6 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets or Sells: Pre-2026 NFL Draft

April 8, 2026

Joey breaks down six players in dynasty fantasy football leagues to trade for and trade away before the 2026 NFL Draft. These players are worth making moves for.

The best part about dynasty fantasy football leagues is the fact that trades can happen year-round. The offseason is actually the prime opportunity to make trades to improve your overall team. The best time to make those moves in the offseason is usually before the season even starts, specifically right before the NFL Draft.

In this article, we will dive into six players who are worth trading for and trading away ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. We will highlight four players worth buying in all dynasty formats and two players to sell as the NFL Draft approaches. With the NFL Draft taking place on April 23, it's best to act quickly on these potential moves.

So, let's look at six dynasty fantasy football trade targets before the 2026 NFL Draft.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Players To Buy

RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers 

The dynasty community is fully out on Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks. That's not a total surprise, considering Brooks is coming off two major knee injuries. The former Texas star tore his ACL in his final college season in 2023 and then re-tore that same ACL after just three games into his professional career in 2024.

Tearing your ACL twice in 13 months raises serious red flags. He has suffered two significant ACL injuries since 2023, sat out the entire 2025 season due to recovery, and will enter his third year in the league with only nine carries. However, that all makes Brooks one of the best buy-low targets ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Let's not forget Brooks is still only 22 years old. This is a player who was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and has the potential to make an impact in the NFL despite two knee surgeries. While there is some risk in trading for a running back fresh off two ACL injuries, the Panthers have been impressed with Brooks' recovery. He is expected to be a full go for minicamp and OTAs this summer.

If you are a rebuilding team in your dynasty league, take a chance on Brooks. Even if he is limited throughout the 2026 season, there is a clear role for him in this Carolina offense. Rico Dowdle left in the offseason, which pushes the young running back up the depth chart behind Chuba Hubbard. Brooks could then explode the following season in 2027, as he gains more strength in that knee.

Current KeepTradeCut Value:

• QB - Mac Jones (Superflex)
• RB - Rhamondre Stevenson
• WR - Khalil Shakir, Chris Godwin Jr.
• TE -Mason Taylor
• Rookie Pick - 2026 Mid Second

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals 

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a bit of a fantasy disappointment in his first two years in the league. He caught 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in his rookie campaign and then totaled 41 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns across 12 games last year. In both of those seasons, Harrison finished outside the top 28 at the WR position in all fantasy formats.

But it's not the time to give up on Harrison. He is still only 23 years old and hasn't even reached his prime yet. His situation in Arizona has also slightly improved this offseason with Kyler Murray's release. Jacoby Brissett is the favorite right now to start for the Cardinals throughout the 2026 season, and we all saw the impact that he had on Arizona's pass-catchers last year.

Although Michael Wilson came on strong toward the end of last season, Harrison is still the WR1 in this offense. Having new head coach Mike LaFleur take over the offense could help the wide receiver's development as well. LaFleur comes from the coaching tree of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, two of the league's most brilliant offensive-minded coaches.

“I see him working everyday.”

Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur on WR Marvin Harrison Jr. @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/PvnlbIk5Mi

— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) March 30, 2026

So, see what it would take to acquire Harrison. Better fantasy days are surely ahead for the former fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The talent is there for him to be a top fantasy WR one day.

Current KeepTradeCut Value:

• QB - Dak Prescott (Superflex)
• RB - Christian McCaffrey
• WR - Tee Higgins
• TE - Harrold Fannin Jr.
• Rookie Pick - 2026 Early First (Carnell Tate)

RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams' dynasty price has never been higher. He is coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he ran for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns and finished as the RB11 in half-PPR formats. Williams also got paid this offseason after signing a three-year, $24 million extension with the Cowboys.

Williams was a phenomenal fantasy option throughout the 2025 season. He averaged 14.1 half-PPR fantasy points per game, ranked ninth in breakaway runs, seventh in expected fantasy points per game, and fifth in red-zone opportunities among all running backs. The North Carolina product simply fit in perfectly with Dallas.

That's why Williams is a buy ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. He will remain the workhorse back in this Dallas offense and should see the majority of touches with Malik Davis and Jaydon Blue set to back him up. There should be no worry about the Cowboys selecting a running back in April's draft, either, considering they have far greater needs on the defensive side.

If you are a contending team in your dynasty league, make a move for Williams. Another RB1 season could be on the horizon in 2026, and the 25-year-old is under contract for the next three years.

That makes him a buy high in all dynasty formats at this point in his career. If you are a rebuilding team, though, it might not make much sense to buy a running back who is set to turn 26 years old later in April.

