Curtis Patrick demonstrates strategies to unlock the most upside out of your rookie picks to set your roster up for a title in 2023.
Dynasty Trade Diary No. 7 – Using the Rookie Draft Trade Window to Win a Title in 2023
Entry No. 7
Today’s entry covers a huge dynasty trade I made in a FFPC dynasty league to set my roster up for a 2023 title.
League: FFPC $250 Dynasty #106
Format: 1QB, TE Premium scoring
Lineups: Start 10 (1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 Flex, K, DEF)
Notable Assets (Pre-Trade)
QB – Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith
RB – Rachaad White, Rashaad Penny, Antonio Gibson, Raheem Mostert
WR – Tyreek Hill, Chris Olave, Amari Cooper, Treylon Burks
TE – Evan Engram
Top-30 2023 Rookie Picks – 1.06, 2.06, 2.08, 3.01
Notes
- Orphan takeover in 2019
- Won title in 2020
- Finished 7th in 2022
With an early title in-hand after adopting this dynasty orphan, injuries derailed this aging team which I decided to tear down and rebuild for a second time last season. Moving Ezekiel Elliott and other such former stars enable me to add Chris Olave and Treylon Burks in the rookie draft, creating a sustainable wide receiver room with two potential long term studs to inherit the starting spots held by Tyreek Hill and Amari Cooper.
Looking to next steps, the 1.06 in 2023 places me outside our top three tiers, but puts me in position to grab the rookie WR4 or the rookie TE1, realistically.
[For thoughts on how to navigate the 2023 rookie draft tiers, see Shawn’s recent piece for trade ideas]
I’m set up well at both of those positions. Adding a bona fide RB1 as an anchor would really make the difference between this team contending versus pretending.
Trading up from 1.06 to 1.01 or 1.02 was my initial desire, but this proved to be a fruitless effort as neither manager was interested in moving off the chance to draft Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs.
This turned my attention to elite veteran running backs. The 1.06 wasn’t enough to land a top three kind of back, but my wide receiver depth provided an opportunity to do so. Most would look at this roster and assume moving Cooper or Hill would be the play. It would be the preference, but closing deals for elite players requires an iron gut.
Opposing managers proved to be most interested in Olave. The interest is well-founded after an impressive rookie campaign. Situationally, scenarios exist for increased Olave upside in Year 2, as the Saints upgraded at quarterback this offseason. However, history warns there’s also reason to be skeptical of elite level production by Olave in Year 2. More on this in a bit.
The Trade
Sent:
Chris Olave
Received: