The NFL Draft is behind us, and the dynasty trade market has changed dramatically. Everyone is excited for the rookie and to make their draft picks. Sometimes it is essential to Zag when everyone is going Zig. You can take advantage of rookie fever by buying veterans during drafts. There were a lot of rookies that displaced some veterans. There are also some rookies that helped out some veterans. Here are some post-draft dynasty trade targets.
Trade Tip: If you are looking to rebuild, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have your first next year. A simple reminder, but it could be a huge mistake. Once you start to rebuild, that pick will be impossible to trade for. This also defeats the purpose of the tank if you don’t have your own picks.
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Post Draft Dynasty Trade Targets
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins, MIN
Kirk Cousins was thought to be replaced this offseason. Rumors of the Vikings trading for a quarterback, drafting a quarterback, and his impending free agency in 2024. Cousins has had a great offseason, starting last year at the trade deadline. The Vikings traded for T.J. Hockenson and then drafted Jordan Addison.
The Vikings’ offense was great under Kevin O’Connell. However, they finished 8th in points per game and 6th in offensive yards per game. They also finished 8th in both Redzone scoring and Touchdowns per game. Cousins is currently ranked as the QB17 on FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings and can be had for a late first.
Geno Smith, SEA
Geno Smith was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year and a superflex league winner. The Seahawks were much better than expected last season, and Geno’s dynasty value returned from the dead. This landed Geno Smith a contract extension, and dynast managers were still not confident enough to pay up. The ghosts of his past still haunt dynasty managers, which is baked into his value.
The Seahawks did not draft a quarterback this year, despite heavy rumors. Instead, the Seahawks drafted the consensus #1 wide receiver in the class, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, to pair with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. This is one of the best WR trios in the league. Geno also got more support in the backfield with Zach Charbonnet in the second round.
A pick that dynasty managers are still crying about, but great for the Seahawks. They also added interior line help by drafting Anthony Bradford in the 4th and Olesegun Oluwatimi in the 5th. Geno is going for a late first, even though he is younger than Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, and Matthew Stafford.
Desmond Ridder, ATL
I personally owe Desmond Ridder an apology, I was fully expecting him to be replaced. I definitely expected them to draft a quarterback with one of their first two picks. They chose not to, and that is definitely an endorsement for Ridder, who played well at the end of the year last season. The offense was much better under Ridder, and the team went 2-2.
Brock Purdy, SF
Brock Purdy continues to go rumored to be the leader in the clubhouse for the 49ers. We saw how the front office has spoken about him this offseason. We also saw how team captains like Fred Warner gushed over him last off-season. There is a lot of uncertainty with Brock Purdy, but the cost is cheap. He is going for a late second round pick right now.
Purdy was a solid QB2 in all of his starts last year, with a standard two touchdowns and 200 yards passing in almost every start. He has a couple of bigger weeks, but he was a solid QB2 that you could play weekly.
Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson. NE
Rhamondre Stevenson took the backfield over the last offseason for the Patriots and did not look back. Stevenson averaged over 17 touches a game and finished as RB8 in most formats. The Patriots did a lot of things to help Stevenson this offseason. They added Bill O’Brien as a play caller and got rid of Matt Patricia. This is the biggest move. The Patriots drafted three interior offensive linemen early on Day 3 to help add some support and depth to a position of need.
One thing they didn’t do they did not draft a running back. There were a lot of rumors they could draft Gibbs or Robinson, maybe another early back. They did not, and the backfield will be the same as it was last offseason, where Stevenson dominated the touches.
Javonte Williams, DEN
We all expected Sean Payton to add a smaller-explosive running back in the class. He has always had a pass-catching specialist type. The team did not have a lot of draft capital and used a lot of their resources this offseason on fixing the offensive line. They added Sameje Perine to pair with Javonte Williams.
Williams is coming off a serious knee injury and will miss the off-season programs. Williams is reportedly on track for the regular season, but we may not see him at full strength right away. All of this is baked into the cost, and you can get Williams for a late first. In this class, without a clear-cut RB3, Williams could be a buy at the turn versus taking a shot on Kendre Miller or Devon Achane.
David Montgomery, DET
David Montgomery joins the Lions and pairs up with Jahmry Gibbs. Gibbs is expected to be a weapon, and we will see him primarily used in the passing game. He could be lined up in the slot as a third-down specialist. But we know that Montgomery gets the goal-line duties.
