Dynasty 101: Five Tips for Beginners (Fantasy Football)

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Welcome to the world of dynasty fantasy football! Everything you thought you knew about fantasy is about to change (for the better).

By making this leap, you are actively making the choice to become a better fantasy football player. By the end of season one, you will have a profound new outlook on the world of fantasy and the NFL itself. You will be more detailed, more nuanced, and more skilled as a player. You will have deeper roster knowledge, a superior understanding of the game, and be introduced to analytics that I can tell you firsthand had never crossed my mind until I joined my first dynasty league.

Today, we dive into some of the basic concepts behind dynasty leagues, how they differentiate themselves from standard leagues, and how you can avoid the common rookie season mistakes (unlike me). This is the tip of the iceberg, my friend. We are pumped to help you build your dynasty!

*Before we begin, I recommend you check out Parker Hagen’s article: Dynasty 101: Rules & Formats + Salary Cap Leagues

Understand Your League Settings

In dynasty leagues, you have just one startup draft for the entire league’s existence, with only rookie drafts to follow each spring. This raises the stakes on draft night, making it essential that you come well-prepared. I admittedly went blind into my first dynasty draft, applying an ill-advised “I’ll figure this out later” mentality, and it wasn’t until the season was over that my glaring errors came to light. Before your startup draft begins, take a few minutes to scope your league’s roster and scoring settings:

  • How many teams are there? 
  • How many starters are required at each position?
  • Are passing touchdowns worth four points or six? 
  • How deep are the benches, and is there a taxi squad? 
  • Is this a 1QB or SuperFlex league? 
  • Is there a TE premium, and if so, how much?

If you’re unfamiliar with any of these terms, then you’re in the right place. Below are a few terms used commonly in the dynasty landscape, and how they will affect your team in the future:

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  • SuperFlex (SF): SuperFlex leagues are quickly becoming the industry standard, and for good reason. The fantasy community has become smarter over the years, recognizing that the QB position has become fairly invaluable in traditional (1QB) leagues. Applying a late-round or streaming strategy has become common knowledge, and is one of the best strategies to build a well-balanced roster. If you’re well aware of this and I’m preaching to the choir, then good on you; however, if you’re joining a SuperFlex league for the first time, that mentality needs to be buried and forgotten immediately. The QB position is the most valuable position in all of sports, and SuperFlex leagues were created to align with that. What this means is that you will have an extra flex spot each week, but one that can be (and more often than not will be) filled with a second QB. With 20+ QBs starting any given week, this drastically increases the value of the position, with most of the top-tier, younger QBs being drafted within the first three rounds of startups.
  • Tight End Premium: In an attempt to make the position more valuable, many dynasty leagues have begun implementing TE premium scoring. This premium rewards TEs by gaining an extra full (or half) point for every reception, pushing elite players like Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce into a similar fantasy output as players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Puka Nacua were in 2023.
  • Taxi Squad: The taxi squad is essentially your fantasy practice squad. Not every league will have one, but most leagues will allow two to five players (who must be within their first two years in the league) that can be reserved for the future. You are not allowed to start this player at any time unless he is designated to your “active” roster. To do so, you will need to drop someone from your roster, as well as lose that taxi squad spot for the remainder of the season. Rookies like Miami RB Jaylen Wright and San Francisco WR Ricky Pearsall come to mind as perfect taxi squad candidates for 2024. They both received high draft capital on exciting offenses, but sit behind very capable players on their respective depth charts. While their outlook for this season may be grim, they are both clear succession plans with a path to playing time within the next year or two, at the latest.

Understand Your League Scoring

This one sounds obvious, but I promise you it is often overlooked.

If you’re playing on Sleeper, one quick move you can make before your draft is to select “Players” > “Leaders” > then filter by statistics from the previous year. This will list the top scorers from last year based on your settings, and help you identify positional value within the league.

For example, in a recent draft (20-team, SuperFlex, TE premium league), I used this tactic to identify that the top-16 scorers in this format were QBs, putting names like Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, Sam Howell, and Matthew Stafford all ahead of Christian McCaffrey, who was the highest scoring non-QB, at number 17 overall. 

The next two players were Geno Smith and Justin Herbert (who missed four games), both finishing ahead of CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill, who represented the highest-scoring WRs at numbers 20 and 21 overall. With 18 of the top 20 overall scorers being QBs, the value of having two consistent QBs stood out to me.

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I then filtered by flex (non-QB), noting that Evan Engram, Sam LaPorta, Travis Kelce, and TJ Hockenson (who missed the final two and a half games) were all inside the top-10 scorers, all ahead of Puka Nacua, Raheem Mostert, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, and Mike Evans.

To put this in perspective (without TE premium scoring), Sam LaPorta finished as the TE1, but the number 28 overall player (non-QBs), with Evan Engram as TE2 and number 52 overall. However, in this format with this scoring, they both finished in the top five. So, while CeeDee and Tyreek went off the board in round one, I targeted an elite TE in round three, recognizing they offer a closer ceiling than most would think. 

