Shawn Siegele looks at five evidence-based reasons why trading down in your rookie draft is the key to building a dynasty. He breaks down the tactics involved and explains how executing the moves in concert can lead to rosters loaded with players like Stefon Diggs and Chase Claypool.
On yesterday’s episode of Ship Chasing, Peter Overzet asked me how many trades I’ll make during all of my rookie drafts. I said 125, but I have no idea what the real number will be. That might be way too low. A few years ago when the RDL was seven rounds and included IDP, I entered the rookie draft with zero selections and ended up drafting 17 players.
During a rookie draft, I like to trade-in with veterans and future picks, and I like to trade down. Of course, there are situations where you don’t want to move. Earlier this week, I presented the 2021 RB Prospect Lab Rankings and placed the current prospects within the context of historical players like Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, and Christian McCaffrey. If you have a shot at a player like McCaffrey, you don’t trade down.
Blair Andrews recently discussed Ja’Marr Chase and his epic projection in the WR Prospect Lab. Chase also looks like a generational prospect in Matt Spencer’s upcoming machine-learning model. If you have a shot at a player like Chase, you don’t trade down.
When you’re lucky enough to have the 1.01 in a draft with a superstar, you don’t risk losing that star. But in many more cases, trading down is key to building a true dynasty. In this edition of the Dynasty Workshop, I’ll present five reasons to trade down and discuss how to maximize each of those moves. I’ll also provide a handful of deep sleepers we can start to stockpile with those extra picks.
