What NOT to do when rebuilding a DYNASTY team. (1 Viewer)

[comfortably numb]

#1 Draft pick obsession

Just cause you are rebuilding, doesn't mean trade everything of value (in some cases good young value or studs) for draft picks.

I love picks as much as the next guy, but but if your plan is to move anything of value for picks, your most likely going to be rebuilding often.

This seems to be #1 on the mistake list.

I understand wanting to get draft picks, younger, and rebuilding, but trading 24-27 year old for draft picks only is counter productive.

Granted, even IF you really dislike lets say Calvin Johnson, don't trade him for 1.2/1.10 and a 2011 2nd.

If you are going to move a few good proven commodities, at least get a prospect in return that you can build around.

#2?

 

[JohnnyU]

That depends who those 24/27 year olds are. If you trade someone that you don't feel will never be a WR #1 or RB #1 on his team but has a lot of current value, then hell yes you do it for 1st rd picks if you're rebuilding.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.

This is two fold:

1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.

2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

 

[39407]

Don't overvalue RBs, they have a short lifespan and most of them are a dime a dozen anyway.

 

[fridayfrenzy]

Don't be afraid to get worse before you get better.

If you want to stick to mediocrity, then keep trading rookie picks for older veterans who won't help you come even close to being a winning dynasty franchise, but hampers your ability to draft rookies to help you in the future.

 

[The Real Hipster Doofus]

That depends who those 24/27 year olds are. If you trade someone that you don't feel will never be a WR #1 or RB #1 on his team but has a lot of current value, then hell yes you do it for 1st rd picks if you're rebuilding.

This was my thinking as well. A guy like Forte, I was moving him for whatever I could get. I figured his value was about to drop off a cliff and it pretty much has so I am glad I was to flip him when I did.

 

[CravenM]

Don't overvalue RBs, they have a short lifespan and most of them are a dime a dozen anyway.

I disagree. They may have a short lifespan but most competent owners could cut to 0 players and field a pretty competitive team as long as they have starting RBs. Stud WRs are rare these days (maybe only about 3-4 right now) and stud QBs can be counted on half a hand.

 

[hostile]

#1 Draft pick obsessionJust cause you are rebuilding, doesn't mean trade everything of value (in some cases good young value or studs) for draft picks.I love picks as much as the next guy, but but if your plan is to move anything of value for picks, your most likely going to be rebuilding often.This seems to be #1 on the mistake list.I understand wanting to get draft picks, younger, and rebuilding, but trading 24-27 year old for draft picks only is counter productive.Granted, even IF you really dislike lets say Calvin Johnson, don't trade him for 1.2/1.10 and a 2011 2nd.If you are going to move a few good proven commodities, at least get a prospect in return that you can build around.#2?

#2: Use #1 to your advantage!There are lots of guys who are pick-hungry or over-value picks who will relinquish proven commodities (or players who have seen spot duty who are ready to go to the next level) for picks which are pretty much meaningless.Quick eg: I traded my 2.07 pick for Kolb about 6 weeks ago b/c the Kolb owner traded away his 2nd rounder earlier and wanted to get back into the 2nd round.

 

[aaawall91]

Don't overvalue RBs, they have a short lifespan and most of them are a dime a dozen anyway.

Agreed. Start building your Dynasty team from the WR position, if you can have a firesale and acquire 3 top 25 WRs under the age of 28 than you have a great start.

 

[Garts]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

 

[Couch Potato]

Don't overvalue RBs, they have a short lifespan and most of them are a dime a dozen anyway.

I disagree. They may have a short lifespan but most competent owners could cut to 0 players and field a pretty competitive team as long as they have starting RBs. Stud WRs are rare these days (maybe only about 3-4 right now) and stud QBs can be counted on half a hand.

The RB value argument depends a great deal on lineup requirements and whether the league is PPR. I'm in some leagues that can start up to 4 RBs (2 as flex) and are not PPR, and in these leagues owners will just about give up the farm for starting RBs with some tread left, and early rookie picks that can become starting RBs.I'm in other leagues that are PPR and the requirement is 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, and 2 flex... in such leagues the value of RB is greatly diminished after the top dozen or so RBs.

 

[pretender]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

I would trade him for a Josh Freeman or Matthew Stafford type and a stud WR - not that is a good start to a rebuild.

 

[hostile]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

Maybe it should be?:QB: 33-35RB: 28WR: 32-33Just throwin' it out there...

 

[Mister CIA]

#1 Draft pick obsession

Just cause you are rebuilding, doesn't mean trade everything of value (in some cases good young value or studs) for draft picks.

I love picks as much as the next guy, but but if your plan is to move anything of value for picks, your most likely going to be rebuilding often.

