The dynasty playoffs are finally here. Three weeks remain before a champion is crowned — and hopefully, that champion will be you. The season will be over before you know it.
For our redraft brothers in arms, there is a sense of impending finality — the 2024 season will soon become a memory. But for dynasty managers, there is no offseason. As soon as a champion is crowned, thoughts immediately turn to what lies ahead in the coming months: coaching changes, free agency, the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, the NFL Draft, and significant, impactful trades. Oh, and of course, watching and enjoying the Super Bowl with family and friends.
In previous articles this season, I’ve discussed the 2025 rookie class (check back next week for more on that) and impending free agents. While we often get caught up in which players will be changing teams and which 2025 rookies will make the biggest fantasy impacts, let’s take a step back and examine some situations that could elevate the roles and outlooks of whoever gets the chance to occupy them. Dream landing spots.
Some of these landing spots are obvious — but others are a bit more nuanced. But if the right player lands in one of these spots, expect an immediate rise in dynasty rankings.
Denver Broncos RB
Head Coach Sean Payton and Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi have consistently produced offenses that generate high-end fantasy numbers at the running back position. Payton is the last coach to oversee a team where two backs finished as RB1s in the same season — Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram with the Saints — a feat that could be broken this season by Ben Johnson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery.
Lombardi, meanwhile, oversaw Chargers offenses that featured the rise of Austin Ekeler. However, this season in Denver, high-scoring RB weeks have been few and far between. The Broncos have a pedestrian 1,445 rushing yards heading into Week 15. Their three-headed backfield of Javonte Williams, Audric Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin has produced just two top-12 RB performances combined — both from Williams.
Denver is likely to upgrade the RB position this offseason. With the right acquisition, this could become an instant RB1 situation and a prime landing spot that significantly elevates that player’s dynasty outlook. Lombardi’s penchant for using his running backs as receivers out of the backfield, combined with Bo Nix’s accuracy and mobility, make this position a very attractive landing spot. Be patient — in a few months, dynasty managers will be very excited about “Denver’s starting RB” again.
Dallas Cowboys RB
The Dallas Cowboys are synonymous with bell-cow running backs, with legendary players like Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, and Ezekiel Elliott defining their eras as the faces of the team. However, Jerry Jones took a completely different approach this past offseason.
An “analytical model” mindset and a newfound "running backs don’t matter" mentality wouldn’t raise eyebrows with some teams, but it was a truly shocking turn of events in Big D. The Cowboys passed on a loaded class of free-agent RBs and allowed Tony Pollard to sign with Tennessee without putting up a fight. It was widely assumed they would address their RB situation in the NFL Draft, and were sometimes linked to players such as Jonathon Brooks and Braelon Allen. But Dallas passed on both.
In hindsight, they also — quite regrettably — missed out on drafting players like Tyrone Tracy and Bucky Irving on Day Three. Instead, Dallas entered the season with Rico Dowdle and an aging, diminished Elliott. The result? A 5-8 record.
While a lack of a star running back is certainly not the only issue in Dallas, expect a big correction. This is Jerry Jones we are talking about. Dallas will likely draft or sign an RB this offseason, possibly targeting Ashton Jeanty in the first round. To his credit, Dowdle has performed well of late, but Dallas is almost certain to make a big splash at running back in the coming months. This will be one of the key landing spots for dynasty managers to monitor.
New England Patriots WR1
Drake Maye has been a hit. The Patriots have multiple offseason needs, but two of the main priorities are almost certainly the offensive line and wide receiver. From a pure talent standpoint, New England arguably has the worst OL/WR combination in football.
If the NFL Draft were held today, the Patriots would have the third overall pick, giving them access to plenty of instant-impact options. Arizona WR Tet McMillan, LSU OT Will Campbell, and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter (please, Travis — concentrate on WR in the NFL for us fantasy players!) could all be possibilities.
