With February now in full swing, this is the time for seasoned dynasty players to try and exploit the market and gain a significant advantage. These IDP dynasty trade targets vary between players who broke out last year to players who struggled to break out but looked primed for a breakout in 2023.

• Dynasty Trade Value Chart
• How to Prepare for Your Dynasty Rookie Draft
• 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
• Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

IDP Dynasty Trade Targets (2023 Fantasy Football)

All of these assets are considerably undervalued right now. Therefore, consider making an offer for these players before their managers tap into their value and ask for more.

Travon Walker (DL – JAX)

Travon Walker saw a lot of playing time in his rookie year. While that won’t shock most people, considering he was the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, it should also show the franchise’s elite confidence in him. Also, this Jaguars’ defense was fairly terrible in the opening half of the season, as they slipped four games below .500 and were adjusting to a lot of new additions on both the playing staff and the coaching staff.

However, Walker had a good rookie season. Yes, it was not as explosive as Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions, but he showed enough talent and ability to show his rookie numbers have nowhere to go but up.

Walker managed 30 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles in 14 games, with four sacks. He averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game across his 14 games in 2022. However, with a more stable defensive line and a coaching staff more established and earning the trust and respect of the players, in addition to Walker’s increased experience, these numbers have nowhere to go but up. Walker finished as the DL69 in 2022. In 2023, expect Walker to be pushing up closer to DL2 numbers and hovering around the DL15-20 range due to increased production in the sack, tackle for loss and tackles departments. Walker managers got burned last year, and many will want to get out of the business of rostering him, especially before rookie drafts. Therefore, grab him now for a relatively low cost and take on his upside.

Frankie Luvu (LB – CAR)

Frankie Luvu was an IDP free agent darling in 2022 for owners. That is because 2022 was certainly his breakout year. Luvu ended up as the LB8 overall and was LB3 overall in points per game with 16.0 points per game. Ordinarily, a player like this would be very difficult to acquire. However, given that he cost absolutely nothing for IDP managers last year, many will be happy to see a positive return on their savvy waiver wire pick-up.

Luvu was ranked the 14th best linebacker according to PFF last year with a 74.8 rating. However, he was ranked third in run defense. He showed on tape the value he brings, and he brought it to the box score. Yet Sleeper has his ADP as LB37, FantasyPros’ dynasty rankings right now do not have him in the top 50 linebackers. Plus, all startup data on MyFantasyLeague.com has Luvu being drafted outside the top 25 linebackers.

While we should not box score chase in IDP or any form of fantasy football, Luvu is a much better football player than most analysts and fans give him credit for. The biggest slight on him as a player is that he was an undrafted free agent in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, with a breakout year under his belt, he is a player that should be easily attainable for the right rookie pick package in your leagues. And with the established role on the Panthers’ defense, and the numbers to back it up, Luvi should be at the heart of any acquisitions you make this offseason.

Willie Gay Jr. (LB – KC)

Willie Gay Jr. put up a huge Week 2 score of 20.8 fantasy points, only to then be suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. However, when he returned, he outscored his projected fantasy points for seven of the remaining 10 games of the fantasy football season.

Most people will look at Gay Jr. and his LB44 season and hold little to no hope for improvement. However, Gay Jr. finished as the LB18 when looking at points per game. From Weeks 10 to 17, Gay Jr. had six combined solo and assist tackles against every team except for the Houston Texans. Gay Jr. finished with sub-nine fantasy points just three times from Weeks 2 through 17 in the games he played in.

In addition, it is expected that Gay Jr. will improve his numbers in 2023. The dynamic sideline-to-sideline linebacker will be going into his fourth year in the NFL. There is a strong case he will be knocking on the door of low-end LB1 numbers in 2023 with this continued growth and development we saw in 2022. With Sleeper ADP putting him around LB70 and FantasyPros’ rankings putting him currently at LB40, there is significant value to be had in trading for him now and securing a high-upside player onto your roster for 2023.

Jordan Whitehead (S – NYJ)

Jordan Whitehead arrived in 2022 off the back of a reasonably sized free agency move from Tampa Bay. While his first season will not be seen as a total success in New York, there are many things from an IDP perspective that there is to like.

Whitehead finished the season as the DB41, or the S28, depending on your format. His 8.5 fantasy points per game did not wow or excite owners in IDP leagues. However, some underlying numbers are exciting and should point to a breakout in his second year with the Jets organization.

Whitehead finished with 70 solo tackles, tied for 19th amongst safeties, and added 22 assisted tackles to his season totals. These numbers, while solid, were achieved in his first year with the team. The Jets, with head coach Robert Salah and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, went from the 32nd-ranked defense according to Football Outsiders DVOA in 2021 to third in their defensive-weighted DVOA metrics in 2022. This shows IDP managers that players who are good enough to play in this system, with upgrades in positions, need a year to learn and master this scheme.

It is worth noting that the Jets’ weakness on defense is at safety. They will need to address this in free agency or the 2023 NFL Draft. However, should the Jets get stronger at safety and support Whitehead while also having learned the system, his numbers should skyrocket to at least a DB2 range, with the potential to get close to DB1 numbers next season.

2023 is looking to be Whitehead’s breakout year. So get on board the train now, before it leaves the station.

Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.