A Tribute to the DLF Forum

Brian Malone Posted On June 25, 2017

I cut my teeth in the DLF Forum. Heck, DLF cut its teeth in the DLF forums. It shouldn’t surprise you, then, that the forums provide one of the most valuable dynasty resources on the internet.

I recently made my 9,000th forum post (which makes me only the eighth most prolific poster in forum history), and the milestone prompted me to evangelize a little. Here are a few reasons I love the free DLF forums and you will, too:

Historical Perspective

One of my favorite forum members is “cmizelle.” He doesn’t wade into many discussions, but he shares all kinds of useful information. One of his latest posts provides a lesson in dynasty history. He gathered the rookie-year dynasty ADP of the top 25 rookies from 2011 to 2016 and compared it to those players’ present-day ADP. The results provide a timely reminder about the volatility of investing in rookies.

Customizable Tools

Every time I think I have a grasp on how many smart people hang out in the DLF Forums, something pops up to make me realize I was underestimating. That happened again recently when “MEuRaH” posted his customizable rookie pick trade chart. As I noted in the forums, I’ve made a few draft pick charts – this is better than any of them.

This chart stands above the rest because it lets you rejigger the results based on how you value studs, role players, and depth. For example, in a 16-team league with deep starting lineups, studs are relatively less valuable, and depth is crucial. You can adjust the trade chart’s settings accordingly, by cutting the value gap between studs and depth players. Or, if you’re in an FFPC-style league where roster space is tight, you can turn the studs up to 11.

Article-Length Posts

“Dynasty DeLorean’s” Running Back Report is an annual forum favorite. DeLorean touted David Johnson as much as anyone heading into 2015, and that alone should make you examine his work. DeLorean hasn’t revealed the secret sauce underlying his predictions, but he answers any and all questions in the thread accompanying his report. Indeed, aside from the report, this thread is chock full of good discussion about the factors that predict running back success.

Quick, Personalized Advice

Everyone needs a sounding board, and there are few better places to go for dynasty advice than DLF’s Dynasty Team Advice Forum. That’s where I spent most of my time when I first joined, and I still like to jump in now and again to dish out advice or see what others are thinking. There are no guarantees, but you’re very likely to get a well-reasoned response to any question. Just remember to include your lineup and scoring settings.

Even if you’re not asking for advice, this is a valuable forum to visit. So much of dynasty success depends on understanding how other owners value players. And while tools like the trade finder are useful in this respect, there’s no substitute for direct observation. Plus, you never know when you’ll stumble upon an extended discussion of the value of next year’s 1.01 compared to this year’s rising star.

New Leagues and Replacement Owners

This one doesn’t need much explanation. If you’re looking for a new league, a spot in an existing league, or someone to take over a team in your league, the Help Wanted forum is a required stop. I’ve filled multiple leagues on this forum, and they’re still going strong. Before you browse, check out this thread on how to choose a new league.

Instant Reactions to Breaking News

Twitter is the fastest news source, but it’s also quite jumbled. Once news breaks, your timeline is clogged with a bunch of people saying the same thing. While you let the dust settle, jump over to the forums, where you’ll find a handful of dynasty owners teasing out the ramifications. For example, here’s the thread that popped up when LeGarrette Blount signed with the Eagles. Within hours, there are multiple predictions about Blount’s 2017 production, as well as discussion of his new trade price and the ripple effect on other players.

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This list isn’t close to comprehensive. There’s also a forum for commissioners, Devy and IDP talk, and oodles of information on everything related to dynasty. Sign up and find out for yourself.