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John's definitive fantasy football dynasty startup strategy, draft guide, and roster tips for 2025. John's expert advice on dynasty roster builds and more.
Tackling a new dynasty fantasy football league is a difficult challenge, even for experienced fantasy football managers who have played the game for years or decades. With 12 or more people all competing for prize money, as in most leagues, things naturally aren't a cakewalk.
The startup draft is the single most important event that happens in any dynasty league. The impacts of the players you select, the trades you make in the draft, and how your roster eventually shakes out are massive. Once the season starts, you'll progressively get a better idea of how you did.
It's challenging to provide solid advice that applies broadly, given that each roster and fantasy manager is unique, with different needs and preferences. But there are a lot of tips that can help you get that much closer to winning your dynasty leagues and set you up for long-term success. So let's dive into RotoBaller's fantasy football dynasty startup guide for 2025!
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Choosing Your Dynasty Fantasy Football Roster Build
There are several overarching strategies you can follow when building your initial roster. Because most serious dynasty leagues have a buy-in, one strategy you can follow is drafting a "win-now" team, favoring established veterans over young players, to try to secure a championship early.
Tips For A "Win-Now" Team Build
There are several reasons you might want to build a roster that can win a championship right away. Perhaps the biggest, in my mind, is the chance that you could win the top prize and make your buy-in money back and then some. Then, you can use the money of your league mates to pay future buy-ins and initiate a rebuild at a later date.
A key action you should take when trying to win your league as soon as possible is to refrain from investing premium picks in rookies. We've seen prospects who were once considered sure-fire future league-winners and even "generational" prospects have disappointing starts to their careers, take time to develop into stars, or never reach the potential that NFL scouts thought they would have.
Selecting someone like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. could have put you in a significant hole. There are issues with his game that were underreported as he headed into the NFL. The offense he's tied to and the quarterback he catches passes from both have significant issues of their own.
2024 Offenses Ranked By "Highly Accurate" Throw Rate when Targeting Out-Wide Receivers:
1. Detroit Lions - 56.9%
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 56.6%
3. Philadelphia Eagles - 56.6%
...
32/Last. Arizona Cardinals - 40.9%This stood at 37.5% across Kyler Murray's 8 games in 2023. pic.twitter.com/iR7FNYHoSp
— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) August 22, 2025
Sometimes, players don't play as well in the NFL as they were expected to. NFL teams frequently use high picks on players who end up being busts or at least disappointments. But by the time a player has been in the league for several seasons, it's much more apparent how talented they actually are.
Preferentially drafting multi-year veterans while the rest of your league is scrambling to draft rookies that could have development arcs much slower than anticipated is a nice way to give you an edge early in the season. Your team could put up huge scores in the final weeks of the season, but those won't matter if you're not in the playoffs.
Being cautious about second-year players is also wise in specific scenarios. Players with low NFL Draft capital typically fall because of serious concerns about injuries or because there are clear deficiencies with their game as a whole, such as with Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving.
Bucky Irving’s opportunities are likely to increase substantially this season, per HC Todd Bowles.
In the article from @danpompei 👇
“Bowles says he expects greatness, as the game has slowed down for Irving and he’s improved his footwork and pass protection.” pic.twitter.com/yjDSYpnphH
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) June 26, 2025
There's a massive amount of hype surrounding Irving's future prospects in the NFL. I know I'm about to throw water on the fire, but keep in mind that I strongly urged you to make moves for him in all leagues after just three weeks of the 2024 NFL season. He was clearly better than fellow Bucs RB Rachaad White, in my opinion.
But his size, lack of pure speed, pass-protection issues, and potential injury problems are all reasons he fell to the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and why he was so cheap in all leagues to begin with. I know his head coach said he improved his pass protection, but coachespeak isn't always accurate.
There are anatomical limitations at play here. Irving is 5-foot-10 and weighs approximately 194 pounds, if that's the case. His playing weight might be lower. He was a significant liability as a pass blocker last season, and he would need to improve massively to supplant White as the primary pass blocker. White does a good job in that role.
Watch Bobby Wagner on this play 🔥
📺: #WASvsTB on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/1GXANYMZIW— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
Players of his size will generally struggle to stonewall linebackers weighing north of 230 pounds. It's a simple physics and momentum problem, as well as a strength one. So while Irving was monstrously efficient on his low snap share, the offense has to take considerable risks in making him a workhorse back.
