The New Reality No.255: The Slow Start

Navigating the ever-changing landscape of dynasty fantasy football, including everything from team-building and player evaluations to NFL research and forecasting.

Chad Parsons's The New Reality No.255: The Slow Start Chad Parsons Published 09/23/2026

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Two weeks into the season is far too short a sample size to pull the rip cord on the season. However, some may already be looking toward 2027. The next few weeks are critical for poking and prodding the bottom teams in your dynasty league for trading opportunities and letting them know you are active and open to trading when the time comes on their end. Here are tips and tricks, starting now and continuing through the gauntlet of teams deciding if they are in or out on the season to contend and navigate the dynasty trade market:

Contend Until Eliminated

It is easy to throw in the towel early in the season, at 0-2, 0-3, or 0-4, and shift your focus to other contending dynasty teams. However, I have numerous personal examples of making the playoffs after a disappointing September, as well as countless stories from subscribers and listeners. Like with NFL teams, this includes situations where you need two wins to close the regular season, and also requires help from teams that are losing but still in the hunt.

The Power of Time and Attrition

You may have been stung with early-season injuries, partial games, and dud performances. However, in the volume running back business (and backup quarterbacks in Superflex), time is your friend. If any starter from a leaguemate's roster at running back or quarterback is out, you stand to benefit (most likely) in at least one of your leagues. Like an interception adding to your defense's fantasy tally and hurting your opponent's quarterback score, these injury situations offer you a dual benefit.

The skill is being patient and letting time and attrition work in your favor. We have not yet been hammered by running back injuries...yet. But the quarterback landscape is already being blown up. Kyler Murray and Sam Darnold have already missed time. Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, and Jaxson Dart are set to miss time starting in Week 3. Atlanta has been a turnstile even two weeks into the season. Dynasty teams are whiplashing from 3-4-5 starting options on their roster to potentially zero this week. I wrote in the Dynasty Trading post about Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart (two weeks in a row now), and the notable backup quarterbacks and how to play the market.

Attack Bottom-Dwelling Teams

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