Everyone is excited about their roster heading into the NFL season. Even those managers who know they probably won’t win it all can trick themselves into believing in their players for a fleeting second. After all, anything can happen once the opening whistle blows and the kick-off is underway. 

However, not every season can go your way. Your team will lose in heartbreaking fashion. Your players will get hurt. And your season may turn sour as early as Week 5. In redraft leagues, you can usually make an ambitious trade knowing that you aren’t locked into the same roster next year. Dynasty managers, on the other hand, need to think further out. 

That’s where the big question comes into play. When all things look lost, is it time to think about next year? Have I fallen out of the “contender” position and become a “rebuilder”? If the thought has crossed your mind, the answer is unfortunately yes. If you are still unsure, here are some warning signs that your dynasty roster may require rebuilding. 

When to Rebuild Your Dynasty Fantasy Football Team: 3 Clear Warning Signs

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Your Wide Receiver Room is Getting Old

There’s been a convergence of thought in the fantasy community. Most managers will tell you it’s important to focus on your wide receiver room first, then build out the rest of your team. Wide receivers have a longer shelf life than running backs and are more reliable scorers than tight ends. Most rosters ask you to start multiple wide receivers, forcing you to own several to insulate yourself from bye weeks and injuries. When wide receivers get older and lose their fantasy relevance, it may be time to start creating a rebuilding plan for your team. 

An old wide receiver room is a tricky hurdle to get over because they are usually still semi-relevant in fantasy. Adam Thielen, Cooper Kupp, and Brandin Cooks are players who you will see on the field every Sunday, but won’t give you the necessary points in fantasy. The moment you find yourself starting these players routinely, it’s certainly time to call this season a wash and look ahead at the next year’s draft class. 

Your Team’s Ceiling is Capped 

Nothing like a vague qualifier to look for in your dynasty team to make a major decision, am I right? Simply put – if your team can’t compete when it’s still firing on all cylinders, it’s time to break it down to the studs. I had a team last year that possessed several startable fantasy players and had a small glimmer of hope that it could compete with the rest of the league. What I found out quickly was that I was losing games by at least 30-40 points each week. 

My team was unable to find that next level to steal wins. It was a clear indicator that I needed to start from scratch and sell players for future assets. 

Fantasy football, especially dynasty, is a game centered around following and reacting to trends. Yes, even the trends that suggest your team is bad. If your team is struggling to keep pace with the rest of the league for a few weeks in a row, then it’s time to decide to rebuild. 

Then, Of Course, You Just Know It

The last point is a “uh, duh!” point, but it still stands. Sometimes you just know it’s time. There will be seasons you are riding a fine line between contending and rebuilding, and the coin flip luckily lands on “contend” over and over. Constantly contending does hide the truth that the rebuilding season is right on the horizon. We can’t all escape it forever, and when you suddenly see all of your assets are over 30, we can’t convince ourselves it’ll be playable anymore. Rebuilding is tough, but it doesn’t have to be a surprise. Making a conscious effort to rebuild will save you a significant amount of stress in the long run. 

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