Dynasty Experts League Draft Update

Ken Kelly Posted On June 5, 2012

As our loyal following well knows, we participate in a Dynasty Experts League with fellow site owners from across the country. Our team is managed together by Jeff Haverlack (dlf_Jeff) and Ken Kelly (dlf_KenK). Last year, DLF won the Dynasty Experts League championship with a record of 15-1.

That amazing season featured a few equally amazing statistics:

1.) We averaged 201.3 points per game – the next closest team was under 180.
2.) Our “all play” record for the season was a ridiculous 151-25 (.858%)
3.) We set three of the four highest weekly point totals (and 6 of the top 18) in league history
4.) Our average margin of victory was 58 points

The league consists of the following sites:

FootballGuys = Jene Bramel
DynastyGuys = Jeff Pasquino and Peter Hodes
FFToday = Mike Macgregor
Fantasy Sharks = Jim Bukowski
FFToolbox = Matthew De Lima
ESPN / Scouts, INC. = Matt Williamson
FantasyFootballXtreme = Kevin Vennard
Pro Football Focus = Bryan Fontaine
RotoWorld = Evan Silva
Pigskin Addiction = Ryan Schoon
DLF = Ken Kelly and Jeff Haverlack
DraftCalc = Smitty

Our goal for getting into the league was to put our money where our mouth is in regards to dynasty leagues. We wanted to solidify DLF as a leader in the industry. After just two years, we’ve done just that.

We wanted to share with you the results of the first round of the rookie draft, complete with some trades that have been made (one of our own). Before we get too far, here was our current roster in the PPR Dynasty Experts League (keep in mind several of these players will be cut throughout the draft):

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers
Carson Palmer
Kevin Kolb
Colt McCoy
Tyrod Taylor

Running Backs

Ryan Mathews
Darren McFadden
Marshawn Lynch
Reggie Bush
Jonathan Stewart
Evan Royster
Kahlil Bell
Jonathan Dwyer
Danny Woodhead

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker
Greg Jennings
Demaryius Thomas
Antonio Brown
Eric Decker
Anquan Boldin
Danario Alexander
Early Doucet
Joe Morgan
Preston Parker
Eddie Royal
Chastin West
Roy Williams

Tight Ends

Jason Witten
Dustin Keller
Luke Stocker

Kicker

David Akers

Defensive Linemen

John Abraham
James Hall
JJ Watt

Linebackers

Nick Barnett
London Fletcher
Ray Lewis

Defensive Backs

Jairus Byrd
Reggie Nelson

So, there you have it. We’ve constructed a roster that has a few flaws, but also has some evident strengths going into the future. We achieved this with some good drafting, some great trades and a little bit of good fortune.

DLF’s Draft Strategy

As champions of the league, we ended up with 1.12, 2.12, 4.12, 512, 6.12, 7.12 and 8.12 (we traded our third round pick last year).

Our plan all along was to wait until the selections started and lay in the weeds until the draft started getting close to our pick at 1.12. Our hope was there would be a player someone coveted who started to drop, giving us the ability to spin that pick at 1.12 in to a #1 next season (preferably from a team who would likely finish in the bottom of the league.

If that didn’t happen, we felt we were in a good position to take the best player available or attempt to move it for a backup quarterback to Rodgers.

Draft Results

1.01) Fantasy Sharks – Trent Richardson, RB CLE

No surprise here as the Sharks tend to stockpile running backs. They currently have 13 of them, but DeMarco Murray, Ben Tate and Trent Richardson seem to be the only viable starters for them at the moment – most of the rest are projects, but some are very good ones at that. The Sharks also had pick #3, so there was no sense for them to take Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III since they were guaranteed to get one of the two at #3 if they so desired.

1.02) FootballGuys – Doug Martin, RB TB

FootballGuys liked Martin enough to take a stab at him here, over both of the elite quarterbacks. They either really liked Martin’s prospects or knew a team below them really valued him highly.

1.03) Fantasy Sharks – Andrew Luck, QB IND

No surprise here as the Sharks rolled the dice and came up a winner. He said it best, “I needed a franchise RB and got one with Richardson at 1.01. I need a quality backup QB who can takeover or surpass Tony Romo and I’ve got that with Luck.”

DRAFT TRADE = FootballGuys sent Doug Martin, Jerod Mayo, and 2.02 to FFToday for 1.04, 2.05 and Colin McCarthy.

They took a risk in taking Martin and hoping to find a trade partner if that was indeed their intention, but it worked out in the end. They get a younger LB in McCarthy, and the 1.04 pick coming up, plus a move back of just three spots in the second round.

