Top Trade Targets In Your 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues
Dynasty has rapidly become very popular across the fantasy community, as it offers players a different format compared to usual re-draft leagues. Playing in a dynasty league allows users to build a team from the ground up with young players and draft picks, build a veteran contender, and hold onto players for as long as they wish. The one main difference between dynasty leagues and re-draft leagues is the fantasy off-season.
In re-draft leagues teams reset every off-season meaning the only activity outside of the NFL season is the draft. Re-draft managers look forward to their draft and focus only on this upcoming season. With dynasty leagues teams never reset, as there is one big draft to start the league where everyone builds their team.
After the big draft at the start, the only other drafts are the rookie drafts that usually take place right after the NFL draft. Many dynasty managers turn their notifications off on their platform and don't worry about it until the season begins. Because there is no new draft it makes sense why dynasty managers walk away in the off-season after the rookie drafts, but they shouldn't as the summer is the time to make trades.
Every team has different needs as some teams don't want to contend and would rather build through rookie drafts and with young players with upside. Others prefer to contend right away and draft vets throughout the entire draft. Players are valued differently in dynasty leagues because the league doesn't reset.
For example, fantasy stars Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs are drafted in the 7th/8th round in most leagues because of their age. Most dynasty leagues are Superflex formats which means up to 2 QBs can be started which ups the value of QBs. Players such as Jared Goff and Brock Purdy who go anywhere from the 8th-10th round in re-draft go from the 3rd-5th round in Superflex startups.
Dynasty values always change depending on the owner's intent for the upcoming season and thoughts on the players. Because the value always changes, players get traded away for different packages. This article will break down the top trade targets for both contending teams and rebuilding teams this off-season in Superflex leagues.
Quarterbacks:
Contending Team Target- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, QB 18, 52nd Overall:
When people think of QBs for a contending team they think of older players who go late in the draft such as Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford, but Goff is the perfect target. Goff is coming off a monster season where he threw for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Those numbers gave Goff a QB 7 finish last season and yet he is being drafted as the QB 18 in startup drafts. Goff may not have the game-breaking weeks of a star fantasy QB like Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes, but he puts up big numbers and clearly can be a top-12 QB on the season.
Goff is a perfect trade target for contenders for multiple reasons. The first is that Goff is not even 30 years old yet. Goff is going to be 29 years old when the season begins and will turn 30 in the middle of the season. 30 is old for some positions such as running back, but for QBs 30 is not an issue at all. Despite the age not being a concern, rebuilding teams may want to offload Goff since he doesn't fit the timeline of a younger team.
To enhance the fact that Goff's age is not an issue is the contract he signed this off-season. Goff signed a 4-year extension worth $200M with $170M guaranteed. This deal all but locks in Goff as the Lion's starter for years to come which means he should hold fantasy value.
Along with being in a perfect age range and having contract security, Goff plays in a great offense that scores a ton of points. As mentioned earlier, Goff was the QB 7 for fantasy last season and had a week of 278 yards and 5 TDs and a week of 323 yards with 3 TDs. Last season Goff offered a floor along with top 5 upside every week due to the Lion's explosive offense.
This season the offense returns with the same cast minus Josh Reynolds. Between Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs entering their 2nd seasons, Jameson Williams finally being healthy, the steady David Montgomery, and the always-consistent Amon-Ra St.Brown, the Lion's offense should produce similar results as last season making Goff a top-12 fantasy option once again.
Contending assets don't always need to be players at the end of their careers with 1-2 years of good value left. Those types of players are cheaper, but Goff shouldn't be overly expensive and can help contend while maintaining value over time.
Rebuilding Team Target- Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts, QB 7, 13th Overall:
Normally a player entering his 2nd season who is being drafted as a late 1st-rounder/early 2nd-rounder isn't viewed as a rebuilding target, but Richardson is the exception. Richardson was the 4th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but he only played in 4 games due to a season-ending shoulder injury. While the sample size is so small, Richardson showed he has QB 1 upside and the chance to break fantasy at the QB position. In just 4 games Richardson put up 577 passing yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception which are solid numbers but the rushing numbers are the reason to get excited. In those 4 games, Richardson had 25 carries for 136 yards and 4 touchdowns. 1 rushing TD a game is ridiculous for anyone, but for a QB it is absurd.