This seems to be #1 on the mistake list.

I understand wanting to get draft picks, younger, and rebuilding, but trading 24-27 year old for draft picks only is counter productive.

Granted, even IF you really dislike lets say Calvin Johnson, don't trade him for 1.2/1.10 and a 2011 2nd.

If you are going to move a few good proven commodities, at least get a prospect in return that you can build around.

#2?

If you are going to rebuild, then for that first season by all means go hog wild amassing draft picks - for just that season. I could not stand to teeter between a youth movement and mediocrity. That said, #1 on my list for what NOT to do when rebuilding a dynasty team is sucking at making rookie draft picks. Loading up on youth that first season of a rebuild also makes you the center of everyone's attention when they look to trade, because your loaded with very young players, several of which will have success early and, as they often do, become overrated.With a little luck, two to three years into a rebuild, reverse roles and and load for bear by dealing draft picks. Not sure what happens next, I'm on years 4 and 5 of rebuilds and now I just kind of coast.

 

[Garts]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

I would trade him for a Josh Freeman or Matthew Stafford type and a stud WR - not that is a good start to a rebuild.

I MIGHT trade him for a Matt Ryan plus package...I'd trade manning for Rivers...not sure the other party would...but who knows.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.

This is two fold:

1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.

2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.

I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.

The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.

So what's the point of trading him?

I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

Thats the problem with the statement. In two years, Reggie Wayne/Dallas Clark will both be over the age of 32....and could not be studs anymore...which would also hurt the now 35 Peyton Manning's value.

 

[Sweet Love]

I don't play dynasty, but have been playing FF long enough (and on these boards the last 7 years), so I may provide a little different perspective. One thing that always jumps out at me is when people jump for "flavor of the week" WRs. Now, I realize in 14 & 16 team leagues, you just have to do it, but in 10 &12 team leagues, I am always astonished what people are willing to give up in trades, when a guy you have been eyeballing has a solid week (when there was no track record before). In redraft you can actually do this as if you are wrong, it will all be over anyways in X amount of weeks. In dynasty you have to live with it for a while. I understand that is how people come away with the Miles' and Walkers', but for every one of them there are a bunch of Clarence Moores. Again, if you don't sell the farm, it is fine to jump on them, but I have seen a ton of people over the years trade for a guy coming off of a 100 yard game and giving away a first rounder in exchange.

 

[Donsmith753]

Some good advice here, thanks. I've just taken on a massive rebuilding project.

 

[Abraham]

I find that most people substantially over value draft picks every year. Many dynasty leagues have the same guys drafting up top each year not just because the picks don't develop but also because those guys tend to trade away marginally productive players for more picks. But you've already covered that.

The other thing that I see in dynasty leagues that I would characterize as a mistake would be not having a plan in place. What I mean is that most folks w/ dynasty teams think that simply getting as much talent in place as possible is the key to success. And yes, that is the key to success. But it is not the key to winning the league. Winning the league requires having more of THIS YEAR's talent on board then anyone else. For example, I think that CJ SPiller is likely to have a nice career if he ends up in the right situation. And he might rush for 1000 yards this season to boot. But barring unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances like injury, its safe to say that SPiller's BEST NFL season will not be 2010. In that regard, his TRUE value is as low now as it will ever be. Conversely, a player who maybe isn't as likely to have a great career as Spiller may very easily outpace him this season. I'll toss out Felix Jones. I imagine folks with the #1 pick wouldn't trade it for Felix Jones. And I imagine the Felix Jones owner might jump at the chance to get the #1 selection. And for the long term, that thinking is sound. THus lies the problem: most dynasty owners think that having a long-term view is key to success. They don't acknowledge or understand that a severely short-term view is key to winning the league.

I typically build my teams to win every three years even if it means I'm awful the other two. Trading high picks (the players selected with which will peak in 4-6 years) for guys that are in their primes now is the way to win now. Maybe Reggie Wayne is on the downside of his career, but he's worth a lot more then Dez Bryant for THIS season. Sam Bradford should no doubt be better over the next 5 years then Donovan McNabb, but McNabb is a near lock to outdo him in 2010.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

Someone posted their blog here last year about their rebuilding effort and I really liked it even though I don't play dynasty. Is that still around?

 

[Abraham]

Also, I think that people far undervalue top-tir WRs and mid-range QBs, particularly in "Best ball" leagues. I'm in a dynasty league (start 3 WR) with a guy who managed to get Calvin Johnson, ANdre Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald on his roster. He has a rotating door of mediocre RBs but it never seems to matter; he's always competitive. Plus he's going to have a 6-8 year run of the best WR combo in the league.