For FFToday, they end up with Martin, who they almost HAD to have in the draft. Their running backs consisted of LeGarrette Blount, Felix Jones, Mikel Leshoure, Alfonso Smith and Daniel Thomas.

It’s one of those deals that seems to make sense for both.

1.04) FootballGuys – Robert Griffin III, QB WAS

After making the deal with FFToday, FootballGuys takes Griffin, who could have possibly been ranked higher on their board than Martin. They get a future starter at quarterback in Griffin (they currently had Philip Rivers and Blaine Gabbert on the roster).

1.05) Fantasy Sharks – Justin Blackmon, WR JAX

The Sharks entered the draft with picks 1.01, 1.03 and 1.05 and ended up with the #1 rated running back, quarterback AND wide receiver on many lists. Of course, this all happened before the DUI arrest this week. The Sharks added this in their draft commentary, “Very happy to be getting the draft’s top WR at pick 1.05. Jacksonville traded up to get Blackmon so he should see a boatload of targets.”

1.06) ProFootballFocus – David Wilson, RB NYG

He said it best in his comments in the draft room, “About how I expected the draft to unfold, but thought I had an outside chance at one of the quarterbacks or Blackmon”

1.07) FantasySharks – Brian Quick, WR STL

A bit of a stunner here as this is about as high as Quick has gone in a rookie draft. The Sharks justify their pick by saying, “Great situation. Great young QB. Big time talent with nice upside. Will be Rams #1 WR and should produce early and often.”

1.08) FantasySharks – Coby Fleener, TE IND

Another surprising pick by the Sharks, considering Kendall Wright and Michael Floyd were still on the board. He comments, “It’s probably a bit early to take Fleener but Indy will be passing a lot and Luck will be targeting his old college chum.”

Side note: The Sharks franchise was able to stockpile a ton of picks in the draft by making some great trades over the years. They traded Jacob Tamme for a 2012 1st-round pick, Dexter McCluster and Sidney Rice for DeAngelo Williams and a 2012 first round pick, Peyton Hillis for a 2011 and 2012 first round pick and their 1.11 in 2011 for yet another first rounder this year. The Sharks know what they’re doing!

1.09) FFToolbox – Michael Floyd, WR ARI

The toolbox makes the comment that he’s always looking for the best player available at all times and it’s hard to argue Floyd not fitting that category.

Side note: This is right about the time where DLF starts sending out some feelers about picking up a first rounder next year in exchange for pick 1.12. We were hoping Stephen Hill and Ronnie Hillman would drop to that area since many are high on both of them.

1.10) ProFootballFocus – Kendall Wright, WR TEN

PFF notes he was surprised that Wright fell to him here and he likes the value. Tough to argue.

Side note: We started to get a lot of offers that included the 1.12 at this point, but most of them wanted players like McFadden and Mathews in larger deals. We weren’t that interested.

1.11) DynastyGuys – Isaiah Pead, RB STL

The DynastyGuys go for Pead over Stephen Hill and Ronnie Hillman and we find ourselves pretty excited they’re still on the board, along with Ryan Tannehill and Rueben Randle.

Side note: Now the trade talks REALLY heat up. ESPN is very interested in 1.12, but they have no #1 next year. This is where it’s important to know which players you have that OTHER players like. We engage in some very lengthy discussions revolving around various trade scenarios that include Jeremy Maclin, DeAngelo Williams and Hakeem Nicks on his side and Antonio Brown, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, 1.12, 2.12 our #2 in 2013 on our side. We knew he was very interested in Brown (after all, he was the #23 WR in the format last year), so we really focused on that and feel like we got the perfect deal for us.

DRAFT TRADE = ESPN/Scouts, Inc. trades Hakeem Nicks to DLF for Antonio Brown, 1.12, 2.12 and our #2 in 2013. We felt that gave us another legitimate WR1 and felt great about it since we nabbed Brown off the wire last year before he blew up and parlayed that and our draft picks into an elite player. Matt Williamson is very, very high on Antonio Brown’s potential (take note) and it was obvious he thought highly of another player in this draft since he wanted the next pick.

1.12) ESPN / Scouts, Inc. – Ronnie Hillman, RB DEN

Hillman was the target for ESPN all along and he felt good about getting him.

END ROUND ONE

So, we feel even better about our prospects next season with the following starting lineup on offense, with a solid defensive unit behind them:

Aaron Rodgers
Ryan Mathews
Darren McFadden
Hakeem Nicks
Greg Jennings
Wes Welker
Demaryius Thomas / Marshawn Lynch / Reggie Bush / Eric Decker
Jason Witten

We’ll keep you updated on the draft’s progress, or you can follow it here. You can also follow me on twitter @dlf_kenk

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK