Since we are in the middle of the offseason and still a couple of weeks out from training camp, all we have to combat in terms of dynasty player values are the other managers’ conceptions. Their points of view. There’s not much news; there’s not much happening.
So we are in full cerebral mode and we need to be making calls. If we’re all-in on a player with confidence, this is where we strike.
Fantasy Football Dynasty Trades: Buy & Sell
Dynasty Players to Buy 📈
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
This is as much a belief in Stevenson as it is a knock on Mac Jones. This is a team that wants to protect the football, play conservative, dink and dunk, and so on.
Stevenson should continue to blossom as he is the team’s centerpiece and it’s also reflected in our fantasy football dynasty rankings as he’s among the top 12 running backs. Yes, his price tag is already expensive but you have to pay up for good, young running backs that still have room for upside.
While we’re here, I don’t believe Jones will be the team’s starting QB by midseason.
Trade value: 2024 early 1st / 1.03
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears
Putting my foot down here when I say that Herbert is simply better than D’Onta Foreman. Because there is yet to be a consensus formed, it’s reflected in Herbert’s trade value as managers lack the foresight to see what should be obvious: Herbert’s a beast. He is also among my 2023 fantasy football sleepers.
Either way, this is a team that’s going to be committed to the run. The Bears had 558 rushing attempts last year, second-most in the NFL and just one fewer than Atlanta.
Trade value: 2024 mid 2nd
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Would you believe me if I told you that Pickens will be the Steelers’ leading receiver in 2023? No knock on Diontae Johnson—Pickens is just that good.
I’m anticipating some positive regression to the mean for Kenny Pickett and his touchdown totals. Given Pickens’s exceptional body control, route running, and hands, expectations should be high.
Trade value: 2024 late 1st / 1.11
More FF Dynasty Risers
- Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings
- Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
- Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Dynasty Players to Sell 📉
Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
Diggs turns later 30 this year and while it’s reasonable to believe he will have another year or two of great production, you want to sell high while he commands a big trade value. Find a team thin at wide receiver that looks like a contender and strike a deal.
Ideally, he starts the season hot and he gets a small boost in value cause you can likely can get more once the season is rolling.
Trade value: 2024 early 1st / 1.02
Chase Claypool, WR, Chicago Bears
Really, you should’ve pulled the trigger and traded Claypool away over two years ago. In a word: Inconsistency.
If you believe you can predict the future, you can try to guess the week he actually performs. He’s a best-ball-only player and outside the top 75 wide receivers in our best ball rankings.
Trade value: 2024 early 3rd
Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Speaking of players you should’ve traded a couple of years ago. That’s not fair considering he will likely get a chance to prove something this season, but the writing is on the wall.
If San Francisco had any confidence in Lance, they don’t spend about $5M on Sam Darnold. When teams speak with dollars, I listen.
Trade value: 2024 mid 2nd / Superflex trade value: 2024 early 2nd
More FF Dynasty Fallers
- James Robinson, RB, free agent
- Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans
- Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, free agent
- Allen Lazard, WR, New York Jets
How to Play a Dynasty Fantasy Football League
Dynasty fantasy football involves a different strategy than conventional one-year formats. While you’re still trying to win a championship, you have to be mindful of the big picture. You can’t just trade away future draft picks to help your roster in a win-now approach.
The best way to approach dynasty is to determine whether your team is good enough to contend or if a rebuild is in order.
If you have a contender, you can trade away future second-rounders to address any team needs. Try to hold onto your firsts because they can yield valuable young players.
If you’re primed for a rebuild, you can try to trade away some of your best assets for future draft picks or younger players.
Understanding whether your team is a contender or pretender is the key to success in dynasty fantasy football.
How Dynasty Differs from Redraft
Dynasty differs from redraft because you keep your entire roster following each season, whereas redraft leagues feature annual player drafts where you end up with a completely different roster. This makes dynasty fun because you get more attached to certain players while feeling like an actual NFL general manager.
Each dynasty league has a startup draft to kick off the league, where you select your entire roster. After that, the only drafts that occur will involve rookies, featuring players taken in each real NFL draft. These drafts are usually between three to five rounds.
Since you have annual rookie drafts in dynasty, this enables you to trade picks to address team needs, which adds another element of intrigue to the format.
Other than this, you have the same goal in dynasty as in redraft, which is to win the championship. However, you need to make sure not to mortgage the future.
Types of Players to Target in Dynasty
When building your dynasty roster, you need to be mindful of the following types of players to target:
- Quarterbacks and wide receivers are much safer assets than running backs, which are the most volatile position in dynasty football.
- Target players who are aged 27 or younger. Once a player has gotten past this age threshold, we often see a decline in value, so it may be time to trade them away.
- It’s a good idea to take a talented player with suppressed value due to their precarious situation. A good example of this is Trey Lance, who has an unclear role in the 49ers’ offense, but huge upside due to his rushing ability.
- If you’re a contending team, it’s a good idea to target veteran running backs during the season because you can fill your holes at a reasonable cost.
- If you’re rebuilding, try to go after talented young players who have underperformed so far, such as Elijah Moore or Rashod Bateman.
- Elite tight ends not only give you a major advantage at a scarce position, but they tend to have longevity. Targeting such players like Mark Andrews in a trade is a great idea. - Frank Ammirante
How do you value dynasty picks?
Get a feel for your fellow league-mates. Initiate conversations about players, who you like, who they like, and so on. If you’re looking for numerical player values, it’s best to keep in mind that no two leagues and no two managers are alike.
Generally speaking, an elite player would garner at least two future 1st round picks. Like life, the best method to get a feel for trading and player valuation comes with experience.
Trial and error, though crude, is a valid way to learn dynasty fantasy football. Put in the effort to watch games, start conversations, make offers, wheel and deal, and your ability to value dynasty picks will flourish.
Are dynasty trade calculators worth paying for?
A dynasty trade calculator is a starting point, an easy access point. The best way to calculate player values is to soak up as many fantasy articles as you can while also working deals with your league partners.
There’s nothing wrong with supporting sites providing a service! However, calculators are consensus engines and your league is full of individuals so there will always be a disconnect. - Matt De Lima
