Fantasy football Dynasty start-ups are in full force this time of year. Make sure you have a set plan and strategy heading into a start-up, so you can gain advantages early on in your dynasty leagues.
You are never going to form a dynasty out of the original start-up, but you can get real close (and set yourself up for the future) just by drafting BPA (best player available). BPA for most dynasty start-ups is a fine approach, but here’s my personal strategy.
During your inaugural draft, it’s important to understand the market of your fantasy football league. Dynasty leagues that are carrying over from previous years already have an established market. But in the first year, you can take advantage of an open market and gain significant long-term value.
I’ve been in 5 start-ups in 2021 already. While drafting in a multitude of new dynasty leagues I recognized a few trends within the leagues that I took place in.
2022 and 2023 draft picks are criminally underrated. These should be your first idea. Go into your start-up looking to add these picks in future drafts. I’ve seen a 2023 1st-round draft pick go for a 9th-round startup pick; which ended up being Bills’ second-year WR Gabriel Davis. As much as I love Davis, I’m instantly trading him away for a 2022/23 1st.
Taking advantage of these picks being heavily underrated will give you value that is guaranteed to only rise. Instead of investing your capital into a player, you’ve now invested it in a stock.
Fantasy football dynasty start-ups during this time of year can turn for the worst as well; as in the offseason, players values fluctuate so often it’s hard to gauge who’ll retain their value at the start of 2021. I’m all for adding studs, but frankly rebuilding in a dynasty league gives you safety in a league that some could struggle in after year 1.
You can get your guys who have long-term secured value, while adding those picks giving you even more long-term security. Security in start-ups is the most important, since plenty of players’ value ends up becoming volatile.
Trading down and trading out are the consensus strategies, and while I piggy-back off of that, I believe the 1st and 2nd-rounds are absolute sells. Now I wouldn’t sell just for the sake of doing so, but make sure you’re getting your value back if you intend on going with this strategy. Fantasy football managers are starting to value the 3rd and 4th-rounds pretty heavily now too.
Take advantage of your leagues fresh market and add security throughout your roster. Having long-term security while also having assets that can contribute can help you develop a dynasty in your fantasy football league.
Gain draft picks. Gain draft equity. These things matter after year one, and while you might not compete year one, you set your future up to compete for years instead.
As always, leave your thoughts and comments below! Go get those draft picks!
