This dynasty trade was made during the devy draft in early-August in a 12-team superflex league with two rounds of devy each year. The league starts 1-1-1-1-3Flex-1SFlex and has a shallow two-man taxi squad for devy players. Any devy owned over the two-man taxi squad would occupy a roster spot. The startup draft included devy draft picks for the 2016 devy draft immediately after the startup concluded.
The Approach
After stocking up on devy picks in the mid-rounds of the startup draft, I had the most picks with seven. Once the devy draft began, the pick value increased and offers came in for my pick at 1.04. I had hoped due to the superflex format DeShaun Watson would go in the top three picks and I could pick up Dalvin Cook, or ideally Nick Chubb at 1.04. Unfortunately, this was not the case as Leonard Fournette, Chubb and Cook went 1-2-3. After getting mediocre offers, I received one involving Kelvin Benjamin with which I could work.
The Trade
Gave Devy 1.04, Tyler Gaffney, Mack Brown
Received Kelvin Benjamin, Christine Michael, Devy 2.11
My team is not built to compete this year, but not a reason to put all of my assets into devy players. Devy players are all lottery tickets. Looking at actual devy leagues on MFL I was able to compile some devy draft results from the last three years. Last year, two of the top-five devy wide receivers (De’Runnya Wilson and D’haquille Williams) failed to even get drafted in the NFL Draft. Going back to 2014 drafts, Marquez North was drafted as a top-five devy wide receiver. In 2013, players like Brandon Coleman, Cody Hoffman, and Sean Price were drafted as top-ten wide receivers, in the same range as Mike Evans, Brandin Cooks, and Allen Robinson.
While Juju Smith-Schuster has all the potential to be a star, it is important to remember he could bust just as easily as he could hit. Kelvin Benjamin has serious flaws to his game and has competition in an improving Devin Funchess, but we have seen him succeed in the NFL. What slants this deal to my side is the devy pick in the deal. This gives me another lottery ticket as well as the proven asset.
My Post-Trade Roster Highlights
Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, Mathew Stafford
Isaiah Crowell, Christine Michael, Jonathan Williams, Terrell Watson
Amari Cooper, Kelvin Benjamin, Josh Doctson, Will Fuller, Tavon Austin, Davante Adams
Clive Walford
2017 Devy 1,1,2,2
2017 Rookie 1,1,2,3,4
*Derrius Guice, *Courtland Sutton, *Royce Freeman, *Samaje Perine, *Wayne Gallman, *Mike Weber, *Christian Kirk
Takeaways
Devy leagues are a lot of fun and add another layer of strategy but they can also lead to the pitfall of building a “sexy” roster. If Juju Smith-Schuster has one season of production in the NFL to match Kelvin Benjamin’s rookie year (73-1008-9) he will be considered a hit. It is just as likely Smith-Schuster takes the path of Nelson Agholor, or Marqise Lee and becomes another disappointing USC wide receiver. Especially in a shallow devy league, the difference in value from the first to the last pick is smaller than you would expect. Any pick in the draft could turn into a stud. Do the research, dig deep, and find value.
