It s important to constantly assess player value in fantasy football dynasty leagues. The ups and downs of the dynasty market are just as fluid as the financial ones – which is probably why fantasy analysts preach that managers stay water.
With this in mind, our League Winners have done the hard work of evaluating the market for you, offering up our biggest buys and sells ahead of the 2023 season. Though it’s only June, we know there’s no true offseason in dynasty. Here are the best (and worst) values of the moment according to The League Winners’ Dynasty Team.
Biggest Buys
Brandon Aiyuk is screaming value for the 2023 season. Aiyuk is a former first-round NFL pick that I have consistently taken in the sixth round of startups this offseason. He is the number one receiving option in the highly potent 49ers offense. The 25-year-old wideout finished as the PPR WR25 in points per game last season. He already has a top-15 overall WR fantasy finish, and he’s notoriously one of the best route tacticians in the league. Aiyuk led the 49ers in targets, receptions, and receiving yards last season alongside three other superstars. Pushing in the chips to get him now is a typical case of betting on talent and progression. He could find himself testing free agency soon, though I expect him to re-sign with the 49ers when the time comes. Either way, Aiyuk should build on his 2022 season and continue to climb the dynasty ranks.
~Joe Arledge @FF_Brows
Startup ADP: pick 7.04, WR31
Buy for: late ‘24 1st, Alexander Mattison, D.J. Moore, Javonte Williams
My biggest buy right now is Calvin Ridley. I get that we’re not sure exactly what to expect from the 29-year-old wide receiver when he finally plays another meaningful football game – 686 days from his last NFL action. But, Ridley was the PPR WR5 in 2020 on a massive 143 targets. In 2021, he was again force-fed the ball early on before leaving the NFL entirely after Week 7. Given his talent, Ridley should easily assume primary target-hog status for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Given that Trevor Lawrence should take another leap and Doug Pederson is running the show, Ridley could easily become a top fantasy wide receiver yet again. I’m buying where I can at his depressed price.
~Jeremy Shulman @ff_rebel
Startup ADP: pick 7.06, WR32
Buy for: any ‘24 2nd; George Pickens, Dameon Pierce, Elijah Moore
What are we doing, folks? We should be buying DeAndre Hopkins everywhere we can. Let’s take a look at some stats from 2022: Hopkins had a target share of 29% and was ranked as the PPR WR10 with 16.9 points per game. The good news is that Hopkins is no longer in a problematic situation in Arizona. Now, he should get a much better landing spot. Wherever he ends up, Hopkins will receive a lot of targets and produce difference-making results for your dynasty fantasy football team. Isn’t that what we want at the cost of the WR38 off the board?
~Jesse Moeller @JMoeller05
Startup ADP: pick 8.12, WR38
Buy for: The 2.03 or future 2; Zach Charbonnet, Cam Akers, Isaiah Pacheco, Calvin Ridley, Kadarius Toney, Desmond Ridder, Mac Jones (Ideally, use a dart throw player with a 2nd to free up a spot on your roster, so Wan’Dale Robinson + 2 for Hopkins.)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is a great buy this offseason. The former first-round pick is being neglected because the Ravens have Mark Andrews and invested in both Odell Beckhem Jr. and Zay Flowers this offseason. However, the biggest impact to Bateman’s game will be new OC Todd Monken and the departure of strength coach Steve Saunders. Monken will open up the offense. That won’t necessarily lead to more pass attempts, but it should lead to substantially more efficient pass attempts. The presence of the new receivers is also a positive development. Bateman will excel on the field as defenses try to figure out who to stop in this offense. He had a 2.39 yards per route run in the minimal games he played in 2022. If Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle can coexist, then Bateman can coexist with Flowers in the pass-happy NFL.
~Pru Patel @ThePruPatel
Startup ADP: pick 10.02, WR42
Buy for: late 24 1st or any 24 2nd; Evan Engram, George Pickens, Alexander Mattison
Jerry Jeudy was the PPR WR21 in points per game last year with 13.6 according to Fantasy Pros. He is currently priced around pick 1.10 in superflex rookie drafts – or the 1.07 in standard fantasy leagues. If you haven’t completed your dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts yet, that is the range where Zay Flowers and Dalton Kincaid come off the board. Don’t be afraid to be aggressive for Jeudy. He just turned 24 years old and is now playing in a Sean Payton-lead offense. The Broncos were a mess last year under Nathaniel Hackett and, despite that, Jeudy finished as a top-24 WR while also missing three games. I expect him to be the main target in Denver, and he will take a big leap up the rankings when he finishes the year inside the top 15.
~Sheldon Hand @DynastyHoser
Startup ADP: pick 5.09, WR22
Buy for: mid to late ‘24 1st
Geno Smith led the NFL in completion percentage in 2022 while posting 4,282 passing yards and a 30:11 TD:INT ratio. He also utilized his athleticism to the tune of 366 rushing yards, a 21.5 yards per game average. The Seahawks just added elite WR prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba to their already strong receiver group and selected a capable pass-catching back in Zach Charbonnet in the draft as well. Smith was the QB5 in 6-point passing touchdown leagues in 2022 ahead of players like Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, and Justin Fields. Smith’s 2022 yardage and completion percentage are both better than former Seattle QB Russell Wilson’s career highs. QB2’s are all virtually one-year bets, and Smith is in as strong a position as any to post another top-10 season in 2023.
