Few things can be as exhilarating as acquiring a player you’ve keyed in on as one of your preferred targets in your dynasty league. One of my favorite strategies is to find the players who I value slightly more than consensus does and try to acquire them at what I view as a discounted price.
While operating with those goals in mind, the trades you’ll make still come with a level of risk associated with them, but taking a stance and going out and acquiring a player that you’ve specifically can not only be rewarding, it’s also one of the most fun aspects of playing fantasy football! Today I’m diving into five players I’ve been trying to acquire in my dynasty leagues.
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Players to Target in Dynasty Leagues (2023 Fantasy Football)
George Pickens (WR – PIT)
We’ve reached the point where it seems as if there’s a colossal divide on George Pickens: you’re either in or you’re out. Much has been made lately about how Pickens can’t separate from defenders as easily as some of his peers, but I think it’s important to recognize that separation can come in various ways, and where he can create separation is at the catch point.
Pickens is a throwback in the sense that his quarterback needs to trust him to make a play on the ball, but he proved he could be a big-time threat on the boundary in his rookie season. In 2022 Pickens became one of 17 players since 2010 to eclipse 800 yards receiving while averaging over 15 yards per reception in their rookie seasons. Pickens is a locked and loaded WR2 for me in dynasty leagues with a ceiling that could see him rise even higher.
Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
Sticking your neck out to acquire Jameson Williams in a dynasty league is one of the riskier propositions you can make right now. He entered the league recovering from a severe knee injury, didn’t see the field very often, and now is set to miss the first six games of his second season thanks to a suspension.
I’m targeting Williams in scenarios where I can acquire him in a true “buy low” fashion. Suppose the current manager rostering Williams has grown tired of the waiting game and is willing to ship him off for a package built around mid-to-late round rookie draft capital or roster-clogging veterans. In that case, I’m going to take a swing on him. He still has game-breaking talent and could put it all together when he returns from suspension.
Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)
Tank Bigsby Been going crazy during training camp?? pic.twitter.com/V4ECiTc4nC
— Brad Lester (@BradLester1) August 7, 2023
Travis Etienne is the headliner in the Jaguars backfield, but don’t discount the role Tank Bigsby will play for this Jacksonville team. Earlier this summer, I touched on why I thought Etienne could see fewer carries in 2023 than he did in 2022, and now we’re starting to see Bigsby flash in training camp and get talked up by various outlets. The likely outcome was this backfield always being more of a timeshare than many Etienne managers would like to admit, but Bigsby will have a role on this team as a runner and receiver.
He’s currently being drafted as the RB37 (courtesy of DLF’s July ADP) behind options such as Antonio Gibson, David Montgomery, and AJ Dillon. All three players find themselves in timeshares the way Bigsby does, but you could argue Bigsby has more upside than all. Draft Tank Bigsby as an RB3 with confidence, but he could continue climbing the ranks sooner than later.
D’Andre Swift (RB – PHI)
Rostering D’Andre Swift in a dynasty league has not been for the faint of heart over the past few seasons, but his talent remains undeniable. Swift found himself traded to the Philadelphia Eagles following the Lions’ selection of Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the NFL Draft, and he couldn’t have asked for a more exciting change of scenery.
Swift joins a loaded Eagles offense that features explosive playmakers at nearly every position and could outperform his ADP (RB22, 68 overall) even if he’s in a timeshare with Rashaad Penny. Sharing the backfield with an explosive, dual-threat quarterback like Jalen Hurts can only help things open up for Swift. If he remains healthy (a big if), he could flirt with a top-12 finish in 2023. I’d look to package a 2024 second-rounder with a depth player from your bench in exchange for Swift, where possible.
Luke Musgrave (TE – GB)
Luke Musgrave leaving safeties in his DUST pic.twitter.com/s0ADe4xY0Q
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) August 6, 2023
The 2023 NFL Draft brought us several tight ends to get excited about for fantasy football purposes, and at his current value, I’m trying to acquire more shares of Packers’ tight end, Luke Musgrave.
Most rookie tight end hype has focused on Dalton Kincaid landing in Buffalo. Still, there’s a path to Musgrave finding substantial playing time early on in his career, and he has the athleticism to turn into a big-play threat for Jordan Love to complement Christian Watson playing on the outside.
If the manager rostering him in your league looks set to contend, sending an offer of an older veteran in the mold of Adam Thielen, along with a 2024 third-round rookie pick, could get the conversation started. Musgrave’s long-term upside is well worth that price.
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