Several factors go into building a consistently elite dynasty fantasy football 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. All of this boils down to your dynasty trade strategy.
Typically, the starting quarterback is the top dynasty asset on every NFL team in Superflex leagues. However, they are rarely the top asset in 1-QB leagues. To help you build the best dynasty fantasy football team possible, I will identify the top dynasty asset and sell candidates for every NFL team.
Today, I break down the AFC West. Here’s my dynasty trade advice for the AFC West, including the top dynasty asset on each team and a dynasty player to trade now.
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Dynasty Trade Advice: AFC West
Top Dynasty Trade Assets
Some believe Javonte Williams might not be a Bronco come September. Yet, the former UNC star is the top running back and dynasty asset in Denver. He was the RB30 in 2023, averaging 9.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game. However, Williams was coming off a massive knee injury from the year before. Hopefully, he can bounce back to his rookie season play. Williams had the second-best missed tackles forced per attempt rate in the NFL that year (28%) among running backs with at least 101 attempts, per Fantasy Points Data.
Patrick Mahomes was the QB8 last year, averaging 17.5 fantasy points per game. It was the first time the superstar averaged fewer than 20.5 fantasy points per game in the season since becoming the starter in 2018. Yet, he should be the first quarterback drafted this year. He has led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice in his six seasons as the starter, posting a 6.1% touchdown rate in his career. More importantly, Mahomes will have two talented young wide receivers at his disposal for the next several years.
Many fear Davante Adams’ production will fall off a cliff this upcoming season. However, he had his fourth consecutive top-12 finish in half-PPR scoring in 2023 despite playing most of the games with Aidan O’Connell under center. While Gardner Minshew isn’t a massive upgrade, the veteran gave Michael Pittman Jr. a 28.3% target share, including a 35.8% first-read target share in his 13 starts last year, per Fantasy Points Data. While his days as a clear-cut WR1 are over, Adams should have a few more seasons as a top-20 guy.
While some believe Justin Herbert will become a game manager under the new run-first offense, the coaching staff would be foolish not to take advantage of his talent. He missed four games last year because of a finger injury. Yet, Herbert was the QB8 on a points-per-game basis among quarterbacks with at least nine starts. While the Chargers moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, they drafted Ladd McConkey and two other rookie wide receivers. Herbert won’t have a top-five finish in 2024 but don’t rule it out in 2025.
Top Dynasty Trade Candidates
Courtland Sutton had 10 receiving touchdowns last season, the fourth-most in the NFL. Not only were the 10 touchdowns a career-high, but they accounted for over 40% of his career total. More importantly, he was only the WR35, averaging 10 half-PPR fantasy points per game despite playing in 16 contests and having the high touchdown rate. Over 37% of his fantasy points last year came from his receiving touchdowns. With Bo Nix taking over under center, don’t be surprised if Troy Franklin replaces Sutton as the No. 1 wide receiver.
While Travis Kelce tied Sam LaPorta for the TE1 on a points-per-game basis last season, he wasn’t the same elite tight end fantasy players expect. The future Hall of Famer averaged 11.5 half-PPR fantasy points per game, his lowest mark since playing with Alex Smith in 2016. Furthermore, his streak of seven consecutive years with over 1,000 receiving yards was snapped last season. While Kelce said he wants a full workload moving forward, the Chiefs likely cut back on his snaps with hopes of keeping him fresh for the playoffs.
The veteran averaged 75 receptions on 111 targets for 835 receiving yards and four touchdowns per year over his final two seasons with the New England Patriots, averaging 9.4 half-PPR fantasy points per game. By comparison, Jakobi Meyers had 71 receptions on 106 targets for 807 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 11.4 fantasy points per contest last year. His numbers are very similar except for the touchdown production. Don’t be surprised if Meyers regresses and gets cut in the offseason when the Raiders can get out of his contract.
Fantasy players should sell high on Gus Edwards after totaling a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns in 2023. However, last year’s production was an outlier. The veteran had 13 rushing touchdowns over the first four seasons of his career combined. Furthermore, Edwards was an inefficient runner, averaging only 4.1 yards per rushing attempt (a career-low) despite playing behind Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) eighth-best run-blocking offensive line. Kimani Vidal could steal touches from the veteran. More importantly, the Chargers will likely use a prime pick in 2025 on a running back in a loaded draft class.
Fitz’s Fantasy Football Draft Primers
- Quarterback Fantasy Football Draft Primer
- Running Back Fantasy Football Draft Primer
- Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Draft Primer
- Tight End Fantasy Football Draft Primer
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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.