The DLF Mailbag
Welcome to the latest edition of the weekly mailbag.
Send me your questions using the DLF Mailbag Form and I’ll include the best in future articles. Remember the guidelines to have the best chance at seeing your question get posted:
1.) Dynasty questions only, no start/sit questions
2.) Help me help you by providing sufficient information about your league (e.g. line-up requirements/PPR or non-PPR/etc.), and include your first name and where you’re from.
3.) Your chance of getting your question answered is inversely proportional to the length of the question.
Let’s get to it!
*Editor’s Note – For total team evaluations, please be sure to use the DLF Newsletter Team Advice Form!*
- I am a few weeks away from my first dynasty startup draft. It’s a 10-team non-PPR league with 18-man rosters, where we keep 12. Is it worth drafting older players earlier in the draft since a third of my roster will be turned over every season, and I could just not add them as keepers if they retire or get injured? Also, with there being no set lineup spot for a tight end, where would the value of the position be in relation to the other FLEX players? – Scott in CA
The simple rule in dynasty is if you have players similarly valuated, younger is better. Keeper leagues can be a little different given the yearly turnover, but given your league settings (120 keepers between all 10 teams), I think the format remains closer to dynasty than re-draft – as such I don’t think you should be making a concerted effort towards either end of the spectrum when it comes to selecting your players. I suppose you could lean more towards the veteran-centric side of things in the later rounds (think Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston, etc), as such players could and should offer immediate value, as opposed to lower-tier rookies you’d have a hard time keeping over the off-season (Chris Conley, Mike Davis, etc).
With regards to tight ends, this one’s simple. If your FLEX positions are true FLEX positions, you should look for the guys who will score the most points, and tight ends who can keep up with receivers and running backs are few and far between. Even a guy like Rob Gronkowski becomes a likely second round player at best – there’s simply no sense in overpaying as if a positional advantage still existed.
- I was offered Sammy Watkins for Nelson Agholor and two first round rookie picks. I’m aware that this is quite a lot for Watkins but I’m not too familiar with the 2016 draft class (aside from Laquon Treadwell) and wanted to get your take on it. – Drew in IL
I’m right there with you as it relates to the class of 2016 (fortunately we have the Dynasty Scouts for that!), but the fact is what we know now isn’t necessarily going to reflect what we know in 12 months. To wit, it’s not as if Kevin White was a household commodity at this point last year. Continuing, draft picks will be valuable regardless, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and a pick effectively represents any player you want it to be – draft picks don’t tear ACLs and get DUIs, so if a rookie player does, you simply pick another one! And as I have a tough time justifying three first round picks (I’m considering Nelson Agholor as one in this instance) for all but a small handful of players, I’d much rather stand pat here.
- I’m in a 10-team, non-PPR keeper league with big bonuses for going over 100 yards, as well as big bonuses for long touchdowns. We can keep up to five players, with no limits on how long players can be kept. I have six players I am considering: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Jeremy Hill, AJ Green, Julio Jones and Demaryius Thomas. Who do I throw back? – Brendan in IN
Boy, that’s tough. I think you have to keep the trio of receivers as well as Cincy running back Jeremy Hill. The former(s) are three of the best at a position of greater longevity, and Hill certainly looked the part as a 2015 rookie. The age gap between he and both Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson gives him the edge.
For your last keeper I’m actually going to go with Lynch. I understand AP will go down as an all-time talent at the position, but I truly don’t believe Lynch is far behind at this point. He also plays for an offense that will often be out in front, likely meaning he’ll be featured in clock-killing mode – this helped him achieve 100 rushing yards in 7 of 19 games last year (37%, counting playoffs), which is a huge boon given your league settings. Adding in his durability (one missed game in the past four years) and I like his stability just a tad more than Peterson’s.
- My running backs are Adrian Peterson, LeSean McCoy and Shane Vereen. My receivers are Calvin Johnson, Sammy Watkins, Michael Floyd, DeSean Jackson, DeAndre Hopkins and Eddie Royal. I have a deal offered to me where I’d send Calvin and Shady plus pick 1.08 for Larry Fitzgerald, plus picks 1.01 and 1.02. We are in a salary cap league and I would save a lot of cap space. I would take Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon in those spots. Is this deal worth it? – Richard in Canada
[inlinead]Normally I’d side with the veterans (your current players) here, but salary caps are the great equalizer, which is something I’m learning more and more every day due to our new DLF league on Reality Sports Online. It’s true both Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon (or Amari Cooper if you change your mind) have much to prove, but the cap relief you’d see is the dealmaker in this case. Getting Larry Fitzgerald back helps your receivers a little, but given the format I think this is a deal you should take.
