First Year Dynasty Draft Strategy for 2025

The initial startup draft is the most critical event in any dynasty football league. It can set up your team for years, or set it back for years. Your dynasty draft strategy and eventual picks will lay the groundwork for the foundation of your team. It is essential to utilize these picks on players who will retain value and continue to score points for years to come.

That is why everyone is always chasing the Brock Bowers and Malik Nabers of the world. Those two will hold relative value for the next six to seven years while helping managers win championships. However, to dominate your first-year draft, you must balance competing now and competing well into the future. Below are some tips to do just that.

First Year Dynasty Football Draft Strategy

Trading Back is the Ultimate Value

An important thing to know when it comes to dynasty football draft strategy is when to gauge the market. And that typically happens when you are on the clock. Most people get the itch to make a move to trade up into the current pick. And in my experience, the team that trades down in startups wins the trade more consistently than the team moving up. The more picks you have in the first 10 rounds, the better. The goal is to amass talent on your roster, and the more chances you get, the more likely it is to pan out.

The key to trading back is receiving proper value. Startup trades are more complex because everything has an undefined value. Especially before the first trade, the league’s economy is not yet fully established.

However, that could be the moment to strike and get ample value. Trading back in the early rounds could increase later picks by one or two tiers in value. For example, a move back from the third round into the fourth could result in a ninth or tenth round pick moving up three or four rounds. Never be afraid to test the market because it could turn your squad into a bona fide contender.

Always be Adaptive

Going into a draft with a strategy is never a bad thing. And don’t be afraid to adjust that strategy as the draft progresses, either. Every draft is different.

A perfect example would be the Superflex format. Many quarterbacks will go in the first round, which has always been the case and is likely to continue. Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson typically become a first-round value in this scenario. Pick seven or later is an ideal spot for both of these guys.

The temptation to pick a quarterback will be real. However, getting the likely WR1 in the back half of the first round is a win in any scenario.

This scenario would require a pivot to the second tier of quarterbacks, where value can be drafted relative to the top tier, whether it’s Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, or Cam Ward, later in drafts.

Being adaptive is the key, whether it is the league undervaluing running backs, drafting quarterbacks with their first three picks, or putting too much emphasis on age. Flexibility will help win your league.

Don’t Overemphasize Age

Selecting the young superstars will set your team up for years to come. And while they are usually the right pick, don’t overlook the old guys. There will come a point where players like Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry will all become values in the draft. In those moments, every manager must make a choice. If a team takes Henry or Barkley, rebuilding makes no sense, and the team has declared that it is trying to compete in 2025.

Several other players, like Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, and Davante Adams, fit that criteria as well. If these players start to slip because the league is overvaluing youth, don’t hesitate to hit the draft button. These players won’t hold value and will likely decrease over the year despite being top scorers at their position.

However, a thing that gets lost among some is the goal of winning. Sure, rebuilding is fun, but the ultimate goal is a championship. Players like Davante Adams and Mike Evans will help exponentially more than others within their range. Those two are going in the range of David Montgomery and early second-round rookie picks such as Luther Burden, Jayden Higgins, and Matthew Golden. Odds are extremely high that Evans and Adams will outscore all three of them this year. So, decisions must be made when playing dynasty, but don’t be afraid to zig when others zag. That is the beauty of dynasty strategy; usually, everyone’s approach is different outside of the first round or two.

Conclusion

There are many different ways to approach a startup draft. And truly, there is no wrong way to approach one. Trading up may put a little damper on things, but it can still work as long as the overpay isn’t too large.

The key is to stick to your rankings, but don’t be afraid to adjust them when a run on quarterbacks or another position occurs, and don’t be scared to move around the board. That is the beauty of dynasty strategy because even concrete plans can change and work out for the best sometimes. And that is why this format is one of the greatest. Managers are planning their next moves for the upcoming season and the future.

Comment below your favorite draft tips for managers drafting a startup dynasty league before the 2025 season begins!

For more great fantasy football rankings and analysis, make sure to check out the 2025 FantraxHQ Fantasy Football Draft Kit!