How to Value Devy Picks: A Practical Guide for Devy Managers

Kevin tackles one of the hardest concepts in devy: Pick values!

Devy leagues are growing faster than ever, but one thing that hasn’t caught up is how we actually value devy picks. And I get it, rookie pick value is relatively easy to pin down. We’ve got years of historical ADP, trade calculators, and post-draft buzz to lean on. But devy picks? That’s a whole different animal.

Valuation in devy formats is incredibly league-dependent. Everything from roster size, number of stashes allowed, how your drafts are structured (separate or combined), and even how sharp your league mates are can completely shift the value of a devy pick.

That’s why devy pick valuation is so often misunderstood. Too many people throw around phrases like “I’ll give you a devy 1st” without understanding the actual context and that’s where mistakes happen.

This article isn’t about giving you a one-size-fits-all answer because that doesn’t exist in devy. But my goal is to at least give you a roadmap, a framework to help you adjust your value lens depending on your format, depth, and league style. Whether you’re new to devy or just looking to make sharper trades, this should help guide you through the process.

Devy Picks Are (Almost Always) Discounted

One of the biggest mistakes managers make in devy leagues is assuming devy picks carry the same weight as rookie picks. They don’t—and they shouldn’t.

Devy picks come with built-in risk. You’re investing in players who haven’t declared yet, haven’t tested, haven’t gone through draft capital evaluation, and might not even start in college. There’s a time delay in return on investment, and with that delay comes attrition. Not all devy players even make it to the league, and of those who do, plenty flame out before making a fantasy impact.

So when you’re valuing devy picks, you have to mentally discount them compared to rookie picks. Here’s the general baseline I use as a rule of thumb:

📉 Devy Pick Value Scale

• Early Devy 1st (from a contender) = Late Rookie 1st

• Mid Devy 1st = Early-to-Mid Rookie 2nd

• Devy 2nd = Rookie 3rd Round Dart

• Devy 3rd = Toss-in value or deep stash only in rebuilds

This isn’t a hard rule but it gives you a framework. A devy 1st might sound great on paper, but if it’s coming from a contender and the league is deep, it could be worth far less than you think. In some cases, a productive rookie 2nd-rounder is a safer and more valuable asset than a devy 1st that’s 2-3 years away from paying off.

Always run devy pick values through a reality filter—this scale helps keep your expectations grounded.

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Format Matters – Combined vs. Separate Drafts

One of the most overlooked elements in devy pick valuation is draft format. How your league handles rookie and devy drafts can completely shift how you should value picks.

Let’s break it down.