Navigating the trade market prudently is critical to success in any dynasty fantasy football league. I’m particularly keen on keeping an eye on the running back market, specifically the running back trade market in dynasty leagues.
Today’s NFL is dominated by star-caliber wide receiver play and many dynasty leagues have followed suit. It’s a respectable approach to build your team around as many young, talented wide receivers as possible. The always necessary counterpoint to that is how you approach running back.
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Whether you’re transitioning from rebuild to contender or just looking to score some excellent value on an offseason trade, here are three running backs you should target in trades.
Dynasty Running Back Trade Targets
Alvin Kamara (RB – NOS)
I wouldn’t make it a habit of going out and trying to acquire aging running backs but there are exceptions to the rule. Alvin Kamara is coming off a season that saw him finish as the RB11 in PPR formats despite missing the first three games due to suspension. If we look at points per game, Kamara finished as the RB3.
He’s entering his age-29 season but looked as explosive as ever in 2023. He has never succeeded on the back of workhorse volume as a runner. His value has always been carried by his elite receiving ability and volume out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. If you have a roster ready to compete for a championship in 2024, float out some offers for Kamara. I’d offer a mid-second-round rookie pick this year to see if that gets it done.
Javonte Williams (RB – DEN)
Javonte Williams might not have the same hype surrounding him he did as a rookie coming into the 2021 season but he’s still a good player. He totaled 774 rushing yards in 2023 but was able to supplement that with 58 targets and 47 receptions.
The Broncos are in a current transition state after moving on from Russell Wilson and Jerry Jeudy this offseason. Whoever is under center for the Broncos in 2024 will have a more-than-capable running back to lean on. He’ll likely continue to face defenses that stack the box against him (his stacked front carry rate was 28.1%, which was seventh in the league) but the opportunity he will get as a runner and the receiving work he should see still make him a valuable player. He’s best treated as a high-end RB2 with upside. If you can acquire him for an early second-round rookie pick or package a later second-round pick with another pick or depth piece, that is a move I would favor.
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)
Jonathan Taylor missed seven games in 2023 but finished as an RB1 when looking at points per game. The running game should also open up even more for Taylor with young, talented signal-caller Anthony Richardson back under center, a rushing threat in his own right.
Expect a bounce-back season for Taylor in his age-25 season. We haven’t seen any reason to expect a significant statistical falloff for him. As long as he’s healthy, pencil him in as a high-end RB1. You won’t get away with trying to acquire him for a pile of second-rounders like some older running backs but his talent makes it worthwhile. I’d start by offering a late first-round rookie selection but I realize that might not be enough to get it done. If it came to it, trading a late-first plus a player from a position of depth (maybe a wide receiver like the freshly extended Jerry Jeudy) for Jonathan Taylor is a move I’d make every time.
Dynasty Trade Value Chart & Advice
Whether it’s a dynasty startup draft or your rookie draft, we have you covered. Our team of fantasy football analysts includes Derek Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Andrew Erickson. And Fitz and Scott Bogman will have you covered every week through the offseason with our Dynasty Football Podcast. They’ve all collaborated to provide our dynasty trade value chart. This is a dynamic chart created using a consensus of the analysts’ dynasty rankings.
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