12 Dynasty OffSeason Trade targets

This will be my last article until August. Hope you enjoy!

I’m willing to bet that each of the following players will outperform his ADP by season’s end. From one dynasty obsessed GM to another, I hope you find value in the following 12 player writeups I put forth! 

Here’s one player from each of the first 12 rounds of dynasty startups that I think will boost his fantasy stock this year.

1. Malik Nabers | WR NYG

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 10

KTC Positional Rank: WR3

Nabers posted a ridiculous year with average to below average QB play. The target volume was immense and the early production prior to injury was historic. At just 21 years old, Nabers has room to expand on his historic rookie year and all 3 new Giants Signal callers- Russ, Jameis and Jaxon Dart seem to be more fantasy friendly than Daniel Jones and Tommy Devito. This is the last year to get Nabers at the 1/2 turn. Next year it will cost between pick 4-7 and don’t be surprised if he jumps Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase.

Cautions: 

• QB instability could affect his production

2. Drake Maye | QB NE

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 23

KTC Positional Rank: QB7

Maye flashed poise, accuracy and tremendous rushing ability in 2024 despite a poor Patriots supporting cast. He was the most efficient rookie rushing QB ever and looks like a true dual threat QB. The new Patriots regime led by Mike Vrabel retooled the offense around Maye. 1st round rookie pick Will Campbell could be a generational talent at Left Tackle, new rookie center Jared Verse further bolsters the O-line. Treveyon Henderson might be the best pass protecting RB coming out of college in recent memory. He’s also an explosive playmaker who will be a weapon for Maye. Kyle Williams brings some speed on the outside and Diggs should be reliable out of the slot. The pieces are in place for Maye to vault up dynasty rankings by taking a leap this year.

Cautions: - Likely some growing pains with new coaching regime

3. Bo Nix | QB DEN

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 26

KTC Positional Rank: QB9

Speaking of new weapons, Bo Nix got a major upgrade at the RB position as well. RJ  Harvey is electric and JK Dobbins does damage when he’s not in the blue medical tent. Two new pass catchers in the reliable Evan Engram, and rookie X, Pat Bryant, will give Nix an embarrassment of riches to go along with Sean Payton’s influence on offensive play calling. Nix had a tremendous year. He may not run as well as Maye but his accuracy and arm are arguably better at this stage. Don’t be surprised if he’s a consensus top 10 dynasty option at QB by year’s end.

Cautions: - Sophomore slump can be a real thing for some QBs

4. Rashee Rice | WR KC

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 44

KTC Positional Rank: WR17

If Rashee Rice had not been speared in the knee by Patrick Mahomes and if he had never drag-raced and fled the scene then he would be 2nd round dynasty startup pick. And if my grandpa had wheels he’d be a bike) But both of those things did happen… so now he’s going closer to the 4/5 turn. Rice is tied to Patrick Mahomes and has tremendous YAC ability on a high powered offense. The threat of imminent suspension is overblown, and given the nature & timing of his knee injury he should be a full go by September. After the first 40 picks of startups the number of guys who can return top 7 fantasy WR seasons dwindles significantly. Rice can deliver that, if you’re swinging for upside then take a chance on him.

Cautions: -      Injury lingering and suspension looming dampen dynasty value

• Worthy could unseat Rice as WR1 in the pecking order

5. Rome Odunze | WR CHI

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 54

KTC Positional Rank: WR20

Many people seem to see the writing on the wall that this is Odunze’s year to breakout. JSN had a pedestrian rookie year eerily similar to Rome’s before he broke out in a big way. Ben Johnson and the new embarrassment of Chicago skill position riches seems to reinforce the narrative that “this is Rome’s year.” There are plenty of mouths to feed but Rome’s familiarity with Williams should help him remain the WR2 at worst. Draft with confidence as Rome and JSN might both find themselves going in the 3rd round if startups next year.

 Cautions:   -     Skill position mouths to feed in CHI can’t be overlooked

• Caleb needs to prove he can support a WR1

6. Kaleb Johnson | RB PIT

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 70

KTC Positional Rank: RB16

Kaleb Johnson should step in and fill Najee Harris’ shoes for the Steelers offense. Although Arthur Smith has notoriously been a very unfriendly fantasy OC, he does deploy a zone run scheme that Kaleb Johnson will be able to thrive in. Aaron Rodgers won’t be asked to be the gunslinger in this offense which leaves plenty of work for Kaleb and Jaylen Warren, but Johnson should be the goal line back and get plenty of work to justify his selection in the 6th round of startup drafts.

