# SDMB Fantasy Football DYNASTY League: Year 18 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [August 14, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336 "2026-08-14T13:51:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/201 "2026-09-02T21:51:04Z")
I feel okay about how this draft went down for me. It involved a couple pivots from my initial plans, but I like how my team is set up. It’s weird that I didn’t end up with any rookies I can expect to start this year. The only useful pieces for 2026 are the veteran players I drafted late to round out my team’s depth. I had two guys who were Must Draft guys, and I got one (Singleton). I got at least one sky-high-upside hype darling (Cyrus Allen and Malik Benson to a lesser extent). Most importantly, I swung for the fences with an extra pick next year. I think I’m firmly in the playoff-hopeful category this year, but maybe not quite the title contender I expected to end up as going into the draft. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/202 "2026-09-02T23:12:49Z")
I am happy with how the draft fell to me, with the context that I expected very little with pick 1.08 and no 2nd rounder. I like Colman at 1.08, though I am always wrong when trying to pick the Denver RB who will actually get work when the starter invariably gets hurt. I keep hearing that Payton love Coleman, though, and he does not usually puff up rookies. Thomas and Raridon in round 3 are both flyers on future potential. So maybe one of them will hit. Thomas is really fast and has a QB who can throw the ball far - that might lead to some explosive days that I can kick myself for as he sits my bench. Raridon is a bet on situation more than talent, so I am balancing out my reaches in round 3. Hill as an IR stash was just too tantalizing to pass up, and it saved me from doing something embarrassing like drafting a kicker. ---
**Author:** ![PeteyPart2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@PeteyPart2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeteyPart2)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/203 "2026-09-03T22:24:18Z")
So I have a request. Our good friend Josh Jacobs is not on IR so Yahoo isnt letting me move him to an IR slot. So my questions are: 1. Is the league OK with the Commission Exemption List being treated like someone on IR? 2. If yes, Beef are you able to throw Jacobs on IR manually? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/204 "2026-09-04T01:12:36Z")
And can the same hold for Brandon Aiyuk? Asking for a friend. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/205 "2026-09-04T02:43:29Z")
I am 99% sure that the commissioner is unable to put a non-IR player on IR. But if he can, no objection from me. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/206 "2026-09-04T02:55:59Z")
One difference between the two statuses is that IR status carries a minimum number of weeks out of lineup; CEL can end anytime The Great Goodell decides to let the player play. That said - I also have zero objections if the commish can make it so. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/207 "2026-09-04T03:48:43Z")
Players on the CEL are explicitly barred from being placed on IR by Yahoo. > **[Identify and manage injured and inactive players in Yahoo Fantasy Sports...](https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN28136.html)** > > Knowing how to handle injured or inactive players is key to having a solid roster. Learn more about determining eligibility and managing players once they have a IL, IR, IR+, or NA designation. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/208 "2026-09-04T04:09:08Z")
I checked and I can’t override what yahoo allows for the IR slot, as Justin found. Which is okay with me because I think it’s already pretty generous allowing OUT players. How did you guys feel about the earlier draft this year? We ended up finishing the draft very quickly and way before we had to. Did you feel like acting before the last preseason games or the 53 man cuts was a big problem? I actually didn’t mind starting earlier, even though we finished far earlier than needed. In the last few years there was enough time pressure that I was worried we might not make it before the first game, though we always responded by speeding up and making it. The next logical time to start the draft would’ve been after the 53 man cut deadline, which this year would’ve been at Sunday at 6pm eastern. We could have the cut deadline and start the draft like an hour or two later, or the next day around noon - anything else has awkward timing. That would give us between 9.5 and 10.5 days to conduct the draft before the Wednesday opener, though it should be noted that we wouldn’t get a full waiver period unless we finished it up 2 days faster than that, the players who played in the Wednesday and Thursday games would end up getting rolled into the general week 1 waivers I think. I’m open to starting later, more like we did in the past, but I really didn’t mind finishing early this year. It’s max information vs time pressure (and usually not getting a full waiver period post draft). ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/209 "2026-09-04T12:16:49Z")
I prefer starting later. > [@SenorBeef](#): > > We could have the cut deadline and start the draft like an hour or two later, or the next day around noon - anything else has awkward timing. Traditionally, we have the cut deadline one minute before the draft starts. (Did I misunderstand what you were saying here?) ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/210 "2026-09-04T14:04:36Z")
I meant if the 53-man cut deadline in the NFL is Sunday at 6:00 again we’d either require cuts to be in at something like 7:00 or 8:00 on Sunday night or noon the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/211 "2026-09-04T16:29:34Z")
I think we had really smooth draft this year with only one long-ish delay and lots of very active and fast drafters. Thank everyone for that. I have only been in the league for a few years but this felt like easily the fastest/smoothest draft we have had. I think we should plan our schedule for the worst case, though. And this year also has an unusually long break between preseason game 3 and start of season. I don’t mind an earlier start, but would slightly favor waiting until after cuts. But that also makes me nervous if future drafts drag more than this. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/212 "2026-09-05T00:54:37Z")
