For diehard NFL fans, the Super Bowl was three months ago. Your favorite team is now plotting strategy to maintain their supremacy or to make up ground on the rest of the league. However, as a dynasty fantasy owner, the season ended at the end of December in week 16, if you were lucky enough to make the finals. Your rookie draft order has been set. You posted congrats to the winners. The money has been paid out. Now you can relax, right? No, now is the time to take advantage of your league's off-season to take stock of your team and possibly stockpile some hidden gems. Dynasty leagues continue free agency or weekly waivers for the balance of the off-season. Knowing how your league runs the off-season can be as important as during the season. There are leagues that have a free agent bidding budget during the season, but in the off-season you can pick up players without bidding. My experience tells me that in most leagues less than half the owners are active right now, and getting active now can find you some overlooked bargains.
If you are a hardcore player, you want to take every advantage you can get to gain an edge on the opponents in your league. You want to win hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands of dollars, bragging rights, or even have that big beautiful trophy on your mantel that makes your wife frown every time she sees it. Look your roster over. If you have London Fletcher or Tony Gonzalez on your roster, why? They are retired and taking up space where you can stash young prospects. It is like getting a head start on your rookie draft, except you don't have to wait for your pick. You don't have to declare keepers yet for the rookie draft, giving you as many trade pieces as possible for deals with other owners. Do you have players who were starters in 2013 but are clearly on the downside or have already been replaced? Miles Austin and Erin Henderson are examples of players who have completely lost their value and could be dropped for players with upside potential.
I find many quality defensive players who have been dropped during the season, mainly because teams use their benches and injured reserve to stash the offensive talent and then don't have room to put injured defensive starters. Prime examples are Geno Atkins and Stevie Brown, starters and top five fantasy players at their position. Unlike rookie draft picks, you already know the capability of some of these players in free agency when healthy. Use that to your benefit.
Finding those players who are moving into starting lineups this season and getting their opportunity to produce is another great way to bolster your team. Terrance Williams at wide receiver and Audie Cole at linebacker are just two examples of players who are moving into starting roles this season. Studying NFL depth charts is a useful tool to find players poised to make their presence felt this season.
I find many quality defensive players who have been dropped during the season, mainly because teams use their benches and injured reserve to stash the offensive talent and then don't have room to put injured defensive starters. Prime examples are Geno Atkins and Stevie Brown, starters and top five fantasy players at their position. Unlike rookie draft picks, you already know the capability of some of these players in free agency when healthy. Use that to your benefit.
Finding those players who are moving into starting lineups this season and getting their opportunity to produce is another great way to bolster your team. Terrance Williams at wide receiver and Audie Cole at linebacker are just two examples of players who are moving into starting roles this season. Studying NFL depth charts is a useful tool to find players poised to make their presence felt this season.
Once you have purged your roster and plucked some possible gems in free agency, look at your opponents rosters. Maybe some of your league members aren't paying attention like you. Every team has strengths and weaknesses. Compare their teams to yours and you can find some good trade opportunities. Some owners concentrate solely on offensive talent and forget about all the points they could gain by spending a little effort on defensive players. There are many sites and apps out there which can give you the latest player news and even depth charts updated daily. Spending a few minutes every couple of days can help you not only pick up high upside guys in free agency, but also find those same guys at the ends of your opponents rosters who could be a throw-in on a deal you are working on. You don't need alot of time, but some time is required if you want to improve your roster.
Now go out and make your own luck this off-season!! The NFL never rests and neither should you.
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Kevin Powell is a contributing writer for:
dynastynerds.com
fakepigskin.com
majorleaguefantasysports.com
dynastyfootballwarehouse.com
kpowell1962.blogspot.com
kpowell1962.blogspot.com
Email --kpowell1962@gmail.com
Twitter-- @kpowell1962
Great read bud! cp
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