The Dynasty offseason was eventful. The 2024 rookie class makes its NFL debut as one of the most hyped collections of fantasy football talent to enter the league in quite some time. This new group follows up on the 2023 class, which exceeded all expectations and made incredible early fantasy impacts at all four positions. The 2024 season feels transformative for Dynasty, with multiple year one and year two players slotting in as foundational pieces of dynasty rosters.
I will be covering the Dynasty marketplace all season long. Much like in the NFL, there will be an ebb and flow of usage, fantasy impacts, and the resulting effects on player values. Players continually gain and lose value. When one door opens for a younger player, another door often closes for someone else.
The list of offseason winners and losers could have been much longer. But this article focuses on a few players who stood out to me.
If you have one of the winners on one of your dynasty rosters, then congratulations! Your team will benefit from these players for this season and for multiple seasons to come. If you are rostering one of the offseason losers, diminish your expectations and consider sending out some trades.
Stock Up
Jayden Daniels (QB, Was)
Daniels is a Fantasy Points favorite, and one of Scott Barrett’s Exodia players. His value in redraft formats is undeniable — a high-upside play at the QB position, providing Top 5 potential at a low-end QB1 price tag. But Daniels is also quickly moving up in Dynasty rankings. He has joined Caleb Williams in an elite upside tier of QBs and is often selected ahead of players like Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, and Justin Herbert.
The entire preseason has been nothing but a love fest, with Washington Commanders beat reporters and veteran players singing the praises of their new franchise savior. In Washington’s preseason win over New York, Daniels flashed the talent that exudes fantasy football league-winning potential. He connected with Dyami Brown on a 42-yard downfield pass, then capped off the drive with a TD run on a zone read.
Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels sure looked a lot like LSU’s Jayden Daniels. If any of your league mates do not value Daniels as a cornerstone piece of a dynasty roster, make them an offer—quickly.
Caleb Williams (QB, Chi)
Williams has already surged into the Top 8 QB rankings in Dynasty Startup ADP this offseason and was a first-round selection in Superflex startups. It’s hard to go up from that price tag, but Williams is certainly giving it a shot. Simply put, Williams is the real deal, and the Bears have surrounded him with talent to fast-track his success.
Like Daniels, Williams is being selected as a QB1 in redraft leagues, and there will be no tempered expectations or patience. Williams’ dynasty managers want to win—and win now. An effortless passer with athleticism and opportunistic scrambling potential, it’s not hard to imagine Williams breaking into the Top 4 QB rankings by the end of the season.
Rome Odunze (WR, Chi)
Much like Williams, Odunze was viewed as a fantastic talent — but one that dynasty managers would have to be patient with. The presence of veterans like DJ Moore and Keenan Allen appeared to “box out” Odunze from a prominent year-one role. But sometimes in fantasy football, and especially with Alpha-profile WRs, life finds a way.
Odunze seemingly flashes every time he steps on the field, and the drumbeats continue to grow louder and louder. His dynasty value is already about equal to — or greater than — Moore’s, last year’s WR6 overall. With the target competition surrounding him, Odunze does not have the pressure to perform at the level of fellow rookies Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers while still gaining considerable dynasty value.
Chase Brown (RB, Cin)
In 2023, nine second-year RBs finished as Top 24 scorers at the position. This year, there are obvious year-two backs like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and De’Von Achane that have cemented their place as foundational pieces of dynasty rosters. But there are other second-year backs who will gain significant dynasty value without costing you a premium price tag. One player that I am in lockstep with Ryan Heath on as a breakout candidate is Chase Brown.
Brown has been running with the first-team offense in Bengals camp, and Head Coach Zac Taylor has singled him out. Taylor specifically mentioned his improvement as a pass blocker—exactly the kind of praise we like to see for younger backs. Last year’s sample size was small, but Brown managed to hit the 2nd highest MPH of any player last season on a long catch and run.