I’ve seen many different strategies unfold in this draft, but given the information I took from this exercise, I made it a priority to go after two QBs and a stud TE early, filling the rest of my roster with whatever value would present itself later on. It would appear I wasn’t the only one with this strategy, as 27 QBs went off the board in the first two rounds, and the top six TEs were off the board by the end of round three. 

Only time will tell how this plays out, but at the very least, I felt my decision-making and strategy were educated going in. There will always be an element of luck in fantasy football, but without a deeper understanding of your scoring format, you may be on the outside looking in by the time the draft is over.

Recognize Positional Longevity

This is mostly disregarded in redraft leagues, but when you’re drafting and building your team for the future, it’s important to understand the longevity of a player’s career within each position.

  • Quarterback: The lifespan at QB is seemingly being extended each season. Tom Brady put up QB3 and QB12 seasons before retiring at age 45. Kirk Cousins joins the Falcons after an Achilles tear at age 36. Aaron Rodgers is 40 and has played in the NFL longer than some of you readers have even been alive. The point is, if you hit on a young, stud QB, that could give you a positional advantage for upwards of 15-20 years, far longer than any other position. With that said, don’t take a QB just for the sake of taking one. We see QB turnover every year, and if you miss on the pick, you’re going to be starting over in a few years anyway. In fact, over the past five years, there have been at least 10 QBs who were NOT that team’s starter just one year later. If you’re staring down Will Levis vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and you’re a JSN truther, then get your guy. There will be opportunities to trade and/or draft QBs later. If all goes well, this league is literally meant to last forever.
  • Running Back: Just like in real life, RBs take all the shade in dynasty. They have the shortest careers, the highest likelihood of injury, and are often ridden into the ground on rookie contracts. Unless they’re an outlier like Derrick Henry or Christian McCaffrey, they’re fortunate to ever hit a high-paying second gig, and it is most often with another team. Most in the industry will advise you to avoid the RB position in the first few rounds of startup drafts (with exceptions being Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, and Jahmyr Gibbs), building your team around stud players at other positions, and trading/drafting RBs later (the 2025 draft class is looking to be loaded with RB talent). The general dynasty stance is to sell high on RBs around the time they hit their second contract (age 26-27). You will hear whispers in the wind of the infamous “RB Cliff” which has taken down the likes of dynasty darlings such as Todd Gurley and Le’veon Bell; however, there are exceptions to every rule, and anyone who has held onto Henry, McCaffrey, Saquon, or Joe Mixon these past few years may very well be sipping from a chalice and looking down at all the peasants and jesters who abide by every analytical rule.
  • Wide Receiver: Second to QB, WRs are often prioritized in startup drafts, as they have proven to be highly successful even into their early 30s. In 2023, Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Mike Evans, and Keenan Allen all finished as top 14 WRs. These players have all been in the WR1 discussions for the past 10 years, which is far more common in comparison to the RB position. For this reason, most will treat QBs and WRs as building blocks and the face of their very own franchise.
  • Tight End: For many years, the TE position has been regarded as the toughest learning curve of any NFL position. True TEs need to be able to understand the passing and running games, being involved equally as a receiver and a blocker. Historically, it was not uncommon to see players (such as TJ Hockenson, Evan Engram, and David Njoku) get drafted in the first round, but take four to five years before finally hitting their breakout season (note that two of these three players are on different teams today). The league is changing, however, which seems to be bringing evolution to the position. Players are entering as more athletic and gifted receivers, leading to earlier production than we’re used to seeing. Coaches are using them in a variety of ways, lining them up all over the field, and creating mismatches against smaller defenders. This has created anomalies in all of the analytical models we’ve seen in the past, with players like Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, and Dalton Kincaid all rising to stardom within their first year or two in the league. While this is encouraging and exciting for fantasy purposes, it also creates restlessness for fantasy managers who don’t see immediate output from their TEs. If someone in your league is tired of waiting on Kyle Pitts (who put up over 1,000 yards in his rookie season), I would kindly advise you to send out an offer to assist them with their troubles, although admittedly, it may be too late.

It will also be prudent to research a few mock drafts (with similar scoring settings) to have a better understanding of dynasty ADP before entering your draft. Below you can find one from our Footclan SuperFlex startup draft, with a few interesting takeaways:

Footclan Dynasty draft board results graphic

  • Eight QBs were drafted in round one, with 15 off the board through three
  • Zero RBs were drafted in round one, with five off the board through three
  • Four WRs were drafted in round one, with 15 (tying QBs) off the board through three
  • Sam LaPorta was the only TE off the board through three rounds (this was not a TE premium league)

As you can see, the Ballers’ staff and Footclan favored the QB and WR positions early on, due to their league scoring and longevity of the positions. To see a full breakdown via Kyle Borgognoni, check out the article 2024 Dynasty Startup Mock Draft: SuperFlex. 