Similarly, mid-range QBs in best ball leagues are GOLDEN. A trio of Eli Manning and David Garrard may not be exciting but it gets the job done while other guys in the league are spending high picks so they can wait on Josh Freeman or Chad Henne to develop.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

So Peyton helps you go 7-7 for a few more years instead of 4-10. Then he quits and you still stink. What did holding him help you get? If you aren't going to win now or next year, then deal Peyton for some younger players.

 

[saintfool]

Someone posted their blog here last year about their rebuilding effort and I really liked it even though I don't play dynasty. Is that still around?

i think that was in the FFA and centered on a xbox madden dynasty.

 

[B. Nugget]

Well, I've had good teams and I've taken over some very weak rebuilding teams and my one simple rule is this...

"If you are going to be good, be really good. If you are going to suck, really suck".

If you fall in the middle, you will never get out of that rut because you won't have the picks most years to land a difference maker...I know from experience in a keeper league that averages about 2 trades (league-wide) per year that if you can't trade your way out and you get stuck wtih picks 1.05-1.08 every year, you are in for a rough ride.

Luckily I was acquiring pretty solid WRs during that span and by the time my team was in full suck mode, I flipped Randy Moss ($40) for 1.07 and V. Davis ($7), which is about as blockbuster as it gets in this league w/ salary cap implications, and came out of the draft with Rice, Mendenhall and Charles. Of course, those guys struggled last year, so I had a top 3 pick and added Wells, so now my WR core is ready and my RBs have finally caught up. It took 4 years...and my team had to suck before it could get better because of the lack of trades.

So, like someone mentioned, don't afraid to get worse before you get better...my team is now very deep with top 15 talent at each position and I should be the favorite to win.

 

[ClownDogs]

Someone posted their blog here last year about their rebuilding effort and I really liked it even though I don't play dynasty. Is that still around?

i think that was in the FFA and centered on a xbox madden dynasty.

I know borberly has done that on here somewhere, just didn't feel like searching for it....

 

[hostile]

So, like someone mentioned, don't afraid to get worse before you get better...my team is now very deep with top 15 talent at each position and I should be the favorite to win.

That's the issue though - many people do not know how to take a team from craptacular to spectacular.

 

[Garts]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

So Peyton helps you go 7-7 for a few more years instead of 4-10. Then he quits and you still stink. What did holding him help you get? If you aren't going to win now or next year, then deal Peyton for some younger players.

true but at 7-7, I might make the playoffs where anything can happen.

 

[B. Nugget]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

So Peyton helps you go 7-7 for a few more years instead of 4-10. Then he quits and you still stink. What did holding him help you get? If you aren't going to win now or next year, then deal Peyton for some younger players.

true but at 7-7, I might make the playoffs where anything can happen.

Or he might win just enough games for you to keep you in contention and mired in mediocrity.

 

[Don Quixote]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

So Peyton helps you go 7-7 for a few more years instead of 4-10. Then he quits and you still stink. What did holding him help you get? If you aren't going to win now or next year, then deal Peyton for some younger players.

true but at 7-7, I might make the playoffs where anything can happen.

And I don't think any guarantee just 7-7. Just by having Peyton, have a decent shot at making the playoffs. And if the owner has some sleepers, one could pan out at RB or WR (e.g., this year's Miles Austin, MSW, etc.) to put the team in contention, and make it better than it looked like on paper before the season began.

 

[Team Legacy]

Maybe a case study might help. This is a SUCCESSFUL rebuild that took only 1 painful dead last year to go through before I could compete for the gold the following year.

After my initial dynasty draft in Backyard Brawl 2, I realized, that no way I'd win it all with this team. GULP... What to do?? No way can I fold the hand so quickly, we just drafted! My team was not built to win long term, so I made a very difficult decision to rebuild in November of that very same year.

Remember, it's November 2007 Start 1 qb, 2-4 rbs, 2-4 wr/te ppr, tes 1.5 ppr

McNabb, Donovan PHI QB 248.80 5 < excellent getting older QB

Schaub, Matt HOU QB 138.25 10 < QB of the future possibly?

Bush, Michael OAK RB - 5 < still hasn't panned out

Foster, De'shaun CAR RB 144.90 7 < 1 good year

Harrison, Jerome CLE RB 18.10 7 < who knew?

Jordan, Lamont OAK RB 125.60 5 < busted

McGahee, Willis BAL RB 228.80 8 < above average

Morris, Maurice SEA RB 135.10 8

Rhodes, Dominic OAK RB 52.20 5

Harisson, Marvin IND WR < over the hill

Moore, Lance NOS WR 78.90 4

Wayne, Reggie IND WR 309.40 6 < excellent

Williams, Roy DET WR (I) 174.70 6 < busted

Winslow, Kellen CLE TE 263.60 7 < always injured

A decent team at the time, (playoff calibre) but not championship long term, unless I absolutely NAIL my draft picks. I made a conscious decision to blow it up!