We saw how valuable this was last year with Jamaal Williams. This is a very valuable role, and now that D’Andre Swift is out of town, we have some more clarity. David Montgomery could be had for a late second round pick and could be a solid weekly play this year.
James Cook, BUF
James Cook was an explosive runner in 2022, and the team really turned to him after the bye week. Cook averaged 5.7 yards per carry last year and 8.6 yards per reception. The Bills chose to not add a running back in the draft, and the only addition was Damien Harris. Harris will be a threat at the goal line, but Cook appears to be in line for a much larger role in 2023.
The team also added massive guard O’Cyrus Torrence, in the second round to pave the way for Cook. This is one of the top offenses in the league, and we saw Devin Singletary turn into a weekly starter last year in it.
Dalvin Cook, MIN
Dalvin Cook did not get traded yet. Cook is getting older, but he is still one of the top pieces of a top offense. Last year Dalvin Cook saw a decline in production and did not deliver on his high draft capital. But now we have gotten to the point where Dalvin Cook is worth a second-round pick.
He dealt with a shoulder injury at the end of the season that slowed him down for the fantasy football playoffs. But, Dalvin definitely helped you get there. Between weeks 3 and 15, Cook had either top 15 performances. During this stretch, he scored double-digit points all but four weeks, where he finished RB36, RB30, RB27, and RB26.
Wide Receivers
Tee Higgins, CIN
Tee Higgins is better than any WR in the 2023 Draft Class and is paired with one of the best young quarterbacks in the league. The Bengals’ #2 option did not get any competition this offseason. We should continue to see Higgins as the #2 option behind Ja’Marr Chase. Higgins is 24 years old, and he is a free agent in 2024. He could end up as the #1 option on a different team next season.
Diontae Johnson, PIT
Diontae Johnson had an embarrassing 0 touchdown season in 2022. Johnson had a combination of Mitch Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett. Johnson also missed some of the offseason programs dealing with a contract dispute. This offseason, Johnson will have the ability to build chemistry with Pickett and should maintain his role as the top option in the offseason.
This offseason, the Steelers added Allen Robinson and Darnell Washington. The team then added big Left Tackle Broderick Jones in the first round. Jones should help the offense. He has had offensive line struggles for the last few seasons.
Brandin Cooks, DAL
Brandin Cooks was traded to the Houston Texans earlier this off-season. Cooks slid into the #2 role for the Cowboys behind CeeDee Lamb. Michael Gallup is there, but Gallup has struggled to stay healthy and solidify that #2 role. This is something Cooks has been able to do the last few seasons. The team allowed Dalton Schultz to leave in free agency, and Cooks can be had for a late second in your rookie drafts.
Drake London, ATL
Drake London had a strong finish to the season, and he is currently coming at a discount. London would easily be the #1 WR in this class, and you can get him for mid-first. London is only 21 years old! In the last five games of the season, London was targeted 48 times. During that time, London caught 31 passes for 428 yards.
The team added Bijan Robinson and will get Kyle Pitts back. This is a fun young team, but they really do not have a lot of pass-catchers after London. Mack Hollins is currently their second option. London is going for a mid-first in superflex rookie drafts right now.
Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN
The Tennessee Titans are changing, and Chig appears to be one of their building blocks for the future. The team will rely on second-year players Treylon Burks, Kyle Phillips, and Chig Okonwko in year two.
They let Robert Woods and Austin Hooper walk in free agency. The team also appears to have their quarterback of the future in Will Levis. Okonkwo not only appears to be the top tight end on the team, but he could be one of the top targets in 2023. Austin Hooper leaves a lot of targets available, and the team doesn’t have a clear second target.
Juwan Johnson, NO
The Saints had an interesting offseason, and they have added Derek Carr at quarterback. They brought back Michael Thomas but traded away Adam Trautman. Johnson had a career year last season with Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill, and Jameis Winston at quarterback. He had a 6-week stretch where he finished TE2, TE38, TE8, TE4, and TE4. Johnson can be had for a mid-late 3rd or even cheap in your leagues.
Tyler Higbee, LAR
Tyler Higbee had a career year in targets in 2022. Allen Robinson is no longer with the team, and Cooper Kupp is coming off of a major injury. Tyler Higbee and Van Jefferson should see an uptick in targets. The team added Puka Nacua and Davis Allen on day 3, but Higbee could be #2 or #3 on the team in targets again.
