RADIO
We love to play in dynasty leagues like the ones featured on the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) platform because at its very best, the experience replicates running a pro football franchise. There truly is no offseason, with trades, player moves, and a rookie/free agent draft.
Fortunately, there are certain parts of the “real” NFL front office world we do not have to deal with as fantasy dynasty general managers/coaches. When we cut players, there is no exit meeting in which we have to inform them they are being released. It’s an essential, but unpleasant part of the job for real head coaches.
Still, there is a pre-rookie cutdown date approaching in FFPC dynasty leagues, as all rosters must be trimmed to 16 players by 11:59 Pacific Time on March 31. Many dynasty participants are already prepping for cutdown day by being very active in the trade market.
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A busy trade window prior to FFPC cutdown deadline
Over the last two weeks, it has been fun to check my inbox, as at least two trade offers per day and frequently more than that are being sent to me. I run two FFPC Dynasty teams and most others in my leagues are trying to unload players they may cut in exchange for draft choices or attempting to land some of my better players.
The activity never stops in fantasy football dynasty leagues. Prior to the pre-NFL draft cutdown date, one should be looking to make deals unless it is believed the current roster is satisfactory prior to the rookie/free agent draft. Before this Friday’s cutdown deadline, the first step in getting ready for roster trimming to 16 players is to see who you can unload or acquire.
Obviously, you should be attempting to trade away players that are likely to be cut in exchange for draft choices. In one of my leagues, the team is deep enough at WR where I will be considering Sterling Shepard, Marvin Jones, or Marquez Callaway as final release candidates. If I can acquire a draft choice for one of them, then I will certainly take it. Mid to later-round picks can be valuable assets.
Rookie drafts do not only include first-year players but also contain some NFL free agents. Even if I receive a fifth to seventh-rounder for any of those WRs, I could land the next James Robinson or even a Davis Mills type, a respectable option for possible development in a Superflex format.
We also have to carefully review the rosters of our league mates and consider who they may cut. Trading a later draft choice for a guy you believe may be positioned for a turnaround or better future is a smart move.
But you also have to be realistic in what is offered, and consider what the other team may actually need or what another league participant may be interested in. The best trade offers are constructed when you think it through and consider what may work for both sides.
I have received offers of Darrell Henderson or K.J. Osborn for my third-round draft choices. Neither player moved the needle for me enough to accept. When someone offered me their third-rounder for Derrick Henry, I could not hit “reject” fast enough.
But one person did take the time to look at my roster and considered that I may cut Kenny Golladay, and offered a fourth-rounder this season and a fifth-rounder next year. I quickly accepted that offer, as I don’t have much confidence in Golladay to bounce back in 2022. That was a sign of a league mate who carefully evaluated my roster and targeted the right player for a respectable return.
Of course, bigger deals are always possible. I have received more than one offer for Michael Pittman Jr. and a significant package offer for him and Russell Wilson in a Superflex league. But the return has to be right. I cannot ultimately accept an offer when the quarterbacks I receive in return for Wilson are two of: Drew Lock, Sam Darnold, and Carson Wentz.
Ultimately, though, it’s a lot of fun to entertain and make offers. And I have seen some that I have rejected being accepted by others. I was not interested in sending a high draft choice for Dallas Goedert when my team has two good TEs and I need to acquire more draft choices. But after I turned it down, Goedert was traded shortly thereafter to another team in my league for a deal involving a first-rounder.
So, stay aggressive, but make sure to construct offers that will interest the other side by taking its needs into account.
Preparing for the upcoming draft
As we get closer to the cutdown deadline on Friday, attention will quickly turn to who must be jettisoned from rosters. Teams must keep at least one kicker and defense, so you may be cutting at least four position players in many cases. The primary fringe players to release should be apparent to any experienced dynasty leaguer.
When you get down to the fifth or sixth cutdown candidate, that is when it will likely become tougher to make the final decision. Ultimately, you will have to evaluate potential roles and production for 2022 and beyond. Project your pre-rookie draft FFPC lineup as best you can, make a depth chart, and cut the guys from the bottom up. They can be effectively replaced in the upcoming rookie and free-agent draft, anyway.
For me, a decision will have to come down to cutting Shepard, Jones, or Callaway if I cannot trade one of them before Friday. Shepard can be the most serviceable of the three and Jones does have occasionally good performances. Callaway is a starting WR for the Saints right now, but he didn’t capitalize enough on the opportunity last season. He will likely be my first cut candidate of the three.
Once you have decided on the final cuts, then there is a period of about a month for preparation for rookie/free agent drafts. While it’s often futile to guess how the draft may largely play out ahead of your pick, you can start identifying what positions need to be addressed first and compile your own rankings.
You have to not only be ready to target the incoming rookies but review the roster cuts and available free agents in your FFPC dynasty league. I may cut Callaway, but someone else in my league could consider him as a draftable player at some point. If you believe Hayden Hurst or Kylen Granson could play bigger roles in 2022 and they are free agents, both should be on your draft radar.
There is more fun work to be done in FFPC dynasty leagues as Friday approaches. I will continue to monitor my inbox with anticipation.
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