Ultimate Guide to Devy Fantasy Football Leagues
What is Devy Fantasy Football?
Devy fantasy football is a type of fantasy football league that focuses on college football players who are not yet eligible for the NFL draft. “Devy” is short for “developmental,” meaning these players are being developed for potential future success in the NFL.
In devy fantasy football, league members draft college football players who they believe have the potential to become successful NFL players. Unlike traditional fantasy football leagues, devy leagues may require additional scouting and research to identify talented college players who may not yet be well-known to the general public.
Devy leagues often have a longer-term focus than traditional fantasy leagues, as players may need several years to develop before they become eligible for the NFL draft. However, successful devy drafting can give fantasy owners a significant advantage in future years as they acquire talented players before they become popular draft prospects.
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Where do People Play Devy Leagues?
Devy leagues can be played on various fantasy football platforms and websites that support custom league settings. Some popular platforms for playing devy fantasy football include:
- MyFantasyLeague.com: MyFantasyLeague.com is a customizable fantasy football platform that allows for devy league settings and has a wide range of customization options.
- Fantrax: Fantrax is another popular platform that supports devy leagues and allows for deep customization of league settings and rules.
- Sleeper: Sleeper is a newer fantasy football platform that has gained popularity in recent years due to its user-friendly interface and support for devy leagues.
- ESPN: ESPN’s fantasy football platform also supports devy leagues, although the customization options may not be as extensive as some other platforms.
It’s important to note that not all fantasy football platforms support devy leagues, so it’s important to research and choose a platform that supports the specific league settings and rules you’re looking for.
Tips for Starting a Devy League
Here are some tips for starting a devy league:
- Define your league settings: Before starting a devy league, it’s important to define the league settings and rules, including the number of devy roster spots, the length of the draft, and how devy players will be acquired and traded.
- Establish clear communication: Devy leagues can be more complex than traditional fantasy leagues, so it’s important to establish clear lines of communication among league members to ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Do your research: Devy leagues require more research and scouting than traditional leagues, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on college football players and their potential for future success in the NFL.
- Determine draft order: Draft order can be determined in various ways, such as random selection, a reverse order of the previous season’s standings, or a snake draft order.
- Set deadlines: Setting clear deadlines for draft picks and trades can help keep the league organized and ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to acquire devy players.
- Plan for future seasons: Devy leagues are often focused on long-term success, so it’s important to plan for future seasons and ensure that the league has a clear plan for how devy players will be managed from season to season.
Starting a devy league can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s important to establish clear rules and communication to ensure that the league runs smoothly and all members have an enjoyable experience.
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How is a Devy League Different from a Standard Redraft Fantasy League?
A devy league is different from a standard redraft fantasy league in several ways:
- Devy roster spots: In a devy league, teams have an additional roster spot specifically for college football players who are not yet eligible for the NFL draft. These players are often referred to as “devy” players.
- College player focus: In a devy league, there is a greater focus on college football players and their potential for future success in the NFL. This means that league members must do more research and scouting on college players, as opposed to focusing solely on NFL players.
- Long-term focus: Devy leagues typically have a longer-term focus than standard redraft leagues. This is because devy players may take several years to develop before they become eligible for the NFL draft, so it may take several seasons before they are able to contribute to a fantasy team.
- Different draft strategies: In a devy league, draft strategies may differ from a standard redraft league. For example, some league members may prioritize selecting highly-ranked college players who are likely to become future NFL stars, while others may select players who are not as highly-ranked but have the potential to become valuable NFL players in the future.
- Greater customization: Devy leagues often require greater customization of league settings and rules, as well as greater communication and coordination among league members, due to the added complexity of managing devy players.
Overall, a devy league offers a unique and exciting way to play fantasy football by focusing on college players and their potential for future success in the NFL.
1st Round Mock Draft Example of Devy vs Redraft League
Here’s an example of how a 1st round fantasy draft might look for a devy league in 2022 compared to a standard college fantasy league:
Devy League 1st Round:
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Treveyon Henderson, RB, OHST
Nick Singleton, RB, PSU
Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, OHST
Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Drew Allar, QB, PSU
Evan Stewart, WR, TAMU
Luther Burden, WR, Miz
Quinn Ewers, QB, Tex
Raheim Sanders, RB, Ark
Standard Fantasy League 1st Round:
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss
Raheim Sanders, RB, Ark
Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, OHST
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Bo Nix, QB, Ore
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisc
Blake Corum, RB, Mich
Brock Bowers, TE, UGA
Malachi Corley, WR, WKU
Rome Odunze, WR, Wash
As you can see, a devy league draft involves selecting highly-touted college football players who may or may not have talent for the NFL, while a standard fantasy league draft focuses on players that have a high propensity for NFL success.