Now that the dust has settled on the 2023 NFL season, it’s time to look back at what this surprising rookie class accomplished and what it could mean for their future in the NFL and your dynasty fantasy football teams. Here is how to approach second-year NFL players in your dynasty drafts and trades.
- 2024 NFL Draft Guide
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
2023 Dynasty Trade Advice
Top-25 Dynasty Wide Receivers (Top-12 Upside)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – Seattle Seahawks) | Tank Dell (WR – Houston Texans) | Rashee Rice (WR – Kansas City Chiefs) | Zay Flowers (WR – Baltimore Ravens)
When it comes to explosive upside, this group is full of it. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a trio of events that hindered his rookie season. He broke his wrist before Week 1, Geno Smith regressed and he battled two elite wide receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Unfortunately, the latter two circumstances aren’t likely to change, even though fantasy managers everywhere are convinced Lockett won’t be a Seahawk in 2024 (I’m not buying it). But winning in fantasy football means buying into talent, not circumstance, and that is what managers should be doing with “JSN.” He was able to eclipse 600 yards as a rookie and could break the 1,000-yard threshold in year No. 2.
Rashee Rice and Tank Dell were the overperformers of the tier, but they look to be the real deal.
Rice had an impressive 2.39 YPRR (Yards per Route Run) in his rookie campaign and displayed incredible YAC (Yards After Catch) ability. Being tied to Patrick Mahomes doesn’t hurt either. The one thing holding him back from being truly elite is his Average Depth of Target (aDOT), which came in at a paltry 5.2, which tells us he was schemed into some of his production more than we like to see in the premier players at the position.
On the other hand, Dell sported a 14.4 aDOT, and while his slighter frame would imply he was meant to be a slot wide receiver, he only lined up there around 29% of his snaps, according to PFF. Anyone who paid attention to his college profile knew he had that kind of usage potential, but seeing it come to fruition in the NFL in year No. 1 was unexpected. Like Rice, Dell is tied to an elite young passer in Stroud and looks to be on the fast track to NFL and fantasy football stardom. The only thing slowing him down is his equally impressive teammate Nico Collins.
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