But how? I have to get value, youth and picks to rebuild.

Nov 07, I ditched Marvin for a chance at a promising back Ladell Betts. OOPS didn't work, but really Marvin's value was gone from the dynasty world anyway.

Feb 08, I gave up a promising Roy Williams for a combo pack of Dallas Clark, 1.7 rookie and Craig Davis.

Feb 08, I gave up Willis McGahee a tad past his prime for the 1.4 rookie pick and an upgrade from 5 to #3 in the devy.

Feb 08, I gave up my star player REGGIE WAYNE, for #5 devy, Chambers, 1.9 rookie and a 2010 future 1st.

Feb 08, I gave up my star TE, Kellen Winslow, for Vernon Davis and the #9 devy.

(notice I'm trading 2 for 1s here, but still getting Promising, not there yet players.)

Mar 08, I gave up Chambers for 1.13 rookie pick. Again, will Chambers be ready for a championship run in 2-3 years? Nah..

Apr 08, COLLOSSAL MISTAKE - I gave up the 1.5 rookie pick for the 1.10 and the 1.12. I would have picked Chris Johnson here... OUCH!

Jul 08, I gave up a PREMIER Donovan McNabb for Garrard, Avery, 2.12 and a #9 devy

That was basically my 07/08 rebuild where I have now accumulated YOUTHFUL players as well as DRAFT PICKS galore.

Here's where I stand heading into the 2010 season after a dead last finish in 08 and a near miss championship in 2009.

Freeman, Josh TBB QB - 8 - promising

Garrard, David JAC QB - 7

Schaub, Matt HOU QB - 10 - stud

Brown, Donald IND RB (P) - 6 - potential

Bush, Michael OAK RB - 9 - potential

Charles, Jamaal KCC RB - 8 - potential

Jennings, Rashad JAC RB - 7

Johnson, Gartrell NYG RB - 10

McCoy, LeSean PHI RB - 4 - potential

Rice, Ray BAL RB - 7 - stud

Stewart, Jonathan CAR RB (P) - 4 - solid

Bryant, Dez FA WR - - promising

Avery, Donnie STL WR - 9 - ?

Floyd, Malcom SDC WR - 5

Harvin, Percy MIN WR (Q) - 9 - Wow

Heyward-Bey, Darrius OAK WR - 9 ?

Jarrett, Dwayne CAR WR - 4

Moore, Lance NOS WR - 5

Sweed, Limas PIT WR (Q) - 8

Clark, Dallas IND TE (P) - 6 1.5ppr machine

Davis, Vernon SFO TE - 6 1.5ppr machine

Hope this helps some guys trying to visualize how long it might take. Believe me, I made several trades that I look back now and kick myself for, but in the end, you can't be right all the time. I just think that if you look at your team and say, NO WAY this team is built to win, SCRAP all the VALUE you can and rebuild... The next Chris Johnson or Ray Rice is out there.

 

[az_prof]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.This is two fold:1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.So what's the point of trading him?I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

I disagree. What good is he doing you? You admit you are not going to win for the next two years. By then Peyton will be 35. Sure, Rodgers and Brees are the only guys I like better now too, but....you need to find a QB who will be good three years from now and ideally for the next 5-6 after that. Why not get rid of Peyton and get three young and promising QBs during the rebuilding years? Guys like Flacco or Sanchez and then hopefully they will be in their prime when your team is finally in its prime.

 

[Couch Potato]

Just for the record since Manning's age keeps coming up, he's 34 now... 34.4 when the season begins to be precise.

 

[Abraham]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.

This is two fold:

1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.

2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.

I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.

The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.

So what's the point of trading him?

I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

I disagree. What good is he doing you? You admit you are not going to win for the next two years. By then Peyton will be 35. Sure, Rodgers and Brees are the only guys I like better now too, but....you need to find a QB who will be good three years from now and ideally for the next 5-6 after that. Why not get rid of Peyton and get three young and promising QBs during the rebuilding years? Guys like Flacco or Sanchez and then hopefully they will be in their prime when your team is finally in its prime.

X
This is what I'm talking about. Not to pick on you, but the odds of you or I picking (and holding on to) a QB who will be good in 3 years are slim. Finding one that will be good in 3 years and will continue for the next 5 or 6 is going to be nearly impossible. And finding one that's going to REMOTELY approach Manning's productivity isn't happening. And to give up one of the top QBs in the game, a model of consistency, for that slim chance is ludicrous. I will bet you a lifetime subscription to this site that Peyton Manning will have more TD passes and passing yards in the next 6 years (total) then either Flacco or Sanchez. And instead of having to wait on Flacco or Sanchez to get to Manning's level (which is never going to happen) you get the benefits of having a great QB in the next few seasons as well.