I agree. This year was a breeze. If all our drafts moves this well, I’d have no problem with waiting until after cuts. But they won’t. I get the feeling no one was really excited by the talent this year, so there wasn’t much waiting on trade offers or taking the time to watch college tape of guys you dont know. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/213 "2026-09-05T01:59:25Z")
What would be the downsides of making our cuts in between the first and second round of our draft instead of before the draft starts? (Similar to RNATB this year.) EDIT: I’m thinking start the draft the day before the third preseason games. We don’t care about the third preseason game during the first round of our draft. Then, combine that with not actually doing our roster cuts until after the 53 man cut down. Omni’s suggestion above basically sparked this idea. I’ve been percolating on it for a couple days. Any flaws I’m missing? ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/214 "2026-09-05T02:20:25Z")
I proposed that same idea to change the format of the draft years ago, and it didn’t get any traction. It was in this post [here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-15/988186/47). The only big concern I have is teams snagging deeper sleepers when they won’t even have a pick, which will change the entire balance of the draft. But then again, you would have more avenues to trade for those sleepers if you get sniped, so it might increase trade activity ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/215 "2026-09-05T02:26:55Z")
Not a fixed number of picks per person, and no chance to snag sleepers that you don’t have picks for. The idea is during our first round, we largely don’t care about preseason aside from injuries. We are only taking studs who will definitely make the team and get playing time. Not sleepers. By the time we finish the first round of our draft, we submit our cuts like normal, which rigidly defines how many picks we each have for the rest of the draft. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/216 "2026-09-05T02:46:17Z")
> [@Spiritus\_Mundi](#): > > this year also has an unusually long break between preseason game 3 and start of season. I’m not sure that’s true, though. Of course we can’t know how it will work when the NFL goes to an 18 game schedule – I assume that is still an inevitability – but NFL+ Premium makes it very easy to check the gaps for every year since the league went to a 17 game schedule: LPG = Last Preseason Game KO = Opening Day Kickoff | Year | LPG | KO | Days | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2021 | Aug 29 | Sep 9 | 11 | | 2022 | Aug 28 | Sep 8 | 11 | | 2023 | Aug 27 | Sep 7 | 11 | | 2024 | Aug 25 | Sep 5 | 11 | | 2025 | Aug 23 | Sep 4 | 12 | | 2026 | Aug 29 | Sep 9 | 11 | Not sure what happened last year, but it looks like the NFL is very specifically aiming for at least 11 days between the last preseason game and opening day kickoff. Seems to be a pretty consistent Saturday for the final preseason game(s), with kickoff being the second Wednesday after. Also, in all of these years, the final Saturday only has one or a handful of games, giving us fewer instances of “I wish I could see them play in the preseason.” (Like I had this year with my pick 1.10.) Thus the idea solidifies: The day before the final preseason game(s) – which means on a Friday – we start our draft at noon. This gives us 12 days before the season starts. Two days later, on Sunday, after the 53 man cut down, we submit our cuts. In the case of the first round going super quick, we could even just pause starting the second round until after cuts. (Our actual draft this year started on Wednesday, two days earlier than the above plan would be.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/217 "2026-09-05T12:34:40Z")
I am not sure I want to go full Omni, but I didn’t really see a downside to people making cuts during the draft (as I did by accident). Maybe everyone announces their first cut before the draft. Then each subsequent cut has to be announced one full round before the player’s next pick. So the 1.1 team announces their second cut as they make their first pick. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/218 "2026-09-05T15:11:39Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > I proposed that same idea to change the format of the draft years ago, and it didn’t get any traction. I have to admit I kind of love the idea of giving everyone a set number of picks and then doing cuts after the draft. I don’t know if it has the votes, but I’m a yes. EDIT: I apparently said the same thing three years ago. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/219 "2026-09-05T18:04:40Z")
Did we announce when the waiver wire was opening? Not a big deal, just I was waiting to put bids in for some official announcement it was open. The weird schedule timing this season is throwing me off. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336/220 "2026-09-05T22:45:11Z")
I phrased it badly when I said “We will also have the post-draft waiver with normal waiver rules.” I should’ve said “we will now” or simply “After the draft is entered there is a period of post draft waivers” but they start as soon as the draft is entered and have already concluded. If my wording threw you off I’m sorry. An examination of the league after the draft was entered (which was announced) would’ve made it clear though. As far as discussions of changes in the draft, I’m open to ideas but I like our current system pretty well. Almost every problem we’ve had comes not from any flaws in the system but by people not meeting required deadlines for actions. The systems you propose seem viable at first glance but I’m always leery of edge cases we hadn’t considered when we come up with a new system. We already ironed those out for the current system and it works pretty smoothly as long as people, well, participate. I like the flexible number of draft picks because it helps teams that need a lot of change to rebuild. Some people decide to cut 7+ players are have a ton of draft picks and remake their team significantly in one year and I don’t want to take away that option. I suppose they’d still be able to use the waiver wire. So I don’t hate the ideas and I’m not going to shoot them down, but let’s think about edge cases and seeing how they break or might be exploited to see if we could come up with some sort of flaws to address ahead of time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-fantasy-football-dynasty-league-year-18/1032336.md?page=12)