Don’t Overestimate (Unproven) Youth

Rookie drafts are like Christmas morning in the dynasty world. Everyone wants that new shiny toy. The “mystery box” if you will. Sometimes the box turns out to be Justin Jefferson, but sometimes the box doesn’t pan out at all.

Let’s take Clyde Edwards-Helaire, for example. After being drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, a then 21-year-old CEH would be ranked as high as RB4 before ever playing a professional snap, according to (user-based) rankings on KeepTradeCut. His three-down skill set mixed with youth and landing spot had everyone salivating, sending him skyrocketing to the 1.01 in most rookie drafts, ahead of players like Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Jonathan Taylor, and CeeDee Lamb – who were all in that same draft class.

At this same point in time, a 25-year-old RB by the name of Ezekiel Elliott (maybe you’ve heard of him) was ranked RB3, equivalent in value to CEH. This tells us how the public viewed these two players, and how in September of 2020, a 1:1 swap would have been viewed as fair. Even with his best years behind him, Zeke would finish the next three seasons as RB11, RB6, and RB19, while CEH would finish as RB22, RB41, and RB46. Now entering his age-29 season, Zeke is back in Dallas and again in line for 200+ touches this season, while CEH is nothing more than a 25-year-old roster clogger. While the rookie draft can be wildly exciting, nothing is ever a “sure thing” (unless you’re Marvin Harrison’s son, of course).

We live in a world full of data points and metrics and analytics and blah, blah, blah – but many still play fantasy football (especially dynasty) with their hearts. Don’t be afraid to capitalize on your friends who must have the mystery box, and get yourself a safe, proven asset in return. Maybe even two.

Think in Two to Three-Year Windows

The definition of a dynasty is “a line of hereditary rulers of a country.”

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Wait. 

The definition of a dynasty in our world is “a team or individual that dominates their sport or league for an extended length of time.” Think the Patriots of old or the Chiefs of new. That is what we’re trying to build here, and why you always need to be viewing your team in two to three-year windows.

  • If you look at your team and think “I absolutely cannot compete this year,” then it’s time to make some moves. Either moves that will give you a chance to compete this season, or moves to help you rebuild, by selling aging assets for younger players and/or picks.
  • On the flip side, if you look at your team and see Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, and/or Aaron Rodgers, then it’s probably time to commit. These elite assets are not getting any younger, and now is the time to capitalize on your opportunity. Time your offers throughout the season, but don’t be afraid to send away picks or younger, unproven talent in order to win now. Think Sean McVay and the Rams in 2021, sending away second and third-round picks for a half-season from Von Miller. While it seemed bold at the time, they subsequently won the Super Bowl and had the last laugh in the end. And remember, you can always trade those players again later…

Be smart, make a plan, and see it through. If you give it your all, put in a competitive season, and come up short, you can still hold your head high. Then, just like in the real NFL, you start studying rookies and preparing for the next season. Otherwise, you’ll very quickly become a team that finishes in the middle year in and year out. Like the Saints. 

Nobody wants to be the Saints. 

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Bonus Tip: Have Fun!

While we all want to win (desperately), the point of fantasy football is to have fun. 

With today’s media coverage, we are inundated with sources, opinions, hot takes, statistics, analytics, and whatever other jargon you want to find. With a simple Google search, you could find arguments to buy or sell any player in the league, and they could both bring very logical arguments to the table.

You could spend hours on Reddit, having strangers spew metrics in your face, reminding you that you’re an idiot if you’re not buying or selling the player they feel so strongly about. Below in the comments, you’ll find others making their own argument on behalf of the defendant. It’s never-ending, overwhelming, and honestly, exhausting.

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Personally, I reach a point each season where I stop listening to people telling me how Player X is definitely going to be a WR1 this season, why Justin Herbert will never throw another pass if it’s the last thing Jim Harbaugh does, and why Alexander Mattison is clearly better than Dalvin Cook if he could only get the chance! 

At some point, it takes the fun out of it (for me). 

Because at the end of the day, this is my team, and that’s what makes dynasty so much more impactful than redraft leagues. I spent my entire childhood imagining myself as the GM of a team – and in dynasty, I am. 

I get to build the team however I see fit – taking age, position, salary implications, and sometimes just gut feeling into account. I lead the war room on draft night and make the final calls at the trade deadline. I rely on my own research and film review to create valuations. I decide on trade value and disregard what the calculators may be telling me. Sometimes, I literally just like watching a player, and want them on my team. And that’s okay too, because I’m the GM, and I can do whatever the *eff* I want.

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That’s what makes dynasty fun, and what I recommend for you as well. 

Thank you for being here, and best of luck in your startup drafts!

Stay tuned for part two, with five more beginner dynasty tips coming soon!

Comments

Bhartman33 says:
August 21, 2024 at 12:23 pm

This is the perfect article to share with my home league. I’ve been trying to get them to transition for years.
Another great article, Nick!

Reply

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