Summer is approaching, and NFL Training Camps will be in full swing before we know it. While right now might be one of the few lulls on the NFL calendar, fantasy football never truly sleeps.
Now is one of the best times of year for new dynasty startup drafts. Scoring top-tier value in your startup draft is instrumental in trying to bring home the championship in year No. 1 of your league.
Today we’ll dive into which player is the best value in dynasty leagues for every NFL team. We hope to provide you with an actionable path to extract value when building your teams this summer with sights on a championship trophy.
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
Dynasty Values to Target on Each NFL Team
Let’s check out the top dynasty fantasy football values to target on each NFL team.
Arizona Cardinals: RB Keaontay Ingram | ADP: 231.17 (RB80)
James Conner sits atop the running back depth chart for the Arizona Cardinals, but he is 28 years old and tends to get banged up. The Cardinals did not make any notable additions at the running back position this offseason, either in the NFL Draft or Free Agency, leaving Keaontay Ingram as the next man up. He in line for a significant workload if Conner were to miss any time. Ingram’s free at his current price tag and is a savvy late-round addition, especially in deeper leagues and best ball formats.
Atlanta Falcons: QB Desmond Ridder | ADP: 222.67 (QB29)
Sure, he’s coming off the board earlier in superflex formats, but the positional rank is nearly the same for Desmond Ridder. The former Cincinnati Bearcat is poised to have every opportunity to stake his claim to the Falcons quarterback job long-term. They’re an offense that will look to lean on the run after selecting Bijan Robinson in the top 10 of the NFL Draft. However, Ridder played better than expected in limited opportunity in 2022 and could be a valuable bench stash this late in startups, even in 1QB formats.
Baltimore Ravens: RB Gus Edwards | ADP: 210.17 (RB72)
JK Dobbins is the running back everyone wants to roster from the Ravens, and for a good reason. After being back to total health, he should be in line for a monster season. But Gus Edwards is a name that needs to be considered this late in drafts. Edwards ran for over 700 yards in three straight seasons from 2018 to 2020 and looked set to do so again in 2022 before appearing in just nine games. He won’t contribute much in the passing game but will have a role.
Buffalo Bills: RB Damien Harris | ADP: 150.67 (RB47)
Devin Singletary left the Bills in Free Agency. While we’re all excited about the prospects of James Cook taking on a more prominent role in the Bills’ potent offense, Damien Harris might be set to take on a more prominent role than many expect. Singletary led the team in rushing attempts in 2022 with 177 compared to Cook’s 89. Cook’s total attempts will undoubtedly rise, but I’d expect closer to a 50/50 split in rushing attempts, with Cook seeing more looks in the passing game. Harris has a nose for the endzone, which can’t go overlooked in an offense set to score as many points as the Bills will.
Carolina Panthers: WR DJ Chark | ADP: 146.00 – WR61
After including DJ Moore in the trade package that went to the Chicago Bears to move up to acquire quarterback Bryce Young, there are plenty of unanswered questions regarding the Panthers’ wide receiver depth chart. Adam Thielen is the most accomplished of the group, but DJ Chark has shown the ability to flash as a deep threat at multiple stops in his career. He averaged over 16 yards per reception in 2022 for the Lions. He could carve out an excellent role on a team looking for consistency from their weapons to support their young franchise quarterback.
Chicago Bears: RB Khalil Herbert | ADP: 116.33 (RB39)
We know that the Bears have a lethal running quarterback in Justin Fields. They also recently drafted Roschon Johnson and brought in D’Onta Foreman to help fill out their running back room. Still, Khalil Herbert’s level of efficiency might be too challenging to keep off the field. This will be a committee situation. But in the six games in 2022 when Herbert had double-digit rushing attempts, he averaged over five yards per attempt in five of them. Expect his main competition to come in Johnson, but Herbert will carve out a more significant role for himself this season.
Cincinnati Bengals: WR Tyler Boyd | ADP: 174.33 (WR74)
The Bengals’ passing attack will continue to be funneled through Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins but don’t forget about Tyler Boyd altogether. The Bengals threw the ball over 600 times in 2022, and we shouldn’t expect that number to go down any time soon. Boyd might not be the flashiest option, but he’s a member of a high-powered offense and still saw nearly 100 targets one season ago. He’s had over 700 yards receiving for five straight seasons. Despite being available in the 14th round of fantasy drafts, Boyd will have plenty of good fantasy weeks.