New England is also being linked to Tee Higgins - the crown jewel of the upcoming class of free-agent wide receivers. Whoever New England adds as their WR1 could be in line for 140 or more targets and a featured role in an offense desperately needing a spark.
The Maye-Higgins or Maye-McMillan correlation play sounds enticing right now for dynasty managers rostering Maye and those seeking high-end WR production opportunities.
LA Chargers RB
JK Dobbins was a fantastic story for much of the year. Under the new Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman regime, the Chargers went from having the 23rd-most rush attempts in the league in 2023 to 14th in 2024. Despite Justin Herbert being the quarterback, this number is expected to climb into the top 10 in 2025.
Dobbins is now on injured reserve (IR), but his success highlights what a running back can achieve in this offense. He has finished as a top-14 scorer at the RB position six times — not bad for a player the Chargers signed on a "prove-it" $1.6 million deal.
What happens with Dobbins this offseason is anyone’s guess, but expect LA to readdress the position — a move that should be music to the ears of dynasty managers. What if the Chargers decided to move up in the draft to select Jeanty, or opted to wait a little longer to target Kaleb Johnson, Omarion Hampton, or Quinshon Judkins?
With Herbert, Ladd McConkey, and the quality of the Chargers offensive line, there may be no better landing spot for a running back this offseason than Los Angeles. There is potential for volume galore, and lots of TDs.
New York Giants QB
The Giants' season has been a complete trainwreck, and they are in danger of finishing with their fewest wins in a season since the 1970s. Despite the lack of victories, there are key pieces in place on the offensive side of the ball that could thrive if the right signal-caller lands in New York this offseason.
Malik Nabers has 80 catches in just 11 games — the 20th most all-time by a rookie in NFL history — with games still to spare. Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas is a cornerstone lineman, and players like Tyrone Tracy, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Theo Johnson all gained dynasty value this season. The turnaround in New York could happen faster than anticipated — if they get it right at quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward lead the QB class, and the Giants are expected to be in the mix for both. If the Giants choose to target a quarterback via trade or free agency, that player could step into a much better situation than it appears on the surface. Nabers' 2025 redraft price tag could rise significantly with quarterback stability. Dynasty managers everywhere should keep a close eye on whoever lands in this situation.
Cleveland Browns RB
Nick Chubb returned from injured reserve in Week 7 but has been a shell of his former self. Chubb is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry — a shockingly low total for a player who had never finished with an average below 5.1 in any season of his career. Father Time is undefeated, and the writing is on the wall, and change is coming.
Cleveland has found new life offensively under Jameis Winston, with several pass catchers stepping up along the way, including Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku. The right running back could find immediate opportunities for success in this offense in 2025. Would Cleveland consider Jeanty at their current draft projection of 8th overall? Maybe. There would be something poetic about a torch passing from Chubb to Jeanty as the team’s focal point and face of the offense.
However, the Browns could also use their early second-round pick on a running back to capitalize on the depth of this draft class — or wait even longer. After Chubb went down, followed by Jerome Ford’s stopgap season in 2023 and this year’s lack of running back productivity, it seems almost certain that Cleveland’s backfield will feature a brand-new face (or two) in 2025.
Other Positions to Monitor Looking Ahead to 2025
Minnesota Vikings RB
Cincinnati Bengals WR2 (Higgins replacement?)
LA Chargers TE
Indianapolis Colts TE
Dallas Cowboys WR2
Washington Commanders WR2
Carolina Panthers WR
There will be so many potential changes in dynasty for us to monitor in this upcoming offseason. But first, we need to worry about these next few weeks. Here are a few players who have recently lost and gained dynasty value.
Stock Up
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks, 23 Years Old
Somewhere in the multiverse, a team other than Seattle selected Zach Charbonnet in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he is currently an RB1 this season. Instead, he finds himself almost cruelly locked in a backfield with Kenneth Walker.
