The concepts learned in previous sections of the guide can be applied to a method termed redraft approach strategy. What happens at the end of the year in your redraft leagues? All those players you drafted and picked up the year before head back to the pool to be drafted and picked up off waivers again next year. In this strategy, you will have that same mentality with all but a core group of your IDPs. It’s unconventional, but thinking this way about your IDPs will free you to stockpile at other positions where there is more scarcity.
Disclaimer: Going forward, this article assumes that you play in a league in which you have IDP and offensive settings that are pretty standard. Obviously, your scoring system and position requirements could be such that you have to modify this strategy or even deem it unusable. Review the content from previous sections to decide if it is right for you!
General Thoughts
Based on scoring, scarcity, and consistency, there are a few generalizations that you can make about each position that will help you to craft your strategy.
Offensive players
As has been previously established, in dynasty it’s infinitely easier to find a defensive producer on waivers than an offensive producer. That’s why you want your roster full of guys who are or have the potential to be top offensive players at their position. With regard to the potential guys, you can let some of them simmer on your roster and see if they develop. You’ll also discover that even if you don’t intend to ever let some of these guys near your starting lineup, you can often find someone else who believes in their potential and use them to package up for a pick or player you covet.
Linebackers
Typically speaking, LBs are going to be your most valuable defensive asset, as a good one will be a consistent week-to-week defensive high scorer on your team. You want to keep the elite and maybe even tier two guys from year to year, but cut the rest so that you can stockpile offensive options.
Defensive Linemen
Unless you have a top option that has proven sustainable (like Watt), cut this position at the end of the year. This is a position that you definitely get away with getting off the waiver wire or even streaming week-to-week (a subject that will be addressed during the next part of the guide)!
Defensive Backs
Both week-to-week and year-to-year, DB production is usually incredibly unstable and unpredictable. This fact makes DB a position that is extremely expendable. Unless you have an elite and year-to-year consistent option already on the roster (and you don’t really want to drafting one, a subject that will be covered in a later installment), cut the non-elite options at the end of each season and use the waiver wire to replace/stream them the following year.
Take a look at an example that will bring these points home. In a 30-roster-spot tackle-heavy league, the waiver close deadline is quickly approaching. Later this year, the league will hold a 10-round draft with a mixed rookie and free agent pool. After the draft, the waivers will open again. The team in question has the following IDPs on the roster at the end of the 2014 season:
Linebackers
Kiko Alonso, Chris Borland, Jamie Collins, Sio Moore, Avery Williamson, Ryan Shazier, Jerry Hughes
Commentary
Prior to getting hurt, Alonso was a stud and will likely return to that role in 2015. Despite the injury-riddled year, Shazier also showed enough in 2014 to expect he will be a top option sooner rather than later. Borland unexpectedly retired from football and is a no-brainer cut. Collins looks to be in that second tier of very solid producers and has the potential to vault into the elite tier. Avery Williamson and Sio Moore are young and promising, but their teams have some question marks on defense that could put their production in jeopardy going forward. Hughes was orignally a DL on this team, but has been reclassified as an OLB in Ryan's new system. While he'll still have some value, his value is somewhat diminished in a tackle-heavy format. Best practice seems to be keeping Alonso, Shazier, and Collins. If offensive stash players are out there on the wire, attempting to trade Williamson, Moore, and Hughes to teams that need help at LB to free up space is the savvy move. If a trade partner can't be found before the waiver close deadline, cut them and hope to get them back in the draft in later rounds.
Defensive Linemen
Commentary
None of these are currently top options at the position, so don’t feel any compulsion to hold on to them when it will free up two extra roster spots for stash players. Try to trade them to someone, and if it doesn't work out, cut them. There is certainly a chance at getting them back in the draft or on waivers.
Defensive Backs
Earl Thomas, Deone Bucannon, Robert Blanton
Commentary
None of these guys were elite options this year, and even if they were, the likelihood that they will stay top options is slim. It is doubtful you will find a trade partner, but if you do, you'll take almost any upgrade for them. Otherwise, cut them and don't even worry about getting them back in the draft, as there will be plenty of waiver options out there from which to choose.
Section III Takeaway
You will gain a major advantage over your leaguemates by stashing offensive talent and only keeping the essentials on the defensive side of the ball.