Dynasty football is currently in a quiet period between the NFL Draft, fantasy rookie drafts and the start of training camp, with a lot to process and player values continuing to fluctuate.
After participating in 12 previous rookie drafts and continually tracking rankings and social trends, I have identified a number of interesting valuations that I believe present opportunities worth noting. Acquisition cost is always a factor, and it is safe to assume that cost will rise immediately if another roster asset expresses interest. In my situation, it is made even more difficult by the fact that my dynasty history is already well known and finding someone willing to trade is difficult.
In this article, I will target players outside of my top 75 (further down in the consensus rankings) who are lower rated and therefore have a better chance of getting a trade done. When examining my rankings, it is relatively easy to find players I rank higher compared to other rankers.
By now you probably already know that all of my most up-to-date rankings, including rookies, can be found at DynastyLeagueFootball.com , the Internet’s oldest, largest, and most trusted dynasty-specific resource.
Justin Fields, QB, PIT
- Age: 25 DLF Rank: QB33 (Superflex)
The dynasty community is a “what have you done for me lately” bunch, and Fields has been written off. Ranked behind rookies Will Revis, Bo Nix, Michael Pennis, veterans Daniel Jones, Derek Carr, and teammate Russell Wilson, the rose has withered. I was never sold on Fields' fit in Chicago, but now that he's in Pittsburgh, and certainly has better dynamic abilities than projected starter Wilson (on a one-year deal), his potential for growth and production is heavily discounted. My full expectation is that Fields will be in the game by midseason. In a superflex format, getting Fields in the rookie third round would be a bargain, and a late second-round selection behind J.J. McCarthy isn't out of the question.
Romeo Dubs, WR, GB
Dubs recorded a career-high eight touchdowns on just 59 receptions in 2023. His 96 targets were also career-highs. Things look up in 2024 now that Jordan Love is fully entrenched as the starting quarterback. The Packers have a young cadre of receivers, but I don't see any threatening Dubs' status as a starter. His consensus WR63 value is too low for his potential in 2024, entering his third year. I think he has room to grow 30% in receptions, targets and touchdowns, and 50% in yards, and could surpass 1,000 yards for the first time in his young career. I'm looking to get Dubs as a third-round rookie asset, but I'm willing to pay the high second pick.
Joshua Palmer, WR, LAC
I continue to value Palmer much higher than the consensus, and that is evident in my WR50 ranking. He's not a “sexy” receiver, but he has the size and workmanlike skill set that I've come to value in developing assets. Palmer, like most of the Chargers receiver corps, had health issues in 2023, but he'll be fully healthy in 2024, entering his fourth year in the NFL and currently positioned as the top receiver in the roster. I don't value the 6'1″ target as a consistent scoring threat, but his “nearly free” acquisition cost means he's the right price for a dynasty manager playing in PPR formats.
Darnell Mooney, WR, ATL
A change of environment and a quarterback upgrade (Kirk Cousins) was exactly what was needed to put Mooney back on the dynasty radar. That being said, his lack of production over the past two seasons was likely inexcusable to dynasty managers. In his second NFL season in 2021, the speedster recorded 81 receptions for 1,055 yards, and there is every reason to believe he will soar again in 2024. With the Falcons' retooled offensive line and Cousins sure to be under center in Week 1, Mooney should be a starting member of the offense. While not a prolific touchdown scorer, Mooney could be enough to keep him around given the almost no acquisition cost.
Jerome Ford, RB, CLE
Jerome Ford has been a regular on my low-cost buy list over the past year, and it was worth it in 2023 when Nick Chubb was injured. Ford showed off his three-down ability, recording 813 yards and four touchdowns as a rusher and 44 receptions and five touchdowns as a receiver in 2023. While Chubb is still recovering from injury and will be a free agent in 2025, Ford has one year left on his original rookie contract. While there is no premium on his current RB34 valuation, his current trade calculations make him an unrealistic mid-third-round rookie selection. I would be willing to pay an early to mid-second-round selection to acquire Ford before the start of the 2024 regular season.
Roshon Johnson, RB, CHI
Johnson’s dynasty value as he enters his second year continues to drop with the team acquiring DeAndre Swift. I rank Johnson at RB30 as a worthy acquisition with an eye on the future. Swift’s three-year, $24 million contract is not inconsiderable, but he has yet to show his ability to be a long-term workhorse. Johnson, on the other hand, seems to have the size and dynamic skill set that dynasty managers valued so highly in 2023. This is just another example of a second-year player disappearing from the dynasty community based on unrealistic expectations early in his career. While currently listed as an early third-rounder in rookie draft compensation, I would invest a mid-to-late second-round rookie, or equivalent, in acquiring him. I don’t believe Swift is the long-term answer, and Khalil Herbert looks like he’s on the outside looking in.
Israel Abani Kanda, RB, NYJ
If you follow my work, you know it’s hard to rate a dynasty running back any lower. Two years ago, I adopted an age-to-performance approach to roster construction when it comes to running backs. I’m rounding out my search with a desire for current non-threatening talent on one hand and an eye on future depreciating opportunities on the other. Abanikanda was one of the pre-draft darlings, but the Jets’ surprise 2023 draft selection caused him to fall down the ranks in dynasty drafts. Buried under Breece Hall and a slew of other options over the past year, Abanikanda is available for next to nothing and may soon be on a waiver wire near you. Still just 21 years old and with a 3-down skill set, any patient or rebuilding dynasty manager should acquire him in the coming months.
Jake Ferguson, TE, DAL
Ferguson is finally starting to see dynasty value upside, but he's still valuable given his current TE13 ranking. Scheme remains the primary variable in my tight end evaluations, and the Cowboys offense remains one of the better ones as long as Dak Prescott remains at the helm. He'll have 71 receptions for 761 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023, his first year as a starter, and things look good again in 2024. His role is stable, as are the situations with CeeDee Lamb taking double teams on the outside. I'm not the type to acquire a top tight end on the open market, and Ferguson's value window is closing. If you want a back-end TE1 dynasty bargain with room to rise, get him now!
I hope you enjoyed this article on the 8 players I would buy in Dynasty. If you have any questions or thoughts, please leave a comment below. I look forward to engaging with my readers, so follow me on Twitter and Threads. Jeff
As always, be happy, be well, and be kind to one another!
(Top photo of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