With Walker sidelined in Week 14, Charbonnet delivered his third weekly RB1 performance of the season. He put up a staggering 38.3 PPR points, tallying 7 receptions for 59 yards and 22 carries for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. In the three games where Charbonnet has led Seattle’s backfield, he has averaged an 87% snap share, a 14.8% target share, and an eye-popping 27.3 PPG.
For the season, Charbonnet has scored 8 touchdowns — tied with Walker — and ranks 18th among all skill position players. There is a growing "Charbonnet is better" movement that will only get louder with each smash performance. Outside of Detroit, there may not be a more talented 1-2 punch in football right now.
Charbonnet could have the backfield all to himself once again this week, as Walker's status remains up in the air.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers, 25 Years Old
One of the harsh realities of dynasty fantasy football is players gaining and losing value due to injuries. In Hubbard’s case, the combination of his outstanding on-field play, contract insulation, and now — a catastrophic injury to a teammate — has created a perfect storm for his value to continue rising throughout the fantasy playoffs and into the offseason.
Jonathon Brooks is once again facing an uphill climb in his recovery from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Hubbard is now the unquestioned RB1 in Carolina — a role he has fully embraced this season. He just recorded his fifth game with 20 or more PPR points in Carolina’s competitive loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, rushing for his 8th touchdown of the season.
This marks the second consecutive season in which a running back in a Dave Canales-led offense has crushed their ADP and finished with RB1 numbers - Rachaad White in 2023 and now Hubbard in 2024. Heading into 2025, Hubbard is expected to be the focal point of what should be a much-improved Panthers offense in Canales’ second year at the helm. He should be viewed as an RB2 in dynasty. Expect a correction in his dynasty rankings value.
This week, Carolina faces off against Dallas and its generous run defense, providing another opportunity for Hubbard to shine.
Puka Nacua, WR, LA Rams, 23 Years Old
Wow, Theo, what a brave and bold take. Thank you for telling me that Nacua is good and a valuable player for dynasty managers.
Let me provide some context for this one. Nacua’s 41.8-point scoring outburst in Week 14 put an exclamation point on the best stretch of play in his nearly two-year career. Since returning from IR in Week 8, it’s been pure fantasy bliss for Nacua managers. If we exclude Week 9 (a game in which Nacua was ejected), his overall production and underlying usage are exactly what you dream of in an alpha WR1.
During this stretch, he trails only Ja’Marr Chase in points per game (PPG) at the position, averaging 23.7 PPG. He has also edged out teammate Cooper Kupp in multiple key metrics, including air yards share (37.5% to 27.5%), target share (34% to 23.9%), and first-read rate (42.7% to 29.4%).
The question with Nacua is not whether he is a WR1 in dynasty — spoiler alert: he is — but rather how high we should rank him and value him as an asset. Sure, you can rank Chase and Justin Jefferson ahead of him. But after that? It gets dicey. Nacua or CeeDee Lamb? An argument can be made that he should be valued ahead of players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Malik Nabers, and Nico Collins.
Somehow, Nacua’s second season is even more impressive than his breakout rookie year. He will be drafted earlier in 2025 startups than he was in 2024. There’s also a chance that his 2025 numbers resemble Cooper Kupp’s historic 2021 season, which would only further elevate his dynasty value.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings, 22 Years Old
Nacua wasn’t the only member of the 2023 WR draft class to deliver a smash performance in Week 14. Jordan Addison continued his torrid touchdown streak with an incredible 39-point outing, scoring three times. He finished the game with 12 targets — out-targeting Jefferson 12-7 — and recorded 8 catches for 133 yards.
Through 28 career games, Addison now has 17 career touchdown receptions. This marks the second time in three weeks that Addison has led — or tied for the team lead — in targets while out-targeting Jefferson. He is heating up at the perfect time of the season.
From a dynasty perspective, Addison is a player I previously highlighted as underrated. However, this late-season target surge has taken his game to another level.
