Operation: Dynasty Team Takeover

Do you like taking chances? Do you need more leagues to play in? Are you interested in trying a dynasty league, but you do not know anyone that has a start-up league (a league that is drafting from scratch)? Well it isn’t for the faint of heart, however you might want to try taking in an orphaned team on an existing dynasty league.

Why a takeover?

Dynasty leagues have grown in popularity each year. Unfortunately some owners leap before they look and get in over their heads. They don’t understand the rules or the concepts for a dynasty league and draft a horrible team. Sometimes owners simply can’t say no and end up in too many leagues to manage or enjoy the wonder that is fantasy football. Other times they have financial burdens due to the economy or simply never tell their wife what they spend. Personality conflicts and improper use of league money can occur as well. These things happen in the “real world,” but in a dynasty league these can cause problems as each issue can lead to an owner dropping out of the league.

Questions to ask yourself

Do you like the team you are taking over? This is a very important question to ask yourself. Having a couple of players you like either in fantasy or on your favorite team can make a big difference in how much you like or dislike a potential new team. As previously stated, I am a Steelers fan and would think harder on taking over the team if I had Mike Wallace or Rashard Mendenhall on the team.

Can you make this team a champion? Most people don’t like coming home to an empty cupboard and refrigerator when they are hungry and thirsty, so you wouldn’t want to start with a team that had nothing to offer. If you don’t have the players and draft picks to build the team you want, you should consider not taking the team over. A team that has Donovan McNabb and Steven Jackson is less appealing than a team that has Aaron Rodgers and Ray Rice.

How long will it take you to turn this team around? If this league has a big league fee, it may not be feasible in your budget to donate for a few years to turn this team around. A quick fixer upper could reap dividends quickly!

Do you like the scoring? Sometimes we try new things and enjoy them, but if you don’t understand or “get” the scoring you may end up like the previous owner and leave. Make sure you are comfortable the scoring.

Should I join this league to make someone happy? Everyone feels pressure to be social and that is a good thing to be, however joining a league to make a friend or family member happy is not a good idea. Dynasty leagues take time and depending on your league, money. You have to have the passion yourself. The challenge of beating the other person on the other hand, can be a strong reason to join to show them you know more about football!

Can you handle being the subject of every silly, unbalanced trade offer imaginable? Dynasty owners are always trying to rip off the new owner, because the owners assume you are uneducated in the dynasty format. Thick skin is needed sometimes when some league mates are testing you. I’ve seen seasoned owners offering their 2^nd round rookie pick in 2011 for Brandon Marshall and justifying the trade because Miami doesn’t throw that much.

Questions to ask the commissioner:

How active is this league? Many dynasty leagues have owners that do not log in or try to trade in the off-season. If you are serious about turning your team around, you will need owners willing to talk trade with you. If you are like me, once you take over a team you want to make changes right away and an inactive league will keep that from being possible.

How many trades happen in this league a year? When no one is willing to trade or most people do not trade, your chances of turning around the team become less likely. Trades are the lifeblood of improving a team and redistributing the talent pool in the league.

How long has the league existed? Leagues do get stagnant and need new blood. However if you are the new owner in a league with 11 people who have been in the league for many years, no question about it, you will be an outsider. That has the advantage of surprise on your part, but it will also make starting dialog with owners you don’t know more difficult. I know I can talk to my boy, Joey Bag “O” Donuts, for trades of Dallas RBs, because we have been in many leagues together for many years.

Why did the other owner leave? Watch how the commish answers this one. Money problems, too many leagues, or just didn’t have a good feel for dynasty are acceptable answers. Stories of personality conflicts and bad blood between owners or lack of trading should raise a red flag.

What should I know about this league before I join it? Seems like a simple enough question, but you can get a world of answers. Don’t trade with Old John Town (changed to protect the guilty); Tom and Steve are brothers, etc.

Does your league have rules about teams leaving? Those who do not learn from the past will be doomed to repeat it. A league that is built for the long haul will have rules in place to handle owner turnover. A league that doesn’t have them, can have issues sooner than later. I am a big fan of having replacement owner drafts if more than one team leaves so the new owners can draft their own team from the teams that were dissolved and free agents.

It takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to take over a dynasty team in an existing league. You need to ask yourself several questions; you need to ask the commissioner several questions as well. Always remember you are the buyer who doesn’t need to join this particular league. Let them try to sell you and not the other way around.

Good luck.

You can find me on Twitter at @realanakin, drop me a line and follow me if you dare.