Dynasty Fantasy Football Strategy: Three NFL Offseason Do-Nots

It’s February, and chances are your dynasty fantasy football league feels like one of those old Western movies with the tumbleweed blowing through town. There are likely very few waiver wire moves happening, little to no trades and maybe just not a ton of communication with leaguemates.

Then there are those of us degenerates looking at our roster daily, seeing what moves we can make and double-checking the waiver wire to ensure no one has fallen through the cracks. Let me assure you, I’ve been in that camp. Truthfully, staying engaged is excellent, especially leading up to your league’s rookie draft.

There are some pitfalls to avoid, though, and I speak from experience. Let’s get into it.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Strategy: Three NFL Offseason Do-Nots

Trading To Trade

I love to trade. That said, one of the most challenging lessons I learned when I first started playing dynasty fantasy football is that trading for the sake of creating action while your league feels dead is often ill-advised. The time between the end of the fantasy season and your rookie draft can be incredibly trepidatious with the unknown variables of what teams will do at the NFL Draft and in Free Agency.

I’m not saying you don’t trade at all. Make some deals if an offer presents itself and there’s value to gain.

I am saying, however, that player situations can drastically change over the coming weeks and months, and with that, the player you trade for could take a hit in value. Your rookie picks will only gain value between now and your league’s rookie draft. Even in the offseason, remain vigilant and calculated. 

Spending Offseason Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) 

Players sitting on the waiver wire in your dynasty fantasy football league have likely been sitting there for quite some time now. If there’s a player of interest before the rookie draft, you can likely pick them up for free. Once the rookie draft happens, though, that’s where you’ll want to have some Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) ready to spend. Some prospects will go undrafted and be worth a dart throw afterward to stash away on your bench or taxi squad. The closer we get to training camp, waiver wire players will start to earn hype, warranted or not. Situations and injuries will occur, and your needs for roster construction could change. From now until your league’s rookie draft, sit on that FAAB. 

Deciding Your Team’s Fate

The NFL season starts in September. Projecting the value of your players from here to then is nearly impossible; even from now until the NFL Draft can be a tall task. Teams will cut players, make surprising picks and maybe even make a trade, all of which will shift the landscape of your team. 

Last season, you couldn’t give then-30-year-old Raheem Mostert away, especially after the Miami Dolphins selected RB De’Von Achane. Players like Kyren Williams, Mike Evans and even Saquon Barkley were often devalued to the point that you couldn’t get value back in a trade. All of these players ended up being significant roster boosts in 2023. Almost no one projected them as such. If you had traded away these players in February for pennies on the dollar, you would have lost out big. Dynasty fantasy football is a marathon; treat it like one.

Thanks for reading my dynasty fantasy football strategy notes for the NFL offseason. Looking for more fantasy football advice? Follow me on Twitter @ThatMattKelley.

*Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports*