How And When To Rebuild In Fantasy Football Dynasty Leagues

Kacey Kasem expert dynasty fantasy football strategy for rebuilding teams. Read the dynasty league tips, advice, and expert analysis for 2025 fantasy football.

There comes a time in every dynasty fantasy football manager's journey when they look at their roster and ask: Is it time to rebuild? How do you even know if it's time for a rebuild?

Various situations can cause a manager to want to rebuild their team, whether that be a successful title run that left your team drained of picks and youth, or a team full of "next best thing" prospects who quickly turned into nobodies. In every case of rebuilding, managers wonder how they can get their teams turned around. It's like the adult equivalent of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books we used to read in elementary school (except you don't get to cheat and go back if you make a mistake).

In this article, we'll explore six common rebuild scenarios. How did you end up there, and what can you do to reset your roster? Whether you took over an orphan team, are retooling after trying to win it all, or are tired of having only WR3s on your team, there is a path forward. Let's look at how to get your dynasty team back on track while enjoying the process.

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You Won A Championship, But Mortgaged The Future

How You Got Here

Did you win it all but had to sell off the farm to do so? Traded away early picks for aging veterans and short-term starters? It worked, and you brought home the trophy. Your team is full of 30-year-old running backs, declining wide receivers, and very few rookie picks. You won gold, but your team is in no shape to win it all again. For your team to be on top again, it is time to engage in rebuild mode.

You never realize how bad your dynasty roster really is until you go to set a lineup for Week 1. Oof. But that's OK, I won the thing years ago. So, still rebuilding after selling all my picks for win now guys... to win. ☺

— KACEY KASEM (@thekaceykasem) September 5, 2024

Rebuild Strategy

If you're looking to turn it all around after finding yourself in this situation, there are some steps to take to maximize your rebuild. First, sell off aging stars like Davante Adams, George Kittle, and Alvin Kamara. They'll bring you less in a trade than they would when they were in their prime, but getting something before their value crashes is essential.

Focusing on two or three young foundational pieces can be key in this type of rebuild. If you have a solid QB core or elite wide receivers under 26, you're in a good place to start your rebuild. If not, targeting these types of players in trades will work to your best advantage.

Make sure to target future draft capital, especially 2026 firsts. Planning for the future means looking at future draft classes as well. Your team will not magically turn into a contender overnight. Building a solid future means having plenty of young assets, and those future draft picks could turn your team around in the next few years.

If you want to add more draft picks to your roster this season, trading back in rookie drafts might interest you. Accumulating depth is vital in dynasty leagues, so it is sometimes worth giving up a prime draft spot to collect a few great draft picks.

Remember, if you're in this type of rebuild, your championship window has closed. You won your league, but it is time to let go of your "championship core." Thank you to all your aging vets and guys about to retire. You saw glory once, and now it's time to go after that next trophy.

You Went All-In And Failed

How You Got Here

Your roster looked golden. You decided big trades were needed, so you took a big swing. Unfortunately, you struck out. Injuries, underperforming players, mixed in with some bad luck. Now you have zero trophies, zero picks, and a roster full of "what could have been."

dynasty fantasy football players think they can rebuild like this https://t.co/rJIc92llWP

— Linda™ (@Lindellions) August 26, 2024

Rebuild Strategy

Look at your roster and decide who will not help your team in the next one or two years. Those are players you should be selling now.

As the season begins, look to shop your aging vets to contenders. Aging veterans won't help your roster, but you can still get a decent haul if they're still performing at a high level.

If you still have any firsts in this upcoming rookie draft, use them to pick young talent or trade the picks for younger breakout candidates. You need to use these picks wisely, so trading for proven talent could be the route you choose to take.

A good idea in these rebuilds is to stash injured or suspended players who could bounce back. You could strike gold if you sacrifice a few roster spots on players like this. Not every player will be Adrian Peterson after tearing his ACL and MCL, but you might find one who can help push your team forward shortly.

In a rebuild like this, you need to focus on consolidating your team. Turn your older depth players into fewer and better assets. You swung for the fences and missed, but you're not stuck. Reset your roster and focus on building the best team for 2026 or 2027.

You've Been Middle Of The Pack For Years

How You Got Here

If you find yourself in the sixth-eighth place range each season, a rebuild is inevitable. Doing nothing to improve your roster will keep you down. Your team isn't good enough to win, but it isn't bad enough that you select the top draft pick each season. Your roster might have plenty of "safe" veterans, but you have passed on players with risky upside.

Kinda love what the Seahawks are doing. All Geno and DK were doing was making you competent enough to draft between 16-20 every year. Tear it down and rebuild. A dynasty manager’s dream

— 32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters) March 10, 2025

Rebuild Strategy

It might be time to blow up your roster and start from scratch. You need more difference-makers on your team, and right now, all you have are bye-week fill-ins and flex players.

You should be trying to acquire young, elite talent. Making trades is key to rebuilding your roster. If you can get some 2-for-1 deals completed, your roster will be on the path to greatness. Try unloading some of your veteran talent on contending teams who need that one piece to win.

You can sell players at their peak value, even if they are producing. They're producing, but your team is nowhere near championship-ready. You could move some of these players for draft picks and get other managers to overpay.

Volume is essential when it comes to draft picks. If you're in this type of rebuild, you should acquire as many first and early seconds as possible. If you want a clean slate, the easiest way is to draft a new core to lead your team.

When drafting and making trades, you must target those players with long-term value. You do not want a lot of roster cloggers with one or two good years left on your team. Hone in on those wide receivers and quarterbacks with their best years ahead. If you're stuck in purgatory, you need to shake things up.

