Fantasy Football Dynasty Buys and Sells - Post NFL Draft Edition

Dave Ventresca analyzes several fantasy football players you should consider buying and selling in your dynasty leagues with the 2024 NFL Draft now concluded.

When it comes to dynasty fantasy football leagues, one of the most intriguing aspects is the fluctuations in player value in the aftermath of the NFL Draft. Players once thought of as placeholders quickly rise draft boards, while stars who seemed secure become losers in an instant.

Dynasty rankings were turned upside down following the draft. Which players became intriguing buys and which ones should you now consider selling?

Make sure you keep up to date with all your fantasy football needs by following RotoBaller on X and checking out RotoBaller.com. Let’s take a look at several dynasty players to buy and sell following the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Fantasy Football Dynasty Buys

Bryce Young - QB, Carolina Panthers

2023 was a complete disaster for Young.

Kenny Moore pick-six off of Bryce Young!
pic.twitter.com/b4Ov8T3cP0

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 5, 2023

As bad as things were, there’s reason for optimism in 2024. New Panthers head coach Dave Canales has a strong track record with quarterbacks. In 2022, Canales was the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks. He worked closely with starter Geno Smith and helped guide him to an out-of-nowhere career year culminating with Smith winning the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Canales then moved on to Tampa Bay where he was the Buccaneers offensive coordinator last year. He worked directly with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Once again, Canales’ signal-caller enjoyed a career year as Mayfield posted career highs across the board.

Carolina has also done its best to add more weapons around Young. It traded for receiver Diontae Johnson this offseason. He is now a legitimate WR1 target for the young quarterback. The Panthers also drafted rookie receiver Xavier Legette and running back Jonathon Brooks in the NFL Draft. The second-year pro is in a much better position for success in Year 2.

Young was bad across the board as a rookie. Any metric would show that. Still, we shouldn’t completely give up hope.

1st Overall Pick Quarterbacks to post LESS than 15 PPG as a Rookie

[ Matthew Stafford ]
[ Trevor Lawrence ]
[ Sam Bradford ]
[ BRYCE YOUNG ]

you should NOT be giving up on Young after a disappointing Rookie Season pic.twitter.com/IHsxFdxaRs

— DynastyIM (@dynasty_im) May 5, 2024

He’s a fantastic buy-low option for Superflex managers needing quarterbacks. In short, this is a play on a strong offensive mind uniting with a former No. 1 overall pick. We saw Sean McVay work wonders for Jared Goff in Los Angeles after the latter endured a tough rookie season. We’re banking on Canales having the same effect on Young.

Jaylen Waddle - WR, Miami Dolphins

2023 didn't quite go the way Waddle owners hoped. He battled injuries, missed three games, and finished as the WR34 in full and half-PPR formats. Waddle is still a talented player, though, and dynasty managers shouldn’t be discouraged by last year.

Jaylen Waddle just had 74 yards...after the catch. Ridiculous 84-yard TD puts Dolphins up 10-3 vs. Packers.pic.twitter.com/AegH3v4fPP

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 25, 2022

His underlying data is still quite strong. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, Waddle had a 2.93 yards per route run (YPRR). Only Tyreek Hill, Brandon Aiyuk, Nico Collins, and Justin Jefferson had a higher mark. Last year, among receivers with 300 routes run, four players had a targets per route run (TPRR) of at least 30%, a YPRR greater than 2.8, and a Pro Football Focus (PFF) receiving grade of 90+. Those players were:

Tyreek Hill
Amon-Ra St. Brown
CeeDee Lamb
Jaylen Waddle

Waddle’s data puts him in elite company. It should serve as a reminder of how talented he is. Waddle is someone you should want on your roster. If a manager in your league has been turned off by his nagging injuries, see if you can acquire him in a trade. He already has a top-10 finish to his name and a monster season may not be far off.

Jaylen Warren - RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren began the 2023 season stuck behind starter Najee Harris. However, Warren was able to carve out a role in the offense and commanded enough touches to finish as the PPR RB22.

Jaylen Warren subs in for Najee Harris on 3rd-and-7. Stays in.

Then a long TD run.

