Question about how to approach Dynasty Draft year 1

[Bonzai Baseball]

I am brand new to the dynasty league set up. I am participating in my first dynasty draft this weekend. The league is a 5 X 5 roto league.

Roster Composition:

2 C
1 1B
1 2B
1 SS
1 3B
1 MI
1 CI
5 OF
1 U
9 P

7 Bench
3 Minor League Players

Each year teams can keep up to 23 players. The draft is a snake draft. Every year there will be a draft of 10 rounds to pick up additional players (over the 23 keepers). You can keep less than 23, but you still only get 10 picks in the draft. There are no player salaries. There are no penalties to keeping a player for as long as you like.

What is the best way to approach the league. I found the league in league classifieds, so I am very hesitant to pick all top prospect young guys like Harper, Strassburg, Trout, Lawrie, etc. However, in a dynasty league with no penalties I am thinking this might be the way to go.

The question for those of you in dynasty leagues: If you could start over, would you draft top prospect and young keeper guys, or would you try to win it all now and worry about prospects in year 2 and beyond? Can't wait to hear your feedback.

Thanks,

Scott

[HOOTIE]

Draft the best guys available to start.
Maybe by round 5, start to give young upside guys a boost in rankings.
Don't over reach for say Trout, when a Alex Gordon is there.

[Bonzai Baseball]

Maybe I am putting too much weight on being able to keep guys unlimited years without penalty. This rule in particular is why I think a guy like Bryce Harper could go in the first two rounds. I guess in reality guys like Cabrera still have several years left of elite production.

[mikekim2121]

Early on (first 5-10) rounds, go for the best players while giving a slight boost to the younger or not that old guys (under 30) and slightly downgrade the older guys. After that early phase, put even more of an emphasis on youth vs older guys. If someone wants to draft Bryce and Trout in round one, let them.

[HOOTIE]

Maybe I am putting too much weight on being able to keep guys unlimited years without penalty. This rule in particular is why I think a guy like Bryce Harper could go in the first two rounds. I guess in reality guys like Cabrera still have several years left of elite production.

If someone wants Harper over a top 25 player, let them.

[MaudDib]

Maybe I am putting too much weight on being able to keep guys unlimited years without penalty. This rule in particular is why I think a guy like Bryce Harper could go in the first two rounds. I guess in reality guys like Cabrera still have several years left of elite production.

Winning this year is just as important as winning 5 years from now. Heck the league might not even be together 5 years from now. While you might miss out on Harper in the early rounds, you will at get something just as good.

I would give a slight bump to Justin Upton while a slight down grade to Pujols and Bautista but not enough to drop them out of the top 10. I would go at this very similar to any other draft but again giving guys who are younger a slight increase but not too much. If other teams want to take Strasburg or Moore more than a round or two than they normally go, then let them. It isn't like all veterans are suddenly going to drop off a cliff and not have any value.

Rookies and young guys take longer than people think to usually get going. Look at guys like Justin Upton, Kershaw, Kemp or Tulo and see how quickly they made the leap to stardom (hint: not immediately). Again championships are all that matter so go for a win now if everyone else is preoccupied with the future.