Cheap Dynasty Fantasy Football Buys With Upside in 2024 - Fantasy Football Outlook

June 16, 2024

Dave Ventresca analyzes several cheap dynasty fantasy football buys with upside in 2024. Dynasty managers should consider acquiring these players for their team.

Let’s be honest. When it comes to dynasty fantasy football, the ultimate goal is to win championships. Drafting rookies and playing scout is fun, but the only thing people remember is who wins titles.

One of the most integral parts of playing dynasty fantasy football is recognizing marketplace inefficiencies and acting on them accordingly. Player values fluctuate wildly and if you can identify cheap options with upside, it can give you a massive edge over your league mates.

Make sure you follow RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five cheap dynasty buys with upside to target in your dynasty fantasy football league.

Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins

There may not have been a bigger value in dynasty leagues last year than Mostert. At age 31, Mostert is the Cabernet Sauvignon of running backs as he only gets better with age. Finishing eighth in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE) and topping 1,000 rushing yards for the first time, Mostert enjoyed a career year in 2023. A whopping 22 touchdowns were also a career high and propelled him to a half-PPR RB2 finish.

Pat yourself on the back if you started Raheem Mostert in fantasy today. That’s his 4th touchdown pic.twitter.com/2b9zUJfqh4

— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) September 24, 2023

Mostert recently received a contract extension that keeps him with the club through the 2025 season. The Dolphins do have an out in his contract and could cut him for only a $1 million dead cap hit after the 2024 season. However, after the year he just had, Miami might not be moving on anytime soon.

Right now, the conventional logic in the dynasty community is that standout rookie De'Von Achane will shoulder more of the workload this year. While that could be true, it’s uncertain that Achane will be able to handle an increase in touches. He did miss several games due to injury and is undersized for the position. There’s a possibility that we’re still looking at a split backfield. Should Achane miss any extended time again, Mostert would remain the team’s clear RB1.

We also need to acknowledge that Miami added another speedy back in the 2024 NFL Draft when it selected Jaylen Wright in the fourth round. Wright is talented but some flaws in his game could keep him on the sidelines. He shouldn’t pose an immediate threat for playing time unless Mostert is injured.

Given his age and Achane/Wright’s presence, Mostert is a player that most dynasty managers are probably looking to sell. This could be an angle to exploit. Mostert is older, but he’s got young legs. He barely saw any action early in his career. KeepTradeCut, which crowdsources data from dynasty players to create trade values, estimates his current value is a third-round rookie pick. At this cost, why would a contender not take a flier on him? He just finished as a top-five back. If his stellar play continues, he can be a key cog in a championship run.

Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots

As a rookie, Demario Douglas flashed playmaking ability and at times served as New England’s WR1. It looked like the Patriots may have found another late-round gem at the position.

Look at this catch by Demario Douglas.

He’s got a bright future.
pic.twitter.com/SBIElHOJnU

— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) December 25, 2023

New England’s receiving room is completely wide open. The team added rookies Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk in April’s draft, and there are also several incumbent veterans still in the mix. There’s a lot of target competition, but Douglas is as good a bet as any to emerge as rookie Drake Maye’s WR1.

Day Three Rookie Wide Receivers to post a 22%+ Target Rate and 1.50+ Yards per Route Run on 300+ Routes

[ Amon-Ra St Brown ]
[ Puka Nacua ]
[ Marques Colston ]
[ Mike Williams ]
[ Denarius Moore ]
[ DEMARIO DOUGLAS ]

Pop Douglas is the BEST BET to be Drake Maye’s WR1 pic.twitter.com/XYm5opRHjN

— DynastyIM (@dynasty_im) May 7, 2024

However, Douglas is currently ranked as RotoBaller’s dynasty WR76. KTC estimates his trade value is currently a third-round rookie pick. He makes for a good flier pick late in startup drafts and is an ideal throw-in target in trade discussions.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets

Rodgers’ debut season with the Jets ended before things could get started. He tore his Achilles tendon four snaps into his first game with the club. The future Hall of Famer returns in 2024 and he is poised to lead the Jets to a postseason berth.

New York has done its best to fix the offensive line woes that plagued it in 2023. The team signed tackle Tyron Smith to a one-year deal in free agency and drafted tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu with the 11th overall pick in April’s draft. An improved offensive line will greatly benefit Rodgers at this stage of his career. He also has a solid arsenal of weapons at his disposal, including running back Breece Hall and third-year receiver Garrett Wilson as his WR1.

KTC estimates Rodgers' trade value is a late 2024 third-round pick in single-quarterback leagues and a late-second-round pick in Superflex leagues. If you need a quarterback, Rodgers is worth a look. He can return high-end QB2 or even back-end QB1 production if things break right. If he returns to MVP form? Rodgers would be a steal at his current price point. He is in the twilight of his career, but the four-time league MVP still has enough juice left to help dynasty gamers win a title or two.

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos

McLaughlin displayed impressive burst and quickness whenever he touched the football as a rookie.

JALEEL MCLAUGHLIN’S 3RD TOUCHDOWN OF THE YEAR GIVES THE BRONCOS A 7-3 LEAD!!! #BroncosCountry
pic.twitter.com/voH6Hvq8xY

— Sideline Daily (@sideline_daily) October 8, 2023

He graded out very well across several metrics. Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded McLaughlin as its 16th-highest rusher in 2023. He also finished seventh in PFF’s signature Elusive Rating. Running backs have always been heavily involved in Sean Payton’s offense. After a disappointing season from Javonte Williams, McLaughlin may command more touches in 2024.

Listed at 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds, it’s unlikely McLaughlin ever becomes a featured back. However, he can still be a useful asset in PPR leagues if he can carve out a Reggie Bush-type role. McLaughlin is currently ranked as RotoBaller’s dynasty RB62. At this cost, he is the exact type of player who can help win your league if he hits. If he doesn’t, just kick him to the curb.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers

Wicks flashed potential in his debut season with the Packers. He certainly looked the part as his route-running acumen turned heads throughout the year.

Dontayvion Wicks:

Route technician ✔️
Reliable hands ✔️
Great after the catch ✔️ pic.twitter.com/NAuPsPj39O

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 31, 2024

In limited action, Wicks posted some impressive advanced metrics. He checked in with a 23% targets per route run (TPRR) along with a 2.31 yards per route run (YPRR), per Fantasy Points Data Suite. This comes in a small sample, but it’s the kind of data you love seeing from a rookie. Green Bay’s receiving room is crowded, yet it’s unclear who will eventually emerge as the top option.

Ranked as RotoBaller’s dynasty WR71, Wicks should only improve going forward and can become a go-to option in this offense. With a little luck, he might become Jordan Love’s top target.

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