In 2022, Joe Burrow’s last full season as a starter, he targeted Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine 126 times combined — exactly the sort of promising usage for an explosive receiving threat like Brown. Brown has the perfect combination of explosiveness and receiving ability to excel this season.
Xavier Worthy (WR, KC)
Worthy ended up in a dream landing spot in Kansas City — the fastest player in NFL history attached to one of the best QBs to ever play the game. Fantasy managers had visions of Tyreek Hill 2.0. While becoming the sequel to Hill may be a bit too much to ask, what about peak DeSean Jackson? Redraft managers are betting on just that, with Worthy surging to the 6th round in formats like the FFPC.
Worthy’s role in the offense has long-term potential, but also a quick-start short-term boost. Hollywood Brown is banged up, and he has a history of missing time with injuries throughout his NFL career. Worthy will be on the field in two WR sets a great deal early on in the season, and he could get off to a fast start. In Kansas City’s preseason loss to Detroit, Worthy caught 3 passes for 62 yards and a TD, and added an 11-yard run. All eyes in fantasy football will be on Worthy when the Chiefs open up against Baltimore. He could become a must-see player every week as early as this season.
Kenneth Walker (RB, Sea)
There was a brief period between Walker’s rookie year and the 2023 NFL Draft when his dynasty value was through the roof. Seattle’s shock selection of Zach Charbonnet quickly quelled the Walker enthusiasm, and he dipped into the RB2 range. Last season, he failed to take a step forward in production, and his stats were virtually the same. He averaged 13.3 PPG, an almost identical number to his 13.5 PPG in 2023. Much like his rookie season, Walker scored 9 rushing TDs.
Walker has been the sort of player that dynasty managers are happy to have, but not one that propelled anyone to a fantasy title. This year could be different, and Walker could be headed for a Top 10 — or better — RB finish.
The new coaching staff has continually sung his praises. OC Ryan Grubb was effusive in his praise, saying, “I think the sky's the limit for him. I think he's a really, really talented, powerful back that's a true three-tool guy. He's electric out of the backfield as a pass-catcher.”
Walker has never cracked 30 receptions at any point in his career. If the coaching staff actually does want to utilize him in a multi-faceted role, then his fantasy ceiling is not factored into his current dynasty price. Grubb’s scheme will also help. In 2023, Seattle had the fewest plays per game of any offense in football. Expect Grubb to push up the tempo and for Walker to be a huge beneficiary.
Stock Down
Zach Charbonnet (RB, Sea)
Charbonnet had some steam earlier this offseason, with hope for an increased role under a new, pass-happy coaching staff. But all indications are that Walker’s usage will trend up with this new coaching staff. The gap between the two backs’ usage may actually increase. Last season, Charbonnet led Seattle in RB receptions and edged out Walker in yards per carry, but in terms of volume, it was Walker by a wide margin. Walker outcarried Charbonnet 219-108. There is a chance that number remains the same, or Charbonnet may have even fewer carries.
But the real threat to Charbonnet’s value is the potential of Walker taking a step forward as a receiver. All indications are that Charbonnet is more of a direct handcuff than a handcuff-plus. To further cement the hierarchy in the Seattle backfield, Charbonnet played in the preseason opener against the LA Chargers, while Walker was rested. He still holds some value — but value that will be contingent, not weekly.
Marvin Mims (WR, Den)
The dream appears to be dead. Mims was a player on whom many analysts and dynasty managers- myself included- were bullish on throughout the 2023 draft prospect evaluation process. Mims flashed early on in the year with 20 and 16.6-point weeks, before being Sean Payton-ed to the bench. The explosive rookie had crossed a 50% snap rate twice all season long.
Jerry Jeudy was traded in March, and there was renewed enthusiasm for a Mims year two breakout. Signings like Josh Reynolds did little damage, and Denver passed on day two pass catchers during the NFL Draft and instead selected Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele on Day Three.
