Our writers have already written about the top rookie running backs as well as who the best rookie wide receiver is from this year’s draft class. Now we’re going to focus on some players that dynasty managers should be trying to acquire in trades.
Q. Which player are you targeting most in dynasty leagues?
Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)
One of my favorite players to buy low on right now is Deebo Samuel. All of the hype is surrounding Brandon Aiyuk while Samuel is becoming a nice value. Samuel is currently WR33 and the 70th player overall in FantasyPros’ dynasty rankings while Aiyuk is WR22 and the 49th, respectively. Samuel averaged 1.83 fantasy points per target while Aiyuk averaged 1.9 in 2020. He also averaged 2.37 yards per route ran while Aiyuk averaged 1.74. Both are going to be involved in this offense, but I believe there’s just as good of a chance that the WR1 on this offense is Samuel as it could be Aiyuk. He’s much cheaper right now and someone I’m targeting all over the place in my dynasty leagues.
– Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill)
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
If you’re playing dynasty leagues, you’re well aware of the influx of dynamic, young wide receivers that have taken the NFL by storm in the last few seasons. Because of an early-season injury and possibly due to the team he plays for, Sutton may not get the publicity or notoriety that some of his fellow wideouts do. Sutton tore his ACL in Week 2 last season, but in 2019, he totaled over 1,000 yards and 72 catches. He was looking to build on that in 2020 and while his abrupt end to that season may be a blip on the radar, a re-energized and presumably recovered Sutton should be a big-time factor in 2021. I mean, we saw Tim Patrick become fantasy-relevant last season in Sutton’s role. While targets are spread pretty thin with so many weapons in Denver, Sutton should be at the top of the food chain. It may not cost more than low-1st or high-2nd to acquire him either. Take advantage of those dynasty managers who may have forgotten just how special and productive Sutton was in 2019.
– Kevin Tompkins (@ktompkinsii)
CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL)
There were a copious number of rookie wide receivers that impressed during the 2020 campaign. While some people become enamored with grabbing one of the wide receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft class — which isn’t an awful strategy — getting one of the second-year wideouts could prove to be fruitful in dynasty leagues too. Lamb is someone I’m trying to get a ton of shares of this offseason as he enters his second year with the Dallas Cowboys. When Dak Prescott was operating the offense from Weeks 1-5 in 2020, Lamb was WR11 in PPR leagues. With Prescott expected to be back for the Cowboys amid his impending free agency, Lamb’s value should skyrocket, even with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup also commanding targets in the offense. In dynasty redraft leagues, it’s not a stretch to say that Lamb should be one of the first wide receivers off of the board. At the same time, trading an early 2021 first-round pick for Lamb would be a logical move.
– Skyler Carlin (@skyler_carlin)
Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR)
If you are going to target someone, you should be targeting a whale and McCaffrey certainly fits that bill. To understand the nexus for why McCaffery is someone I am targeting, we have to first realize a couple of realities. First, there is the perceived sunken cost that some managers have for him. Last year at this time, it would have taken multiple first round rookie picks or other high value assets in order to even come to close to acquiring CMC. Second, and perhaps more notably, is the injury discount and misconception that his injury was related to his workload. While he did amass over 700 touches between 2018 and 2019, his injuries were as much a stroke of bad luck as they were related to wear and tear. McCaffrey is notorious for his offseason training and since he only played three games in 2020, the injury likely increased his shelf life by a season or two. Combine that with the fact the Panthers seem intent on feeding their starting running back 25+ touches per game (Mike Davis had a RB2 floor and was the overall PPR RB1 in three weeks that he replaced CMC last fall), and McCaffrey should be right back to his status as the alpha dog among fantasy running backs. You can get him at quite the discount from where his stock was a year ago, and capitalizing on dips like this is how you profit long-term in dynasty leagues. If you need running back help, acquiring McCaffrey should be at the top of your offseason to-do-list.
– Jason Kamlowsky (@JasonKamlowsky)
Rashod Bateman (WR – NCAA)
Usually, your early dynasty picks are going to be someone in the rookie draft class, because a lot of managers stash the young players with upside that were available last year on the bench. An example of that is A.J. Dillon, who was a second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers that was only playable in one game in 2020. A lot of savvy owners are going to have stashed him on their bench and kept him for this year knowing that Aaron Jones would be a free agent in 2021 and that Dillon would have a chance to earn the starting gig in his second year. A player that I know is going to be available because he is a rookie is Bateman and I like his chances to make an impact this year in the right situation. He is not in the same class as Najee Harris, Devonta Smith, and Ja’Marr Chase where he will be one of the first players taken in all dynasty drafts. However, he has great size at 6′ 2″ and 210 pounds and he is one of the best route runners in this draft. I think he is likely to last until the end of the first round or the beginning of the second round in the 2021 NFL Draft because he lacks elite speed and quickness. All that means is that he could be paired with an elite quarterback as a rookie and he could put up big numbers immediately. Anyone that has not seen this guy play should watch tape of him. He is a very solid player and in the right situation, he is a dynasty player that could pay fantasy dividends immediately. How solid his situation is after the 2021 NFL Draft will determine his draft slot in dynasty leagues.
– Derek Lofland (@DerekLofland)
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