Not to sound like a jerk, but if your team is so "bad" that you need to move Manning, Brees, or Brady, then no amount of assets gained in a single trade is going to turn around your team.

 

[az_prof]

Well, I've had good teams and I've taken over some very weak rebuilding teams and my one simple rule is this..."If you are going to be good, be really good. If you are going to suck, really suck".If you fall in the middle, you will never get out of that rut because you won't have the picks most years to land a difference maker...I know from experience in a keeper league that averages about 2 trades (league-wide) per year that if you can't trade your way out and you get stuck wtih picks 1.05-1.08 every year, you are in for a rough ride.

I don't disagree completely, but I think you overstate the case. In 2008, picks 1.05 - 1.08 might have landed you Ray Rice or Chris Johnson or Felix Jones. Of course that was an unbelievably deep RB class, but it is a mistake to think that you need the 1.1 or 1.2 to land a difference maker. The last few years we have seen players like McFaddenm or Reggie Bush go at 1.1. I got Ray Rice with the 1.06. It is easy to over value the top of the rookie draft. I like to keep my rookie picks but I think it is a mistake to give up the bank to try and move up to land the 1.1 or 1.2 in most cases.Another thing people haven't talked about is the importance of good FAs. Usually bad teams have more dead space on their rosters and you should make use of it. I got Brandon Marshall off waivers when he was a rookie, partly based on Bloom's comments about him. I picked up Ahmad Bradshaw off waivers too. Every year there are two or three players who become difference makers that are sitting there free for the taking.

 

[az_prof]

Do not hold on to any player over the age of 33, if you have no chance of winning the title within the next two years.

This is two fold:

1) B/c those players will only depreciate....might as well get the most value for them right now.

2) They might help u win a couple more games....which would hurt that high draft pick you might need before your young players develop.

I am not going to win for he next 2 years.

I have a 33 year old Peyton Manning.

The only guys I would want in return are Rodgers and Brees really...and whomever owns those guys aren't going to trade them.

So what's the point of trading him?

I might as well hold him, he will give me great season until the day he quits.

I disagree. What good is he doing you? You admit you are not going to win for the next two years. By then Peyton will be 35. Sure, Rodgers and Brees are the only guys I like better now too, but....you need to find a QB who will be good three years from now and ideally for the next 5-6 after that. Why not get rid of Peyton and get three young and promising QBs during the rebuilding years? Guys like Flacco or Sanchez and then hopefully they will be in their prime when your team is finally in its prime.

X
This is what I'm talking about. Not to pick on you, but the odds of you or I picking (and holding on to) a QB who will be good in 3 years are slim. Finding one that will be good in 3 years and will continue for the next 5 or 6 is going to be nearly impossible. And finding one that's going to REMOTELY approach Manning's productivity isn't happening. And to give up one of the top QBs in the game, a model of consistency, for that slim chance is ludicrous. I will bet you a lifetime subscription to this site that Peyton Manning will have more TD passes and passing yards in the next 6 years (total) then either Flacco or Sanchez. And instead of having to wait on Flacco or Sanchez to get to Manning's level (which is never going to happen) you get the benefits of having a great QB in the next few seasons as well.

Not to sound like a jerk, but if your team is so "bad" that you need to move Manning, Brees, or Brady, then no amount of assets gained in a single trade is going to turn around your team.

No offense taken.While you are right that the odds of finding the ONE guy who will be the next Brees or Brady is slim, if you have THREE guys who all have good potential then your odds are much better. Let's say you have Freeman, Sanchez and Flacco--I would not at be surprised if one of them turns into that kind of QB. Keeping Manning you can be sure you won't have that guy.

 

[Mark Wimer]

Don't be afraid to get worse before you get better. If you want to stick to mediocrity, then keep trading rookie picks for older veterans who won't help you come even close to being a winning dynasty franchise, but hampers your ability to draft rookies to help you in the future.

This is a good one. If you decide that your team is out of playoff contention and elderly (relatively), then just embrace the fact that you'll have a season or two of poor showings while you rebuild. I'm currently in year 2 of a rebuilding project on a IDP dynasty team - last year I drafted QBs and LBs, this year I'm going WR/RB/S (with some activity in free agency - I went out and outbid everyone for Brees and RB C. Taylor). I should challenge for the playoffs if my WR/RB picks hit this year, or go 7-7 if they don't hit. Starting next year, I expect to be back in playoff contention for several years, assuming the NFL doesn't strike.