For a 4 game sample, those are great numbers but it's actually a lie. Richardson suited up for 4 games last season but only finished 2 of the 4 as he left the other 2 early. Richarson played 32% of snaps in the team's week 2 game against the Texans and had 3 rushes for 35 yards and 2 touchdowns before exiting. If Richardson had played the entire game who knows what the numbers would have been? Richardson's upside is what makes him so exciting as a prospect, but fantasy managers may have different views.
Some may be scared off by last year's injury claiming Richardson is another mobile QB who is an injury risk and is unproven as a passer. Others believe that Richardson's raw abilities will translate onto the field as a passer and he will stay healthy for years to come and break fantasy football. If a manager has Richardson and thinks he isn't going to be reliable enough then a rebuilding team should go after him.
Richardson can accelerate a rebuild by himself if he hits his ceiling and for a team not looking to win right away, it's a gamble that has to be made. The glimpses last year were phenomenal for fantasy purposes and if he produces those numbers for a full season the sky is the limit.
Most rebuilding trade targets are young and unproven players with the chance to breakout and Richardson is that, but the only difference is he goes early in drafts as opposed to the mid to late rounds. If a rebuilding team has the chance to get A Rich for a reasonable price it has to be done as he has the potential to break fantasy football in a way that has never been seen.
Sleeper Trade Target- Michael Penix Jr, Atlanta Falcons, QB 21, 85th Overall:
Why would anyone trade for a guy who isn't expected to start for another 3 years at least is probably what people are saying, but there's good reason. The Falcons shocked everyone when they selected Penix 8th overall in the 2024 NFL draft considering they just signed Kirk Cousins to a 4 year deal with a lot of guaranteed money over the off-season.
The signing of Cousins has led to plenty of people wanting nothing to do with Penix because he won't play his first 2 years at least unless Cousins gets hurt. If Penix doesn't play he is a zero for fantasy teams and owners don't want to spend solid draft capital on a player who won't produce for them for a while. It is because Penix will be sitting for some time he is a good buy in dynasty leagues.
The Falcons clearly love Penix considering the draft capital and overall situation of the QB room and have a plan in place. The Falcons have mentioned multiple times the Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers scenario as what they are going for here, and while the circumstances are very different, it is a similar situation. Penix will be the team's starter at some point in time and will most likely have a strong supporting cast around him with Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London around him.
While Penix will eventually be a productive fantasy asset he isn't right now and may get lost because of that. Since Penix won't help teams right now, he could possibly be had a cheap price compared to most QBs. Because of the possible cheap price on Penix he fits both contending teams and rebuilding teams.
For contenders that roster a lot of older players, Penix would be a nice young piece who will only rise in value the closer he gets to playing and would give a team full of vets a younger piece that secures a QB for the future. As for rebuilding teams, there is no rush for Penix to play and help the fantasy team as they are not trying to win this year.
By adding Penix the rebuilding team wouldn't have to worry about finding a future QB as much as Penix could be just that for them. Penix has gone as low as the 3rd round in rookie drafts because he is not going to play for multiple years which shows he can be had for cheap in some leagues.
Rostering Penix requires patience, but if the fantasy manager has the patience Penix is a home-run trade target for any team because he will certainly go higher than he is now in 2 years.
Running Backs:
Contending Team Target- Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens, RB 17, 95th Overall:
There really couldn't have been a better fit for Henry this off-season than the Ravens. The Ravens have always been a dominant team on the ground while lacking a true difference-maker at running back.
With Henry, the Ravens finally have their star back to pair with 2 time MVP Lamar Jackson in the backfield to hopefully create an elite rushing offense between the 2. The fear Henry puts in teams will open up the read option for Jackson to take off more, and the same goes for teams fearing Jackson as it will lead to light boxes for Henry. Henry has been one of the most dominant backs for football since becoming the Titans full-time starter and that should continue with the Ravens.
Last year was technically a down year for Henry compared to past years, but he still put up 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns on 280 attempts which is a great season for most. The Ravens transitioned into more of a passing offense under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken last season, but they didn't have a consistent back-to-trust with a heavy workload.
J.K. Dobbins got hurt once again and was out for the season, Gus Edwards is a solid back who can produce in a time-share, and Justice Hill is a 3rd down specialist. This off-season the Ravens decided they needed a true star and went after the longtime Titans star in Henry. Henry will come in right away and be the lead back for the Ravens and is expected to produce at a high level.
