Do empire leagues change your strategy?

[Prison_Mike]

I just joined a startup (draft happening now) and it's my first empire league.

I'm curious from those who have been in empire leagues, does this change your draft/build strategy?

i.e. Are you more likely to acquire win-now pieces than developmental players/prospects based on the fact that the league COULD be restarting by the time Player X becomes a high level producer?

[Pac_Eddy]

I'm in one Empire league. Just completed year nine I believe. No repeat champs. I think the previous champ made it to the finals once.

A couple people went for the win-now approach in the start-up, a couple clearly the opposite and gobbled up the longer plays. I wouldn't say either strategy was clearly better based on the yearly results since.

I'd say proceed as you would in a normal dynasty startup. Hopefully a couple owners go for the win-now knockout blow, allowing better young players dropping to you. Don't set a hard rule like "I'm going to draft WR, WR, then RB, then, QB". Go BPA.

[Valhalla]

Maybe in an 8 team league or something I'd change my strategy, but otherwise no, the chances of a repeat are slim. Eventually it will happen but don't avoid drafting how you enjoy drafting for fear that the empire will reset in a couple years.

[sloth8u]

I play in 3yr windows..just gotta hope noone hits the payout. Should not effect your strategy.,.if the strategy is to win....you gotta win to get the "big pot".

[CGW]

No doesn't really change anything. In all my leagues I've only had a repeat winner one time. It's really hard to win in fantasy, just like it is in the NFL. My empire league I plan exactly the same as any others.

Maybe if there was a super dominant team about to win their 3rd season in a row, I might sell out to try to knock them off, if I really liked my team. But more likely, I'd just let it reset.

[Pac_Eddy]

Can you post the link to this startup? Always fun to take a look.

[Prison_Mike]

Can you post the link to this startup? Always fun to take a look.

I can, it never seems to work on sleeper but I’ll give it a shot lol

https://sleeper.app/draft/nfl/656818171860332544

[OhCruelestRanter]

I play every league like I’m trying to build a juggernaut that wins three championships in a row, so no.

[Prison_Mike]

I play every league like I’m trying to build a juggernaut that wins three championships in a row, so no.

lol of course. Big picture, that's what everyone is trying to do

The question was more about the smaller decisions that go into building your team

i.e. When you're faced with a decision of drafting Lamb (who might need another year before he's elite) or Hopkins (who currently is), does the empire status weigh into your process based on the age & production window

[Pullo Vision]

It would, in a few ways, depending on certain factors.

The most important is if rosters re-set. If they don't, it'd reduce my urgency to win right away. If they do , I'd be looking to repeat in the years 3-5 window.

The other factor is the Empire pot. Some I've seen are smaller pots, but I've seen some where the pot can build up quickly. How quickly would be a factor, for me.

Also would be curious how draft picks and rookies would be acquirable. When doing the start up, are you drafting rookie picks as well? Are rookies (like Trevor Lawrence this year) drafted in the start up? How is draft order for future years determined?

Regarding acquiring win now pieces, I'd steer clear of guys who I wouldn't consider a starter 2-3 years from now. To the Lamb/Hopkins comparison, I'd go Hopkins. I'm more confident he'd be startable 3 years from now (even as a #2 or 3) than a Dak-less Lamb.

[Coobelz]

I'm going into year 9 and won it last year. This will be my 4th try at a repeat. I tend to be more aggressive at trading my picks/younger unproven players when I'm going into the knock out year. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out yet but I will likely utilize that same strategy this year.