Intro
In this article, I want to give dynasty owners a quick guide on what they should do now that the fantasy season is behind us. There will not be any specific trade or player recommendations in this article. I want to elucidate my process for beginning the offseason and pass that on to my readers. Let’s jump right into Step 1!
Step 1 – Evaluate Your Leagues
The first thing you have to do is decide whether you want to commit to each of your dynasty leagues for 2021. If you’re not going to be in the league for the next season, then you shouldn’t make acquisitions or trades. It’s always okay to leave a league if you’re in too many leagues or don’t enjoy that specific league.
However, I believe it’s essential that leagues require their owners to pay for 2021 before making any offseason transactions. That way, only owners committed for the following season affect the outcome of that season. This policy ensures fairness for all owners in the league.
Step 2 – Evaluate Your Teams
Once you’ve decided to remain in the league for 2021, the next step is to evaluate your roster and assets. It doesn’t necessarily matter how you did in 2020, as that season is behind us. Sometimes, a team that contended for the title in 2020 will suffer a significant drop-off for 2021, but other times a terrible team this year can be a strong contender next year.
You need to look forward to 2021. Maybe you have five first-round picks and a bunch of young developing players, and you’ll show major improvement going into 2021. But, it’s also possible that you have a bunch of aging players or older running backs, and 2021 might not be your year. Either way, you need to get some idea of where you think you stand from a 2021 perspective.
One of the best ways to do that is to list your players at each position from highest to lowest dynasty value. Also, list your draft picks, both in 2021 and in future years. Looking at your team that way will give you the best possible picture of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your overall dynasty value.
Step 3 – Consider Potential Moves
After evaluating your entire roster, including your draft picks, it’s then time to look at what moves you can make. If you plan to rebuild your roster, think about what kind of timeline you’re looking for. Sometimes, you find that your roster is a total disaster. In those cases, you may want to write off the entire 2021 season, focusing on competing in 2022. Consider which players won’t hold their value for that period, and plan out potential methods to get those guys off your team.
On the other hand, you might find that you’re a strong contender for 2021. However, it’s too early to recommend looking at your starting lineup. Don’t plug holes in January, as so much can change between now and the start of the 2021 season. But, now is a solid time to buy-low on proven, older veterans. Make a list of your favorite targets, especially those older players on potential rebuilding teams in your league. Don’t make any hasty moves, and make sure you’ve considered all of your options before actually sending any trade offers.
Step 4 – Put Your Plans Into Action
Now that you’ve planned out what you want to do with your roster, it’s finally time to put those plans into practice. Take your time in sending offers, though. It’s okay to focus on moving on from one player at a time or to focus on dealing with one particular owner at a time. Take the approach in making moves that works for you. We’re all different as dynasty owners, so there’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation here.
The main piece of advice I will give in making trades early in the offseason is to be careful. Don’t assume that situations in the NFL will remain the same over the next few months. They will not. Sometimes, it’s better to wait and trade for a player later when the dust has settled instead of rushing to acquire him now.
However, if you want to trade for 2021 rookie picks, you might want to do that soon. Rookie fever goes crazy after the Super Bowl when everyone turns their full attention to the incoming rookie class. Now is a great time to strike at 2021 rookie picks before their value takes a significant spike after the NFL Combine and full-on NFL Draft season.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