For fantasy purposes, Henry is still a top 10 back for re-draft leagues, but in Dynasty, he goes around the 9th/10th round. Henry is 30 years old and for RBs that is around the time when things go downhill production-wise. While there is a chance Henry slows down a bit, his play last season didn't indicate that is the case at all.
With the Ravens, Henry will play a similar role to what he did in Tennessee as the 1st and 2nd down back along with the goal-line back. In a Ravens offense that is always high-scoring, Henry should see plenty of scoring opportunities which are the most important thing for running backs along with receptions. Just last season Gus Edwards had 13 touchdowns and while Edwards is a nice player, Henry is elite and should easily hit that number for this Ravens offense.
The best part about Henry as a dynasty asset for contenders besides the perfect landing spot is the value. At this point in his career, Henry can be had for a 2nd round pick in rookie drafts, and for a team looking to win it all Henry is much more valuable than the possible 2.12 in rookie drafts.
Henry doesn't have another 10 years left on his career, but he will be a productive back as long as he is on the field due to his production in the red zone. Henry is one of the safest RBs in fantasy this year due to the certainty of his role and will have multi-touchdown weeks this season to win weeks as well. Based on his value in trades and expected production there isn't a better back to target for contenders in dynasty leagues.
Rebuilding Team Target- Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers, RB 10, 60th Overall:
Rookies and 2nd-year players make the most sense for rebuilding teams because, for the most part, their values will never be lower if they end up hitting. Out of all the running backs, Brooks is the perfect target for multiple reasons. Trey Benson made a lot of sense for the target as well but Brooks has one thing going for him that Benson may not have which will be discussed later. For starters, Brooks was the 1st RB taken in the 2024 NFL draft and was the only back taken in the 2nd round. To make the draft capital even better, the Panthers traded up to grab Brooks to be their RB of the future, but that's just the beginning of why Brooks is a top-tier trade target.
Not only was Brooks the first RB off the board, but he went to a team that doesn't have a clear starter at RB. Miles Sanders whiffed as a free agent signing last season as he was hurt and Chubba Hubbard is solid but is a backup. Once Brooks fully returns from injury he should be the Panthers RB 1 right away. Not only is the backfield wide-open for Brooks to come in and be the starter, but he also has a chance to be a threat out of the backfield as well. Bryce Young struggled last year as a rookie as the Panthers did a terrible job of putting talent around him, but this off-season they made sure to give Bryce everything he needs. Neither Sanders nor Hubbard is a pure pass catcher and while Brooks isn't just a pass catcher he can be effective as one.
As mentioned earlier Trey Benson and Brooks seem to have 1 major difference and that is the pass-catching opportunities. Last season the Cardinals always took James Conner off the field on 3rd downs and it would make sense that whenever Benson takes over as the starter, the Cardinals do the same thing and take him off the field on 3rd downs. Brooks shouldn't have to worry about that with the Panthers considering the offense they will be running.
The Panthers hired former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales to be their head coach this off-season. Last season Canales helped Baker Mayfield earn a big-time pay day, but also made Rachaad White a top 5 fantasy RB because of the work in the passing game. Last season White caught 64 passes for 549 yards and 3 touchdowns and really never came off the field. With the current RB situation in Carolina Brooks has every chance to get Whites's workload both on the ground and, but more importantly through the air.
The Panthers added more help at receiver this off-season in Diontae Johnson, first-round pick Xavier Leggette, and 4th round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders, but there should still be plenty of opportunity for Brooks in the passing game. Outside of the opportunity, Brooks is perfect for rebuilding teams because he should be eased into things his rookie season coming off the injury.
Brooks should end up being a top-12 back in fantasy if given the workload Rachaad White was given by the same coach. Brooks being eased into the offense this season likely means disappointing production for fantasy. A slow rookie season won't help players looking to win this season and it may lead to them sacrificing the future for win-now help. If Brooks is on a contender and isn't producing, every rebuilding team should be looking to add Brooks as he is a potential top-12 fantasy RB in future years and likely will only rise in value after this season.
