Several factors go into building a consistently elite dynasty team. One of those is identifying the top player on every NFL team. Another is knowing which players you should trade away before their fantasy value decreases.
Typically the starting quarterback is the top dynasty asset on every NFL team in superflex leagues. However, they are rarely the top asset in 1QB leagues. To help you build the best dynasty team possible, I will identify the top dynasty asset and sell candidates for every NFL team.
Today I break down the AFC West teams: the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Several factors go into building a consistently elite dynasty team. One of those is identifying the top player on every NFL team. Another is knowing which players you should trade away before their fantasy value decreases.
Typically the starting quarterback is the top dynasty asset on every NFL team in superflex leagues. However, they are rarely the top asset in 1QB leagues. To help you build the best dynasty team possible, I will identify the top dynasty asset and sell candidates for every NFL team.
Today I break down the AFC West teams: the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Top Dynasty Asset
Here are the top dynasty assets for each AFC West team.
Unfortunately, Williams suffered a severe season-ending knee injury in Week 4 last season. However, the former North Carolina star was on pace for another productive year, averaging 10.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game before the injury. Furthermore, Williams showed more potential in the passing game than as a rookie. He averaged 2.5 receptions per game in 2021 before seeing that number jump to four receptions per contest last season. More importantly, the young running back appears on track to play in Week 1. While the injury likely won’t be 100% behind him until the 2024 season, Williams remains a top-15 dynasty running back.
The Chiefs have two future Hall of Fame players on offense in Mahomes and Travis Kelce. However, the superstar tight end turns 34 during the 2023 season and could retire as early as next offseason. Yet, don’t expect that to slow down Mahomes. The superstar quarterback has averaged at least 20.5 fantasy points per game every year of his career as the starter. Furthermore, he led the NFL with a career-high 5,250 passing yards in 2022 despite losing Tyreek Hill in the offseason. Mahomes is the clear-cut 1.01 pick in dynasty startup drafts. Yet, he is still worthy of a top 24 pick in 1QB leagues too.
You can argue that Davante Adams is still the top dynasty asset on the Raiders. He has averaged at least 16.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in four of the past five seasons. However, the superstar turns 31 in December and might not see the same heavy target volume with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. Meanwhile, Jacobs was the RB3 last season, averaging 17.8 fantasy points per game, a career-high. More importantly, the star running back led the NFL in touches (393), rushing yards (1,653) and scrimmage yards (2,053). Jacobs became the focal point of the offense last year under Josh McDaniels. He has three top-14 finishes in the past three years and should have another in 2023.
Last year the superstar quarterback had the worst fantasy season of his career, ending the year as the QB11, averaging 16.4 fantasy points per game. However, Herbert played through a severe shoulder injury and never had his entire supporting cast healthy. Yet, the young quarterback was a fantasy superstar over the first two years of his career, including a top-two finish in 2021. Furthermore, Herbert has been a passing machine, posting a 5.5% touchdown rate in his career before last season. Meanwhile, the Chargers improved his receiving core this offseason, adding Quentin Johnston with their first-round draft pick. After struggling last year, Herbert has overall QB1 upside moving forward.
The Top Sell Candidate
Here are players to consider trading away on each AFC West team.
While some, including myself, had high hopes for Sutton last year, it didn’t work out. Yes, poor quarterback play has impacted the former SMU star. However, Sutton has regressed since his career year in 2019. He missed all but one game in 2022 because of injury. Unfortunately, the receiver hasn’t been the same since returning from the torn ACL. Sutton has only a 3.3% touchdown rate over the past two years. Meanwhile, Jerry Jeudy is coming off the best year of his career and has become the No. 1 wide receiver. Hopefully, Sutton can bounce back in 2023 with a healthy Russell Wilson. If not, fantasy players should cut their losses with the veteran receiver.
Contending dynasty teams don’t want to trade away Kelce, but everyone else should sell high. The future Hall of Famer has been the TE1 in six of the past seven years, with the lone exception coming as the TE2 in 2021. However, he turns 34 during the 2023 season and could retire next off-season if his brother walks away. The only real knock against Kelce is his touchdown dependency. He had a career-high 12 receiving touchdowns last season, scoring 27.6% of his half-point PPR fantasy points from those touchdowns. By comparison, the superstar scored 24.9% of his fantasy points on touchdowns in 2021. Kelce wouldn’t be a sell candidate if he were three years younger.
I have never been a fan of Meyers. He saw 222 targets over the past two years, averaging 7.2 per game. Yet, the former New England Patriots receiver averaged only 9.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game during those two years, never finishing higher than the WR28 either season. Furthermore, the veteran led the team in targets in both years. Meanwhile, Meyers joined the Raiders this offseason on a cheaper deal than many expected. More importantly, the veteran won’t see the 22% or higher target share in Las Vegas as he did with the Patriots. Furthermore, fantasy players should be concerned about the quarterback situation, whether it’s Jimmy Garoppolo or someone else.
Ekeler is like Travis Kelce, a hold for contending teams but a sell-high candidate for everyone else. The superstar was the RB1 last season, averaging 18.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, that average was down from 19.3 in 2021, a career-high. Furthermore, his fantasy production got inflated by a significant uptick in targets. Ekeler averaged 5.9 targets per game in 2021, seeing eight or more in only four games. By comparison, he averaged 7.5 targets per game last year, seeing eight or more in eight contests. Meanwhile, the Chargers added multiple wide receivers during the NFL Draft. More importantly, Ekeler recently turned 28 years old and is entering the final year of his contract.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
