Dynasty Players to Buy for 2024 Fantasy Football (Premium Content)

Jackson Sparks identifies trade targets in fantasy football dynasty leagues for 2024. These are potentially undervalued players to target in keeper formats.

One of the best aspects of playing in a dynasty fantasy football league is the year-long process of buying and selling players at the right time. Whether you were a bottom-three team or the champion of your league last year, you should always be looking to upgrade your roster. Whether a player is coming off a poor season or hasn't seen their value spike enough from a promising season, there is never a shortage of glaring dynasty buys.

In this article, we'll focus on players that can be reasonably acquired from your league mates. That said, although you should absolutely try to "buy high" on players like CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Josh Allen, that is easier said than done.

Let's dive in and identify the top dynasty fantasy football trade targets as we approach the 2024 NFL season! All five players listed are viable buys for "win-now" or "rebuild" teams.

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Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle did not pay off at cost last season, and oftentimes, dynasty value is driven by last year's redraft results. If the Waddle fantasy manager in your league is disappointed by his 2023 campaign, now is the time to strike. The 25-year-old finished as the PPR WR13 as a rookie in 2021 and the WR8 as a sophomore in 2022. Last year, he posted his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, but his lack of touchdowns (four) yielded a WR34 finish.

To begin his career, Waddle has the 12th-most receptions (251) through a player's first three seasons in NFL history. Although the addition of Tyreek Hill capped his overall volume, he remains heavily involved in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Despite his "down" season in 2023, there were still a lot of promising signs. According to PlayerProfiler.com's advanced metrics, Waddle ranked 10th in target rate (27.5%), 12th in yards after catch (421), eighth in yards per route run (2.68), 13th in yards per target (9.8), 14th in fantasy points per route run (0.53), and second in route win rate (62.7%) among all qualified wide receivers. His three-game absence due to injury and poor "touchdown luck" led to a slip in his overall raw numbers, but he was still a highly effective and efficient fantasy asset.

In 2024, he will maintain his WR1 upside. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be an accurate passer who puts the ball where it needs to be, and Waddle, like Hill, can turn any play into a highlight-reel, catch-and-run touchdown. Speaking of Hill, he is entering his age-30 season, which puts him at greater risk of missing games or seeing a drop-off in ability.

In the one game Hill missed last year, Waddle caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown against the elite New York Jets secondary. We're not predicting a Hill injury or decline, but it's certainly in play. If it happens, Waddle has legitimate top-five upside at the position.

TUA TO WADDLE. 60-YARD TD.

📺: #NYJvsMIA on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/QuugxeDp6I

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023

Waddle is being selected at the WR13 spot in FFPC dynasty startup drafts, which puts him behind Chris Olave and Drake London. The former Alabama playmaker is underpriced after posting two high-end fantasy finishes to begin his career, especially since he has a clear path to the WR1 role in Miami when Hill ultimately drops off or retires in the next few years.

Miami re-signed Waddle to a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension in May, securing his long-term future with his former college quarterback. Ultimately, he's a safe dynasty buy and could be reasonably acquired for an early-first-round pick.

George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last year, George Pickens racked up his first 1,000-yard season, snagging 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. He finished only behind Brandon Aiyuk (17.5) in yards per reception (17.5) among qualified wideouts and was one of just 18 players to post at least 1,100 receiving yards. He did all this despite catching passes from Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky. While Russell Wilson has regressed since his days with the Seattle Seahawks, his arrival is good news for Pickens, who is now in a shallow wide receiver room.

GEORGE PICKENS TOUCHDOWN AGAIN.

He can not be stopped tonight.

📺: #CINvsPIT on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yewPow3ekF pic.twitter.com/JbRic5KPmP

— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2023

The Steelers did little to replace Diontae Johnson, so the depth behind Pickens includes Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins, Scotty Miller, and third-round rookie Roman Wilson. Pickens is the clear alpha in the offense, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a wide margin.

In 2023, Pickens ranked 15th in air yards share (37.8%), 10th in deep targets (26), 17th in yards per route run (2.20), and fifth in yards per target (10.8). He finished outside the top-24 WRs in total fantasy points, at least partly due to ranking 61st in catchable target rate (68.9%) and 78th in target accuracy (6.3), according to PlayerProfiler. If Wilson is at least competent at distributing the ball to his lead receiver heading into his 13th NFL season, Pickens should eat.

Pittsburgh's passing volume is likely to be capped with Arthur Smith running the show, but he built highly efficient play-action offenses during his time with the Tennessee Titans. Wilson still likes to take shots downfield, and Smith's offensive structure is likely to set him up for those shots without facing immense amounts of pressure behind the team's revamped offensive line. In Wilson's final year with Denver, he attempted the most pressured throws (129) among all quarterbacks.

Pickens is being drafted around the WR22 spot in FFPC startups, but given his new offensive environment, a top-15 redraft finish is well within reach this season. If your league mates have concerns with Pickens, Wilson, or even Justin Fields, put the feelers out and try to acquire him.

Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars

Kirk was a buy recommendation heading into 2023, and he remains one as the 2024 campaign approaches. The signing of Calvin Ridley last season scared many fantasy managers away, thinking Kirk would be demoted to the WR2 role in Jacksonville.