Sleeper Trade Target- Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants, RB 59, 223rd Overall:
Tyrone Tracy is a 24-year-old rookie running back which means everyone is already out on him but it's foolish to rule Tracy out before he even plays. Tracy is a former wide receiver turned running back for Purdue and can easily transition into a 3rd down back in the NFL. Tracy has a resemblance to Antonio Gibson who is a former receiver early in college turned running back late in college. Gibson came into the league and was extremely productive his first few seasons in the league for fantasy. Gibson is a bit of a bigger back which allowed him to receive goalline work, but Tracy should work in the receiving game the same way Gibson did.
Tracy enters a situation where the backup job is wide open for the Giants and while Devin Singletary is locked in as the starter, he has never been a full-time player, so snaps are up for grabs. Tracy should start the season as the Giant's 3rd down back without a doubt and could push for 1st and 2nd down snaps as the season goes on if he impresses.
For fantasy purposes, Tracy has a chance to make an impact if he sees consistent work in the passing game which would make him an interesting buy for any dynasty team. Tracy is a rookie which means he is perfect for a rebuilding team as he doesn't have to produce his first season, but he makes sense for a contender looking to take shots at young talent on the cheap. Tracy shouldn't cost any more than a 4th-round rookie draft pick and if a contender wants to add a potential PPR back then Tracy makes a lot of sense.
Other running backs that make sense as cheap buys are Ty Chandler of the Vikings and Dylan Laube of the Raiders. Of these 2 Chandler will cost the most as he was a productive player last year when he got playtime, but is still the backup for the Vikings. Chandler is a good player with the chance the start at some point who could be had for cheap. Laube is a pure pass catcher out of the backfield and the Raiders need a 3rd down back for the future, and if Laube is a good enough blocker he should easily fill that role.
If a contender or rebuilder can get any of these players as throws-ins in a bigger deal or for extremely cheap then they are worth the shot.
Wide Receivers:
Contending Trade Target- Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders, WR 33, 82nd Overall:
There are so many receivers who can fit this slot with players such as Mike Evans, Cooper Kupp, and Stefon Diggs all being drafted around Adams. The reason Adams is the top target is because he is just simply the best. Adams entered the league in 2014 and had a rough start, but since 2016 he has been one of the premier receivers in the league. Adams has had over 1,100 yards 5 times since 2016 with 4 of those being the past 4 seasons, and less than 10 touchdowns only twice since then.
Adams is arguably the best receiver in the league and if not for poor QB play, there may not be a discussion of whether he is the best. Due to the Raider's current QB situation, some are skeptical about whether or not Adams can be a dominant fantasy force as he has been for years. The QB argument is fair as Adams had his "worst" season of the last 4 with 1,144 yards and 8 touchdowns with a combination of Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, and Aiden O'Connell under center.
This season the Raiders will have either O'Connell or Gardner Minshew under center and it doesn't seem exciting, but Adams is still an elite receiver who will demand targets and produce at a high level with those targets. Along with a new QB, there is a new offensive coordinator in Vegas with Luke Getsy who was the receivers coach for the Packers while Adams was in Green Bay.
Adams has already talked about how the offense is much simpler than the previous one due to his connection with Getsy. Now that Adams is in a more familiar system he should see higher-quality targets as Getsy understands how to get Adams to the ball where he wants it.
For re-draft leagues, the Adams discussion is complicated because he is an early 2nd round pick and if there is no belief in the QB there may not be a belief Adams will be consistent enough for the draft slot. In dynasty, it is a different discussion, as Adams is a 7th-round pick in start-ups and shouldn't cost much more than a 1st-rounder and another piece. Adams is 31 years old and will turn 32 during the season which has people wondering how much longer he will be dominant, but for the time being he is a premier receiver who will produce at a high level.
Contenders should be in on Adams as he should be a top-12 receiver once again and could be the the missing piece for a contending team. He is a bit pricier than some other receivers in his range, but that's because he is the best, and until he shows signs of slowing down he will continue to produce at a high level.
A first-rounder may seem pricy for a 31-year-old receiver, but the odds of the 1st rounder becoming anything close to Adams are unlikely. Adams should once again see plenty of targets all over the field and in the red zone allowing him the chance to be a top fantasy option once again. Adams is the perfect player to add to a contender because of his production and minimal cost for a player of his caliber.
