Dynasty Startup: Roadmap to Success
This was originally posted in late-August during the peak of startup season, but it is an important topic to revisit often. Not only is this a useful resource for startup strategy, but it doubles as a roadmap for rebuilding teams looking to load up for 2022 and beyond.
There is nothing like drafting that Year 1 team from scratch knowing that you are selecting players that could be on your roster for the next decade or more. The problem is, all of the excitement is wasted if you don’t have a strategy, a blueprint, a roadmap to drafting for long term success. Allow me to take you through my thought process when drafting in a dynasty startup.
Of course it is worth noting that this is very format dependent. The industry continues to shift towards superflex, which is definitely my preference, so I will spend most of my time on that. At the end of this article I’ll hit on some pointers for traditional 1QB leagues.
Round 1
Simply put, I want a quarterback that will be the cornerstone of my roster for years to come. Drafting a young star quarterback that you believe in is paramount. There are some who will argue that quarterbacks are overvalued in superflex, but I believe that only supports the idea that you need to take one early. There is a premium on the position which makes it the hardest position to trade for. It is also VERY difficult to hit on an elite one in rookie drafts. The QB2/3 tiers are littered with former top picks in rookie drafts. Do everything you can to get a young, proven stud with your first pick. IF you are drafting towards the back end of the first round and IF all the quarterbacks you are comfortable taking are gone, I can get on board with taking one of the upper echelon running backs. The wide receiver position is so deep and I do not see that changing with the current state of the NFL. For that reason, I am not taking a wide receiver in the first couple rounds. I want quarterbacks with superstar upside to build my team around for years to come.
Round 2
So ideally you have your “franchise quarterback” at this point and now you are on the clock with you second pick. I prefer to start my superflex drafts QB/QB but there is slightly more flexibility with this pick. You are likely choosing between a QB2 and an RB1 here. There’s no reason not to defer to your rankings for this selection. Take the best quarterback or running back on your board. I preach draft preparedness and now is the time to stay disciplined by trusting your rankings.
Round 3–4
There’s no reason to overthink this one. I prefer to use Round 3 on the position you did not draft with your previous pick. Let’s assume you took another high-ceiling quarterback so now it’s time to hammer running back before the position gets ugly. There should be plenty of young running backs available in these rounds. Most of your league mates have focused on quarterbacks early and are starting to grab those top receivers, which we will get to soon. There should be plenty of value at running back with these picks.
Round 5–7
By now you have a solid championship core to build around by starting QB/QB/RB/RB. The receiver position is as robust as it has ever been, so there are plenty of alphas to select in these next three rounds. I love taking the year 2–3 guys that are poised to breakout at any moment in this range. The value at this point in the draft with the wide receiver position will shock you. You need to start stockpiling young receivers in these rounds.
Round 8–10
It’s time to focus on a couple positions of need that are about to get murky. You need another serviceable running back, a quarterback that has fallen a bit, and a high-upside tight end. The running backs won’t be much to write home about in this stage of the draft but you’re just looking for production. Assuming it’s a PPR league, you probably have some format-friendly players available that tend to get overlooked because they aren’t bell cows. Or if you’re lucky, someone that is caught up in a timeshare. At quarterback, this is where I like to take a veteran passer that has fallen a bit. The upside guys are gone by this point and the QB3 on your team needs to give you depth as well as being a reliable bye week option. There happen to be quite a few of those this season that will put up steady QB2 numbers and you can use them as your QB3, or even start them while a rookie gets worked in as his team’s starter. There should be a few very interesting options at tight end in this stage of the draft as well. Go get your favorite young player from that third tier of tight ends and you’ll be in good shape. Obviously if you are in a TE premium league, your strategy for this position changes drastically as you’ll need to prioritize it earlier in the draft.
Round 11+
The name of the game at this point is best-player-available. I usually load up on wide receivers but stick to your big board and hunt value all day long. There’s no need to reach for a position of need when you can draft a player who will appreciate in value and become a prime trade candidate for you. If your dynasty leagues are as active as mine are, you will have no problem trading from an area of strength to fill a need.
1QB Leagues
My startup strategy is pretty straight forward in 1QB leagues. Rather than building your team around two cornerstone quarterbacks, I recommend going heavy on running backs and wide receivers through the first 5–6 rounds before selecting a quarterback and tight end.
Building a championship roster in dynasty is not easy but it starts on draft day. Use this roadmap to ace your startup, get a leg up on the competition right out of the gates, and establish your team as a perennial powerhouse.
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Justin Hulsey is an up-and-coming dynasty and devy football creator. He posts updated rankings, player profiles, strategy, and other actionable advice that will elevate your game and put you in position to win dynasty championships. You can find more of his work by following @FF_Hulsey on Twitter.