However, when Kirk and Ridley shared the field in Weeks 1-12, Kirk led the team in targets (84), receptions (56), and receiving yards (761). Kirk's Week 13 season-ending injury limited his overall fantasy finish, but he proved he is still Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 option in the passing attack. With Ridley now in Tennessee and Zay Jones in Arizona, that statement rings even more true.

Christian Kirk is fast and the Jaguars have the lead 💯#JAXvsNO on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/89nUeCngbn pic.twitter.com/SQfWTMpTUg

— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2023

In Kirk's first season with Lawrence as the undisputed WR1 in 2022, he racked up 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a WR12 finish in PPR leagues. While Brian Thomas Jr. is an exciting prospect and Gabe Davis has flashed upside throughout his career, Kirk has a history of production on his resume and has a path to another WR1 season.

The former Texas A&M Aggie still has plenty of juice at just 27 years old, and as long as he stays healthy, he's a great piece to roll the dice on at his current cost in dynasty leagues. He's being priced around the WR38 spot, and that's likely close to his fantasy floor in redraft leagues. Buy him, enjoy at least a top-24 WR season, and smile at your profits.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

Tyjae Spears' dynasty managers were ecstatic when it was all but confirmed that Derrick Henry would be leaving the Titans, but the signing of Tony Pollard put a stop to those celebrations. Spears would have been expensive to acquire had the organization not brought in Pollard and his upside would've been higher, but he's still worth considering trading for.

Although Pollard was coming off an injury to begin last season, his first year without Ezekiel Elliott was a disappointment considering fantasy managers were clamoring for him to take the Cowboys' lead-back role for a few years prior. Among all qualified running backs, Pollard ranked 44th in yards per touch (4.3), 42nd in true yards per carry (3.9), 50th in fantasy points per opportunity (0.7), 20th in target share (11.1%), 35th in yards per reception (5.7), and 34th in yards per route run (0.86) despite playing in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

These numbers are nowhere close to what they were when he was an explosive and efficient RB2 in Dallas. Some backs simply thrive as a committee back, and that's likely the case for Pollard.

Meanwhile, Spears made the most of his opportunities as a rookie in 2023. Despite registering a 52.9% snap share, the Tulane product ranked ninth in receptions (52) and targets (70) and seventh in target share (14.7%). He also ranked 13th in fantasy points per opportunity (0.90), 14th in yards per reception (7.4), 11th in yards per route run (1.52), sixth in yards per touch (5.5), fourth in juke rate (26.3%), and fifth in breakaway run rate (7.0%) and yards created per touch (4.58) in one of the NFL's weakest offenses. He was a dynamic player with the ball in space during his collegiate career, and he flashed those same abilities as a receiver in Year 1 behind Henry.

Tyjae Spears goes 28 yards for the @Titans TD!

📺: #JAXvsTEN on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/X0vcyHUoyR pic.twitter.com/mJoCKcR788

— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024

Neither Spears nor Pollard is likely to contend for RB1 fantasy numbers in 2024, but the 23-year-old Spears is being priced behind the 27-year-old Pollard in startups despite the two having similar skill sets and a four-year age gap. Titans head coach Brian Callahan has hinted toward a committee approach, and if Spears is more efficient with his touches early in the season, don't be surprised if he becomes the 1A back instead of the 1B back that many view him as.

Brian Callahan on Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/F0n0xk1uLL

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 29, 2024

Tennessee's offense has a wide range of outcomes in Will Levis' second year, but the additions of wide receiver Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd and offensive linemen JC Latham and Lloyd Cushenberry III should give all pieces of the offense a chance to succeed. That said, there could be more touchdown upside for its running backs and pass-catchers. The AFC South is a sneaky shootout division in 2024.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

It's tough to predict a Kendre Miller breakout season in 2024 with Alvin Kamara still on the Saints roster, but given his price outside the top-40 dynasty running backs, he's worth taking a flier on. The 2023 third-round pick out of TCU had a quiet rookie season while missing nine games due to injury. However, the RB2 role should be his for the taking in Year 2.

Veteran running back Jamaal Williams averaged an abysmal 2.9 yards per carry and 3.4 yards per reception during his first year in the Big Easy. He's never been an overly efficient runner, and his 17 touchdowns with the Lions in 2022 were a clear product of his offensive line. As long as Miller doesn't suffer an injury setback, it would be a surprise if he doesn't surpass Williams on the depth chart.

Kamara continues to produce in fantasy football, but he'll be 29 years old when the 2024 campaign begins, and his efficiency steadily declined last year. Whether Miller gets touches in relief of Kamara or takes over the lead-back role if Kamara gets hurt, there's almost zero risk in acquiring him at cost.

He showed why he was a Day 2 pick in the Week 18 win over the Atlanta Falcons, rushing 13 times for 73 yards (5.6 YPC) and a touchdown. He wasn't a high-volume pass-catcher in college, but given New Orleans' lack of pass-catching weapons behind Chris Olave, he should be involved in that aspect if he earns a decent snap share.

After review, Kendre Miller breaks the plane for his first career TD! @Offical_dre11

📺: #ATLvsNO on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/X0vcyHUoyR pic.twitter.com/nJVwhly7im

— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024

Overall, Miller is likely one of the cheapest backs to acquire who is just one injury away from potential workhorse volume. Dynasty leagues are typically deep and it's always a good idea to stash high-end handcuff RBs. Miller fits that bill this year. If he booms as a short-term starter, you can always sell him high.

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