Looking Ahead: Fantasy Football Dynasty buys for 2023 – K.J. Osborn

Welcome in everyone! Another exciting week of NFL football has come to an end, and a new one to begin. Dynasty fantasy football is a game of looking ahead, outsmarting your opponents, and buying low on players that are sure to increase in value.

I believe in the idea of playing dynasty fantasy football in a two year window. As hard as it is to project the future of football, it becomes much more difficult to project further than that.

So, as most are revved up for the 2022 season, vying for the opportunity to compete for a championship; I’m here to help you look ahead to 2023 identifying targets that are cheap now, and could make a significant impact next year. The targets I’m going to identify in this series will probably not help you much this year. However, I think each team believes in the player enough that they will give him the opportunity to breakout in 2023.

We’re looking for players with a clear path to relevancy next season. Without further ado, let’s get this series started with my Dynasty buy for the 2023 season.

KJ Osborn

Let me begin by saying KJ Osborn did absolutely nothing in his rookie season; not even one offensive snap recorded. The following year he had 777 snaps – good for a 67.8% snap share. This was partially due to Adam Thielen’s inability to stay healthy. He finished the year with a 17% target rate and a 14% target share; with Thielen playing in 13 of 17 games in a more run-heavy Minnesota offense helmed by Mike Zimmer.

However, the tides are changing in Minnesota under new head coach Kevin O’Connell; where a more pass-heavy approach is to take place. Look for Osborn to have an even greater impact as soon as this year. However, the impact is likely to stay minimal as long as Adam Thielen is in town. Thielen seems to be the only thing in the way of K.J.’s ascent to true NFL production. At 32 years and huge spike in salary beginning in 2023, I believe this is Thielen’s last year in Minnesota. Osborn will be the primary beneficiary of inevitable Thielen exit.

Now that Adam Thielen is “fully healthy”, Osborn has seen his numbers drop dramatically. He has become the 4th option in this Minnesota offense. This is something you can take advantage of.

Look for fantasy football managers that have become impatient or have transitioned to a “win now” approach. With plenty of other important holes on this team, drafting a wide reciver this year is something you probably won’t have to worry about this off-season. Selling off older productive assets for upside prospects is the bloodline of dynasty fantasy football. In this instance it’s no different. K.J. Osborn is a primary acquisition target in leagues I’m not competing in this year.

Some examples of assets that I would be willing to move to acquire KJ Osborn:

• Late 23 2nd
• Adam Thielen
• Robbie Anderson
• Eno Benjamin and 23 3rd
• Request as a throw in, part of a major deal