Fantasy football Devy leagues are growing in popularity, but how do you value trades with Devy prospects? Let’s take a look at strategy and how to gauge value.
So you just jumped into the world of Devy Fantasy Football and completed drafting your team. Someone in your league offered you a trade consisting of some college player assets, but what is the right value? Even if you are an avid college football fan, sometimes college players do not translate to the NFL. So let’s first take a look at strategy in Devy leagues and then review a couple of Devy trades that I have completed.
Devy Strategy
There are many ways that Devy leagues are set up, but usually, the league drafts their veteran part of their team first and then the Devy or college players draft occurs. Every year after, there will be a depleted NFL rookie draft and a Devy draft. It is depleted because of college players already owned by managers and the Devy draft can vary from three to even 10 players a year. Now let’s look at a few different strategies.
Draft Devy Based on Position Need
You have completed your startup draft and this is like any dynasty-type draft. You went heavy on skill positions and QBs took a backseat. This could mean only having bottom-level QBs or QBs that are near the end of their career. In this strategy, you would go heavy on QBs that would be able to fill in either the next year, or a couple of years away when older QBs may retire or decrease in value.
Young Startup Team and Draft for the Future
In the startup draft, you’ve picked NFL players that have less than three years in the league. You have a promising young team, but may not compete for a year or two. Because of the young team, in the Devy draft, you can just go for any position. You do not need to necessarily focus on players that will be joining the NFL next year. You pick the best players to make your team great for the future.
Win Now Mode
You draft your startup, trying to field your best team to win now; and then pick good Devy assets without caring when they will enter the NFL. After the drafts, take offers from other teams that will send established NFL players for these future Devy players. You may have trouble in later years, but you are trying to win the league immediately.
My Devy Trades
I do not necessarily use one of the strategies above, but utilize many of the concepts to make my team the best I can. Below are a couple of trades I have completed this offseason and the thinking behind them.
Trade 1
- This league I did not have great QB options so I knew I was not competing this year
- Already had AJ Brown and Ja’Marr so I knew I could afford to give up Godwin
- While I like Addison and Burton as Devy prospects, I am not sure how they will translate to the NFL
- The Watson situation is concerning, but since I am not competing this year, I believe Watson will play again if not going to jail. The benefit of a top 5 QB is worth giving up the assets and Godwin
Trade 2
- This league, I took a couple 2022 eligible QBs to make up for aging QBs on my roster
- Once Rodgers said he will play this year, the owner put Rodgers out for trade
- I really do think Howell is a great player and has an NFL future and I think Strong has solid potential to play in the NFL. Similar to Mac Jones – not elite athleticism but a great accurate passer.
- Rodgers I think has elite years left and I believe I got him at a discount. It was hard to let Howell go but with the rate of 1st round QBs succeeding is not great, so I will take the Hall of Fame QB with a 2-3 year window for me to win a championship
I hope that this helped new players understand how to value Devy trades, and the strategies you can use in those fantasy football Devy leagues. During the football season, I look to take reader’s trades and write articles about the analysis of them. So please let me know what you think, and send any trades you have to me on Twitter.
Brandon Haye
Brandon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a health insurance data analyst. He has no children, but two fur babies - Squirt and Brownie. He and his wife, Katie, spend their time playing poker and enjoying time with their pups. Brandon is a huge Michigan Wolverine and Jacksonville Jaguars fan. He at one time was in 77 fantasy leagues and loves the game of football. Brandon started writing for The Leauge Winners in 2021.