Time for the season review of the official UTH dynasty team, one that Doug and I drafted together back in February 2014. With the mindset of building long-term roster value at the outset, this year was a breeze to manage with few moves as the young talent seasons for 2015 and beyond.
League Settings
- 12 teams, 22-man rosters
- PPR scoring, start 1-1-2-1 with 2 RB-WR-TE flex
Startup Moves
Three trades in the startup draft really set the table for a juggernaut roster. With the startup picks drafted and some of the rookie picks in place, here are the deals as of now:
- Gave: Dez Bryant, Tom Brady, Derek Carr
- Received: Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, Davante Adams, 1.01
We would deal Rob Gronkowski for a package in-season, more on that coming up, but this is how dynasties are built. Mike Evans or Rob Gronkowski is a fair deal for Dez Bryant straight up today, so Davante Adams and the random 2015 1st, which ended up hitting the lottery as the 1.01, are pure gravy.
- Gave: Victor Cruz
- Received: Ka’Deem Carey, Allen Robinson
The injury to Victor Cruz turned this into a lopsided deal. Odell Beckham was likely to overtake Cruz on the Giants depth chart in short order anyway, but Cruz’s future is very much in doubt. Allen Robinson had a promising rookie season prior to landing on IR and Ka’Deem Carey, while way overdrafted by us in the startup, is a quality handcuff and running back stash.
- Gave: Nick Foles, Joique Bell, Charles Sims
- Received: Donte Moncrief, Isaiah Crowell, Ryan Tannehill, late 2015 2nd (playoff team), 2016 1st
Moncrief or Crowell alone would be worth that package today, so the rest is a windfall of value. We traded back nearly two rounds in the startup to get this package as Nick Foles was the prized selection. Tough to support a big trade-up in a draft for a quarterback outside of maybe Andrew Luck or Aaron Rodgers, and even that is a stretch in 90% of formats.
Post-Startup Moves
- 4.10.2014 Traded Martavis Bryant for Tre Mason
We drafted potentially combine stud Bryant prior to the combine thinking he could be a good sell candidate. Tre Mason seized the starting job in St.Louis as if Zac Stacy was standing still. As for Bryant, we will see if the size-speed athlete rounds out his game in the coming year or two.
- 10.29.2014 Acquired Latavius Murray from waiver wire
This was a pleasant surprise as retreads Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew hogged the backfield touches in Oakland early in the season.
- 11.11.2014 Traded Rob Gronkowski, Steven Jackson, 2016 3rd for Odell Beckham, 2015 1st (late), and 2016 1st
This was the first real trade negotiation that Doug and I worked through together. The additional first round rookie pick was the clincher to the deal. Odell Beckham has since exploded with huge game after huge game. Many in the dynasty community consider Beckham a Tier 1 wide receiver going forward. Tough to argue. The other team is making the title push this season with a core of Drew Brees, Arian Foster, Marshawn Lynch, Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, and Rob Gronkowski.
- 11.12.2014 Was offered Justin Hunter and Blake Bortles for Mark Ingram
Bortles is a throw-in with this depth of league and format. Ingram has some uncertainty with free agency looming in the offseason, but Hunter is far from a better bet for future difference-maker.
The Season
As I mentioned in the open, this team was setup to have a productive struggle in 2014, gain a high draft pick, and compete for a title starting in 2015. We earned the 1.02 draft position with the only team below us in the power rankings was the team from whom we acquired their 2015 1st. Few waiver wire moves were made as the roster was largely on cruise control from the rookie-heavy draft in the offseason.
Season-Ending Roster
QB
Ryan Tannehill, Zach Mettenberger, Sam Bradford
RB
Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason, Isaiah Crowell, Christine Michael, Mark Ingram, Latavius Murray, Ka’Deem Carey, Damien Williams
WR
Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson, Davante Adams, Donte Moncrief, Cordarrelle Patterson, Aaron Dobson, Jeff Janis, Chris Hogan
TE
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ladarius Green
Rookie Picks
2015
1.01, 1.02, Playoff 1st, 2.01, Playoff 2nd, 3.01
2016
RD1, RD1, RD1, RD1, RD2, RD2
By post-rookie draft in 2016, this team will be an all-star cast from top to bottom. #PackageUp trades will be critical going forward, including putting a premium on future first round picks. Cordarrelle Patterson can be categorized as a significant startup misfire less than one year later, yet the roster is in good shape. Remember that one or even two ‘misses’ within the top-75 of a startup draft is not a sign of doom with UTH-style drafting. Trading back for future value, plus being willing to trade Rob Gronkowski -a certified stud – for an ‘unproven’ rookie receiver and a couple of picks was far more bold than it appears today. The concept of ‘every player is available for trade’ keeps a dynasty owner’s options open when entering trade discussions instead of closing off potential deals.
The upside of the running back group is pronounced for 2015 as up to six could be Week 1 starters depending on free agency and the NFL draft. The odds are good that two or three, at a minimum, have strong roles. With four rookie picks in the top-13 and six selections in the top-25, preparing for the draft (which is in late July/early August) will be a tremendous team-building and trading opportunity.
