Diary of a Madman - Rebuilding a Roster
Posted: 5/5/09
I’m a sucker for a challenge. I always have been. I’m in a
few different leagues out there personally, but not too many. For those
of you who know me or have contacted me through this site, you know that
I take Dynasty Leagues (and Fantasy Football in general) very seriously.
I never get into a league just for fun. If I decide to enter, I’m
in it 100%. As a Dynasty League Commissioner, you should expect that from
all your participants. So, I was recently given the opportunity to take
on an existing Dynasty League Team. I’ve always wanted the challenge
of taking a current roster and seeing what I can do to reshape it. Needless
to say, it took a lot of work. This article is designed to give you a
roadmap of what to do if you’re in this situation, as well as show
you what I did.
Step #1 – Evaluate your rules
After you’ve dedicated yourself to the process, you need to understand
the rules of your existing league. In this particular league, there are
two very distinct scoring factors that must be taken into consideration.
First, passing TDs were only worth 4 pts as opposed to 6. Second, and
most importantly, this league was a “ppr” league where 1 fantasy
point was given per reception. It was intriguing enough to join.
Step #2 – Evaluate your roster
This is extremely important. You have to really understand what you have
before deciding what you want. In this case, here was my initial list
of commodities:
QB
Marc Bulger STL
David Garrard JAX
Kyle Orton CHI
RB
Chris Johnson TEN
Steve Slaton HOU
Darren Sproles SD
Frank Gore SF
Jonathan Stewart CAR
LenDale White TEN
Cadillac Williams TB
WR
Miles Austin DAL
Plaxico Burress NYG
Malcom Floyd SD
Anthony Gonzalez IND
James Hardy BUF
Brandon Jones TEN (then SF)
Steve Smith NYG
Devin Thomas WAS
Hines Ward PIT
Reggie Williams JAX
TE
Kellen Winslow CLE (then TB)
Zach Miller OAK
K
Mason Crosby GB
Matt Prater DEN
DEF
NYJ
Draft Picks
1.07
1.12
2.07
The starting requirements for this league are as follows: 1 QB, 2-3 RBs,
3-4 WRs, 1-2 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF. That created a starting lineup for me of
this:
QB – David Garrard
RB – Frank Gore
RB – Steve Slaton
RB – Chris Johnson
WR – Hines Ward
WR – Plaxico Burress
WR – Anthony Gonzalez
TE – Kellen Winslow
K – Matt Prater
At first glance, that’s not too bad. This team went 7-7 the previous
year and didn’t qualify for the playoffs. However, there were more
than a few things that made be very skittish about this roster. Now, please
note these are my personal opinions, perhaps not those of all the creators
of this site.
#1 – The QB depth of Garrard, Orton and Bulger was a serious liability
#2 – The TE combination of Winslow and Zach Miller was just “ok”
in a PPR league
#3 – The WR depth was alarming in a PPR league
#4 – This team had 2 top-flight RBs in Slaton and Gore that I feel
are highly overrated
#5 – The RB depth was OK, and I had a problem having both Chris
Johnson and LenDale White when coupled with a lack of WRs.
Step #3 – Make your goal and complete your trades
This is where the bulk of your work needs to come in. When you’re
a new owner, be prepared to get multiple offers right off the bat from
owners attempting to see if you know what you’re doing. Make sure
you respond to them COURTEOUSLY. Even though they may be trying to rip
you off, don’t burn a bridge. With this league, my goal was to create
a roster that could WIN NOW, but not completely sacrifice the future.
At the same time, I needed to solve those five issues in order to be where
I wanted. I knew it was going to take a lot of work, and it did. In fact,
it took 121 total trade scenarios, including deals I rejected or had other
reject. Let’s focus on what DID happen.
