Keith, Commish

A Fantasy Season with THE Dynasty League is a behind-the-scenes look at one commissioner’s journey through a homegrown dynasty fantasy football league. Each week covers trades, roster moves, rookie updates, league drama, and more — all from the perspective of a manager playing the long game. It’s fantasy football with history, strategy, and just the right amount of chaos.

Preseason Week 3: The Dynasty Rookie Draft Recap: Surprises, Slips, and Strategy Shifts

THE Dynasty League rookie draft took place on Saturday and it came with plenty of surprises including trades, prospects slipping, and much more. Let’s get into it.

Draft Day Trades:

Accepting Trade Offers receives

Nico Collins

2025 3rd

Tua Time receives

AJ Brown

2026 1st

——–

Blue Know It receives

2027 1st

Hanks You Very Much receives

2025 pick 1.11

——–

Yoshi & Friends receives

2025 pick 4.09

2026 2nd

Big Penix Energy receives 

2025 pick 2.07

The trade between Blue Know It and Hanks You Very Much had the most impact on the day. As many players began to fall during the draft making that selection more and more valuable. A pre-draft day trade took that selection off the table and the pick was eventually moved for a potential playoff 27 1st.

Rookie Draft Recap

The Flea Market, 1.01 – Ashton Jeanty

Never a doubt here. Flea Market gets to finally start rebuilding that RB room but potential gift would show up later in the first.

Bronze Universe, 1.02 – Cam Ward

This was the first “WOW” moment of the draft. The team with Mahomes and not much else went backup QB and I did NOT see that coming. We’re Michigan based, so the Harbaugh running back felt even more so like the slam dunk pick up top. 

The 1 point per first down really makes the elite QB’s stand out, especially when they run. An important note is that the passing first down is .33. However, it is worth the full point when they pick it up on the ground. Jayden Daniels was a top three selection last year and was well worth the gamble. 

Yoshi & Friends, 1.03 – Cam Skattebo

Surprise number two! This is very much a “go get your guy” league. As you’re seeing, anyone can go anywhere. I would have gone a different route but if you don’t draft your guy, trading him for him later is nearly impossible. 

Ricky B, 1.04 – Omarion Hampton

Take your pick of Hampton of Henderson here. Easy choice and a dream pick for a team whose next best back is Zach Charbonnet. I might’ve traded this to turn it into multiple assets in order to jumpstart the rebuild but.. 

Hanks You Very Much, 1.05 – TreVeon Henderson

Easy. Again, point per first down, RB’s are fun to have in this format. If you’re not competing, you can sell him for some fun value. Something tells me Hanks You Very Much will be receiving an offer soon ;)

Staff Infection, 1.06 – RJ Harvey

See above, take your back. Although, the WR slip to this point is a bit much and starting to get surprising. Sean Payton got his guy here and it’ll be interesting to see how the Harvey/Dobbins split shakes out.

Blue Know it, 1.07 – Colston Loveland 

Called this one, just not here. I thought he might select him at 1.11 with his second first round pick but that was eventually traded away. He got his guy here and traded out later. 

Tua Time, 1.08 – Tetairoa McMillan

The WR1 on many boards is selected at 1.08. I predicted Tua Time would get a value in our mock draft article, but I didn’t see it coming in this way. McMillan most likely won’t be needed right away thanks to the predraft trade outlined above where he acquired AJ Brown.

Big Penix Energy, 1.09 – Kaleb Johnson

In the end, I didn’t have it in me to take Judkins. We’re in a Championship window right now and I need the guy who’s going to see the field. He’s had an up and down preseason but I’m betting on the rookie getting more comfortable as the season gets going. 

The Flea Market, 1.10 – Quinshon Judkins

A draft where you claim the top RB prospect and follow it up with another highly touted back is ridiculous. I don’t think he could have predicted added this much talent to his RB room but he made it happen. Judkins may take a bit to get going as he hasn’t signed his contract yet, but he should be fantastic should he see the field. 

Hanks You Very Much, 1.11 – Isaac TeSlaa

The current slide of Travis Hunter and Emeka Egbuka is driving me nuts. I’ve been attempting to trade back into the first since I was on the 1.09 – No takers. The last thing I want is for Shake N Bake to get his choice of difference making WR’s at the 12 spot. Hanks trades his way back into the first and picks up his guy. 

Shake N Bake, 1.12 – Travis Hunter

Fuming. Livid. Take your pick. We let this happen, guys. The defending Champ gets a player at the 1.12 that he can immediately use should he need him. 

Rounds two and three below!

Overall, a fun night for most. Somewhat frustrating for my team but we’re hopeful to find a way to get some of the guys we like later on. That’s what makes dynasty great! If someone doesn’t perform as expected, you can always try to buy low and take a chance down the road. Our next Dynasty entry into the series will be our week 1 recap on September 10th. I’d expect even more to change as we’ll run waivers and see a lot of trade movement heading into week 1!

• ShareCopied to clipboard