We only have a couple of weeks left before the start of the NFL season. This is the last chance to buy a few veterans at bargain prices in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Veterans are always easier to buy when they aren’t performing in preseason, and everyone still has rookie fever on their minds. Take advantage of this time and get some depth for your contending team now. Don’t shy away from sending those late-round rookies from this year or next year’s picks to acquire these dynasty buy low options that will help you become a #LeagueWinner.
The Dynasty Buy Low Candidates
Ryan Tannehill, QB Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill is just a season removed from back-to-back years of top-12 production. At 35 years old, his time is running out, making him a perfect dynasty buy low option. The Tennessee Titans drafted QBs early in each of the last two years with Malik Willis (3rd round, 2022) and Will Levis (2nd round, 2023). However, the signing of DeAndre Hopkins signals this team isn’t ready to throw in the towel quite yet on Tannehill, and neither should you.
Yes, 2022 was a disaster. Tannehill missed five games due to an ankle injury. His 13.9 points per game was nothing to write home about. However, we need to remember that Tannehill lost his WR1 A.J. Brown in a trade prior to the season starting. Brown was supposed to be replaced with first-round WR Treylon Burks, but he missed games due to concussions. Veteran Robert Woods was brought in to help, but he was coming off an ACL injury himself. In all, things just didn’t click last year.
One down year shouldn’t turn you off of Tannehill. Let us not forget that in 2020, Tannehill averaged 21.9 points per game; thanks to his 40 total TDs and nearly 4000 passing yards. 2021 wasn’t quite as impressive, but he still managed 16.6 points per game; giving you a safe floor most weeks. The team brought in DeAndre Hopkins, giving Tannehill an elite target. Not only that, but Treylon Burks and TE Chig Okonkwo should take a step forward in their second year.
Tannehill is the cheapest starting quarterback to acquire. He is currently the QB 35 on KTC (KeepTradeCut); with his value sitting around an early 2024 third. You aren’t getting him for a third, but a second will get it done in Superflex leagues. Contending teams need depth and Tannehill can provide that with potential upside if he can find his 2020 form yet again.
Courtland Sutton, WR Denver Broncos
Courtland Sutton’s best season came in 2019 when he averaged 11.7 points per game. That was his one and only top-20 fantasy finish. His QBs that year were a combo of Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, and Brandon Allen. His 2020 season was wiped out with an ACL tear in Week 2. The last two years have been downright pitiful and he has fallen out of fantasy favor. His 7.1 and 8.5 points per game the last two years don’t inspire much hope. However, there is potential for new life. There are a number of factors in play that could help Sutton become a dynasty buy low target.
For starters, former Saints coach Sean Payton comes to town hoping to kickstart this offense. The Broncos scored an average of just 16.9 points per game last season, which was the lowest in the NFL. Even with Drew Brees nearing the end of his career; a Sean Payton-led offense never finished under 20 points per game. The pieces are there for the Broncos offense to be near the top of the league.
Russell Wilson has supported multiple WRs during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. With Payton’s coaching there is no reason he can’t do it again. I believe Sutton is going to benefit the most from Payton.
The Broncos WR depth has been hit with the injury bug this offseason. Everyone’s favorite sleeper, Tim Patrick, went down with another season-ending injury. Speedster K.J. Hamler was waived because of heart problems. Now Jerry Jeudy is dealing with a hamstring injury that could keep him out to start the year. Tim Patrick’s injury is significant because it leaves Sutton as the big-body WR in Sean Payton’s system.
“It’s a good trait,” Payton said. “I like his size. We kind of favor bigger receivers, so he fits that prototype, or that type that we like.” (via Yahoo Sports, Jon Heath)
Jerry Jeudy, when healthy, and rookie Marvin Mims Jr. are talented WRs, but Sutton has the size advantage over each. Does this mean he gets peppered with Michael Thomas-like targets? Not likely, but at his current price he doesn’t have to blow the top off to get your value back.