- I am in a 12-team PPR RB/WR/TE FLEX dynasty league with 26 roster spots. We have a four-round rookie draft that includes veteran free agents. I have pick 1.10 and have been offered the 1.07 for Latavius Murray or possibly a combo of Doug Martin and Charles Sims. I have several other solid backs but am a little weak at receiver after Jordy Nelson, Jordan Matthews and Golden Tate. At 1.10 I could still get a decent back, but if I had 1.07 I could possibly get one of the last top receivers. How do you value hyped virtual unknowns like Latavius Murray and Charles Sims and players who have fallen like Doug Martin? With only four rounds picks are a commodity, but I am thinking of sticking with what I have and resisting rookie fever. – Cashdad in KS
Ironically we talked about situations just like this over the course of the past two Podcasts (found here and here), but I’ll provide you with the Cliff’s Notes here, referencing your “unique situations.” First and foremost, I’d sell Oakland running back Latavius Murray for pick 1.07 11 times out of 10 – he basically had two games against the Chiefs last season and did precious little else, including behind held under 4.0 YPC in three of the four games he received double-digit totes. Size and speed are great, but they work a lot better when you’re a complete running back, such as his backfield mate Roy Helu, who in my belief is the guy to own there.
Ditto Charles Sims. I understand he was coming off an injury but he simply didn’t look special last season, and it’s my belief Doug Martin is the definitive starter and better running back. No, he wasn’t great the past two years, but it’s not as if he forget how to play the position following his stellar rookie campaign. Unfortunately, because he’s put some bad things on film he gets pushed below guys like Murray and Sims due simply to the fact they’re unknown, and therefore “exciting.” I know it’s my conservative nature here, but I’d take Martin over either every time, and think you should look to hang onto him if at all possible.
- I’m at the final stages of my rebuild and I’m missing only one thing: a solid QB1. Understanding the higher value of higher tier quarterbacks in Superflex leagues, I’m trying to find a cost-effective option that won’t bankrupt my young assets. Do you have any recommendations for inexpensive quarterbacks that would offer me enough of a point bump over flexing one of my depth WR/RB options, or am I better off going with a fourth receiver on a good matchup each week? Thoughts? – Dave in Cotati
In general I’d prefer to start two quarterbacks in a superflex league, as they generally offer stability not seen with other positions. Indeed, barring egregiously biased game plans, the quarterback position typically brings with it a higher floor. As such, there are a few options I think you should take a look at, based on the most recent ADP:
Philip Rivers (QB17) – He simply goes out and delivers QB1 numbers, no matter how poor his supporting cast is. He’s only 33, so he should offer good numbers for a few more years.
Colin Kaepernick (QB19) – I don’t love his talent, but I think the 49ers could be playing from behind a lot more this year.
Robert Griffin III (QB23) – A better, but less healthy version of Kaepernick above.
Nick Foles (QB27) – Like it or not, the Rams appear committed to him and ready to offer an extension.
Geno Smith (QB30) – Hey, a guy can dream, right?
- I have option of starting one running back and two tight ends or two running backs and one tight end in my TE-premium league. I decided to move some veterans for young talent and draft picks, while upgrading my tight end position. Did I give away too much, or have I successfully rebuilt? Here are the players involved in the multiple trades for players and picks: traded away Mark Ingram, CJ Anderson, Ryan Mathews, Kenny Stills, Larry Fitzgerald, Tim Wright and Vernon Davis for Carlos Hyde, Amari Cooper, Nelson Agholor, Devin Funchess, Kyle Rudolph, Julius Thomas and Gavin Escobar. – Wayne in IL
[inlinead]Truth be told I like it a lot for you. The only guy I think you’ll really miss is Denver running back CJ Anderson, but after that you sold a lot of guys whose names are bigger than their games. Amari Cooper is likely the most valuable asset in the deal, and you also received some promising rookies in Agholor and Devin Funchess. Most importantly, Jacksonville tight end Julius Thomas is easily better than anyone you had before, while Kyle Rudolph offers upside if he can simply stay healthy in Norval Turner’s offense. San Francisco running back Carlos Hyde may be somewhat overrated, but if nothing else he currently carries significant value and can be flipped for a different asset if you so choose – all told you took some large strides towards rebuilding.
- What are the pros and cons of the following lineups: OLB/ILB/DE/DT/CB/S vs 2LB/2DL/2DB? – Kami in Denver
Though I largely dabble in IDP as opposed to being any sort of guru, I can say from my experience I think the first option is a little too granular. While I like the idea of separating out defensive end from defensive tackle, as well as cornerback from safety, I believe linebackers should simply be linebackers. My other worry is finding a format that can distinguish between the positions (would it be simply as they’re listed, or where they play on a given play, etc). Instead of delineating that precisely, I’d choose to modify your scoring settings such that there will be a discernible difference as to why you’d roster someone like Von Miller versus a guy like Paul Worrilow. I also think you could add an additional linebacker and defensive end spot, as doing so could place a greater emphasis on the defensive side of the ball.
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