TRADE #1 – Goal is to get a #1 WR
Steve Slaton, Darren Sproles, and Plaxico Burress for Matt Hasselbeck,
Randy Moss and Eddie Royal
This move helped me shore up my WR depth by getting a top-flight WR in
Randy Moss and a good 2nd tier WR in Eddie Royal. I firmly believed that
Slaton was being overvalued in many circles because he is likely to be
paired with a goal-line vulture and power back very shortly. Hasselbeck
gave me another QB, though I hoped he and Royal were both good pieces
I could either keep or move later.
TRADE #2 – Goal is to get a #1 QB
Devin Thomas, Kellen Winslow, 2.07 and a #3 in 2010 for Philip Rivers
I unearthed a team with serious TE problems and was able to sell Winslow
relatively high. I am not sold on Devin Thomas and I felt the draft picks
were throw-ins to land a good QB in Rivers. That left me with the ability
to move Hasselbeck, but a greater need at TE. Worth the risk.
TRADE #3 – Goal is to get a #1 TE
Zach Miller and 1.07 for Tony Gonzalez and 2.05
This trade may be a little controversial with some, but I didn’t
believe the draft class this year was so deep that 1.07 was guaranteeing
me a chance at someone great. While Gonzalez may only play a couple more
years, his value in a PPR league is enormous. He had 30% more points than
the 2nd best TE in this format last year.
TRADE #4 – Goal is to get a #2 QB
Matt Hasselbeck and 1.12 for Carson Palmer
After getting Rivers, Hasselbeck was a piece I knew I could spare to
upgrade at QB. I always want two top QBs and my thoughts on the draft
were already noted.
TRADE #5 – Goal is to shore up my WR depth and move any
overrated players
Anthony Gonzalez, Eddie Royal, Frank Gore and David Garrard for Reggie
Wayne, Terrell Owens, Clinton Portis and LeRon McClain
This one was huge and took a lot of thinking about. While Gonzalez and
Royal were tough to part with, they’re both destined to be 2nd options
for their careers. I knew their ceiling was relatively low. For me, Portis
and Gore were close to a wash. I feel that Gore is being rated on potential,
and the 49ers are a long way from being good. Couple that with the news
they are looking to pair him with someone and it didn’t hurt me
to move him. Getting Wayne gave me a younger #1 WR (there was no sense
having him and Gonzalez) and allowed me to start Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne
and Terrell Owens all together in a PPR league.
TRADE #6 – Move LenDale White for a player of similar value
LenDale White for Willis McGahee
Now, you may be saying, “what!?!” because I moved a 2nd Tennessee
back in White for a 2nd Baltimore back in McGahee. The difference is pretty
simple. I believe that McGahee will be given one more chance to be a fantasy
factor after his release following the 2009 season. While White will also
be a free agent, I felt he had already hit his ceiling.
Step #4 – Re-evaluate your roster
So, in the end, this was my new starting lineup in the PPR league:
Philip Rivers QB SD
Chris Johnson RB TEN
Clinton Portis RB WAS
Randy Moss WR NE
Reggie Wayne WR IND
Terrell Owens WR BUF
Hines Ward WR PIT
Tony Gonzalez TE KC
Matt Prater K DEN
NYJ
My bench consisted of Carson Palmer, LeRon McClain, Jonathan Stewart,
Willis McGahee, Steve Smith (NYG), Miles Austin, and a host of other 2nd
tier players. My initial goals and their achievement were as follows:
#1 – The QB depth of Garrard, Orton and Bulger was a serious liability
SOLVED – Added Rivers and Palmer
#2 – The TE combination of Winslow and Zach Miller was just “ok”
in a PPR league
SOLVED – Added the #1 TE in Tony Gonzalez
#3 – The WR depth was alarming in a PPR league
SOLVED – Added Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens
#4 – This team had 2 top-flight RBs in Slaton and Gore that I feel
are highly overrated
SOLVED – Moved them both for equal value
#5 – The RB depth was OK, and I had a problem having both Chris
Johnson and LenDale White when coupled with a lack of WRs.
SOLVED – Moved LenDale White
While some of those moves may be controversial, the end result was a 37%
increase in productivity based on last year’s statistics. Reshaping
a roster takes a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun.
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