Rebuilding Trade Target- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks, WR 25, 63rd Overall:
JSN was everyone's favorite receiver in the 2023 NFL draft after a great career at Ohio St., but unfortunately for fantasy players, JSN did not get the greatest landing spot for immediate fantasy production. The Seahawks selected JSN 20th overall in the 2023 draft hoping to create a dynamic receiving core with D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and JSN, but last season the trio wasn't as dynamic as Seattle hoped. This season there is hope things are different for the Seahawks offense as a whole and JSN.
This off-season the Seahawks made a change at offensive coordinator bringing in Ryan Grubb from the University of Washington to help improve the offense. Washington had 3 receivers selected in the first 3 rounds of the 2024 NFL draft in Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan. Both Odunze and Polk had over 1,000 yards, as Odunze had 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns and Polk had 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns.
McMillan didn't have the same production, but he only played in 7 games between the regular season and playoffs as he went from September 16th to November 25th without playing a game. In those 7 games, McMillan had 45 catches for 559 yards and 5 touchdowns. Grubb showed last year he can have 3 productive receivers in the same offense and while college is different than the NFL, Grubb once again has 3 talented receivers with varying sets of skills that he can utilize. Grubb should be able to get the most out of a player as talented as JSN making him an asset for this season and years to come.
Everything sounds like it will be on the up for JSN which makes it hard to understand why a team would sell him, but he is coming off a mediocre rookie season and is still the 3rd receiver in the room. Last season JSN had 63 catches for 628 yards and 4 touchdowns as the 3rd option for the Seahawks and while those are fine numbers, he never showed the game-breaking talent he did at school. Due to his disappointing rookie season, teams may have lost hope that JSN will be what they imagined, which means they could try and get value for him now instead of waiting for him to break out. If a team is willing to sell JSN he is the perfect player to take a chance on as a rebuilding team
Despite a disappointing rookie season, JSN was not bad at all and will certainly improve this season. Rebuilders have the chance to add a premium talent who isn't in the best situation at the moment but eventually will have a clearer role. Tyler Lockett will retire eventually and isn't getting any younger which should lead to more looks for JSN both next year and in future years.
JSN should only cost a mid to late first-rounder or a proven veteran piece and if a rebuilding team has either of those they should try to make a deal ASAP. There aren't many players who offer the potential upside of JSN in the future that could be had for the same value. Just last year JSN was a top 2-4 pick in rookie drafts only after Bijan Robinson. The talent is clear with JSN, but the situation is a bit unclear which makes him a great buy-low target for rebuilders.
Sleeper Contender Trade Target- Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers, WR 45, 111th Overall:
Diontae Johnson is a known commodity within the fantasy community as he has been one of the most consistent receivers in fantasy for some time. This off-season the Steelers traded Johnson to the Panthers for corner Dontae Jackson making Johnson the Panther's new WR 1. The Panthers were so bad last year on offense and a big reason for that was the lack of weapons Bryce Young had. Adam Thielen is a nice veteran presence but is not a WR 1 anymore and that is what he was for the Panthers last season. The Panthers acknowledged that and made sure that wouldn't be the case again.
Bringing in Johnson not only gives Bryce Young a WR 1, but a WR 1 who is a pure separator and will make things easy for Bryce. Johnson will be a friendly target for Bryce this season and should see plenty of targets as the Panthers WR 1. Outside of being the clear top option, the Panthers coaches, specifically head coach Dave Canales have talked up Johnson as the focal point of the offense.
Canales has discussed how he wants to run the offense through someone and Johnson is that player for them. Last year in Tampa we saw the Bucs run the offense through Rachaad White and Mike Evans and both were great for fantasy. Johnson doesn't offer the same touchdown upside as Evans, but Johnson should see a large amount of targets. For PPR leagues Johnson is a great buy because of the expected work in the offense and the low price.
Johnson is 28 years old and in a bad offense which means he should only go for a mid 2nd rounder. Any contender should ship out their 2nd and another piece for Johnson to be their flex as he will almost certainly finish higher than WR 45 this season. If Johnson sees the workload he is expected to, he should be a top 24 receiver in PPR leagues with ease.
Sleeper Rebuilding Trade Target- Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys, WR 98, 265th Overall:
The choice here was almost Treylon Burks as hope is not lost for the Treylon truthers, but the choice is Jalen Tolbert of the Dallas Cowboys. This is an extremely deep pull as Tolbert has less than 300 yards over his first 2 seasons, but if there's a time to emerge it is now. Tolbert slots in as the clear WR 3 for the Cowboys with Michael Gallup being released this off-season and has the chance to be even more.