Cleveland Browns: WR Amari Cooper | ADP: 63.50 (WR33)
Amari Cooper tends to feel like the forgotten man in fantasy football circles, but last season once again showed the sort of player he can be. He posted 78 receptions, 1,160 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, mostly playing with Jacoby Brissett under center. Expectations should be that Deshaun Watson will resemble something closer to what we were accustomed to seeing from him in Houston, and 2022 could be the baseline of what to expect from Cooper in 2023. A surplus of youth at the wide receiver position pushes a player like Cooper down draft boards, but he’s an excellent target in the fifth or sixth round for fantasy managers looking to contend in year No. 1.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Brandin Cooks | ADP: 120.50 (WR55)
In one of the least discussed offseason moves, the Dallas Cowboys acquired Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans to have him play opposite star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Cooks dealt with a less-than-ideal situation a season ago in Houston, playing for a team that was one of the worst in the league. Playing with an established quarterback in Dak Prescott and a bonafide star running mate in Lamb, Cooks is a threat to put up yet another 1,000-yard season in 2023.
Denver Broncos: QB Russell Wilson | ADP: 168.83 (QB20)
Can Sean Payton help Russell Wilson cook once more? Last season wasn’t great for him by any stretch of the imagination, but there’s a glimmer of hope after the Broncos named Payton head coach. Wilson will have a great group of pass catchers headlined by Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton but also includes the return of Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims and Greg Dulcich at tight end. He’s no lock to finish as a top-12 option the way he was earlier in his career, but he’s a worthwhile gamble late in drafts in the hopes that Payton can revive his career.
Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff | ADP: 165.00 (QB19)
Sometimes it feels like we’re looking for a reason to discredit Jared Goff, but this player just threw for 4,400 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Lions added Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he’s not a threat to Goff in the short term. If Goff performs this way again in 2023, he might hold off Hooker for even longer. He’s a terrific target for fantasy managers in 1QB formats who go heavy on wide receivers and running backs early on and opt to punt the quarterback position until later in drafts.
Green Bay Packers: RB Aaron Jones | ADP: 75.50 (RB22)
The guard is changing in Green Bay with the franchise moving forward with Jordan Love under center. That presents some valuable opportunities for certain weapons in the Packers’ offense. Aaron Jones is the prime example of an aging running back that will get passed over for younger options in dynasty leagues. Jones is an excellent target in round six for fantasy managers who draft wide receivers early. It cannot be understated that Jones has averaged over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns across the past four seasons. Still, in startups, I’m operating under the assumption I’m trying to win in year No. 1.
Houston Texans: WR John Metchie | ADP: 150.67 (WR64)
We never got to see John Metchie on the field in 2022. After tearing his ACL to end his college career, Metchie received the terrible news he’d been diagnosed with leukemia. He looks to be recovering fully as he’s been participating in the Texans’ offseason program, and C.J. Stroud will need weapons to throw to. Metchie was the 44th-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he should be provided every opportunity to get on the field, assuming he’s fully recovered.
Indianapolis Colts: WR Alec Pierce | ADP: 161.50 (WR69)
Considering the tumultuous season the Colts had from a quarterback perspective, we should have probably been more impressed with Alec Pierce’s rookie season. All the Colts’ weapons had a disappointing season, but Pierce still managed to rack up nearly 600 yards receiving. Expect Anthony Richardson to be under center sooner than later for the Colts and to unlock the potential of the Colts’ skill players in the process. Alec Pierce is a perfect example of a player you can draft to be a bench player, but he could emerge as a threat on the boundary for the Colts this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Christian Kirk | ADP: 73.17 (WR37)
The state of the Jaguars’ pass catchers is an interesting one. Calvin Ridley returns from suspension and will debut with the team. But truth be told, the player that might impact the most is Zay Jones, not Christian Kirk. Kirk led the Jaguars in targets, receptions and receiving yards last year. While Ridley could slide into that lead role, Kirk still has a path to seeing north of 120 targets. Playing with one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, the Jaguars’ passing attack could explode in 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Skyy Moore | ADP: 141.67 (WR60)
The thought process is pretty simple for me with the Chiefs. I want to take a swing on a piece of the receiving group attached to the best quarterback in football. Given the players at wide receiver we’re choosing from, I’d like to take a swing with a budget in mind. Skyy Moore had a disappointing rookie season. However, Kadarius Toney has not shown enough in his short career to warrant me taking him 12 spots earlier than Moore at WR48.