 

[Abraham]

While you are right that the odds of finding the ONE guy who will be the next Brees or Brady is slim, if you have THREE guys who all have good potential then your odds are much better. Let's say you have Freeman, Sanchez and Flacco--I would not at be surprised if one of them turns into that kind of QB. Keeping Manning you can be sure you won't have that guy.

I would rather have Manning for the 2014, 15, and 16 seasons then any of the guys you mentioned.

 

[EBF]

There are no rules. I've seen everything you're not supposed to do work for some teams.

Don't trade studs for prospects - Usually sage advice, but sometimes prospects become studs. A guy in one of my leagues once gave up Anquan Boldin for Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Bowe. At the time Marshall and Bowe were totally unproven while Boldin was a Pro Bowl talent in the prime of his career. Bad trade? Obviously not. You can make deals like this if you pick the right players in return. In fact, this is one of the ways to amass a real stockpile of talent.

Don't trade studs for smaller pieces - Again, this is usually good advice to live by, but not necessarily. Last year an owner in one of my PPR dynasty leagues gave up Calvin Johnson for Marques Colston, Ray Rice, and a 1st round rookie pick. At the time it looked like a bad deal. Colston was solid, but a step below Calvin. Rice was just an unknown prospect. The pick was nice, but hardly a difference maker. Well...turns out Colston outscored Calvin, Rice became a superstar, and the pick was just the icing on the cake. I think it's safe to say that the team who traded Calvin got the best of this exchange.

Don't trade studs for draft picks - A few years ago I had a dog of a team in a 14 team dynasty league, so I traded Anquan Boldin and Donovan McNabb for one future first round pick each. Not only did this net me two high draft picks, but it also sent my team plummeting to the bottom of the standings, which in turn made my own rookie pick a very high one. I ended up with the 1.02, 1.03, and 1.07. Those picks became Rashard Mendenhall, Jonathan Stewart, and Ray Rice. I made the playoffs last season and am poised to contend for a few years. You can trade studs for draft picks as long as you use the picks well.

There's a common theme here. It's all about player selection. You can trade Andre Johnson for Dez Bryant if Dez Bryant becomes a perennial Pro Bowler. Therein lies the rub. The odds of any given elite prospect becoming an elite player are somewhat slim, so there's no real margin for error when you deal in unknown quantities. Often times that next big thing is going to flame out like Darren McFadden or Koren Robinson. When you make moves for speculative talents, you'd better know what you're getting.

Success in dynasty is about anticipating the future and reading the gray areas better than your competitors. You can break all of the "rules" in the book as long as your assessments are sound.

 

[Abraham]

gave up Calvin Johnson for Marques Colston, Ray Rice, and a 1st round rookie pick. At the time it looked like a bad deal.

No it didn't.

 

[EBF]

gave up Calvin Johnson for Marques Colston, Ray Rice, and a 1st round rookie pick. At the time it looked like a bad deal.

No it didn't.

Funny you should say that because the owner who traded Calvin made a poll about the deal immediately afterward. 6 out of the 11 people who responded said they would have preferred the Calvin Johnson side of the trade. On the surface it looked like a classic example of trading away a stud for smaller pieces. Calvin was going in the top 5 of PPR startups while Colston was only a 2nd-3rd round pick. Rice was a middle rounder at this time a year ago (5th-6th in most leagues) and a random first round rookie pick could net you anything from a can't-miss prospect to a middling talent.A lot of people say you're not supposed to make trades like this one. The thing is, while picks and prospects are probably overvalued in general, many of them will eventually become stars. If you're able to correctly identify which then you can snatch a lot of value out of that uncertainty.

 

[PranksterJD]

Success in dynasty is about anticipating the future and reading the gray areas better than your competitors. You can break all of the "rules" in the book as long as your assessments are sound.

Quality work here as well.

 

[Unwrittenlaw]

Don't be afraid to get worse before you get better. If you want to stick to mediocrity, then keep trading rookie picks for older veterans who won't help you come even close to being a winning dynasty franchise, but hampers your ability to draft rookies to help you in the future.

I always use my 2nd rd rookie or later ones to trade for older veterans. Chances of getting a productive player with a 2nd rd rookie pick is MUCH lower than the 1st rd pick.I could trade someone my 2010 or 2011 2nd rd rookie pick for someone like Ward or even Driver and the chances of them being more productive for the next 2 years than the player I would've drafted are quite high.

 

[Hendo]

Well i'm a big believer in sticking to your guns. Rebuilding is doing exactly that... going all out. Your GOING to make mistakes but the more chances you take the MORE times you get to score on a player or pick for your team.