Outside of Ceedee Lamb targets are up for grabs in Dallas between Brandin Cooks, Jake Ferguson, Tolbert, and others. Tolbert will likely start the season as the 4th option for the Cowboys but has every chance to become the 2nd or 3rd option for the Cowboys. Tolbert should not cost any more than a 4th round pick in rookie drafts due to limited production so far. If a rebuilding team is looking for a cheap receiver to take a shot on Tolbert fits that mold.
Other players who fit the mold as a deep sleeper at receiver for a rebuilding team are Treylon Burks (Titans), Andrei Iosivas(Bengals), Tre Tucker(Raiders), and Jalen Nailor(Vikings).
Burks is a former-round pick for the Titans who is entering his 3rd season but has struggled to stay healthy thus far. Burks slots in as the Titans WR 4 this year meaning he won't have much value this season, but with Deandre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd being free agents following the season, Burks could slot back in as WR 2 or 3 in 2025. The talent for Burks is there, but he needs to stay healthy and if he does he could surprise and for a 4th round pick he is worth the shot.
Iosivas was a rookie for the Bengals last year and had some flashes and has a real shot to be the team's WR 3 this year. With Tee Higgins set to most likely depart next off-season there is a possibility Iosivas could be the team's WR 2 in 2025 which could lead to legit Fantasy value. The chance to add a possible WR 2 for only a 4th-round pick is a shot worth taking.
Tucker was the Raiders 3rd round pick last season and is a deep threat with elite speed. There may not be a player who has received more praise than Tucker this off-season for the Raiders between players and coaches. Tucker is set up for a larger role this year and has big play ability with his speed. Tucker had flashes last year beating teams over the top, but it appears he is set to work all over the field this year. For a 4th rounder rebuilding teams should take a shot on Tucker.
Nailor is most likely on waivers in most leagues which means he is a free addition. If available on waivers Nailor should be added as he is having a great camp thus far connecting on multiple deep balls. Nailor seems to be the Vikings WR 3 entering the season and could play a valuable role. T.J. Hockenson is set to miss time while he works back from injury which means more targets up for grabs in Minnesota. Nailor is a long shot to be anything for fantasy but a WR 3 for free is worth the shot.
Tight Ends:
Contending Trade Target- Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars, TE 11, 119th Overall:
Before anyone asks why is Travis Kelce not the choice, it is because everyone knows Travis Kelce is the choice. There is only 1 Travis Kelce, and every league has more than 1 contender which means not everyone can have Kelce. Outside of Travis Kelce, Evan Engram is the easy answer at tight end for contenders.
Last season Engram had a career year with 114 catches, 963 yards, and 4 touchdowns. 114 catches is a lot for anyone, but for a tight end, it is a ridiculous amount as the most ever in a season is 116 by Zach Ertz. For PPR leagues Engram was fantastic finishing as the TE 2 last season. 114 receptions may be tough to duplicate, but Engram saw 143 targets and only had 4 touchdowns which is also impressive. It should be expected Engram will lose some targets and receptions this season, but should see more looks in the endzone which could even out the possible losses.
The Jaguars added 2 downfield threats this off-season in Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. which should open up the offense. By bringing those 2 in Engram should be able to control the middle of the field with Christian Kirk. If Engram is working the middle of the field he should see plenty of targets once again making him a strong fantasy option once again. Finishing as the tight end 2 will be tough with all the rising stars at the position, but Engram should be a top 8 lock with top 3 upside every week. Engram should cost a mid-2nd as he is 29 years old and with tight ends being so hard to find contenders shouldn't hesitate at the chance to grab Engram.
Rebuilding Trade Target- Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders, TE 4, 48th Overall:
There aren't a ton of great options here as most tight ends are either young rising stars in Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride, vets such as Kelce or Engram, or young unproven players. Outside of Bowers, Kincaid was the only other choice, but people expect a big year from Kincaid which means he could cost more, leaving Bowers as the choice.