Additionally, given the significant role coaching plays in the meteoric rise of offenses, there's reason to be skeptical about second-year players replicating their rookie success when their offensive coordinator leaves for another team. Liam Coen, the OC for the Bucs last year, is no longer with the team, and his coaching was phenomenal in TB.
best blocking rep of all time? people are sayin pic.twitter.com/thcEV6eSGe
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) May 26, 2025
Players who have produced well and survived the departure of multiple head coaches or offensive coordinators, or who have succeeded despite poor coaching or a poor offensive environment, are those who you know have demonstrated production and thus a price that reflects their talent, resilience, and adaptability.
So it's risky to target second-year players who had massive ADP jumps after their rookie seasons. It will never not be risky. Irving could have another monster year, though I doubt his efficiency will take a hit, all things considered. However, more established veterans with a more extended history of good production are simply safer bets.
Tips for a "Long-Term Success" Team Build
If you want to draft a team that might take a while to reach its full potential, but hope to win multiple championships down the line with a strong core of great players, you face different challenges. The struggles mentioned above that NFL scouting departments face in identifying future stars are unlikely to change.
For example, last season, Harrison was drafted fourth overall by the Cardinals. Yet, despite playing all 17 games of his rookie season, he was outproduced by fellow rookie wideouts Malik Nabers, Ladd McConkey, and Brian Thomas Jr.
Before the season, most fantasy football analysts had clearly divided the prospects into tiers. Harrison, Nabers, and Rome Odunze were seen as elite prospects. McConkey was seen as having potential, but lacking in size and with injury issues. Thomas was seen as a raw prospect who would need time to develop, yet was considered an elite athlete.
Brian Thomas Jr is an ELITE Separator.
Brian Thomas Jr ranked:
- 1st in AVG Slant Separation
- 3rd in AVG Post Separation
- 8th in AVG Go SeparationData: Fantasy Points
pic.twitter.com/Hq4e1YlO3h— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) August 14, 2025
So how was it that Thomas easily paced the field, made the most explosive plays, excelled as a separator, and was a bona-fide league-winner in Year 1? Why did Harrison fail to outproduce a tight end on the same team as him? Why did Odunze struggle to make an impact at all in fantasy leagues?
It's easier to point a finger of blame at the teams they were on and the situations they were in. But even after a full season in the league, while people are happy to consider Thomas as an elite receiver, it seems many might be resistant to the idea of "giving up" on players like Harrison or Odunze.
Throwing out their rookie seasons completely might not be the best idea. Thomas was regarded as being in a worse situation than both Harrison and Odunze heading into the season. The Jaguars struggled on offense all season, with Thomas being the only bright spot.
An unforgettable rookie season for Brian Thomas Jr. 👏@Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/JZDhkxwfU9
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 10, 2025
We have mountains of evidence that NFL scouting isn't perfect. That should be part of the considerations you make as a fantasy manager, and why it's still likely a better idea to take established veterans in the early rounds of your dynasty drafts.
Of course, it's exciting to pick up the shiny new rookie prospect, like Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, in the early rounds. There may even be evidence that rookie running backs with early first-round draft capital have an excellent track record of fantasy production. That doesn't mean Jeanty isn't a risky pick.
You can't guarantee that your later-round rookie picks will be productive in the NFL. What you can guarantee is that if they are, you're getting far more value than you would have gotten selecting a similar player in the earlier rounds. Even if Harrison produces to the level of McConkey this season, McConkey was selected much later.
Top Rookie WR Seasons by First Downs per Route Run
[past 2 classes, min. 250 routes]1. Puka Nacua
2. Rashee Rice
3. LADD MCCONKEY
4. Tank Dell
5. Dontayvion Wicks
6. MALIK NABERS
7. BRIAN THOMAS
8. Devaughn Vele
9. Jayden Reed
10. Jalen Coker
11. MARVIN HARRISON JR. pic.twitter.com/DG9KoituVw— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) June 13, 2025
Harrison has work to do to catch up to McConkey. That's a massive narrative shift from what was thought before the season, but these things happen in the NFL. Of course, it will probably never be the consensus opinion that all NFL teams' scouting departments are better than any fantasy analysts, and there's nothing we can do about it.
I'm not exactly a seasoned analyst, either. I haven't been in the game for 10 years. I've played fantasy for that long, and always been a bit of a nerd, but it takes time to build a track record. I have written many articles about the upside of later-round rookies that could surprise in 2025 and beyond, though.
Best WRs by catch rate on "true" chances in 2024
(Catchable and non-designed targets)
1. A.J. Brown - 93.1%
t-2. DeMario Douglas - 92.0%
t-2. Adam Thielen - 92.0%
4. Jakobi Meyers - 91.8%
5. Khalil Shakir - 91.2%
6. Ladd McConkey - 90.8%
...
