There are three times during the NFL offseason when the trade market in FFPC dynasty leagues really heats up: the March cutdown to 16 roster spots, the May rookie/free agent drafts and the final September cuts before the start of the regular season.
The highlight of any dynasty league is trading, so when I inevitably have to answer a family member about why my phone is dinging with various trade proposals, I’m usually met with a response resembling: “Why are you doing fantasy football in March? The season just ended!”[1]That’s how addiction works, son. In the past month, I have sent or received dozens of trade offers across my FFPC leagues, coming to agreement on six deals. In one league, there have been 13 trades over the past month. In another, however, only two.
There are two formats of FFPC dynasty leagues: the head-to-head versions allow a maximum of 20 in-season roster spots (not including players on injured reserve), while the best-ball leagues allow up to 22 during the season. Once the season ends, there’s no limit on how many players can be rostered, but every team, regardless of format, must cut to 16 players by March 31.[2]This includes at least one team defense and one kicker in those leagues that require them, further constraining keeper decisions.
There are almost always FFPC dynasty cuts that are painful to make, but nearly every team is in the same situation. Moreover, the May rookie drafts also include veterans available on the waiver wire, giving poorer teams the chance to grab potential gems that richer teams couldn’t keep.