nirad3]

I agree with the sentiment that grabbing a very solid QB is likely a good strategy. The key is timing when you take one of the very last upper (1 or 2, IMO) QBs. You don't want to have to scramble and assemble a hodgepodge of Ryan Fitzpatricks and Alex Smiths.

Actually, Alex Smith isn't a bad fallback plan if you miss out on the top QBs. He's got job security, and he's likely to produce numbers in the 10-15 range at a fraction of the cost. Guys that are weak starters in 12-teamers become better bets in 16-teamers, because the baseline is lower. If I couldn't get a good young cornerstone, I wouldn't be opposed to waiting until 20 quarterbacks were off the board and then assembling a group like Alex Smith, EJ Manuel, and Mike Glennon. Smith gives you a reliable starter in the short-term, and Manuel and Glennon give you a pair of upside plays for the future.

If people aren't used to playing in 16-team leagues, though, they're going to want to wait at QB, so you can get one of the top ones pretty easily.

With all due respect, I'm in 3 16-team dynasties (and have been in them for quite some time) and I'd be freaking out if my QB options were Smith, Manuel and Glennon. Maybe it's just personal preference and a general feeling of uneasiness with guys that really have no big game upside. As another poster suggested, their teams were middling until they landed a higher-caliber QB. A league that I won last year was similar in that I had been starting guys like Alex Smith, Matt Schaub (2011-2012)... completely changed my fortune when I dealt Russell Wilson and a pick for Drew Brees.

You're right, though, that those guys can get you decent production at a fraction of the cost of the "elite", and even the next mini-tier down... say, Matthew Stafford. I think guys like Stafford, Luck, Newton... go far too early. Wait and let folks overpay for those names and target guys like Matt Ryan and Tony Romo. I'd rather hit on a Ryan, Romo, Rivers or Cutler than wait just a bit too long and muddle through with Smith, Little Manning or Bradford. That's a headache waiting to happen... again, in my humble opinion.

Kinda makes me want to go and do another startup...

 

[Adam Harstad]

With all due respect, I'm in 3 16-team dynasties (and have been in them for quite some time) and I'd be freaking out if my QB options were Smith, Manuel and Glennon. Maybe it's just personal preference and a general feeling of uneasiness with guys that really have no big game upside. As another poster suggested, their teams were middling until they landed a higher-caliber QB. A league that I won last year was similar in that I had been starting guys like Alex Smith, Matt Schaub (2011-2012)... completely changed my fortune when I dealt Russell Wilson and a pick for Drew Brees.

You're right, though, that those guys can get you decent production at a fraction of the cost of the "elite", and even the next mini-tier down... say, Matthew Stafford. I think guys like Stafford, Luck, Newton... go far too early. Wait and let folks overpay for those names and target guys like Matt Ryan and Tony Romo.

Kinda makes me want to go and do another startup...

If it means you didn't spend at picks at the position through the first 8 rounds, you should be relatively stacked all through the rest of your team, where QB12 production is really all you need. And I'm actually pretty high on Buffalo's offense and think Manuel is a very nice sleeper, long-term.

Another big point- learn to love backup QBs. I'm a big proponent of backups even in 12-team leagues, but they become even more vital in 16-teamers. So many of the top QBs in fantasy could have been had for pennies at the beginning of their career because they started off as backups. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Nick Foles. Philadelphia-era Mike Vick. Russell Wilson was cheap before his rookie preseason because people assumed he'd be a backup. When people do their QB rankings, they almost always rank all of the starters before getting around to the backups. This is a mistake, because we know that most likely several of the stars of tomorrow are the backups of today. I've got a dynasty league (not 16-teams) where my current QBs are Brees, Roethlisberger, Kaepernick, and Foles, just because I grabbed Kaep and Foles when they were available for free and held them until they got a chance to start.

Who are the top backups today? Brock Osweiler, Ryan Mallett, Mike Glennon, Derek Carr, maybe Kirk Cousins (although I'm cooling on him). Maybe guys like Tom Savage, Thaddeus Lewis, or Drew Stanton. Most of these guys won't amount to anything, but I guarantee you that in a couple of years, several of those names will be highly-sought-after. Unless rosters are really tight, grab a couple of those guys on the super-cheap and devote a couple of roster spots to them. You might have to hold on to them for a while. Then again, as Kaepernick and Foles demonstrated, you might not.

Also, since we're really hitting the QB position hard, I'll also say that buying injured QBs usually nets you huge bargains.

 

[fruity pebbles]

16 team with 1.5 ppr for TEs, tight ends are king. Jimmy Graham is the leagues most valuable player. I'd go tight end early and often.