More speed than given credit for. Good player. pic.twitter.com/6oK9NvhUmj

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) August 19, 2023

The Steelers backfield became much more interesting when the club declined the fifth-year option on Harris’s rookie contract. Is this a sign the club intends to increase Warren’s role?

While Harris had a good season, Warren was better in a variety of metrics. He finished with an impressive 5.26 yards per carry (YPC). He also finished fourth in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE), fifth in PFF’s Elusive Rating, and 13th in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt (MTF/ATT).

All of these marks were better than Harris’s. Warren could be poised to take over this backfield. Any metric you look at makes him look like a stud. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks out.

Fantasy Football Dynasty Sells

Kyren Williams - RB, Los Angeles Rams

One of last season’s fantasy MVPs, Williams' value took a hit when the Rams selected Michigan back Blake Corum in the third round of the NFL Draft. Corum was one of the most productive backs in college football and presents an immediate threat to Williams’ spot atop the depth chart.

.@RamsNFL @UMichFootball @blake_corum joins @Kyrenwilliams23 what a great 1-2 punch behind a vastly improved OL. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/2bWACCWCCe

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 27, 2024

Williams had an incredible 2023. The Rams had a front-row seat and still felt the need to draft Corum. GM Les Snead has admitted the team overworked Williams last year, and they see a lot of similarities between the two backs. It was also reported the Rams were looking to trade their third-round pick until they saw Corum fall to them.

Now is not the best time to sell Williams, but he still has some fans in the dynasty community. If you can find a trade partner willing to pay up (a future first-round pick plus a little something else), it’s an option that should be entertained. At the end of the day, Williams is still a running back with Day 3 draft capital. These rushers are almost always replaced by a more talented back with higher draft capital. Williams will be no different.

At the very least, we should not expect him to maintain his 21.3 PPR points per game (PPG) pace from last year. Williams has also struggled with injuries at times in his career. Should he miss any extended action, it will leave the door open for the rookie. More than likely, it’s only a matter of time until Corum takes over this backfield.

Kirk Cousins - QB, Atlanta Falcons

Even though he turns 36 in August, Cousins' dynasty value seemed relatively secure after Atlanta signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. That all changed when the Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in April’s draft. It was certainly a head-scratching selection given the team's signing of Cousins. Even more so when you consider he is coming off arguably the best season of his career. The 12-year vet finished first in adjusted completion percentage last year, per PFF.

Welcome to the NFL, Jordan Addison. Kirk Cousins connects with him for a 39-yard TD.

Lethal.pic.twitter.com/E0P6Sy0nbQ

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 10, 2023

The selection of Penix also raises questions regarding Cousins' recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. Did he experience a setback in rehab? Will he not be ready for the season? Are the Falcons worried about a drop in production? These now become valid questions. The team also has an out in Cousins' contract after the 2026 season. Per Spotrac, it can move on from the veteran and only incur a $12.5 million dead cap hit.

Penix could be on the bench for the majority, if not all, of this contract, similar to what we saw with Jordan Love and the Packers. He might also play sooner than expected if any of the above questions regarding Cousins are true. Either way, Atlanta has already made plans to replace its current starting quarterback. That's usually not a good sign for a player's dynasty future.

Josh Jacobs - RB, Green Bay Packers

While Jacobs enjoyed a career year in 2022, his 2023 season was a disappointment. He finished as the RB28 a year removed from an RB3 finish. Even more troubling were some of Jacobs’ advanced metrics. He finished 45th in RYOE, 41st in Rush Yards Over Expectation Per Attempt (RYOE/ATT), and 81st in MTF/ATT. These are concerning marks. Outside of his 2022 season, Jacobs has never been a very efficient back. He may not be the same player following that season.

The Packers have an out in Jacobs’ contract after this year. It would only be a $9 million dead cap hit if they were to cut him. If he continues to struggle, Green Bay may move on from Jacobs. His value is relatively secure following his signing with the Packers. Dynasty managers may be able to find a willing trade partner. If you can acquire Jacobs for a younger back who hasn’t broken out yet plus a draft pick, it’s worth exploring.

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