The Youth Movement Isn't Developing

How You Got Here

You were going about things all the right way, but sometimes, it doesn't work out for your dynasty roster. Instead of forcing it to work (where it ultimately won't), it might be time to pump the brakes on those "breakout" wide receivers you drafted in 2023 and 2024.

Your once-promising tight-end prospect is playing behind a veteran, and your young running backs have been delegated to the practice squad for the rest of their NFL careers. You're stuck trying to make these guys work when it might be time to cut bait.

When you start Charbonnet in a dynasty league where you're rebuilding...

(also, like... I have to set a lineup) pic.twitter.com/RWAF0WaFNC

— KACEY KASEM (@thekaceykasem) December 1, 2023

Rebuild Strategy

Consolidating your assets is something to focus on first when trying to rebuild in this situation. You have a lot of depth, but you desperately need starters. Do you have any players on your team you can package together to get you a stud where you're position-needy?

Holding onto guys for too long is a trap I've fallen into numerous times. You want this "meh" prospect to work out. You end up holding onto them until they have no value, and now they're playing for the San Antonio Brahmas. Get away from those players if you can.

Do you have a lot of 23-25-year-olds on your roster who could break out? You haven't been starting these guys, but they could be relevant to fantasy at some point. Why not try trading these players now? Sure, they may hit in the future, but your roster needs a major overhaul. It's better to cut ties now and build around some solid starters.

Regarding your rookie picks, consider using them on players with clear paths to volume. You'll want players on your roster who get a chance to shine in Year 1. Once the draft happens, it should be more obvious which players will make an impact in their rookie year. Due to depth charts, some standout players will not get the opportunity to break out in their rookie seasons.

Not every draft pick hits, and many dart throws don't make it onto the board. Plan accordingly. As the season progresses, you may need to make trades to get a few solid veteran guys to help stabilize your roster.

You Took Over An Orphan Team

How You Got Here

You're addicted to dynasty. A friend asked if you wanted to take over an orphan team, and you immediately said yes without looking at the roster.

Oh no, you inherited quite the mess. Your QB1 is Marcus Mariota. You have zero first-round draft picks. Your wide receivers deserve to be on the waiver wire. And your tight ends have all retired. You're in for a ride if you've never taken over an orphan.

I had so much fun with my first Dynasty Orphan team this year I cant wait for @FFPC to open up the market and buy up some teams to rebuild!

— Dynasty Dustin (@All22_FF) December 28, 2024

Rebuild Strategy

It's time to enjoy the complete rebuild. This team was not originally yours, so you have no allegiance. You'll see where this team is lacking just by looking at it. Chances are, the team is going to be in shambles. That's probably why the previous manager left. If they left you with an awesome team, congrats! You won't have to deal with a messy rebuild.

If you are having to rebuild, feel free to trade most of the players on your roster who are over 26 for picks or young stash players. Age is not the end-all, be-all in dynasty leagues, but if you're rebuilding an orphan team, you might as well try and get younger.

You are going to want to be very active in this league. Look at the waivers and see what hidden gem might be there. View all the teams in your league and see what they need. Do you have a few decent wide receivers you could trade to a wide receiver-needy team in exchange for its TE2 (who is still startable)? Take notes of what teams need, and always check their trade bait to see what players and picks they want to move.

Are there certain players you feel your league has forgotten about? Do you see a clear path to fantasy relevancy that others might not see? Target those players. This is your roster, and it's your time to build it out your way.

Don't worry about your record in the first season you take over an orphan. I know, it could be hard to ignore. First, it's not your fault the team is so bad. Keep that in mind. Secondly, you'll get a real sense of accomplishment taking a team from worst to first. Bragging rights are allowed.

You're Just Burnt Out

How You Got Here

You've been playing dynasty for years. Sure, you started missing waivers. Then you forgot to set your lineup and got an earful from the commissioner. Finally, you made a couple of bad trades just to feel something. You're not bad at fantasy -- you're just tired.

Every DYNASTY LEAGUE has a Pittsburgh Steelers mangers around.

Clearly in need of a rebuild but just won’t give up that last spot in the Fantasy Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/7K5HTtoERz

— Fizzle Dolla💲 (@FizzleDollas) March 10, 2025

Rebuild Strategy

It's time to make this team fun again. Your roster might be a mess, but there's a way to rebuild it and have fun.

Trade for players you're into. That's right, you're not just looking for value here. You want players on your team whom you want to root for. If fantasy football feels like a chore, build your roster with players you enjoy watching. Take a breather while watching your fantasy scores, and instead watch the games.

Remember why you started playing dynasty in the first place. Start reengaging with the dynasty community. Be more active in your league chats. What made dynasty fun when you first started playing? Think about it and get back to your roots.

You don't need to tear your team down completely. You could do a soft rebuild where you focus on getting the right vibes while looking for upside. Maybe you are so inside your head you've lost sight of how good this team could be.

Sometimes, you don't need to rebuild the team in this situation. You might have just fallen out of love with your roster. Mix it up a bit, and you'll no longer feel like you need to take your dynasty team to couples counseling.

Conclusion

There's no set-in-stone way to rebuild your team. Many of the suggestions above will work for different types of rebuilds. You need to figure out if your team needs a full rebuild or if you just need to move some pieces around.

Keep sending trades, researching the draft, and improving your roster. You're so close to holding up that championship trophy, and 2025 looks like a good year to have a good year!

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