52. Marvin Harrison - 75.6%
53.… pic.twitter.com/DcHtDoA2dm— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) July 24, 2025
My favorite strategies for building rosters for consistent success are to look for highly talented rookies, generally good athletes, who bring much-coveted traits to their offenses that should demand touches and potentially propel them up their depth charts, given time.
Mix this in with taking established veterans in the early rounds to build the core of your team.
Preferential Drafting Of Certain Player Positions
Superflex and 6-Point Passing Touchdown Leagues
Not all dynasty leagues are superflex leagues, but the majority appear to be. There's a massively outsized importance to getting good quarterbacks in these leagues, especially if they have six-point passing touchdown scoring settings. In these leagues, you are at a significant disadvantage if you have bad quarterback play.
It's much easier for a QB to rack up passing TDs than it is for a player to have a lot of receiving or rushing TDs. The NFL hasn't had a player rush for more than 28 touchdowns or catch more than 23 touchdowns in a single season. Each of those TDs counts for six points, typically. Yet former Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning threw for 55 touchdowns in the 2013 regular season. That's nearly twice as much as the rushing TD record.
Pull up any list of startup superflex dynasty fantasy football league rankings, or any superflex league startup draft results, and you'll see the best quarterbacks nearly all gone within the first three rounds. For starters, QBs tend to have longer careers than running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. They can withstand more punishment and don't have to be as explosive runners or as adept at changing direction.
In addition, a good quarterback is easily the toughest asset to find and the most valuable asset to have for any NFL team. It's the most challenging position to play in the league. That's why they're paid so much. It's hard for me to recommend not prioritizing quarterbacks in your drafts.
It's a massive risk not to take multiple QBs within the first five rounds. In startup drafts, runs on QBs will suck the available player list dry of good talent, leaving you with few options. And in matchups, it's often the QBs having the big games that decide who wins.
In most superflex drafts, quarterbacks are the most frequently selected players in the first round. Opting not to choose one is a massive risk. It's tougher to find quarterback talent that flies under the radar. There are far more running backs and receivers drafted outside the first round of the real NFL Draft that become fantasy must-starts than there are quarterbacks.
There are 32 NFL teams, and not all of them have competent QB play every year. The talent pool is incredibly scarce, and it's far easier for a QB to put up a 40-point game than it is for a receiver to do the same, even in full-PPR scoring settings, than it is for anyone else to do the same. So you essentially must prioritize QB.
Non-Superflex Leagues
The rules above really don't apply here, especially if your league doesn't have six-point passing touchdowns. Some leagues award just four points for passing scores. In this case, you can safely draft quarterbacks later and are better off selecting elite wide receivers early.
While QBs have more value than they do in redraft leagues, because a young, talented starter can remain on your roster and help you in subsequent years, you're not toast if you decide to prioritize other positions earlier. Speaking of positional priority, it's well-known that elite receivers have longer careers than running backs, on average.
Therefore, it makes sense to select the best receivers early in the draft and punt on quarterbacks a bit later, while keeping an eye on how your league drafts. Some droughts can sometimes extend for multiple seasons, where minimal star quarterback talent enters the NFL.
Tight-End Premium Leagues
It goes without saying that tight ends are much more critical in TEP leagues. The most elite of the elite TEs can put up monster performances multiple times per season, like Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers and San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle.
At least the Raiders have Brock Bowers. He is just a monster tight end.
Moss the DB spins in the air and then turns upfield for 6. Not normal pic.twitter.com/UmFIhZDYXG
— Marcus Johnson (@TheMarcJohnNFL) October 7, 2024
In these leagues, an elite TE like Bowers should be your second priority behind quarterbacks, though you should be careful not to reach for tight ends that aren't as talented as pass-catchers. Don't pass up on the opportunity for an elite receiver to reach for a TE that doesn't possess elite upside.
Trade Tips For Fantasy Football Dynasty Startup Leagues
Profiles Of Players You Should Trade Away
One of my favorite things to do in dynasty leagues is to trade players like Irving. I know it might seem foolish to do, but running back roles are very tenuous in the league. We've seen highly productive fantasy running backs lose their jobs quickly and unceremoniously, or suffer from drastic declines in volume, seemingly inexplicably.
Running backs have a way of losing their value quickly, and sometimes without warning. Typically, the less athletic backs suffer from this drop in value most markedly. One such example is current Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler.
In 2023, Ekeler quickly went from a highly-drafted pick to a mid-rounder. The bottom falls out for poorer athletes much more quickly. Even if Irving doesn't suffer such a decline, the value you can get for him is fantastic.
