Episode 522: How to SMASH your Startup with WAR (Boot)a

WAR can tell you which players are worth targeting in your dynasty startup draft — but it does not tell you when the room is going to let you take them. In this episode, I’m joined by Adam from South Harmon to break down how to actually use WAR in a real startup draft room, especially when the market gets aggressive, builds become predictable, and your league starts pushing players way above where they should go. We’re talking through one of the biggest mistakes drafters make: blindly following the numbers without understanding draft flow, league value, and post-draft trade leverage. Topics we cover: • What to do when running backs get pushed way up the board • How to adjust when your league is overcompensating • Why WAR tells you what to pick, but not always where to pick it • When to follow WAR and when to exploit the room • Trade backs, roster construction, and startup leverage • Competing vs. punting using WAR • Why you may not need to leave the draft with your final starting lineup • How to draft 5 elite assets early and turn them into 8 high-WAR pieces after the startup • Balancing WAR value vs. what your league will actually pay for If you want to dominate your next dynasty startup draft, stop drafting in a vacuum. Learn how to combine WAR, market value, roster construction, and trade strategy to build a team that wins both the draft room and the league. Drop a comment with your biggest startup draft question and let us know: are you using WAR to compete right away or build for the future?