Dynasty Strategy for the 2018 Season

Bradley Ylitalo Posted On September 1, 2018

There’s no time like the present, or at least that’s how the saying goes. We’re all dynasty-centric thinkers, but that doesn’t mean we never enjoy the here and now. Week one is approaching whether we’re ready or not. For contenders and rebuilders alike, we have to enter this season with a plan to follow. Sure, players get injured, and strategies have a way of going awry. But if we’re not at least somewhat prepared as we head into the year, we might be the ones reaching in trades, overreacting to poor play, or prematurely selling a key piece of our future.

Let’s not be those owners! Buckle down, let’s go through some 2018 strategy!

Contender Buy: LeSean McCoy, RB BUF

LeSean McCoy’s ADP has seen a recent fall off for good reason. There’s, unfortunately, a very legitimate chance he begins 2018 on the bench with a suspension. And at age 30, he could be missing a big chunk of one his final seasons. But this is still Shady McCoy we’re talking about. Even if we’re only going to get 12 games out of the Bills Superstar, I’m all in on buying him as a contender. He’s been an RB1 in four of the past seasons. As the full-on lead in Buffalo’s offense, he should be dominant once again this fall.

Contender Sell: Anthony Miller, WR CHI

Woah. I’m supposed to sell who could be the hottest name in dynasty? If you’re a contender in need of another piece, then yes. Anthony Miller has absolutely balled out in camp. But if we’re talking about immediate value, he still isn’t bringing a ton to the table. So if you can flip him for a Michael Crabtree, or Larry Fitzgerald, and still get something on top, that’s bound to do wonders for your chances in 2018.

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Rebuilder Buy: Hunter Henry, TE LAC

This just as easily could have been Derrius Guice. Either way, you’re taking in a player who will be of zero value in 2018, but 12 months from now, will be beaming with potential once again. Henry’s ACL tear was certainly devastating. But we can’t let that make us forget about what he’s been able to do in his first two seasons as a Charger. Sharing time with the great Antonio Gates, Henry averaged just over 500 yards and a very impressive six touchdowns per season. Buying players on the IR isn’t always a fun investment. I think you make an exception here though.

Rebuilder Sell: Chris Thompson, RB WAS

Due to an unbelievably unfortunate injury, Chris Thompson is fully fantasy relevant in 2018. If you’re a rebuilder who’s rostering the sixth year veteran, it’s high time to take advantage of his increased stock price. Thompson’s value is on borrowed time. He’ll still be very much involved when Guice returns, but we have to think he’ll mostly be taking a back seat. He may never get another chance like this. As owners, don’t let this opportunity pass to sell him high.

How to Handle 2018 Rookies

This class was supposed to be marked by their running backs, and it’s been a bit of a rough start. Guice is out for the year, Rashaad Penny has a broken finger, and Sony Michel’s value is dropping for multiple reasons. But it’s not the time to panic. These guys will be just fine.

My advice? Hold what you have. It’s so easy to overreact to positive or negative pre-season play, and while it’s still an indicator, it’s far from a conclusive sample. These players are mere weeks into their NFL careers. A year from now, they’ll all be totally different players. So unless you’re almost assuredly going to win a trade by selling one or more of your rookies, it’s best to sit on your hands and let these prospects get their footing underneath them before we’re giving up on them.

How to Handle 2019 Picks

2019 picks really have to be dealt with on a team-to-team basis. The class could be very strong, but not in the way we’ve grown accustomed to in recent years. The 2017 and 2018 years were both spearheaded by their backs. In 2019, we’re going to see things change, with receivers headlining rookie drafts. So, if you’re in need of help at WR, don’t be afraid to add 2019 picks to your list of assets. But if you’re looking for RB’s to come in and help you immediately, it’s probably better to try and trade for one of the young stars we already have present in the league.

*Big thanks to our very own Ryan McDowell for providing terrific insight on the 2019 class.

Final Thoughts

I’m all in on the Kansas City offense. Patrick Mahomes will certainly go through some growing pains, but this unit will be an absolute buzzsaw for just about any defense. From Kareem Hunt to Tyreek Hill, to Travis Kelce, I don’t think adding any Chief is a bad idea headed into week one.

The 2017 running back success was no fluke. I honestly think we’re only in for an improvement from them in 2018. I’m particularly excited the former second rounder, Dalvin Cook. After two fumbles from Latavius Murray the preseason week one loss to Jacksonville, we have to believe that Cook has the full-on lead back role all but locked up. Playing in what should be a high-flying offense, I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see Cook finish among the top five or six RBs.

The Patriots offense is going to be more than fine. But we may have to temper our expectations just a bit. The loss of Isaiah Wynn for the season is already concerning enough, and then we remember that Julian Edelman is facing suspension, Sony Michel is battling injury, and the loss of Brandin Cooks leaves them with no true number one receiver. Tom Brady is still a definite contender to be a top-five scorer at quarterback. Yet in 2018, due to the fairly scarce talent around him, we may not be able to trust him to win us as many games on his own.

Have a question about your team, a player, or a potential trade? Please leave a comment below. I’m always glad to interact with readers. If you have a more specific and in-depth question that you want to talk more about, just shoot me an email at [email protected] . I Hope you enjoyed the article!

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