How Does an ‘All-22’ Dynasty Team Look in Year Three?

D'Andre Swift

The DLF Team Posted On August 28, 2022

Editor’s note: This article is by Member Corner writer Norm Cruz. Please welcome Norm and provide constructive feedback in the comments section.

A year ago, I wrote an article about a strategy of drafting dynasty teams made up of exclusively players 22 years and younger, which I called the “All-22”. There, I examined three All-22 teams I drafted in 2020.

The All-22 is designed to maximize a team’s value in years three and beyond. Conveniently, this year marks what will be year three for those 2020 teams. For the first time, we are able to assess actual results involving the All-22 rather than merely extrapolating years into the future. What those 2020 startup teams look like today, going into what should be their pinnacle year, will say a lot about the viability (or nonviability) of the All-22 going forward.

So let’s take a close look.

“Team 1”: 2020 $500 FFPC Superflex Best Ball Dynasty (#59):

This team opened in 2020 with a solid foundation of stud rookie running backs in Jonathan Taylor (2.4), JK Dobbins (2.12) and D’Andre Swift (3.1) and also left the startup draft with rookie wideouts Justin Jefferson (8.10), Michael Pittman (11.4), Tee Higgins (12.4), and Chase Claypool (17.9) and rookie TE Cole Kmet (16.9) . Add to that five future firsts (including my own 1.01), a sprinkling of vets for trade bait and a few good trades, and what I ended up with is this year three juggernaut:

QB: Dak Prescott (acquired by trade in 2020 at a discount due to career-threatening injury)
QB: Russell Wilson (acquired by trade in 2021)
QB Trevor Lawrence (2021 rookie draft 1.1)
QB Zach Wilson (2021 rookie draft 1.4))
RB: Jonathan Taylor (startup draft 2.3)
RB: D’Andre Swift (startup draft 3.2)
RB: JK Dobbins (startup draft 2.12)
RB: Javonte Williams (2021 rookie draft 1.9)
RB: Breece Hall (2022 rookie draft 1.1 – pick acquired by trade)
RB: Leonard Fournette (acquired by trade in 2021)
WR: Ja’Marr Chase (2021 rookie draft 1.8)
WR: Justin Jefferson (startup draft 8.10)
WR: Tee Higgins (startup draft 12.4)
WR: DK Metcalf (acquired by trade in 2021)
TE: Dallas Goedert (startup draft 8.12)
TE: Jelani Woods (2022 rookie draft 5.12)

Assessment: This team already won the title in year two, and barring massive injury, it is hard to see this team not winning again in year three. At some point this year, if the team can generate a big enough lead, I hope to be able to trade one or more of Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson and/or Leonard Fournette for younger players and/or picks to keep the good times rolling indefinitely.

“Team 2”: 2020 $500 FFPC Superflex Best Ball Dynasty (#52):

Compared to team one, this team will look underwhelming. On its own though, it’s another fine example of the benefits of the All-22. This team started with a foundation of rookie running back Jonathan Taylor (2.3) and quarterbacks Joe Burrow (3.10) and Tua Tagovailoa (4.3). This team had six future firsts (including my own 1.01) coming out of the startup draft.

QB: Joe Burrow (startup draft 3.10)
QB : Tua Tagovailoa (startup draft 4.3)
QB Trevor Lawrence (2021 rookie draft 1.1)
QB Zach Wilson (2021 rookie draft 1.8))
RB: Jonathan Taylor (startup draft 2.3)
RB: Najee Harris (2021 rookie draft 1.3)
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (startup draft 2.1)
RB: JK Dobbins (acquired by trade in 2021)
WR: Jaylen Waddle (2021 rookie draft 1.11)
WR: DeVonta Smith (2021 rookie draft 1.10)
WR: Tee Higgins (startup draft 10.3)
WR: Jerry Jeudy (acquired by trade in 2020)
WR: Garrett Wilson (2022 rookie draft 1.5)
TE: Cole Kmet (2020 FAAB)
TE: Trey McBride (2022 rookie draft 2.5)
TE: Jelani Woods (2022 rookie draft 5.5)

Assessment: This team was a middle-of-the-road team in year two, being especially thin at running back due to injuries in 2021. Year three is looking like a different story. With a good mix of strong established players and high ceiling developing young prospects, this team may just have enough firepower to take home the title in year three (currently the moderate favorite to win). Additionally, the number of developing players on the roster suggests that this team will still be on an upward trajectory in year four.

“Team 3”: 2020 $250 FFPC Best Ball Dynasty (#52):

Last but not least, here is Team 3, a non-superflex team. This team left the startup draft with only three future firsts (including my own 1.01), but I was able to leave the draft with more 2020 talent as a result. Like Team 1, this team started with a foundation of Jonathan Taylor (2.3) and D’Andre Swift (3.2) and a strong core of receivers in DK Metcalf (4.3), CeeDee Lamb (5.7) , Justin Jefferson (5.10), Henry Ruggs (6.11), and Tee Higgins (10.3).

QB: Justin Herbert (startup draft 13.10)
QB: Tua Tagovailoa (acquired by trade in 2021)
RB: Jonathan Taylor (startup draft 2.3)
RB: D’Andre Swift (startup draft 3.2)
RB: Javonte Williams (2021 rookie draft 1.4)
RB: Travis Etienne (2021 rookie draft 1.3)
RB: Antonio Gibson (startup draft 8.3)
WR: Justin Jefferson (startup draft 5.10)
WR: CeeDee Lamb (startup draft 5.7)
WR: DK Metcalf (startup draft 4.3)
WR: Tee Higgins (startup draft 10.3)
WR: Hunter Renfrow (2020 free agency)
WR: Wan’Dale Robinson (2022 rookie draft 3.1)
TE: George Kittle (acquired by trade in 2022)
TE: Brevin Jordan (2022 rookie draft 5.4)
TE: Jelani Woods (2022 rookie draft 3.11)

Assessment: This team finished in second in 2021. Strong at every position, this team should be the prohibitive favorite to take the championship in 2022. However, given the limited amount of rookies drafted in 2021 and 2022, I am questioning whether this team can continue its upward climb much beyond this year. Then again, the star players are young enough to keep the team at the top for a while.

Conclusion

The results based on this small sample size are very positive. Still, it is difficult to determine how much of the results are attributable to the All-22 concept, shrewd moves, the strength of the rookie classes, or just plain old luck. So at least at this stage, with the first set of results in, the success of the All-22 is still largely subjective.

But my gut feeling is that right out of the startup draft, the All-22 on concept alone is very likely to produce a good dynasty team (even put largely on auto-pilot). Whether a good team becomes a great one will still require a combination of skill and luck (like any other good strategy).

However, what I can say definitively is that I really enjoyed drafting these teams year one, I was captivated week to week following these teams in year two, and I can’t wait to experience year three. The winnings are nice, but the fun factor is reason enough to keep employing the strategy in the future.