Courtland Sutton jumped five spots to WR55 on KTC since Jeudy’s injury. His value is around a late 2024 second in dynasty fantasy football. It wouldn’t take much for him to outperform his value, especially if Jeudy’s injury lingers at all. If some of the coach talk is true from this offseason and Sutton finds his 2019 form under Payton, he will be a #LeagueWinner. Now is the time to get him in dynasty fantasy football leagues for cheap before he starts performing.
Honorable Mentions
Patriots WRs Juju Smith-Shuster and DeVante Parker
One of these two is going to be fantasy-relevant this year. My bet is on JuJu, but he will cost you at least a second round pick. With that said, DeVante Parker was given a hefty contract. He had some big games last year, including finishing as the WR2 with 22.9 points in Week 18. He might be on your waivers. If he isn’t, he shouldn’t cost more than a late 2023 3rd.
James Conner, RB Arizona Cardinals
Do you want a cheap RB2 with RB1 upside? Look no further than James Conner. The man is nothing short of a miracle. He was told in 2016 if his cancer went untreated any longer, he might have had a week to live. Now, he is one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL.
Conner has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the years. He has two top 10 performances (2018, 2021) and then last year he finished as the RB20, despite only playing 13 games. Last year he started slow, dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2. He missed Weeks 6-8 with a rib injury. Coming back from that injury is when he started to shine. From Weeks 9-17 he had the most points per game average of any RB, with 16.7.
Don’t worry about Kyler Murray missing time. Look at what James Conner did without his star QB:
- Week 14 – 20.4 points
- Week 15 – 16.6 points
- Week 16 – 21.5 points
- Week 17 – 12. 5 points
If Murray isn’t around, Conner will be the focal point of the offense. Even if the offense suffers without Murray, Conner will be a check-down king in garbage time.
Look at the depth chart behind Conner: 2022 sixth-round pick Keontay Ingram is second on the depth chart, followed by journeymen Corey Clement and Ty’Son Williams. Nobody is taking touches away from him if he can stay healthy!
Conner is the RB 36 on KTC and is valued around a mid-2024 second. The injury risk is there, but he makes a good dynasty buy low candidate this season.
Samaje Perine, RB Denver Broncos
With Javonte Williams ‘healthy’, Perine’s value slips a bit; which makes this the best time to acquire him. The track record of RBs coming back from serious knee injuries like Williams is not good in year one. Perine is a solid football player, the kind of guy Payton will love to utilize.
Tyler Higbee, TE Los Angeles Rams
Tight end is the hardest position to fill in dynasty leagues. Teams with Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews seem to have an advantage over everyone! If you want a safe, reliable option, then look to acquire Tyler Higbee. Higbee isn’t going to have many 20+ point performances, but also shouldn’t leave you with nothing too often.
In each of the last four years, Higbee has averaged: 8.4 (2019), 7.1 (2020), 7.8 (2021), and 7.3 (2022) fantasy points. Those aren’t jaw-dropping numbers, but two of those years he finished as a top 12 TE (2019 and 2022).
When you are looking for a TE the main thing you want is target share. Is there a chance for Higbee to have a high target share? The answer is yes.
Higbee could be the number two target for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford this year. The WR room looks iffy outside of Cooper Kupp. Van Jefferson hasn’t shown much in his first three years to demand targets. After that, you have Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, and rookie Puka Nacua. None of those guys are target monsters. Nacua could have potential, but I don’t see Stafford trusting him over Higbee to start.
There are bigger names to chase, but they will cost more. Higbee is the TE29 on KTC. I guess people forgot he was the TE9 last year. His value is right around a mid-2024 third. He’s not going to light the world on fire but he will give you a safe floor and good depth for cheap.
Dalton Schultz, TE Houston Texans
I worry a bit that Dalton Schultz might be Austin Hooper 2.0, but Schultz is in a position to potentially be the number one target for the Texans. There is no alpha WR, so this opens the door for Schultz to be the guy for rookie QB C.J. Stroud. He’s cheap enough to acquire and take a shot on, especially in PPR dynasty fantasy football leagues.
Of course, there are always other dynasty buy low targets, but this list will give you the best bang for your buck for contending teams. Most of these players won’t see their value rise significantly, but it makes it harder to acquire them when they are producing. Take advantage of their value now and become a League Winner.
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.