Greats of the Game: Scott Atkins

Ryan McDowell

atkins

I play in way too many dynasty leagues. There…I said it! Managing over a dozen dynasty teams certainly can be a burden at times, but that’s for another article. One of the huge benefits I’ve found of playing in so many leagues and against so many other dynasty players is the exposure I’ve had to a variety of approaches to building, managing and adjusting a dynasty roster.

I don’t think this needs to be said, but just in case, I want to make this clear. Writing for an excellent site like Dynasty League Football, or any other prestigious fantasy site does not make us special. It doesn’t automatically give us some great all-knowing fantasy prowess that we can hold over those non-writers. Like I said, that’s obvious.

I’m lucky enough to play in leagues with fantasy writers from all different sites and some of the most well known names in the industry, but those aren’t always the ones who are winning the league. In fact, some of the best and most successful players in my leagues are people you may have never heard of, or fantasy writers who don’t always get the credit they deserve.

[inlinead]Ten years ago, I began a series of dynasty leagues called the HyperActive leagues and they have grown far beyond my expectations. I recently questioned four participants and past champions of the HyperActive leagues about what exactly it is that has made them so successful in these, and other dynasty leagues. While exact record keeping of the leagues has not been my strong suit, I feel very confident in saying these four are among the elite dynasty players I have come across in this hobby, and I consider them among the Greats in the Game!

I asked each of the four the same questions and, while they all deserve plenty of praise and credit, this article is meant to be more of a learning tool about the varying strategies that have led to their success rather than personal profiles.

In this edition, I exchanged e-mails with Scott Atkins of ScoutFantasy.com. Along with his role there, Scott is also heavily involved with all facets of the high stakes world of fantasy football.

DLF: How would you describe your general dynasty mindset or strategy?

SA: I’d describe my overall dynasty mindset as trade value leaning, with a secondary focus on youth with upside, while always paying attention to the team’s winning window.

DLF: What is your typical plan of attack in a dynasty startup draft?

SA: I used to rank and tier players, but the last few startups I’m in, I just go with the flow. I throw out feeler trades to everyone to engage in conversation and to see what their goals are pre-draft, i.e., do they want to trade or not, are they happy where they’re at, etc. Understanding their goals helps me understand how to work with them better to create win/win trades. Like everyone else these days, I’m typically looking to acquire an extra first round pick or two without breaking the bank to do it.

DLF: What advice would you give to other dynasty players when it comes to making trades in dynasty leagues?

SA: 1. Be nice. In the DFWC league I commish, I see way too much hostility around trading and trading techniques to the point newer players can be intimidated. 2. Stick to your plan. If you’ve decided to trade a guy for whatever the reason, attempt a similar offer with all 12 leaguemates 3. Be willing to sacrifice. You can’t let yourself get mentally torqued about the talent you’re missing out on. Be confident in your approach and the talent you’ll land later on in the draft and or the picks you’ve acquired.

DLF: What is unique about how you manage the “day to day” operations of your dynasty teams?

SA: I wouldn’t call my approach unique, but I would say that everything I do is thinking “trade value” first. Unless I feel my team is a top contender for the league title, I’m usually not paying too much attention about the makeup of my team. I prefer to focus on stockpiling trade value.

DLF: What is a strategy you use in any aspect of dynasty fantasy leagues that you would recommend to all dynasty players?

SA: Don’t be afraid to sell high and buy low. In the long run, you’ll be rewarded for this mentality. It’s always tough to do either, in the moment, but looking back, did you really expect Josh Gordon’s value to be any higher than it was? We missed the window by not trading him when the trading was good. The same can be said more recently about Brandon Marshall and DeMarco Murray. Too late to trade them? In smart leagues, yes.

DLF: What is the one thing that has set you apart and led to your level of success in dynasty leagues?

SA: It’s a combination of player evaluation and my general attitude towards trading. A bad startup draft can really set you back, so make sure you leave the draft with players you’re extremely high on. Do not under any circumstances, look back and say, “I just couldn’t pass him up”. This strategy is a long journey to a title.

Secondly, I’m not afraid to pull the trigger to improve the chances of success. Most recently in HyperActive 3, I traded away Jimmy Graham. Those are words you never see yourself saying after turning down 100+ offers for him over the years, but when the trade makes too much sense to pass up, you take it. Last pre-season this was the trade that led me to a dynasty title. It was Graham for Marshawn Lynch, Greg Olsen, Golden Tate and a 2nd round pick. Only 13 points separated Olsen from Graham in 2014.

Takeaways: 

After playing against Scott in the HyperActive leagues for many years, I can tell you he absolutely practices what he preaches here. His boldness in drafts and in making trades often has me scratching my head, yet pays off nearly every time. Scott shared some excellent trade tips and possibly the most helpful and most difficult to follow through with is selling high on players. I’m sure Scott doesn’t mean all players, but if you have any doubts, as we should have with players like Gordon, don’t be afraid to shop him around.

I appreciate after seeing Jeff’s comment in the initial interview regarding how important he feels it is to understand and maximize player value, Scott uses more of a “gut feeling” method and “getting your guy”, and also focuses on the importance of interpersonal relationship building in dynasty leagues. The nice thing is, each strategy works for those individuals and has led them to success.

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ryan mcdowell