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Luke's risky dynasty fantasy football buys to target in trades for 2026. His top risky buys with upside include Rachaad White, Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Willis, and more.
The beauty of dynasty football is that there is never a dull moment. Regardless of whether you can make it into the playoffs or not, you’re instantly looking to move up (or back) in the draft, analyzing which free agents to pick up off of waivers based on speculation of landing in a productive spot, or looking at risky narratives related to who you can buy low and gamble on the upside potential.
Now that the draft has concluded, we have a little bit more clarity on what situations might look like for the current veterans in the league. Which position are you needing to acquire to complete your team?
Whether it’s a depth option or a pivot that you need to make to increase the upside of your team, let’s get you covered on some risky buys with upside for those in dynasty fantasy football leagues.
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Rachaad White - RB, Washington Commanders
Before the draft, there was significant speculation around the potential of Jeremiyah Love being drafted to the Washington Commanders. Now that we know he is an Arizona Cardinal, we can add more value to the sneaky free-agent addition for the Commanders in Rachaad White. White was signed to a one-year deal to rejoin his former teammate Jayden Daniels, with whom he played in 2020 at Arizona State.
Before Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving exploded onto the scene halfway through the 2024 season and usurped him on the depth chart in 2025, White averaged 12.42 fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats and finished as a top-24 back in both 2023 and 2024.
With Jacory Croskey-Merritt there in Washington, we can’t expect White to have the lion’s share of the touches as he did during his career-best 2023 season, where he had 336 touches. However, this could be a cheap buy that turns out to be a league winner if he steals more work than we expect from Croskey-Merritt.
After his early-career peak, Rachaad White settled into a shared backfield role.
Now in Washington, he enters a situation with no clear lead back.
A real opportunity to step up. pic.twitter.com/AlU57RTfTa
— Commanders Nation (@WasCommandersCP) April 23, 2026
Currently ranked as the RB40 on RotoBaller's Dynasty charts, try to trade for White and get an RB3 with upside for your team.
Current KeepTradeCut Value: (Rachaad White)
- QB - Mac Jones
- RB - Braelon Allen
- WR - Chimere Dike
- TE - Terrance Ferguson
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Late 2nd
Kenneth Gainwell - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although Irving had an underwhelming season in 2025 due to injury and will likely be the dominant back for his team again, new free agent addition running back Kenneth Gainwell is coming off an amazing season in which he quietly produced 1,000+ scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns while sharing the backfield with running back Jaylen Warren on the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
Most notably, Gainwell dominated receiving work out of the backfield with 73 receptions on 85 targets. While Irving has a reputation for being efficient out of the backfield as well, there is a clear path for Gainwell to specialize as a third-down back and take some of the load off of Irving this season. After producing as a top-20 back last season as a 1B, Gainwell could prove to be another league winner if given a similar opportunity in 2026.
Kenneth Gainwell produced in a limited role with Pittsburgh in 2025.
Over 1,000 total yards and strong impact in the passing game.
Now he gets a new opportunity in Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/fHxB2nGIwQ
— Buccaneers Nation (@BucsNationCP) April 22, 2026
Current KeepTradeCut Value: (Kenneth Gainwell)
- QB - Tua Tagovailoa
- RB - Tyler Allgeier
- WR - Troy Franklin
- TE - Chig Okonkwo
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Late 2nd
- Honorable Mention: Rhamondre Stevenson, Jordan Mason
Xavier Worthy - WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy came into the 2025 season with high expectations due to a strong ending of his rookie season, in which he produced an average of 6.7 catches, 89.2 all-purpose yards, and one touchdown in his final six games of the season (including playoffs).
The Chiefs' WR1 Rashee Rice was also on the verge of being suspended for six games, which seemingly presented a prime opportunity for Worthy to soak up the majority of passing offense. After colliding on a crossing route by tight end Travis Kelce on the Chiefs' first drive of the season, Worthy would never return to full health in 2025 as he played through a torn labrum from the dislocated shoulder suffered on that play.
The return of Eric Bieniemy should also be a healthy addition to the passing attack, as he helped Patrick Mahomes average 303 yards per game during 2018-2022, and the addition of free agent running back Kenneth Walker should force the safeties to come up more frequently.
It’s worth the risk of sending out an early second-round pick just to bet on Worthy’s extreme upside in this passing attack, especially with RotoBaller’s current WR48 overall dynasty ranking.
Xavier Worthy's air yards per target by week from Week 14 on...
Week 14: 4.0
Week 15: 8.5
Week 16: 6.1
Week 17: 0.7
Week 18: Ran one route
Divisional: 1.5
AFC Championship: 6.8He hasn't taken more than 67% of snaps outside in any of these games. I think that KC has found the… https://t.co/Ubq5OgPRNe
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) January 28, 2025
Current KeepTradeCut Value: (Xavier Worthy)
- QB - Michael Penix Jr.