The hype around Irving is absolutely massive. Yet, running backs with his athletic profile (a 40-yard dash time of over 4.5 seconds, 194 pounds, and a low Raw Athletic Score) tend to have a much harder uphill battle to be productive for many seasons moving forward.
Dynasty is indeed typically only played within windows of three to four years. Irving could continue to have a promising career, and I think he's a good running back. But the value you can get for him is excellent, and you can put yourself in the favor of how history leans, and history favors the best athletes.
Think about it like this. Players who have multiple years of success across different offenses with various offensive coordinators, or are in stable situations where the offensive head coach, who essentially runs the offense, is unlikely to change, are the most likely to continue succeeding until age catches up with them.
Running backs like Miles Sanders, Najee Harris, and Rhamondre Stevenson don't fit into these categories. Meteoric years caused their fantasy values to skyrocket, only for them to plummet later. They are also not elite athletes. It's undeniable that it's tougher to succeed.
If you look at most rankings of dynasty running backs year over year, the players that tend to stay near the top are the younger players with great athletic profiles. It's a matter of great importance to the RB position, and one that doesn't apply to receivers quite as much.
The most in-demand RBs also change drastically year over year, while the wide receiver and tight end positions are much more stable. If you're looking to trade, it's generally better to ship off RBs that shot up in value after a recent season that have poor athletic profiles.
This is a great way to build up your roster with players who have more stable values and historically more stable production, and look to rookie classes to bolster your running back rooms. RBs tend to have shorter careers and tend to break out earlier in their careers as well.
If you end up with players like Irving or Los Angeles Rams RB Williams, consider swapping them for combinations of athletic rookie backs and future picks for long-term success.
Trade Tips During Startup Drafts
During the startup draft, there may be players you want to plant your flag on. But selecting someone like Jeanty over a proven veteran studs like WRs St. Brown or Collins is a massive risk. If you're in a spot where someone wants to trade up to draft a highly valued rookie, I recommend you trade down.
You can get extra value, and whether you want a win-now team or one built for future success, it's better to take players you know are currently good in the NFL, rather than those who haven't taken a snap. Selecting players on proven-to-be-good offenses also helps with stability.
Fantasy football doesn’t have to be hard.
✅ Draft good players.
✅ On good offenses.— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) July 3, 2025
One of my favorite cheat code strategies is to follow around coaches who are offensive-minded and have a history of major success. That's a big reason why I'm drafting so many players from the Jacksonville Jaguars this season. They're great values thanks to head coach Coen, who succeeded impressively with the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Predicting the future of the NFL is a challenging task. There are numerous moving parts within every organization. However, year after year, we see the best offensive-minded head coaches produce the league's most effective offenses. Think Chiefs head coach Reid, Broncos head coach Sean Payton, Rams head coach McVay, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Most highly ranked players in dynasty leagues typically play on strong offenses. But not all of them do. The Seattle Seahawks, for example, have big question marks heading into the 2025 season. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is certainly not on a team with a stable, high-powered offense.
Additionally, the current offensive coordinator for the Seahawks has a run-heavy approach. In contrast, the Seahawks' previous OC passed the ball at a rate far above the expected rate over the season. So if you're in a spot where you think someone desperately wants to pick Smith-Njigba, you might be well-served trading out of that pick as well.
The same applies to any player on an unstable or inadequate offense. Similarly-valued players on good offenses in stable organizations are statistically, and in the long run, on average, more likely to return long-term value for your team.
Sometimes, You Have To Trade Up
If you really want a particular player, and your draft position makes it look unlikely that you'll be able to get him with your next draft pick, it makes sense to trade up. Getting sniped one pick before it's your turn to select a player is brutal, and sometimes, it might make it difficult for you to execute your preferred roster build.
Picking near the beginning or the end of drafts increases the number of picks in between your pair of picks. In a 12-team league, if you pick first or 12th, you have to wait 22 more picks until you get your next player. You only have to wait 12 picks if you pick sixth or seventh.
It's generally a good idea, then, to try to position yourself better closer to the middle picks of the rounds with trades, and be willing to reach just a little bit when the draft gets closer to the ranking of a player you're interested in. If you're in the middle of the draft, you have more flexibility to stick where you are.
Try To Predict Who Your Opponents Might Draft
Try to get to know the people in your league. Try to find out what players they like. If you like the player as well, and you see their pick coming up, try to trade up with someone ahead of them and snipe them. Nothing feels worse than getting sniped yourself!
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