“Listen, here’s the thing. If you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.”
– Rounders
It’s true in poker, and – believe it or not – it’s true in fantasy football too.
Dynasty is, in theory, a never-ending game played with the same group (or core group) of people. You will be playing with these people for years. So ask yourself: do you really want to start by making it painfully obvious you’ve never done this before and immediately paint a target on your back?
I’m in a draft right now with four or five guys who have clearly never done a dynasty startup. I can tell – and we haven’t even done the derby yet. Want the first clue?
They didn’t know what a derby was.
I can’t wait to trade with these guys.
No matter how much football you watch or how many redraft leagues you’ve played, dynasty is an uphill climb at first. Player values. Startup pick values. Future rookie picks. Roster construction. Timeline management. The list goes on.
With all of that working against you, why would you also volunteer yourself as the league fish by not understanding the basic mechanics and etiquette of a dynasty draft?
With that in mind, here are my six…or seven (yes, I have teenage girls) commandments to help you survive your first startup. Follow these to avoid rookie mistakes and keep yourself from being the easiest mark at the table.
Commandment 1: Until you’ve done a few drafts, don’t ask questions.
Let someone else ask. Or – crazy thought – use the worldwide interweb.
Unlike real life, there are stupid questions in fantasy football.
- Read the bylaws. All of them.
- If you still have a ton of questions afterward, that’s probably a sign to find a different league. Good commissioners write detailed bylaws that answer almost everything.
- LeagueSafe links are almost always pinned, allowing you to pay quickly and secure your spot.
- Once everyone is paid, the commissioner will randomize the order a predetermined number of times.
This either sets the draft order (standard draft) or the derby order (if applicable).
- If it’s a standard draft, the clock starts for draft position 1.
- If it’s a derby, the clock starts for derby position 1, and that manager selects their draft slot.
Commandment 2: Know your draft formats – cold.
Understand:
- Standard snake draft
- Snake draft with 3rd-round reversal (3RR)
- Derby vs. non-derby
Example in a 12-team 3RR:
- Draft slot 1 gets picks 1, 24, 36, 37
- Draft slot 12 gets picks 12, 13, 25, 48
In a standard snake:
- Slot 1 gets 1, 24, 25, 48
- Slot 12 gets 12, 13, 36, 37
If there’s a derby, the manager on the clock selects any draft position they want. In most 3RR formats, picks 12, 11, and 10 are generally considered the strongest (in that order).
If you don’t know why, you’re already behind.
Commandment 3: Know the consensus top 12-15 players.
You can absolutely wreck your team for years if you screw up your first pick.
You must extract maximum value – whether that means selecting the player or trading back.
For context:
- An early-to-mid 5th-round startup pick is roughly equivalent to a future 1st-round pick.
- To move back a round in the startup 1st, you should generally expect the later 1st plus a future 1st.
If you don’t understand that math, don’t freelance.
Commandment 4: Don’t overvalue last year’s production.
Recency bias is real.
How else do you explain JSN going first overall in some startups? Insane.
Yes, production matters – but track record matters more. Have they done it consistently? You’re not renting this player for a season. You’re married to them.
We’ve all seen flash-in-the-pan guys come and go. Make sure your guy can actually hold up.
Commandment 5: Understand a team’s investment in a player.
Draft capital and contract structure matter – a lot.
If a team spends a high pick or hands out a contract that guarantees multiple years, that player is going to get chances, whether you like it or not. Opportunity sticks far longer than talent alone.
Ignoring this is how dynasty managers stay confused for three straight seasons.
Commandment 6: Don’t say it’s your first dynasty draft.
Ever.
If someone asks how many leagues you’re in, lie.
Do not announce that you’re new. Do not self-identify as prey.
You don’t need to pretend you’re elite. You just need to avoid screaming “rookie.”
Commandment 7 (Possibly): Show up.
If you paid for the league, you made a covenant.
Tell your spouse. Tell your kids. Tell your boss you might disappear for a few minutes here and there for a week. Don’t be the person who ghosts the draft.
It might not brand you as a fish, but it will make people hate you. And in Dynasty, reputation matters.
Conclusion
Dynasty leagues don’t reward innocence. They reward preparation, patience, and the ability to keep your mouth shut when you don’t know something.
People will take advantage of ignorance, intentionally or not. Your goal in your first startup isn’t to be brilliant. It’s to be competent, quiet, and hard to exploit.
Know the basics. Read the bylaws. Understand the format. Respect the clock. And if you don’t know something?
Google it.
Because in dynasty – just like poker – the easiest way to lose before you ever win…
is letting everyone know you’re the sucker.
Thanks for checking out this DFF ~ALL-ACCESS~ article! You can find me on Twitter/X @badgrlandcrypto and in the DFF Discord, where our team of experts is always ready to talk Dynasty and Devy. Click here to sign up for your Annual Membership today. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding #AlwaysBeScouting #Dynasty #Devy #C2C #WinNowBragLater