My 14 team dynasty league team finished dead last and second to dead last the past three years. During this time I drafted horribly wrong with Maroney and McFadden with two of those high picks.... Beanie Wells being the other just last year. It killed my team however at the start of the past season I looked into the grey area with McFadden, Eddie Royal, Steven Jackson (my best player)and dealt them for James Stewart, Gregg Jennings and Cedric Benson. This landed me Stewart who I think is a future stud and Benson who replaced SJ and did just as good production wise. Gregg Jennings has a pro bowl QB and passing Offense so the upgrade was logical and sold on Royals past season highly. I dealt Maroney and Dallas Clarke before the year began for a late 1st round pick and Jason Witten. To me I get back a much younger proven TE and the pick (i traded stupidly for LJ)

I finished 6th overall but WON the championship with some good weeks from the guys on my team. Add in the fact I did a offseason trade of Benson and pick 1.14 for Ronnie Brown and pick 1.02 makes my team an even better bet for trophy runs.

my team now looks like: (mind you 1.02 to draft yet maybe Mathews here)

Drew Brees

Marquis Colston

Gregg Jennings

Dwayne Bowe

James Stewart

Beanie Wells

Jason Witten

Ronnie Brown

without even listing my depth this team should contend for the next 3-4 years pending the development of Stewart and Beanie and the 1.02 pick

 

[Shutout]

1. Believe the hype (that there will be hype when it comes to rookie draft picks), and use it to your advantage.

2. Establish a cornerstone(s) for your team. Don't go for the guy that's hot now, the guy that's awesome but isn't likely to sustain (looking at you SJAX), the guy that is hyped beyone belief because of surrounding situation instead of his own talent. Find that guy that you are going to plug in and he is going to be a rock in your lineup for at least a handful of years (a young, really good WR is always a nice choice...which leads to #3).

3. Build around WRs. Yes, RBs are typically lifeblood, but the heart (and soul in a PPR) is the WR. Chris Johnson is awesome; ADP is a beast, but over the long haul (read: dynasty), when you get a great WR, you will spend a lot less energy (and draft picks/players) trying to get that starting position filled (and re-filled).

4. Forget the Numbers (when it comes to player's ages). There is no MAGIC number. Humans are unique and for every Jamal Lewis that tests positive for Geritol at age 30, there are Thomas Jomes who remain productive (and keep value) far later. You love football; you KNOW football. Now WATCH football and understand when your player's situation changes for the better or worse, and act accordingly.

5. Understand the definition of dynasty. Its a sustained hold over power for a long period of time. In order to do that, you have to GET the power and start somewhere. Moral of the story: DOn't get caught up in thinking that everything has to be so long term that you are constantly trying to keep a roster full of 23 year olds, thinking that they will be around for a long time. They might be, but there are some pretty good older guys out there too. Always remember that THE GOAL of each year is to win in that year. At some point, you have to let your team grow and perform.

I'm sure a lot of people have different philosophies and might disagree with these points completely, but I can honestly report that in large leagues (ppr), I have enjoyed a great deal of success in several leagues by having elite WRs and basically plugging in various (very average usually) Rbs, TEs, etc.

 

[phthalatemagic]

I only have 1 rule: If you trade poorly, draft well. If you draft poorly, trade well. If you do both poorly, plan on losing.

 

[coolnerd]

1. Believe the hype (that there will be hype when it comes to rookie draft picks), and use it to your advantage.

2. Establish a cornerstone(s) for your team. Don't go for the guy that's hot now, the guy that's awesome but isn't likely to sustain (looking at you SJAX), the guy that is hyped beyone belief because of surrounding situation instead of his own talent. Find that guy that you are going to plug in and he is going to be a rock in your lineup for at least a handful of years (a young, really good WR is always a nice choice...which leads to #3).

3. Build around WRs. Yes, RBs are typically lifeblood, but the heart (and soul in a PPR) is the WR. Chris Johnson is awesome; ADP is a beast, but over the long haul (read: dynasty), when you get a great WR, you will spend a lot less energy (and draft picks/players) trying to get that starting position filled (and re-filled).

4. Forget the Numbers (when it comes to player's ages). There is no MAGIC number. Humans are unique and for every Jamal Lewis that tests positive for Geritol at age 30, there are Thomas Jomes who remain productive (and keep value) far later. You love football; you KNOW football. Now WATCH football and understand when your player's situation changes for the better or worse, and act accordingly.