Current KeepTradeCut Value:

• QB - Bryce Young (Superflex)
• RB - Josh Jacobs
• WR -  Alec Pierce, Zay Flowers
• TE - Sam LaPorta
• Rookie Pick - 2026 Late First

WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III's fantasy value has skyrocketed since the end of the 2025 season. The trade of DJ Moore is part of that reason, as the Bears sent the veteran wide receiver to the Buffalo Bills in early March. That move will open up more opportunities for Burden in the passing game in his second year in the league.

Burden already showed glimpses of his fantasy potential in his rookie campaign. He ranked third in yards per route run, third in formation-adjusted yards per route run, seventh in yards per target, second in target separation, and seventh in fantasy points per route run among all wide receivers last season. Those are elite metrics for an up-and-coming playmaker.

Ben Johnson on Luther Burden:

“[Luther] is exactly what we thought we were getting out of the draft last year…this guy loves football. If you took football away from him, I don’t know what he would want to do with himself.”

Adds that Burden and Colston Loveland have been in… pic.twitter.com/Yi5hwj1qhO

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) March 30, 2026

Now, it won't be easy to trade for Burden by any means. Every dynasty owner knows that the Moore trade will lead to more opportunities for Burden in Chicago's offense.

But he's a player who both contending and rebuilding teams should be looking to target in trade negotiations. Trading multiple high-end picks to acquire the 22-year-old is exactly the move dynasty owners should be making. That's how high his fantasy ceiling is. Burden in this Ben Johnson-led offense will go off.

Current KeepTradeCut Value:

• QB -  Jordan Love (Superflex)
• RB - TreVeyon Henderson
• WR - Ladd McConkey
• TE - Tyler Warren
• Rookie Pick - 2026 Early First (Fernando Mendoza - Superflex value)

Dynasty Fantasy Football Players To Sell

RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

One common tip in dynasty leagues is to trade away Day 3/undrafted running backs who start as rookies. Some of these late-round running backs do become reliable fantasy options over their careers, but most of them are replaced pretty quickly. There have been multiple instances of this happening over the past decade.

James Robinson rushed for 1,070 yards as an undrafted rookie, then the Jaguars drafted Travis Etienne Jr. in the first round just 15 months later. Elijah Mitchell totaled 1,110 yards from scrimmage as a sixth-rounder, then the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey the following year. Dameon Pierce was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, then the Texans brought in both Devin Singletary and Joe Mixon in back-to-back offseasons.

That's why dynasty owners should consider trading Croskey-Merritt now. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft and saw a sizable role in his first NFL season.

The Arizona product had a team-high 175 carries for 805 yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games. However, there's a good chance that Croskey-Merritt gets replaced with a more talented running back in the draft.

The Commanders already brought in competition by signing Rachaad White this offseason and have also been connected to running back Jeremiyah Love before the NFL Draft. Since Washington has the No. 7 overall pick in April's draft, it could use it on Love. Even if another team drafts him, Croskey-Merritt probably won't stay as the top running back in this offense for long.

Current KeepTradeCut Value:

• QB - Shedeur Sanders, J.J. McCarthy (Superflex)
• RB - Woody Marks
• WR - Tro Franklin, Isaac TeSlaa
• TE -Terrance Fergurson
• Rookie Pick - 2026 Late Second

QB Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins 

Quarterback Malik Willis is the biggest riser in dynasty leagues over the past 30 days on KeepTradeCut (KTC). He was ranked 42nd among dynasty quarterbacks on KTC back on March 2. Now, the 26-year-old comes in as the QB21. That's a massive climb for Willis, who is expected to be the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback in 2026.

Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Dolphins to be their potential quarterback of the future. That should get some dynasty managers excited, especially since the former Packers quarterback looked good in his only start with Green Bay last year.

Willis threw for 288 yards, rushed for 60 yards, and totaled three touchdowns (one passing and two rushing) in that game en route to a 31.5 fantasy point day.

But Willis is not really set up for success in Miami. The Dolphins' top three wide receivers right now are Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and Malik Washington. While the Dolphins will likely select a wideout early in the 2026 NFL Draft, it's hard to imagine Willis putting up solid all-around numbers in a poor situation with a defensive-minded head coach.

Great start to Week 2 down in Jacksonville..
Malik Willis 🤝 Jalen Tolbert 🐬🐬 pic.twitter.com/DgPf0HFCBP

— Sean McEvoy (@QBCoachMcEvoy) March 23, 2026

Willis could also be replaced as soon as next season. Considering the Dolphins are expected to be one of the worst teams in 2026, they might end up with a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

That 2027 class could feature several top quarterback prospects, including Arch Manning. So, it's best to trade him now while his value is so high. Willis might be overvalued by dynasty owners heading into the 2026 season.

Current KeepTradeCut Value:

• QB - Daniel Jones (Superflex)
• RB - Bhayshul Tuten
• WR - Jordan Addison, DJ Moore
• TE - Oronde Gadsden II
• Rookie Pick - 2026 Late First

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