If Addison manages three more touchdowns this season, he will enter truly rarefied air in Vikings history. The only players with multiple seasons of 10 or more receiving touchdowns in Minnesota Vikings history are Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Adam Thielen. Dynasty managers rostering him have an upside starter for the fantasy playoffs this year and a long-term high-end asset to roster for many seasons to come.
Stock Down
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers, 24 Years Old
I — along with others — overrated Jayden Reed as a dynasty asset earlier in the season. It was hard not to. In Green Bay’s opening game in Brazil, Reed went wild, finishing with 33.1 points on an incredible 171 combined yards and two touchdowns. Shades of Tyreek Hill flashed through my mind.
While there have been some other strong performances — a 27.1-point game in Week 4 and a 19.7-point outing on Thanksgiving — there have been even more clunkers. No game was more frustrating than Thursday’s debacle in Detroit, where Reed failed to register a single touch. Undoubtedly, some fantasy managers missed the playoffs due to his unanticipated goose egg.
Reed is an explosive player who can score from anywhere on the field with a single touch, but his usage is far too sporadic to be viewed as anything more than a boom-or-bust WR3 type — a stark contrast to how he was viewed earlier this season. He has posted seven games with fewer than 11 PPR points.
Dynasty managers should still value having Reed on their rosters. His spike-week potential is a positive — as long as it’s taken in context. However, viewing him as a foundational player or expecting him to fill a WR1 role on your dynasty team is not aligned with what we’ve seen on a weekly basis — and certainly not how Green Bay is using him.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers, 21 Years Old
Brooks entered the season as one of the brightest and most promising talents at the running back position in dynasty, serving as the headliner of the 2023 draft class at his position. A two-way star out of the University of Texas with per-game numbers comparable to Bijan Robinson, Brooks checked every box regarding talent and profile.
A torn ACL at Texas did not derail his draft stock, as he was the first running back selected in the second round with the 46th overall pick. After missing most of the season, Brooks debuted in Week 12. In Week 13, he touched the ball nine times and appeared to be on track for increased usage down the stretch.
Unfortunately, all the hope and optimism came crashing down as Brooks once again tore the ACL in his right knee on a non-contact play during Sunday’s game. He is now expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season as he embarks on his second comeback attempt.
Brooks’ dynasty value has taken a significant hit. Instead of being in fantasy lineups in 2025, he will start the season exactly where he began in 2024 — on injured reserve, working his way back from another devastating injury.
Watch List
Sincere McCormick, RB, Las Vegas Raiders, 24 Years Old
McCormick continues to impress. Head coach Antonio Pierce has named him the Raiders starting running back for the rest of the season, regardless of what happens with Alexander Mattison. McCormick is on track to have similar usage - and possibly production - to Zamir White’s run in the 2023 playoffs.
Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas, 23 Years Old
Michael Mayer, a 2023 second-round pick, has been an afterthought for much of the season. The emergence of Brock Bowers, combined with Mayer’s absence from the team due to a personal matter, essentially put him off the radar in dynasty leagues for most of the year.
However, the former Notre Dame standout could be primed for a late-season breakout. He had his best game as a pro in Week 14, finishing with 7 catches for 68 yards. His skill set and size complement Bowers well, and if Mayer continues to establish himself, the Raiders could enter the 2025 season utilizing 12 personnel early and often.
Bowers's greatness does not prevent Mayer from being good. Both players can coexist and produce value for dynasty managers.
Isaiah Davis, RB, New York Jets, 22 Years Old
Braelon Allen has looked impressive at times this season, but he’s not the only standout rookie the Jets selected on Day Three. Davis scored a touchdown for the second consecutive week and outscored Allen 15.7 to 12.1. Their usage was nearly identical.
Davis ran for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading South Dakota State to the 2023 FCS National Title. The fifth-round pick brings an impressive pedigree and college production profile to the table. What's especially noteworthy is that New York is ramping up its usage post-bye week.
Both Davis and Allen are on the flex radar this week against Jacksonville, provided Breece Hall misses another game.
