This dynasty trade was made in late-May on an orphan that I adopted during the 2016 offseason. The league is a 12-team, best ball, TripleFlex, tight end premium league with a six round annual devy draft. Starting lineups include 1-2-3-2-2SFlex.
The Approach
After loading up at quarterback in the dispersal draft and making trades during the rookie and devy drafts, I had stacked 2017 devy picks. I am unlikely to be a 2016 contender with this team despite having one of the better quarterback situations in the league.
Knowing I was weak at running back, my focus was on landing top devy talent at the position. The 2017 class was out of my price range so I shifted my focus to later years. I added Saquon Barkley in the devy draft, who I project as a top pick in the 2018 class, and continued looking forward to the 2019 class.
The Trade
Gave Ryan Mathews, 2 2017 Devy 1sts
Received Elijah Holyfield, Ameer Abdullah
While doing research for this league, Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield stood out. Holyfield is entering his freshman year with an NFL-ready build and athletic profile. He was extremely productive in high school. With Nick Chubb still recovering from a knee injury, Holyfield may see significant game time as a freshman. Since Holyfield had lasted until the early second in the devy draft, I was hoping to get him at a discount shortly after the draft concluded.
While this was an expensive trade, the upgrade from Ryan Mathews to Ameer Abdullah softens the pain of sending two first round devy picks in the deal. The first round picks are also locked into devy players, meaning they will not see an NFL field until 2018 or beyond so there is a time factor with the picks as well. If Holyfield flashes in 2016, his value will skyrocket.
My Post-Trade Roster Highlights
Andrew Luck, Derek Carr, Alex Smith, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Nassib
Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah, Jerick McKinnon
Kevin White, Jordan Matthews, Josh Doctson, Will Fuller, Michael Crabtree, Kenny Bell
Coby Fleener, Ladarius Green, Eric Ebron
2017 Devy 1,1,2,2,2,3,4,5,5,6,6
2017 Rookie 3
*Saquon Barkley, *Elijah Holyfield, *Elijah Hood, *Damien Harris, *Damarkus Lodge, *Damore’ea Stringfellow, *Travis Rudolph
Takeaways
The deeper the devy pool in your league, the further ahead of the crowd you need to be. The range of outcomes on devy players is much wider the further out you look. If you’re drafting a player that is eligible the following year, you have a good idea based on tape how that player will stack up with the rest of the draft class. When you look two or three years out, there are more questions. With Holyfield, it is possible that he stays stuck behind Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and the next great Georgia recruit, never seeing the field. It is also possible that he dominates the SEC and becomes the next great running back prospect. Deep devy leagues force you put your chips down early. You may lose, but you have to take your shots.