Las Vegas Raiders: WR Jakobi Meyers |ADP: 125.83 (WR56)
Jakobi Meyers gets dropped into a Josh McDaniels offense that he is already familiar with. He will be playing across from one of the best wide receivers in all of football, Davante Adams. Sure, we can’t pencil him into a monster target share, but with coverage being dedicated to Adams, Meyers could be in store for one of his best seasons. If Jimmy Garoppolo can stay healthy, at worst, we can see a similar stat line to what he’s done in the past – around 800 yards receiving with a handful of touchdowns. While it might not be the flashiest, those are valuable players to keep on your roster as the season progresses.
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Keenan Allen | ADP: 90.33 (WR41)
I fully understand Keenan Allen is a 31-year-old wide receiver, and that’s something that dynasty players will shy away from. He only appeared in 10 games in 2022, but if he weren’t banged up, he would have totaled the same type of season he has across his entire career. He’s never been a player that wins with plus athleticism, he wins with route running nuance in the intermediate area of the field. That’s a skill set that I’m not worried about falling off a cliff this season. You’ll need to supplement your roster with other younger wide receivers, but I’m willing to roll the dice on Keenan Allen in round seven nearly every time.
Los Angeles Rams: TE Tyler Higbee | ADP: 210.17 (TE30)
The tight end landscape is always an exciting place to analyze for fantasy football. Still, I have difficulty drafting 29 different tight ends ahead of Tyler Higbee in startups. He finished 2022 as the TE6. If you would instead look at points per game, he still finished as TE10. He doesn’t have the elite upside of someone like Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews or TJ Hockenson. Still, we’re talking about a late-round pick spent on someone who finished as a top-10 option at the position just a season ago and is only entering his age-30 season.
Miami Dolphins: RB Jeff Wilson Jr. | ADP: 206.50 (RB69)
The Miami running back room is a little crowded currently, but this is another situation where I’d like to roster a piece of this running game. If given the opportunity, I’d like it to be as cost-effective as possible. Devon Achane is being drafted as a top-30 option for the position, which is too rich for me. The team brought back Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. in the offseason before drafting Achane. I expect all three backs to be involved, and right now, Wilson Jr. is the cheapest of the three. It wouldn’t shock me if Jeff Wilson Jr. led this backfield in rushing yards at the end of 2023.
Minnesota Vikings: QB Kirk Cousins | ADP: 158.17 (QB17)
Kirk Cousins is the quintessential boring quarterback pick in the back half of 1QB startup drafts. But you can do much worse than Cousins in round 13. He returns fringe QB1 value seemingly every season, and waiting on someone like Cousins gives you a ton of time to fill out your roster with running backs and wide receivers. You’d also like to have someone rostered who is younger, but in 1QB leagues, you can figure that out a little easier. In superflex, Cousins is a rock-solid QB2.
New England Patriots: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster | ADP: 115.33 (WR53)
There is an opportunity for JuJu Smith-Schuster to be an absolute target monster in the Patriots’ offense in 2023. Meyers and Nelson Agholor departed in free agency, and they left behind nearly 150 targets. With Bill O’Brien calling plays for the Patriots this season, Smith-Schuste could see himself becoming Mac Jones‘s favorite target early and often. He might never be the player dynasty managers hoped he was early on in his career, but he still had over 900 yards receiving a season ago for the Kansas City Chiefs.
New Orleans Saints: WR Michael Thomas | ADP: 152.83 (WR65)
Betting on Michael Thomas at this point in his career feels like taking the medicine you never liked the taste of when you were a kid. Still, if he can stay healthy in 2023, he won’t face much competition for targets outside of second-year stud wide receiver Chris Olave. We’re unsure if we’ll see Alvin Kamara at any point this season, and there is a lack of other proven receiving weapons for the new-look Saints offense led by freshly signed quarterback Derek Carr. Still, the last time we saw Thomas record over 1,000 yards receiving was in 2019. It does take a leap of faith, but that risk is baked into the cost of acquiring him.
