Five Veterans To Buy In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

January 31, 2025

Which veteran players should managers buy in dynasty fantasy football leagues? Kacey Kasem examines five veterans you should buy in the 2025 offseason in dynasty.

Managers who only play in redraft fantasy football leagues have packed it up for the season. Those who also participate in dynasty leagues know there is no offseason. Whether we're looking at the incoming rookie class, concocting trade offers, or planning for the 2025 rookie draft, we are always trying to improve.

If you're in contention for 2025, you know the importance of making great moves. Sometimes, those moves come in the form of veteran players. Although older players often become afterthoughts in dynasty, there is some value to be had by trading for the right aging players.

I will look at five seasoned vets who should elevate your team to the next level. You'll find plenty of gems on this list, from a quarterback coming off an injury to a tight end aging like fine wine. So, using dynasty data from KeepTradeCut, let's look at the five veteran stars you should be rostering in dynasty.

QB Dak Prescott

Cowboys veteran quarterback Dak Prescott is worth adding in dynasty leagues. He'll celebrate his 32nd birthday in July, making him one of the more experienced players at the position.

Prescott missed a good chunk of the 2024 season, heading to injured reserve with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 9. While healthy, the former Offensive Rookie of the Year had an unimpressive stretch. As the starter in 2024, Prescott completed 185 of his 286 attempts for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Dak Prescott fadeaway TD 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/6vq3ckvoAs

— PFF (@PFF) September 8, 2024

Still, Prescott had one of his most impressive seasons in 2023, leading the NFL in touchdown passes (36) while completing 69.5 percent of his throws for 4,516 yards. Prescott can be obtained for dynasty rosters for cheaper than you could have gotten him in 2023. In a one-quarterback (1QB) league, KeepTradeCut (KTC) has his dynasty value at QB24.

In Superflex leagues, you might be able to give up an early second and late-third-round pick to receive Prescott. In 1QB, there is a possibility you can get Prescott by trading an early third-round pick and a player such as Daniel Jones or Aaron Rodgers.

RB Joe Mixon

The Bengals traded Joe Mixon to the Texans last March. Mixon, who turns 29 in July, had a noteworthy season in 2024. He was a big reason Houston made it to the Divisional Round.

The California native rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season with the Texans. Additionally, he tallied 36 receptions on 52 targets, gaining 309 yards and one receiving touchdown.

JOE MIXON 45 YARD TOUCHDOWN
pic.twitter.com/eyFDyvrU87

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 19, 2024

Mixon scored in all but six games he played. Seven of his 14 games saw the back rush for over 100 yards. He missed three games, Weeks 3-5, with an ankle injury. Despite the setback, Mixon was able to rush for over 1,000 yards for the fifth time in his career.

KTC values Mixon as RB18 in Superflex leagues. Sending an offer of a mid-second and a mid-third-round pick to obtain the veteran back could be a good starting point. For those contending but in need of running back help, Houston's RB1 is a cost-effective back to target.

WR Calvin Ridley

Despite topping 1,000 receiving yards in 2024, Calvin Ridley is a wide receiver whose stock is down. The cost of acquiring the 30-year-old playmaker is heavily influenced by poor quarterback play from Will Levis. Mason Rudolph was also in the mix last season. Neither player looked good when they were in at QB.

Ridley is the Titans' No. 1 receiver, which is unlikely to change heading into 2025. He saw the most air yards in the NFL in 2024, posting 1,780. Although yards were there, the touchdowns weren't. The former first-round pick scored four times in 2024 and is a candidate for positive regression.

No Wide Receiver had more unrealized air yards than Calvin Ridley in 2024.

Should the Titans consider taking a Quarterback with the first pick overall? pic.twitter.com/6oxqPXPCnV

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) January 26, 2025

If Tennessee can improve its quarterback situation, Ridley will be a fantastic and cheap addition to your roster. The Titans have the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, while some veteran QBs will become free agents.

KTC has Ridley as WR58, meaning you can get him on the cheap. The Alabama product could be obtained with a third- and fourth-round pick. You could also try moving an early third-round pick and a young backup quarterback like Trey Lance or Joe Milton III.

WR DK Metcalf

The rumors are swirling that DK Metcalf could be traded from the Seahawks as he enters the last year of his contract with the team. Whether Metcalf stays with Seattle or finds himself atop the depth chart on another roster, he is a player worth targeting for dynasty leagues.

In 2024, we saw the rise of Jaxon Smith-Njigba as WR1 in the offense. Metcalf still contributed heavily to the team, catching 66 balls (the exact number he caught in 2023). The 27-year-old gained 992 receiving yards but only scored five times. His five touchdowns were the lowest of his career.

Geno Smith somehow finds DK Metcalf in traffic!pic.twitter.com/cRJw9J3vBO

— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) November 25, 2024

Metcalf may not have hit 1,000 receiving yards this season, but he accomplished that feat in 2022 and 2023. Although his receiving yards might continue to trend down, he still has plenty of gas left in his tank. Seattle might also boost its quarterback position for 2025, as Geno Smith is currently under center.

If you're a contending team looking to bolster your wide receiver group, making a move for Metcalf would be in your best interest. KTC currently shows Metcalf as WR26. A late-first-round pick could get it done. An early second and early third-round pick might also be a starting point. 27 is still relatively young for a superstar like Metcalf, so you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.

TE Zach Ertz

I will 100 percent admit I was completely wrong about Zach Ertz for 2024. I thought he would have a drop-off in his 12th season. Placing him on this list is me trying to make amends with Mr. Ertz, and I think this move will benefit fantasy managers in need of a solid tight end.

Ertz is 34, and with each year, the questions about retirement keep coming. The veteran TE has assured the media he is not retiring in 2025. Whether or not the Commanders choose to bring back the 2013 draft pick is on the team. Ertz has expressed his hope to return to the squad for another year.

Zach Ertz, not retiring, per Zach Ertz@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail #Commanders pic.twitter.com/fR9oRrALrX

— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) January 27, 2025

The Stanford standout played in all 17 games in 2024, his first time accomplishing that milestone. Going into Year 13, Ertz feels younger than he has in some time. If he stays with Washington, he benefits from being one of Jayden Daniels' favorite targets. If he goes elsewhere, a team will get a veteran presence who still competes at a high level.

The tight end posted 66 receptions for 654 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. Taking a shot on the big man, especially in tight-end premium leagues, is worth it for a team in contention. KTC currently has his dynasty value at TE32. Attempting to trade an early fourth-round pick for Ertz would be a good starting point in trade negotiations.

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