That doesn't mean you can't improve your team. In fact, this can be one of the best times of the year to build long-term value -- even if it doesn't immediately improve your starting lineup.

The offseason presents two challenges for dynasty managers:

• A lack of conversation
  
• A lack of news

Ironically, those challenges also create opportunities.

Keep the Conversations Going

With rookie drafts behind us, league message boards tend to quiet down. For rebuilding teams especially, it's important to keep conversations alive. In my league we've talked about Brendan Sorsby, Scott Fish Bowl drafts, vacations, content creation, and plenty of things unrelated to trades.

That's important because conversations don't always have to lead directly to a deal. Building relationships matters in every fantasy league, but even more so in dynasty. Over time, you learn who people are and what makes them tick. Good friendships shouldn't be built solely to make trades, but they're often a natural byproduct of being active in your league.

You also learn how managers negotiate. Do they enjoy long trade discussions? Do they prefer a quick yes-or-no offer? Are they busy enough that fewer messages are better? Knowing how someone likes to negotiate can be just as valuable as knowing which players they like.

Sometimes casual conversations even reveal subtle clues about player values. A joke about Rashee Rice or Aaron Jones' legal issues may tell you that manager values them less than the market does. Those little details matter.

Turning Conversations Into Trades

One of those ongoing conversations eventually led to a trade I had been considering for quite a while.

• Send: TE Jake Ferguson (DAL) and a projected late 2027 2nd
• Receive: Projected late 2027 1st

This move was only possible because I had previously acquired Brenton Strange and drafted Eli Stowers.

Once Dallas made it through the offseason without adding another significant pass catcher, Ferguson's value stabilized. Even with the uncertainty surrounding George Pickens and his contract situation, Ferguson became an asset I was comfortable moving.

Since I'm still rebuilding, adding another 2027 first-round pick is a huge win. The Superflex spot remains my biggest weakness, and the 2027 class currently projects to be loaded at quarterback.

I now own three first-round picks and four second-round picks in 2027. Seven of the first 24 selections gives me tremendous flexibility -- whether that's drafting quarterbacks or packaging picks to move around the board.

When the News Stops, Values Normalize

Before training camps begin, player news dries up. Outside of the widely anticipated A.J. Brown trade to New England, there hasn't been much to move dynasty values.

That's actually a good thing. Once rookie hype and free-agent excitement fade, player values begin to normalize. The dramatic spikes and dips disappear, allowing savvy dynasty managers to identify where the market truly values players.

Which managers still believe in certain players? Which ones have quietly cooled after hearing coach speak or reading beat reports? Those subtle shifts happen every offseason, yet many dynasty managers fail to capitalize on them.

For me, this is when I really evaluate players based on where I think their value will be over the next two or three seasons. Will they increase? Hold steady? Or decline? That process led to my biggest move since taking over the orphan.

Selling at the Right Time

• Send: WR CeeDee Lamb
  
• Receive: WR DeVonta Smith (PHI) and a projected mid-2027 1st

Like Ferguson, Lamb's value had normalized. Around rookie draft season, he had slipped toward the back end of the WR1 conversation -- not because of anything he did, but because rookie hype temporarily pushed other receivers ahead of him.

Now the market has settled. Lamb is once again viewed as one of the elite receivers, sitting just behind the top tier. That created an opportunity.

I receive DeVonta Smith, who should benefit from increased opportunities now that A.J. Brown is in New England. Sure, Makai Lemon will command targets, but Smith projects as Philadelphia's primary receiving option.

Both receivers are 27 years old and attached to excellent quarterbacks. Smith's contract expires one year earlier than Lamb's, and both have potential outs after the 2027 season. When free agency arrives, Lamb will likely command significantly more money, making it harder for him to land in another elite offensive situation. Smith should have a broader market and, with one fewer season of wear and tear, could prove to be the better long-term investment.

Looking Ahead

Training camps are right around the corner. Once they open, every practice report, coach quote, and highlight clip will move someone's dynasty value. Don't wait until then to start building relationships. Talk to your league mates. Ask about their other leagues. Discuss the Scott Fish Bowl. Talk about vacations.

Those conversations make future trade negotiations much easier, and they can even lead to deals before player values begin moving again.

The Future of the Orphan

This roster looks dramatically different than the one I inherited.

I now own three first-round picks and four second-round picks in 2027 -- seven selections inside the first 24 picks. That gives me tremendous flexibility. If this team unexpectedly becomes competitive, I have the ammunition to buy veterans during the season.

More realistically, I'll head into what projects to be a very strong 2027 draft with the resources to continue building a sustainable contender.

I'm still not done making moves. The relationships I've built with my league mates have made this rebuild even more enjoyable, and they've already opened the door to conversations about the next wave of trades.