New York Giants: TE Darren Waller | ADP: 102.00 (TE9)
Considering a player selected as a top-10 option at their position value sounds like a stretch, but that could be the case with Darren Waller in 2023. The Giants prioritized adding Waller as a primary option in their passing attack, and he has a solid chance at leading the Giants in targets in 2023. Only four tight ends had more than 100 targets in 2022, and Waller has a real opportunity to meet or exceed that mark this season.
New York Jets: WR Allen Lazard | ADP: 168.50 (WR70)
Allen Lazard figures to slide in as the WR2 in the Jets’ base offense. While he won’t get the volume that his teammate Garrett Wilson will, Lazard has the built-in familiarity with new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard won’t turn 28 until December this season. While he might not be an ascending asset, he will see plenty of valuable looks for the Jets this season and likely next season. It’d be too bullish to assume that Lazard could post 1,000 receiving yards this year, but 800 yards and a handful of touchdowns is not out of the question.
Philadelphia Eagles: RB Rashaad Penny | ADP: 135.67 (RB43)
The Eagles signed Rashaad Penny in Free Agency this offseason, and there was a moment when it looked like the value might spiral out of control. Since then, the Eagles have also traded for former Detroit Lions runner D’Andre Swift. Strangely it’s an almost ideal scenario for both players. We know how good the offense and the scheme can be, but both players have dealt with injury concerns. Maybe the ceiling is capped from what it could have been if they weren’t sharing the backfield. However, if they both stay healthy thanks to limited opportunities, there’s a chance we can see both be fantasy relevant for a high-powered Eagles offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: WR George Pickens | ADP: 66.00 (WR34)
George Pickens is another player who might not be going excessively late but whose price tag might only go up from here. By this time next season, there’s a real chance we’re talking about Pickens as a top-20 option at wide receiver, if not higher. He could emerge as the de facto No. 1 wide receiver on the Steelers this year. He’s already demonstrated chemistry with Kenny Pickett, and you should be looking to scoop up as many Pickens shares for WR3 prices as possible this summer.
San Francisco 49ers: RB Elijah Mitchell | ADP: 151.00 (RB48)
Rostering Elijah Mitchell over the past few seasons has been a roller coaster. You might have gone from feeling like you found the ultimate diamond in the rough to seeing the 49ers mix up running back usage, and then to them eventually trading for star running Christian McCaffrey. While Mitchell might not have the high-end value we once hoped he would, he will still possess some standalone value that could help him finish as a top-36 option if things break right. Mitchell is also one of the elite handcuffs in football. If McCaffrey misses any time, he would vault himself back into the RB1 discussion.
Seattle Seahawks: WR Tyler Lockett | ADP: 102.67 (WR46)
As you might have guessed at this point, I’m a big fan of filling out my roster with veteran wide receivers later in startup drafts. It’s so easy to be enamored with potential and age in the early rounds of startups. Yet, every time we draft a player and say we will roster them until the end, remember that you’re much more likely to be viewing your team in a two to three-year window. Lockett might be winding down his career, but he will still be in the discussion to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in 2023.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans | ADP: 77.50 (WR38)
It sounds basic. It sounds too easy. All Mike Evans does is put up 1,000-yard seasons. He’s another player who lacks the sizzle some of his peers do now. He’s undoubtedly getting a downgrade at the quarterback position this year, which is baked into the cost of drafting him. You can potentially roster Evans as the WR3 on your roster right now, and that feels much better than relying on him as your top option.
Tennessee Titans: WR Kyle Philips | ADP: 239.50 (WR111)
Kyle Philips is free to draft. He’s coming off the board as the 111th wide receiver drafted, but an opportunity is readily available with the Titans. There are no heavily-established wide receivers ahead of him set to play the slot position, and his footwork and route-running ability could lead to him being on the field more often than not. He’s a player who could have a reasonably sizable role but isn’t coming off the board until round 20. That alone makes the risk worth it.
Washington Commanders: QB Sam Howell | ADP: 236.50 (QB33)
The Commanders look set to give Sam Howell every opportunity to lock himself into the starting quarterback job. I love the idea of stashing Howell on my bench in 1QB formats this late in drafts. He offers more dual-threat ability than gets talked about. And let’s not forget that before his last collegiate season, he was a player who was routinely talked about getting drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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All average draft position referenced is May 1QB startup ADP, courtesy of DLF.
