It can also be a messy time for dynasty managers as they try to process the flood of information coming out of Indy. Here's how dynasty managers should approach the NFL Combine.

Disregard the Hype

Every year at the Combine, a few players capture the media's attention and suddenly become the talk of the week. It might be a running back who tests at an elite level like Travis Etienne (2025) or Isaac Guerendo (2024). These are the guys who hit every testing threshold and light up the spreadsheets.

I can tell you firsthand: there are always players whose raw numbers jump off the page. Those of us at the Combine go home and record podcasts or write articles about how impressive they were. Their RAS scores, Next Gen Stats athleticism grades, and other metrics look historically great. They get compared to all-time greats.

As a dynasty manager, you have to avoid getting swept up in that hype.

That doesn't mean the player is bad. But hype can blind you and lead you to reach for them in rookie drafts.

We saw this with Anthony Richardson. He tested at an all-time level and quickly became the centerpiece of Combine coverage. In many rookie drafts, he was pushed up boards because of that performance. He hasn't delivered for dynasty managers the way many hoped, yet people are still holding on. In hindsight, you would have been better off drafting C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young.

The Combine can raise awareness. It shouldn't completely rewrite your rankings.

Look for Outliers

It doesn't matter that Xavier Worthy ran a 4.21. We already knew he was fast. If he had run a 4.24, nothing would have changed. But if he had run a 4.44? That would have been an outlier -- and that would matter.

The key is identifying results that are meaningfully different from expectations.

We see players talk a big game and then fall short. Isaiah Bond claimed he would break Worthy's record but instead ran a still-respectable 4.39. That gap between expectation and reality tells us something.

On the flip side, some players test better than expected.

Take Quinshon Judkins. His 4.43 40-yard dash wasn't eye-popping, but his 23.38 mph top speed was -- ranking second in the class. That type of outlier can reveal traits that weren't fully appreciated before the Combine. Judkins was drafted as the RB6 in many rookie drafts but finished as one of the top three backs in his class. Meanwhile, Kaleb Johnson -- one of the slowest backs in both 40 time and 10-yard split -- was drafted ahead of him.

Be on the lookout for players who test meaningfully better or worse than expected. We won't always know what the baseline expectation is, but if you see extreme numbers, ask yourself -- or someone more plugged in -- whether that result aligns with what was anticipated.

Learn to Read Between the Lines

Yes, players meet with teams. Some will openly say, “Yes, I met with them,” or “No, I didn't.” Sometimes you'll get, “I don't remember.”

In reality, nearly every player meets with nearly every team at some point. What matters more is which positions teams are spending time on.

If the Cowboys are meeting with multiple running backs, that's a signal. It suggests they're doing their homework and could address the position in the draft.

You'll also hear reports about players who impressed -- or failed to impress -- in interviews. Does that matter for dynasty? Not much. All it takes is one team to like a player enough to draft him. That's what gives him dynasty value.

Even “strong interviews” don't guarantee draft capital. Jalen Milroe reportedly impressed teams in interviews, yet he fell to the third round and spent much of the year inactive. He now looks like a largely dead dynasty asset on a good Seahawks roster.

Press conferences can also provide clues.

One of my favorite questions to ask prospects is: “If the coach lets you call one play, what are you calling?” Some players respond quickly with something generic like “Four verts.” Others deliver a full play call as if they're in the huddle. That difference can reveal attention to detail and football IQ.

Then there are the tight ends who say they want to call a play where they get to hit someone.

Cade Stover was considered one of the top tight ends in the 2024 class. When asked that question, he wanted to call a wham block for himself. He ended up being drafted in the fourth round and has just 34 career receptions. His mentality translated into being a strong blocking tight end rather than a high-volume pass catcher.

Listen carefully to what players say -- and how they say it.

Who Moves Up (or Down) a Tier?

You can find my pre-combine tiers here, but the key is identifying players who might move up or down a tier based on their performance.

A strong Combine can push a prospect up a round or two in the NFL Draft. That usually translates to being drafted a half or full round earlier in rookie drafts.

Tiering players is the best way to avoid reaching in rookie drafts. The Combine is only one piece of the evaluation puzzle. We still have to account for college production and, eventually, landing spot. Together, those elements give us the full picture.

Too often, managers make dramatic shifts in linear rankings after the Combine. In reality, most players remain in the same tier -- even if their exact rank changes slightly. Overreacting creates a false sense of value.

Everyone wants to find the next Puka Nacua. The Combine often intensifies that mindset. Evaluators lock onto a specific player and spend weeks hyping him up. When rookie drafts arrive, they ignore landing spot or draft capital and select him no matter what.

That mindset also prevents managers from trading effectively. Frequently, you can trade back multiple spots, stay within the same tier, and gain additional assets. Don't get locked into static values or rigid rankings.

Know Which Metrics Matter

All prospects perform similar drills, but not all drills matter equally for every position. There are also non-measured drills that can be highly telling.

Take the broad jump. It measures lower-body power differently than the vertical. For running backs, it highlights initial burst and short-area explosiveness. For wide receivers, that trait can matter less because they have more space and time to build speed within routes.

Here are a few key metrics to focus on by position:

Running Backs

• Weight-adjusted 40-yard dash times

• 10-yard splits

• Broad jump

Wide Receivers

• 40-yard dash

• Gauntlet drill (hands consistency)

• Vertical (especially for alpha/X receivers)

• 3-cone (particularly for slot receivers)

• Over-the-shoulder ball tracking

Tight Ends

• Bench press

• 40-yard dash

• 20-yard shuttle

Quarterbacks

• Moving pocket / simulated pressure throws

• Deep ball accuracy

• Slant accuracy

The Combine is a valuable data point -- but it's just that: one data point. Use it to confirm or challenge your evaluations, not to completely rebuild them.