 Cautions:  -     Arthur Smith led offense means usage irregularity

• Jaylen Warren could fill some of the Najee void

7. Chuba Hubbard | RB CAR

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 77

KTC Positional Rank: RB21

Hubbard surpassed all expectations in 2024 on his way to a RB14 performance averaging 16.11 points per game. Encouragingly, he performed well during the early struggles of Bryce Young and the second half resurgence. The Rico Dowdle signing shouldn’t be anything more than a speed bump, Dowdle will keep Hubbard fresh but after hubbard’s 4 year 33M deal it’s clear that he’s RB1 of this offense and the growth of Bryce Young + the addition of Tet McMillan should make for a more potent offense with even more potential for red zone trips and TDs for Hubbard. Invest in Hubbard with confidence.

Cautions: -      Competition from Dowdle will impact carry volume

• Young’s ascent as a passer could make offense more balanced away from the run

8. Jayden Higgins | WR HOU

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 96

KTC Positional Rank: WR35

With Nico Collins commanding the lion’s share of the attention of opposing secondaries, Higgins has a chance to thrive as the secondary option for the Texans. CJ Stroud is an accurate QB and Higgins is a big, fluid target who can separate and burn defenders with speed. The Texans should score points with the best of them and I wouldn’t be surprised if Higgins and Collins are the dynamic duo leading the charge for them.

Cautions: - Collins, Noel and Kirk make for legitimate WR competition

9. Tucker Kraft | TE GB

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 104

KTC Positional Rank: TE8

The Packers WR is crowded, injured and underwhelming. Kraft has emerged as the preferred receiving TE option and has provided stability to the Packers. Kraft had 5 top 10 TE fantasy finishes last year but admittedly tailed off for the last several weeks of the season. At a position where there are 3 premium options: Bowers, McBride and Kittle… taking a late round swing on Kraft is justifiable given his youth (age 24), past production and role as a security blanket for Jordan Love.

Cautions: - Prior year inconsistency makes dud weeks likely

10. Chris Godwin | WR TB

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 110

KTC Positional Rank: WR40

Godwin is a fantasy best-kept-secret because circumstances keep conspiring against him. He had 3 Top 12 WR finishes in 2024 in the first 6 weeks of the season prior to his week 7 ankle dislocation which knocked him out for the year. Godwin is 29 and the Buccaneers did just invest a 1st round pick in Emeka Egbuka, but Godwin has the ability to pick up right where he left off. Even if he is no longer the target hog he was in year’s past, he still should provide backend WR2 production at worst. The Bucs offense is high powered, Mike Evans might lose a step but Godwin should still produce. Godwin is the cheapest high ceiling late round WR you can get in dynasty startups. I’m drafting him with confidence everywhere.

 Cautions:  -  Early Egbuka emergence could limit his slot snaps

     -  Could show lost explosion post ankle injury

11. Isaiah Likely | TE BAL

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 125

KTC Positional Rank: TE9

Likely is a Mike Andrews’ trade or injury away from shining as the number one option. The Ravens offense is high powered and run heavy, but Likely is a receiving weapon who showed out in last year’s season opener. The coaching staff expects big things from Likely, John Harbaugh wants to see likely make the leap to All Pro… but it’s hard to make that leap without a firm grasp on a starting TE job. Andrews has declined in recent years and it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he finds himself off the Ravens this year or next. Likely would likely flourish in his absence and savvy dynasty owners can take a calculated risky rostering the talented young pass catching TE now before his price shoots through the roof.

Cautions: -     Ambiguity as the TE2 still, needs shakeup for fantasy relevance

• Ravens offense remains run heavy 

12. Jalen Milroe | QB SEA

Dynasty Data Lab ADP: 134

KTC Positional Rank: QB27

Milroe has been put into the Anthony Richardson archetype before taking a snap in the NFL. He’s a freak athlete with accuracy issues and there are several viral youtube videos of him missing wide open WRs at Alabama. A further disadvantage for Milroe is that he starts his career behind Sam Darnold, who had a career year last year with the Vikings and should be able to keep a hold of the QB1 job for the Seahawks. Milroe will not be tossed into the fire like Richardson was, which could benefit him in the long run if it allows him to improve his accuracy and learn to play the QB position at the NFL level. The fantasy upside of Milroe is enormous if he figures it out, I see a Hurts/Allen hybrid as the absolute ceiling outcome of Milroe. 212 lb QBs who run 4.4 flat don’t come around very often; dynasty dart throws on this kind of talent can sometimes pay off in a big way.

Cautions: - May not play in year 1 or 2

• Passing accuracy needs development for him to hold down the job

I appreciate your support! I hope you enjoyed these profiles and continue to enjoy fantasyamp.com .

Stay Amped,

John