If you’re like me, you’re constantly searching for any edge you can get over your opponents in a startup draft. The problem is, that’s getting harder and harder to find.
A year or two ago, I was all over Zero RB, allowing me to build some current juggernauts. But Zero RB has now seen widespread acceptance, so the value today lies elsewhere. Depending on your league format and draft progression, that value may lie with a Bully TE strategy.
With Bully TE, you’re looking to grab the elite of the elite at a position that is often an afterthought for most managers. Especially in dynasty leagues, where elite TEs tend to be older than exceptional talents at other positions, it can be difficult to adopt this strategy for most. While I’m a bit of an ageist myself, I have still successfully adopted this approach in startups this offseason. Here’s how:
First, I often avoid Travis Kelce. He’s ridiculously better than any other tight end and a true advantage at the position. But I’m sure he’ll fall off soon given he turns 34 in October. Father Time, after all, is undefeated. At his current superflex ADP of 3.02, I’d much rather pass on him than gamble on another year or two of truly elite production.
For me, that means I’m pivoting off of the current TE1 and instead targeting Mark Andrews and Kyle Pitts, especially in tight end premium (TEP) leagues.
In a TEP, tight ends earn an extra 0.5 or even 1 full point per catch compared to wideouts and backs. Other scoring modifications are possible, too – for example, giving the TE extra points for receiving first downs. TEP is a popular league implementation to make the TE position more relevant to your roster. However, it’s here that you can profit if you go for a Bully TE approach.
In my most recent TEP league, the additional point per reception for tight ends was +1. So that means Kelce’s 110 reception, 1338 yard, 12 touchdown season placed him first overall for non-quarterbacks in superflex league scoring. The TE2, TJ Hockenson, was 17th and TE3 was Mark Andrews as 26th overall. Andrews scored more points than WR9 DeVonta Smith. In this format, the top 3 tight ends were some of the most valuable players in the league.
So when drafting, I prioritized tight end. From the 1.07, I first took Trevor Lawrence. That’s a fairly chalk pick and one I’m very comfortable with in a superflex league. At 2.06, however, I was staring down CeeDee Lamb, Jonathan Taylor, and Dak Prescott. Travis Kelce was also available. Instead, I went with the extreme upside of Kyle Pitts, one of the best young tight ends the league has ever seen. With the jury still out on Pitts, I still couldn’t pass up grabbing a top TE for years to come given the premium.
At the 3.07, Kelce was gone, but Chris Olave and other great options were available. Again, I went with a TE in Mark Andrews. This roster has plenty of flex spots, so selecting two weekly advantages at TE was a no-brainer for me. I grabbed a still somewhat young and ultra productive TE to operate as my high-floor positional play to pair with my high-ceiling play in Pitts. When both are in my lineup and both hit, my team should be tough to beat.
From there, I went for Cooper Kupp, DJ Moore, Derek Carr, and so on, collecting value where I could. Additionally, it’s important to mention that this was a devy league, so we were also drafting rookie and devy draft picks in the startup. After some maneuvering, I also secured Brock Bowers in the devy draft. Once Kelce declines, I’m well-positioned to own the TE position if Pitts and Bowers develop as many expect.
Now a downfall of Bully TE is the loss of elite value at other positions. I could’ve gone for a ZeroRB build and taken Lamb and Olave in the second and third rounds, respectively. I could’ve grabbed Taylor and Saquon Barkley to solidify my running back position. But in this league, their ceilings are capped by the scoring system. A TE room of Andrews, Pitts, and Bowers gives me the potential to both win now and in the future. The value of three potential 100-catch seasons at double the points was the perfect opportunity to try out BullyTE.
Additionally, the value you take at TE means that there are fewer teams with elite TE options. A rebuild scenario means you have plenty of trade bait. A contending squad gives you a weekly advantage if your other players hit. It’s absolutely a gamble, but the value seems to be there in 2023.
Ultimately, I’m still not comfortable with my team. But, with this strategy, you probably won’t be right away either. I ended up grabbing the value of old vets and potential risers to insulate my build. As mentioned above, I took Kupp and Carr. I grabbed Alvin Kamara, Rashaad Penny, and Alexander Mattison at running back. I selected Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, and Tim Patrick at wide receiver. You will have to make some tough decisions, but if my old guys have 2 great seasons left in them, this team should be excellent in 2024.
You can absolutely apply this strategy in startups without TEP scoring, but keep in mind that it’s even riskier in that case. While you’ll still maintain the positional advantage, it won’t matter nearly as much without the elite producers. And since tight end production is notoriously hard to predict, I’d only look bully my league in TEP formats.
Interested in understanding more dynasty startup strategies? Check out our articles on Zero RB and trading up in your startup drafts.
Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy is an avid football fan from New York who lives in Amsterdam and roots for the Patriots. This walking contradiction has played fantasy football for over than 20 years. He is now a Senior Dynasty Writer at The League Winners. In his spare time, he writes and edits professionally.