This uber-deep dynasty format was the startup draft I looked forward to the most in the summer of 2014. I broke down the draft in two installments here on the site:
- 12 teams, PPR, 32 roster spots
- Start 1-2-3-1 with 3 flex spots
The ability to start up to six receiver sweekly and 30 offensive spots made this an ideal format for the UTH team-building method.
Season Approach
I went young across the board and very light at running back. I expected to be one of the worst teams in the league in 2014, sit on my likely high rookie picks, and season the rookie talent into 2015. I acquired an extra first and second round pick during the startup draft as well.
Key Season Moves
It was very much a quiet season as I was content to sit on my players and did not make any trades during the regular season.
Startup Trades
*Draft occured in June, 2014*
Gave: 5.10, 8.03 (ended up Matt Ryan, Tavon Austin)
Received: 5.06, 9.06 (ended up Brandin Cooks, Eric Ebron)
I moved up for Brandin Cooks with Eric Ebron outside the top-100 a cherry on top. Tavon Austin is near-valueless even in this format.
Gave: 6.03, 11.10 (ended up Jordan Reed, Markus Wheaton)
Received: 7.11, 10.02, 2015 1st (ended up Davante Adams, Donte Moncrief, 1.01)
These are the types of deals that swing the power rankings in a league from the start and fast-track a team to dynasty status. I moved way back and the 2015 1st was gravy in the deal. A random 1st ended up as the 1.01 in a startup deal is hitting the lottery, especially when I ended up getting quality rookies with the later picks anyway.
Gave: 12.03 (ended up Khiry Robinson)
Received: 13.11, 2015 2nd (ended up Jerick McKinnon, 2.01)
When flat tiers present themselves in a draft, trade back and pick up value when possible. Most would prefer McKinnon over Robinson straight up, so the random 2nd, which again ended up high in the round a few months later, was gravy in the deal.
9.4.2014 Added Jaron Brown from waiver wire
With Larry Fitzgerald’s 2015 status uncertain and Michael Floyd underwhelming, Brown is a quality stash in 25-man rosters. With 30 spots, he is a no-brainer hold into the offseason.
9.11.2014 Added Larry Donnell from waiver wire
This was the waiver wire move of the season by far. Donnell was a nobody in the preseason as folks were holding out hope for Adrien Robinson or washing their hands of the Giants tight end situation altogether. With nine starters among RB-WR-TE, Donnell is valuable depth at a minimum as well as mixing in as a starting tight end.
9.12.2014 Was offered Christine Michael for my 2015 1st + 2nd
I was expecting my pick to be in the top-3 of each round, at worst, which made this only a tease that I missed out on Michael in the startup draft. I could not pass up a top rookie pick in 2015, plus another top-15 selection, even for Christine Michael.
9.18.2014 Was offered Aaron Rodgers for my 2015 1st + 3rd
I chewed on this offer for a bit, but ultimately passed. Rodgers is a stud and the format is a 6-point touchdown league for passing scores. However, like Michael, my 2015 first was essentially not for sale as a key component of the UTH strategy in year one. Plus, I had Ryan Tannehill and Philip Rivers in my quarterback committee, which was perfectly acceptable.
10.16.2014 Added Michael Campanaro from waiver wire
I like Campanaro more than 99% of dynasty analysts out there and adding him way down my wide receiver depth chart was an easy choice. If his situation develops, I see him as a Wes Welker-type.
10.24.2014 Added Crockett Gillmore from waiver wire
When a potential 2015 starter is staring you in the front in this depth of league, one has to jump on it. I added Gillmore earlier in the season, but now have him for good. With Owen Daniels a free agent after the season, the odds are in Gillmore’s favor as a top-100 NFL draft pick to see an uptick in playing time and value.
12.4.2014 Offseason stashes including Zurlon Tipton, Chris Hogan, Joseph Morgan, Dion Sims
Clearing out defense, kicker, and a couple dead-end players for upside shots. Charles Clay is a free agent, so Sims could be the Week 1 starter in Miami. Chris Hogan has plenty of athleticism, and every Colts running back seems to be passing Trent Richardson on the depth chart, so Zurlon Tipton is worthwhile in this depth of league.
The Season
The regular season worked out as planned. My young talent matured along the way and I finished with the second-worst record due to injuries, lack of running back production, and depending on so many rookies (plus Cordarrelle Patterson and Keenan Allen being invisible for stretches of the field, if not longer).
The best news of the season was the team that traded me their 2015 1st and 2nd round rookie picks finished with the worst record in the league. I projected the roster as middle-of-the-road, so getting the 1.01 and 2.01 out of the startup deals is an absolute windfall of value. The other team had LeSean McCoy, Reggie Bush, and Chris Johnson invisible for much of the year, Calvin Johnson missed time, as well as Jordan Reed. That shows the danger of trading a future first away in any circumstance, let along the first year of a dynasty league.
Season-Ending Roster
QB
Ryan Tannehill, Philip Rivers, Teddy Bridgewater, Logan Thomas
RB
Isaiah Crowell, Jerick McKinnon, C.J. Anderson, Juwan Thompson, Zurlon Tipton
WR
Odell Beckham, Alshon Jeffery, Brandin Cooks, Keenan Allen, Davante Adams, Donte Moncrief, Cordarrelle Patterson, Marquess Wilson, Aaron Dobson, Quincy Enunwa, Jaron Brown, Michael Campanaro, Kevin Dorsey, Chris Hogan, Joseph Morgan, Albert Wilson
TE
Rob Gronkowski, Eric Ebron, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Larry Donnell, Gavin Escobar, Dion Sims, Luke Willson
Rookie Picks
2015: 1.01, 1.02, 2.01, 2.02, 3.02, 4.02, 5.02
I loaded up on young pass-catchers, but three running backs turned into viable starters at points during this season as well with Crowell, McKinnon, and Anderson. Rookie picks are paramount in a league of this depth (starting lineup plus rosters), so having four picks in the first 14 selections after year one is critical to stocking the deepest cupboard of young talent in the league from the start. Continuing the go with best-player-available in rookie drafts will ensure a highly-competitive team in 2015 and going forward.