Early returns on Mims 2024 role are not good. He played only one snap with the first-team offense, conceding snaps to Reynolds, Tim Patrick and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Mims appears to have a role as a situational deep threat/clearout guy.
Patrick was traded to Detroit and Humphrey was cut, but even with another on-paper opportunity, it is hard to see this being an open pathway for Mims.
Unless your league rewards cardio usage with points, he is a “stay-away-from” player. Consider including him on a package or re-rolling him for a 2025 3rd Round Rookie pick — if you can get it.
Kendre Miller (RB, NO)
Once upon a time, Kendre Miller was selected before De’Von Achane and Tyjae Spears in the 2023 NFL Draft. A 20-year-old two-way back out of TCU, Miller was continually selected in the early second round of Rookie Drafts. He was the younger and more exciting option alongside veterans like Jamaal Williams and a soon-to-be-suspended Alvin Kamara. Fast-forward to today, and Miller has been lapped by Spears and is not even in the same universe as Achane.
2023 was a lost season for Miller. He played only eight games and never posted a 30 percent snap share. The inability to stay healthy wore thin on the New Orleans coaching staff. Miller injured his hamstring on the first day of training camp. There have been negative vibes in every sense, with head coach Dennis Allen eviscerating his lack of availability to the media on multiple occasions. Allen did not mince words, saying, “That’s a player that’s going to have to figure out how to stay healthy. Because it’s hard to make the team when you’re in the training room all the time.”
Miller will start the season on the IR, and the earliest he can return to action is Week 5. In redraft, he has fallen to the 17th round. 2024 looks like a repeat of 2023: a lost season.
JJ McCarthy (QB, Min)
Injuries are unfair, but they are a major driver of dynasty values. McCarthy tore his meniscus and will miss the entire season. The injury robs him of a year on the job. McCarthy most likely would have started the season behind Sam Darnold, but at some point, he would have had an opportunity to step in as the starter. Now, it’s back to the drawing board, as McCarthy’s main focus will be recovery.
There are still some silver linings: McCarthy will use this as a “redshirt” year to learn the ins and outs of an NFL season. He will return in 2025 as the probable starting quarterback. But instead of the grace period he could have had this season, there will be even more pressure on him to perform right away in year two.
From a pure dynasty rankings perspective, fellow rookies like Bo Nix and Drake Maye have a chance to gain considerable value, not to mention Teflon prospects like Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. There are also year-two QBs like Bryce Young and Will Levis who will have a chance to rebound in new and promising situations.
Christian Kirk (WR, Jax)
Christian Kirk had one of the more opportunistic WR1 seasons in recent memory during the 2022 season. He signed with Jacksonville as a free agent in the summer, coming off a near 1,000-yard receiving season in Arizona. The talk across fantasy football was less about Kirk’s impact on the team and more about how much Jacksonville overspent on him as a free agent. Kirk went on to silence the critics, finishing with career highs in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and TDs. He finished the season as WR12 overall and averaged 14.5 PPG.
Last season, Kirk started off strongly despite added target competition from Calvin Ridley. A mid-year calf injury caused him to miss time and derailed his second-half production. His overall PPG average dropped from 14.2 PPG down to 12.5 PPG.
Ridley signed with Tennessee as a free agent, but Kirk has new WR target competition to deal with. Gabe Davis signed as a free agent and projects to be a downfield threat. Stylistically, Davis should be on the field a lot and will put pressure on opposing defenses. But the real threat to Kirk is rookie Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU. The Jaguars selected BTJ with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL Draft. Athletically gifted, Thomas Jr. brings size (6'3", 209) and speed to the Jaguars' WR room. He has excelled early on in camp and will make an immediate impact.
There is a real risk that Kirk will not be on the field in two WR sets this season, with Jacksonville opting to use Davis and BTJ in tandem. Jacksonville ran 11 personnel only 63.2% of the time last season, which ranked 17th in the NFL. Kirk may rapidly go from a high-floor play to a low-end WR3.