5. Understand the definition of dynasty. Its a sustained hold over power for a long period of time. In order to do that, you have to GET the power and start somewhere. Moral of the story: DOn't get caught up in thinking that everything has to be so long term that you are constantly trying to keep a roster full of 23 year olds, thinking that they will be around for a long time. They might be, but there are some pretty good older guys out there too. Always remember that THE GOAL of each year is to win in that year. At some point, you have to let your team grow and perform.

I'm sure a lot of people have different philosophies and might disagree with these points completely, but I can honestly report that in large leagues (ppr), I have enjoyed a great deal of success in several leagues by having elite WRs and basically plugging in various (very average usually) Rbs, TEs, etc.

There is a lot of good stuff here. In short, FF is about players not process, though we all have a preferred process to get players.

 

[az_prof]

While you are right that the odds of finding the ONE guy who will be the next Brees or Brady is slim, if you have THREE guys who all have good potential then your odds are much better. Let's say you have Freeman, Sanchez and Flacco--I would not at be surprised if one of them turns into that kind of QB. Keeping Manning you can be sure you won't have that guy.

I would rather have Manning for the 2014, 15, and 16 seasons then any of the guys you mentioned.

That's because you are evaluating the comparison based on what they did in 2009 and you are assuming that Peyton will continue to be a top 3 QB into 14, 15, 16 and you are assuming that the other three will not. Chances are good that Peyton will not be a top 3 QB by 2016.

 

[Riffraff]

1. Always chasing the shiny and new usually means you'll be drafting at the head of the class quite a bit. Even though the Clippers had a top 5 pick for what seemed 10 years straight, it never equated to a championship caliber team. Don't be the league's minor league squad.

2. Have a good mix of old, young and mid-aged guys. Don't go to the extreme in too old or too new.

3. Have a core group of players. Swap out the role-players, but keep the core. Add to the core when a guy gets of age to fall out of it.

4. Play to win every year. Fire sales rarely work out since you have to hit on so many players. Not every rookie is a stud.

5. Build your team according to your league's scoring rules. If your league is PPR heavy, build around WRs. If it devalues certain positions, don't invest as much in them. 2 QB league? Better have 1 really good one.

6. It's good to let the top QBs get picked early by others in redraft. It's good to own the top QBs in dynasty.

7. Know yourself. If you are good at drafting, but suck at waiver work or trades, invest in draft picks. If you suck at drafting and are good at trading, invest in vets.

8. Studs rule the day and depth is king. Get one or the other, preferably both. Don't have neither.

9. Pay attention to players put on the IR. They can improve your depth at a discount the following year.

10. Don't pay attention to bye weeks in dynasty. Better to have a good player over the long haul than to trade them away to cover 1 game.

11. Don't worry about "winning" a trade. Try to get the player(s) you want. Yes, you will "overpay" at times. So be it.

12. Sell high and buy low. Everyone knows the adage, but don't be afraid to let the aged stud retire while on your team. Remember, you are trying to win the championship every year and getting rid of a key ingredient is what separates the champ from the also-rans.

13. It's okay to ask for opinions on how your team looks or if a trade is decent, but don't let a messageboard of strangers run your team. Don't be afraid to make your own decisions. You paid for the team, enjoy running it.

14. Fantasy football is a hobby and should be fun. If you aren't having fun, don't play. If playing in a dynasty league isn't fun for you, go back to redrafts. If the stress of playing for too much money gets you down, play in cheaper leagues. Have fun.

 

[SSOG]

Don't overvalue RBs, they have a short lifespan and most of them are a dime a dozen anyway.

Agreed. Start building your Dynasty team from the WR position, if you can have a firesale and acquire 3 top 25 WRs under the age of 28 than you have a great start.

Top 25 WRs are mostly junk. Guys in the 15-25 range have a habit of falling off the radar far quicker than anyone expects. If you're going to build around WRs, you better build around top 10 WRs, otherwise you're going to have to continuously spend resources patching holes at your "position of strength".By the way, this isn't a WR-specific phenomenon. RBs in the 15-25 range also do amazing disappearing acts. The biggest piece of advice I have for dynasty is to remember that everyone except for uberstuds wind up flaming out quicker than anyone anticipates. over the last few years, an RB corps of Marion Barber, Julius Jones, Kevin Jones, Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Slaton, or Domanick Davis would have been viewed as one of the strongest in the league. With the benefit of hindsight, we can look at those names and learn the lesson that only uberstuds have true staying power. Everyone thinks that 3 years from now Beanie and Mendenhall will be cornerstones, but history tells us that the odds of it happening are less than 50%.

 

[BoltzNBrew]

Don't take the entire offseason off. Spend some time going over rookies, WW and player movement. This time last year, desperate for a TE I scoured the wire looking for anyone that might emerge. Spent a good week or so reading up on players and decided to pick up Jermichael Finley.