Dynasty is arguably the best form of fantasy football. It’s a year-round game that allows fantasy players so many ways to build their team into a contender. However, which draft strategy is the best?
The honest answer is that there is no answer. You can only screw up your dynasty team by not having a draft strategy. However, having a draft strategy and executing it are two different things.
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings
This dynasty strategy primer won’t cover every possible startup draft strategy, as there are too many strategies to cover. However, I’m going to highlight five of the more popular draft strategies fantasy players use when wanting to compete in the first year. Unfortunately, I won’t get to cover my favorite draft strategy: Tanking the first year.
For more dynasty fantasy football content and advice, check out the FantasyPros Dynasty Draft Kit.
Dynasty Draft Primer
Hero RB Strategy
Overview
This strategy is also referred to as Anchor RB. With this strategy, fantasy players want to draft a running back with their first-round pick. That player is the hero or anchor of your team. He is the superstar you are relying on each week to get you the win. When picking out your hero or anchor running back, you want a player with a history of success in the NFL. You want a player that has finished as a top-five running back over the past two years.
After selecting your superstar running back, fantasy players want to load up at other positions. You want to use your next 6-7 picks on wide receivers, a stud tight end and a star quarterback. Then, you load up on running backs in the middle to late rounds to rotate as your weekly RB2 and to provide depth. The logic with this strategy is to sacrifice at the RB2 slot so you can build a roster with studs at other positions.
Pros:
- Running back is the easiest position to replace throughout the season because of injuries and backfield changes.
- You can prioritize other positions, giving you a weekly advantage at the quarterback or tight end spot.
Cons:
- Your team will struggle if your Hero RB busts or misses significant time.
- The running back position is deep but lacks massive upside in the middle to later rounds.
Players to Target:
Yes, these are three of the top running backs in fantasy football. Yet, that’s what you want when using the Hero RB strategy. Younger running backs are oozing with appealing upside. However, they haven’t proven to be elite fantasy players yet. Furthermore, you want a safe floor with your hero running back. Even if they don’t finish as a top-three running back, you know they won’t end the year outside the top 10.
Zero RB Strategy
Overview
For the record, I hate this strategy. However, some find it the best strategy to use if you want to win right away. Running backs are arguably the most injury-prone position in football. Therefore, some believe it’s a mistake to invest high fantasy picks at the position. Furthermore, the running back position is the easiest to replace during the season between injuries and depth charge changes.
This draft strategy requires fantasy players to ignore the running back position until the middle rounds. Ideally, you won’t draft a running back until the sixth or seventh round. Instead, fantasy players want to load up on wide receivers. More importantly, you must land a top-three quarterback and tight end. If you’re going to surrender a weekly advantage at the running back position, you must make up that loss at the quarterback and tight end spots.
Pros:
- There is more potential upside in mid to later-round running backs than wide receivers because of the injuries and turnover at the position.
- You can build a roster with your top players who still play at a high level once they turn 30, unlike running backs.
Cons:
- The number of superstar running backs is extremely limited.
- You must hit on the quarterback and tight end positions to contend for the championship but these positions are deeper than ever.
Players to Target:
Josh Allen has been a top fantasy quarterback every year of his career since breaking out in 2020. Meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb and Sam LaPorta were outstanding last year, posting their first career top-three finishes. While Travis Kelce outscored every other tight end by at least four half-PPR fantasy points per game in 2022, he severely regressed last season.
Robust RB Strategy
Overview
This draft strategy is my favorite because I am a running back fanatic. Some also refer to this strategy as Zero WR. Unlike Zero RB, fantasy players want to load up on running backs. At least your first two picks should be a running back, maybe even the first three selections. Furthermore, you don’t want to draft two running backs and ignore the position for several rounds. By the end of the fourth round, you want three running backs on your roster.
I love this draft strategy because of the depth at the wide receiver position. In 2022, Rhamondre Stevenson was the RB11, averaging 12.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Meanwhile, Jerick McKinnon was the RB21, averaging 9.9 fantasy points per contest. By comparison, Christian Kirk was the WR11, averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game, compared to Jerry Jeudy, who was the WR21, averaging 11.4 fantasy points per contest. Furthermore, Chuba Hubbard was the RB50 in 2022, averaging 5.4 fantasy points per game. Jahan Dotson was the WR50, averaging 9.4 fantasy points per contest by comparison.
Pros:
- You load up at a position that lacks superstar depth and weekly higher scorers.
- Fantasy players can avoid streaming or playing the matchup with their RB2 spot.
Cons:
- Running backs have the shortest shelf life, so fantasy players must replace more of their roster in 5-7 years.
- You can’t pull this strategy off and secure a top tight end and quarterback without making a trade or getting lucky.