- RB - Chuba Hubbard
- WR - Quentin Johnston
- TE - Eli Stowers
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Early 2nd
Brian Thomas Jr. - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
After Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. finished his rookie season as the WR4 overall in 2024, production fell off a cliff in 2025 with an average of just 8.2 fantasy points per game in half-PPR leagues. That landed him as the WR48 on the season.
There is so much heavy speculation around him going into the 2026 season that his value has regressed to WR36 in RotoBaller's recent dynasty rankings, behind teammate Parker Washington and just ahead of teammate Jakobi Meyers.
While it’s true that the receiver room has certainly developed unpredictably since the 2024 season with the emergence of Washington, the acquisition of Meyers, and the looming threat of Travis Hunter’s potential to steal some offensive play designs, this has to be the lowest that we see Thomas Jr. for the rest of his young career.
Take advantage of the fear, uncertainty, and doubt to acquire one of the most talented wide receivers from the 2024 draft class while you still can for the right price.
Jaguars WRs/TEs when on the field together in 2025:
1. Parker Washington (106 routes)
32% targets 👀
2.84 yards per route 👀
13.8 average depth of target2. Jakobi Meyers (105)
22% tgts
0.91 yprr
9.7 aDOT3. Brian Thomas Jr. (106)
16% targets
1.42 yprr
14.7 aDOT4. Brenton…
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) March 28, 2026
Try sending the 1.05-1.08 in 2026 to acquire Thomas Jr. and some 2027 draft capital if you need a receiver.
Current KeepTradeCut Value: (Brian Thomas Jr.)
- QB - Sam Darnold
- RB - Chase Brown
- WR - Tee Higgins
- TE - Harold Fannin
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Mid 1st
- Honorable Mention: Ricky Pearsall, Jalen Coker, Jalen McMillan
Isaiah Likely - TE, New York Football Giants
Before the 2025 season started, there was chatter from head coach John Harbaugh about potentially making Isaiah Likely an All-Pro tight end.
While a preseason foot injury would derail the momentum for Likely's ability to live up to this hype after missing the first three games of the season and lacking production thereafter, Harbaugh took advantage of free agency and brought him along to the New York Giants after the Baltimore Ravens had a lackluster ending to their season.
After sharing the field with the Ravens’ alpha tight end, Mark Andrews, to begin his career, he should be able to emerge as a TE1 in his new offense despite ceding some targets to Giants tight end Theo Johnson. Likely has shown tremendous talent in the absence of Andrews in the past, such as Weeks 12-18 of the 2023 season, when he averaged 3.5 catches for 53.7 receiving yards and 0.83 touchdowns per game.
If you need a tight end, try sending an early 2026 second-rounder to land coach Harbaugh’s favorite All-Pro project in Likely.
John Harbaugh on his confidence in Isaiah Likely evolving into a high-volume tight end for the Giants:
"The numbers you're talking about - the stats - that wasn't part of the thing in Baltimore just because of the supporting cast, so to speak. It's gonna be a big year."
via… pic.twitter.com/4H15u9xwy5
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbytrosset) March 30, 2026
Current KeepTradeCut Value: (Isaiah Likely)
- QB - Ty Simpson
- RB - Chuba Hubbard
- WR - Jayden Reed
- TE - Jake Ferguson
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Early 2nd
- Honorable Mention: Chig Okonkwo, Sam LaPorta
Malik Willis - QB, Miami Dolphins
Despite having a miserable start to his NFL career after being drafted to the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Malik Willis has earned a chance to become a franchise quarterback for the Miami Dolphins after taking advantage of his opportunities while backing up Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love for the past two seasons in 2024 and 2025.
After completing just 53% of his passes for zero touchdowns and three interceptions during his time with the Titans, Willis has completed 78.7% of his pass attempts in the past two years for six touchdowns and zero interceptions. That’s quite the contrast and could be further proof that the most ideal situation for a rookie quarterback to come into is one that allows them to develop behind a highly skilled veteran quarterback.
The real reason this could be an incredible value in acquiring Willis, who’s ranked QB24 on RotoBaller’s rankings, is that he also has superb rushing upside, carrying 42 times for 261 yards and three touchdowns over his past two seasons. If new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley can utilize Willis the same way that he did while they both belonged to the Packers, we could find fantasy gold here while people still doubt the Dolphins.
Malik Willis as a starter since 2024 (QB ranks, minimum 3 starts)…
🔸79.6 completion pct (1st)
🔸11.3 pass yds/attempt (1st)
🔸3-0 pass TD-INT ratio (1st)
🔸132.4 passer rating (1st)
🔸42.6 1st down/TD pct (1st)
🔸0.3 giveaways/game (1st)
🔸58.0 rushing YPG (1st)
🔸1.0 rush… https://t.co/3pyAUtpNJq— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) March 9, 2026
Try trading a late 2026 first for Willis while people still have their concerns.
Current KeepTradeCut Value: (Malik Willis)
- QB - Daniel Jones
- RB - Bhayshul Tuten
- WR - Jordan Addison
- TE - Oronde Gadsden II
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Late 1st
- Honorable Mention: Bryce Young, Cam Ward
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