Bowers was selected 13th overall by the Raiders in the 2024 NFL Draft and the initial thought by most fantasy managers was "Why". Just last season the Raiders spent an early 2nd rounder on tight end Michael Mayer who flashed at times during his rookie season and had bigger needs at other spots on the field. Vegas didn't care about any of that and saw a top 3 talent in the draft in Bowers and made him a Raider. Dynasty players are torn on Bowers as they all love the talent but question the situation. The Raiders have a big hole at QB for the future which gives players worry about Bower's upside. The worry is reasonable, but Bowers is too talented to let a question mark at QB deter players from trading for Bowers.
Bowers is one of the most talented tight ends to come out of the draft in recent years which is why Vegas felt the need to take him despite having Mayer already. Bowers isn't your prototypical tight end as he is closer to a receiver than he is a tight end. Bowers can be used in the slot, out wide, and even out the backfield. Bowers is a pure athlete who can play anywhere and produce anywhere which gives him the potential to be a top fantasy tight end one day, but it most likely won't be this season.
Contenders who roster Bowers may want to capitalize on his value and trade him for a win-now player which allows for rebuilding teams to jump in and snag a potential league winner at tight end. Bowers will likely be the 3rd option for Vegas in the passing game behind Davantae Adams and Jakobi Meyers but could be the team's number-one option as early as 2025 depending on where the teams goes.
The upside of Bowers is too hard to ignore even if the landing spot isn't ideal and because of that rebuilding teams need to try and get Bowers. Players like Bowers don't come around often and considering tight ends are hard to find, Bowers needs to be a priority buy because of his ceiling. Bowers won't break fantasy this season, but could soon which makes him a great buy target for rebuilders.
Sleeper Trade Target- Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos, TE 25, 227th Overall:
People have probably forgotten about Dulcich as he hardly played last season due to an injury, but they shouldn't forget as Dulcich is set to return this season and could surprise.
Dulcich had a strong rookie season with 33 catches for 411 yards, and 2 touchdowns in only 10 games, but couldn't follow that up last season because of injury. Dulcich is an athletic field-stretching tight end who can break away for long gains downfield. The Broncos need another pass catcher to step up next to Courtland Sutton this season and Dulcich makes the most sense. The Broncos have Marvin Mins and Troy Franklin, but both are deep threats who don't seem likely to earn high volume. Dulcich has the opportunity to come in and see decent volume for the Broncos which could lead to solid fantasy production.
The Broncos have a big question mark at QB as they drafted Bo Nix 12th overall, but also have Zach Wilson and Jarrett Sitdham on the roster, both of which have starting experience. Regardless of who the QB is, teams are not going to be worried about them and will test them with different looks and blitzes throughout the game. Every young QB needs a safety blanket and Dulcich could be just that for Denver.
With his ability to make plays downfield and his YAC ability, Dulcich could see a lot of check-down targets with the ability to make a play. Unlike most other young tight ends Dulcich has shown his upside but he needs to stay healthy. He should be the starting tight end for the Broncos and has all the opportunity to see a large share of targets and if he does he could be a nice fantasy asset.
Dulcich shouldn't be a set-it-and-forget-it starter, but for contenders, he is a nice young cheap option with the potential to become a weekly starter in fantasy. For rebuilding teams Dulcich is still young enough to fit timelines and unproven enough to be had a reasonable cost. Dulcich could develop into an every-week start for fantasy and based on his trade value he could be a bargain. If an owner has Dulcich and has lost hope, then every team should be calling to get him because of the upside.
Summary:
Every player in dynasty has a cost, and that cost differs based on the owner. All of these players could be valued higher than perceived or lower depending on who rosters them, but for the ideal price, these players are great buys. Plenty of other players are great buy-now targets for contenders and rebuilders, but these seem like the best options based on the perceived price of the players and the upside they offer.
Jared Goff, Derrick Henry, Davante Adams, and Evan Engram are all proven veterans who produced at a high level last season and shouldn't break the bank in a dynasty deal. Anthony Richardson, Jonathon Brooks, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Brock Bowers are all young players with immense upside, but all have questions about them which could make them easier to acquire.
Michael Penix Jr., Tyrone Tracy Jr., Jalen Tolbert, and Greg Dulcich are all young players with great opportunities who teams may have forgotten about. In Penix's case, teams may not have time for him to develop. Whatever the reason, all of those players are young and cheap and fit either a rebuilding team or a contender.
Building a contender requires adding impact pieces at a fair price and rebuilding a team requires adding young talent with upside at a fair price and these players fit the mold for at least one of the team builds.
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