~Elijah Southwick @ECSouthwick
Startup ADP: pick 7.08, QB22
Buy for: late ‘24 1st, any QB2/3 + ‘24 2nd
Hardest Sells
I am looking to sell Brian Robinson. I want to re-roll Robinson to get one of the second-round running backs in this year’s rookie draft. This take is more about my optimism for Antonio Gibson rather than my pessimism toward Robinson. In 2022, both Gibson (3.7 yards per carry) and Robinson (3.9 yards per carry) struggled with efficiency per touch in the Washington backfield. The main difference between the two is in the receiving game. Robinson ran 68 routes that turned into nine receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown. Gibson, on the other hand, ran 213 routes. He had 46 receptions, which was top-15 in the NFL, turning them into 353 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson provides minimal upside and must be more efficient if he is not involved as a receiver. I would move on from Robinson and re-invest in a player with more upside.
~Joe Arledge @FF_Brows
Startup ADP: pick 11.02, RB35
Sell for: early to mid ‘24 2nd; Greg Dulcich, Tyler Lockett, Antonio Gibson
Chris Godwin is my biggest dynasty fantasy football sell this June, largely because the market seems to still hold him in high regard. It’s hard to argue that his teammate Mike Evans is on the decline headed into his age 30 season. It’s also clear that whoever becomes the starting quarterback in Tampa will likely favor the short-to-intermediate passing game. And, of course, Godwin is a serious talent at the position. All of this screams value. But we could be looking at a Diontae Johnson-esque drop-off this season for Godwin. With Baker Mayfield, or Kyle Trask, behind center, I have zero confidence that this team will field a competent offense. If that holds true, Godwin will be lucky to match his PPR WR19 finish from last season, despite earning the seventh-most targets. And that target volume will not be there now that Tom Brady is gone.
~Jeremy Shulman @ff_rebel
Startup ADP: pick 7.03, WR30
Sell for: late ‘24 1st; Marquise Brown, JK Dobbins, Treylon Burks+
I’m having trouble understanding why Ken Walker‘s ADP is so high. Last season, he didn’t contribute in the receiving game, yet he’s being drafted ahead of players like Travis Etienne, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, and Rhamondre Stevenson. While he’s a talented rusher in a strong offense, his stats don’t show it. Walker only averaged .85 yards per route run and has a 17% target rate, which ranks 101st and 97th among running backs. Additionally, his college-receiving profile is not inspiring. With the addition of Zach Charbonnet, it’s unlikely he’ll see passing work, so why pay a premium for Walker when he’s just fancy Nick Chubb?
~Jesse Moeller @JMoeller05
Startup ADP: pick 3.11, RB7
Sell for: Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Chris Olave, Travis Etienne, Josh Jacobs, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tony Pollard, JSN, DeVonta Smith, and quite a few others; a package of Javonte Williams or Michael Pittman + 1st for Walker + 2nd
A sell for me in dynasty fantasy football leagues is Dalvin Cook. Cook has been cut by the Minnesota Vikings, but he should have to compete for touches wherever he lands. Factor in his age and the mileage on his legs, and you do not want to be caught holding the bag, especially if he starts losing his elite volume. I am smashing any 2024 first or second round rookie picks for him. It is a simple case of one asset declining and one increasing as time goes on.
~Pru Patel @ThePruPatel
Startup ADP: pick 9.02, RB27
Sell for: any ‘24 or ‘25 2nd; Devon Achane+, Diontae Johnson, Cam Akers
Travis Etienne’s rookie year was wiped out by injury. In his sophomore year, he only had three games where he scored more than 20 fantasy points and nine games where he was under 10 points. When looking at the rankings, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley are the only two running backs higher than him that are older. There isn’t a lot of room to move up if the younger players above him hit. His production should also improve now that he is another year removed from injury. However, the Jaguars drafted Tank Bigsby in the fourth round, and they aren’t afraid to utilize two RBs. If you can sell Etienne for someone in a tier below plus something, you can cash in on his potential peak value. He could even be game-scripted out at times while the Jaguars use Bigsby to pound the rock and burn the clock.
~Sheldon Hand @DynastyHoser
Startup ADP: pick 4.03, RB8
Sell for: any ‘24 1st; Dobbins+, Sanders+, Swift+
Rachaad White appears to have the Tampa Bay backfield locked up at the moment, which is currently propping up his value. Leonard Fournette is gone, but so are future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady and starting offensive linemen Donovan Smith and Shaq Mason. It will be either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask under center come Week 1 for the Bucs, who are likely going to combine for bottom-of-the-league QB play. White could also see an addition or two to the Tampa backfield before the start of the season. Even if he does, his production as a lead back could be disappointing. White is 24 years old and is a sell for me in dynasty fantasy football at RB2 prices.
~Elijah Southwick @ECSouthwick
Startup ADP: pick 7.11, RB20
Sell for: any ‘24 1st + a WR4-5
*startup ADP sourced from:https://bulletproofff.com/adp.html#rookies
Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy is an avid football fan from New York who lives in Amsterdam and roots for the Patriots. This walking contradiction has played fantasy football for over than 20 years. He is now a Senior Dynasty Writer at The League Winners. In his spare time, he writes and edits professionally.