Players to Target:
When fantasy players use a Hero RB draft strategy, you want more certainty at the position. That’s because you only have one superstar. If he busts or gets hurt, your team will struggle. However, you will draft at least three running backs with your first four picks with the Robust RB strategy. Therefore, fantasy players can be more aggressive and target young running backs with upside and guys with injury history. That’s because if one struggles, you have plenty of top-end depth to replace him.
Late-Round QB Strategy
Overview
Let’s move on to quarterback draft strategies. This strategy is simple enough. You wait until the later round to draft quarterbacks. Instead, you load up at the flex positions early in the draft. Everyone knows you want to punt on quarterbacks in 1-QB redraft leagues. However, should you do the same in dynasty leagues?
It’s a debate. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or C.J. Stroud will make setting your weekly lineup easier for the next several years. Yet, you must spend an early-round draft pick to grab one of the top 2-3 quarterbacks. That means you will have to pass on a star running back or wide receiver with that early draft pick.
Meanwhile, fantasy players can use this strategy in Superflex leagues. However, it’s not something I would suggest. You will need to hit on multiple later-round quarterbacks. The argument for using this strategy is the depth at quarterback, as the position has never been deeper.
Daniel Jones was a later-round pick in 2022 and he ended that season as the QB9, averaging 18.1 fantasy points per game. Similarly, many wrote off Jared Goff before the start of the 2022 season. Yet, he was the QB10 that year, averaging 16.7 fantasy points per game.
Pros:
- You can load up with star running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.
- Quarterback is arguably the most weekly volatile and deepest position in fantasy football.
Cons:
- You must hit on your later-round quarterback picks. If not, you could have trouble competing, no matter how much talent is on the roster.
- Drafting 1-2 stud quarterbacks will make setting your weekly lineup simple. It will also make future rookie draft decisions easier.
Players to Target:
So, there are three different types of targets here. The first is the rebound candidate. Trevor Lawrence has slipped in rookie rankings and average draft position (ADP) after a rocky 2023 season filled with injuries and the emergence of shiny new quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love. Yet, Lawrence is one of the more talented young quarterbacks in the NFL and has a strong supporting cast.
The second type of late-round quarterback is the forgotten but not gone player. In the past, it has been Jared Goff or even Kirk Cousins. This year, it’s Watson. Things haven’t worked out for him since joining the Browns, mostly because of his suspension and injuries.
However, the former superstar flashed glimpses of low-end QB1 play last season despite playing through multiple injuries, including his throwing shoulder. It’s a make-or-break year for Watson. As the QB20 in the FantasyPros dynasty rankings, he’s an ideal target.
Do not be afraid to draft high-end backup quarterbacks if you use this strategy in Superflex leagues. Last year, there were over 60 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Joe Flacco came off the couch and was a top-10 fantasy quarterback during his time as the starter despite being turnover-happy.
While there likely won’t be many quarterback training camp battles this year, don’t be afraid to draft Minshew even if Aidan O’Connell wins the starting job for Week 1. Minshew was productive coming off the bench last year for Anthony Richardson and could steal the starting job early in the regular season.
Aggressive Superflex Strategy
Overview
Everyone loves a Superflex league. It increases the trade value of quarterbacks and makes things more exciting. However, how does going from one quarterback to two impact draft strategy? Fantasy players can wait until the later rounds to load up on quarterbacks in Superflex leagues, yet that’s not something I would recommend.
Instead, I would go with the aggressive quarterback approach. By the end of the fourth round, I always have two quarterbacks on my team. Whether you are trying to win right away or tank in the first year, this is the approach I would take in Superflex leagues.
Furthermore, I wouldn’t rule out taking two quarterbacks with your first two picks. Fantasy players will have to pass on the superstar flex players like Justin Jefferson, Bijan Robinson and Ja’Marr Chase. However, guaranteeing yourself two superstar quarterbacks will work out better for your team in the long run.
Superstar quarterbacks last for 12+ years, while running backs likely give you 5-6 elite years. Meanwhile, the depth at wide receiver has never been deeper. If you can walk away with two of the top 5-6 quarterbacks under the age of 28 with your first two picks, your team is on its way to being elite.
Pros:
- Superstar quarterbacks give you a weekly advantage and can single-handedly win your matchup.
- You will have your two starting quarterbacks set for the next decade or more.
Cons:
- Fantasy players must pass on the superstar running backs and wide receivers to execute this strategy.
- It’s a strategy best used when you want to tank in the first year.
Players to Target:
You would love to draft two of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, C.J. Stroud and Jalen Hurts with your first two picks. However, that won’t happen in Superflex leagues unless you make a blockbuster trade during the startup draft. I would highly recommend you don’t make that trade.
Ideally, you want to pick towards the end of the first round when using this draft strategy. While fantasy players will miss out on the top few guys, you should land two of the next tier of quarterbacks. If you can land two of the three players listed above, you have aced the start of your fantasy draft.
Dynasty Draft Advice
- Fitz’s Dynasty Draft Primers
Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
