Entering the season as a rebuilding Dynasty manager can be a bit discouraging. It’s a culture shock for many, especially those new to Dynasty. Mentally, it goes against everything that your redraft mind has instilled in you over the years.
You are NOT competing for your league title this season. Your goal is not to win games every week but to build for the future. The aim is to construct a roster full of players and picks that can lead you to championships (plural) in the future.
So it’s simple, right? Clear all older players off the roster and trade for younger players and picks. That statement is somewhat true, but the answers are more nuanced than that. You want to trade for the right sort of players. Unlike a win-now manager with the prize right in front of them, as a rebuilder, you want to make calculated decisions that will pay off over time.
Oftentimes, a rebuild can be turbocharged with a few correct decisions. Here are a few players you should consider trading for to help get your rebuild process started correctly.
JJ McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings (21 Years Old)
Someone in your league selected McCarthy in a rookie draft, knowing he might not start on Day One. They may have planned for McCarthy to slowly debut after some time on the bench to start the season and then take over as Minnesota's long-term starter. But does their dynasty roster support holding him through the entire season? The unanticipated season-ending injury creates a buying opportunity for rebuilding managers. One manager's headache is another manager's long-term asset.
As a rebuilder, McCarthy scoring points this season does not matter to you. But it certainly will matter to the opposing manager if they had any hope of competing this season. Never underestimate the tendency of short-term greed when it comes to Dynasty. Giving up on a potential long-term answer at quarterback to "go for it" this season is in the back of the mind for many McCarthy drafters. As an added bonus, McCarthy is now a more affordable trade target with an injury discount.
While the missed season is not ideal for his development, McCarthy will enter the 2025 season as the starting QB in Minnesota — barring an injury setback. He has mobility, a strong arm, and is a winner. As a prospect, McCarthy would have been the favorite to be selected 1st overall in the 2025 NFL Draft had he returned to Michigan. If you can trade for him during your rebuild, he will be like found money in 2025.
Michael Penix, QB, Atlanta Falcons (24 Years Old)
There is no injury discount with Penix, but there could be some frustration from the manager rostering him nonetheless. Playing the long game is a much more appealing proposition during the offseason than when your team needs wins.
Rookie draft geography may also play a part. A number of Penix drafters selected him not because they loved his game, but because they viewed him as a value. He was a bonus selection whom they did not need, and they got him in an area of the rookie draft where he was a luxury pick more than anything.
Every week that Penix sits and collects zeros is another trade opportunity for rebuilding managers to explore. Much like McCarthy, Penix riding the bench will have no effect on your rebuild process. He will get his shot as the starting QB in Atlanta — at some point. When that is remains a mystery.
I, for one, do not believe that the Atlanta Falcons have him on a Jordan Love plan. Penix is already 24 and is on his rookie contract. NFL teams getting starts out of QBs on rookie contracts is an ultimate cheat code, and not one that Atlanta will squander by sitting him for multiple seasons.
Trade for Penix now and enjoy having him on your team as soon as he gets his starting opportunity. He will immediately become a fantasy-friendly asset. Penix has the luxury of being attached to young and talented skill-position players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. He also gets to play his home games indoors in a stadium.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers (21 Years Old)
Brooks will be difficult to obtain in any dynasty trade, but like the McCarthy manager, do not underestimate the frustration that comes with rostering injured players. While Brooks could be back on an NFL field in Week 5, there is no certainty. The Brooks manager could also fear that he could be slow-played when he does return. Competing Dynasty managers hate having a lack of clarity in any situation.
The Brooks manager may be open to a pivot trade that nets them an RB they can instantly insert into their lineup and see volume and production with. Offering players like Rachaad White or James Cook may get you an instant rejection, but if you get a counter or a message back, then you know this manager may be willing to deal.
Brooks has the potential to be a top-five dynasty RB — he is that talented. A back with size and two-way ability, Brooks will become the focal point of the Carolina offense under HC Dave Canales. He can become a foundational part of your dynasty team and slot right in as your team's RB1 in 2025.
TJ Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings (27 Years Old)
Much like McCarthy and Penix, Hockenson will start the season by collecting zeros. However, it appears as though Hockenson's time on the sidelines will be short-lived. There was fear he would miss a large portion of the season, but the Vikings have downplayed the longevity. Hockenson’s time on the PUP could be short-lived. This creates somewhat of a sense of urgency for rebuilding managers to trade for him now.
With Hockenson, you get access to two potential trading discounts: the injury discount and also a general lack of enthusiasm for the Minnesota offense this season. The QB worries have made all non-Justin Jefferson Vikings assets more affordable—even Hockenson.
Much like with Penix, McCarthy, and Brooks, we want to capitalize on short-term greed and fantasy managers' reliance on fast starts to their seasons. Hockenson is a perfect player to tier up to (trade multiple pieces to consolidate to a stronger asset) or tier down to (trade one larger piece for multiple players). He is an asset that will retain value for the considerable future.
Short term, the Hockenson manager may consider trades involving players like George Kittle or David Njoku — strong veteran TEs in plus situations as part of a package. Trading either one of these with another win-now asset, like an older RB or WR with strong short-term value, could get the conversation started.
Cade Stover, TE, Houston Texans (24 Years Old)
Jared Wiley, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (23 Years Old)
Wiley and Stover are both long-term plays at the TE position that veteran teammates currently box out. For rebuilding dynasty managers, these are ideal players to target. Neither will cost you much of anything, but both have the ability and situations to become significant assets for you. Each player is attached to elite signal callers in Patrick Mahomes and CJ Stroud. They are two of the cheapest ways to access two of the league's best offenses.
Unlike former backups Noah Gray and Blake Bell, Wiley looks like a player who could emerge as the eventual Travis Kelce replacement. The Chiefs may think so as well. Wiley worked with the first-team offense during training camp. He has a terrific size/speed combination, running a 4.62 40 at 6'6" and 260 pounds.
Stover is in a similar situation to Jake Ferguson. Ferguson played behind Dalton Schultz in Dallas, and when Schultz moved on, Ferguson stepped in and delivered TE1 production. Expect Stover to do the same when he eventually takes over for Schultz in Houston. As an added bonus, you get the locker room narrative with Stover and Stroud—two former teammates at Ohio State.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (25 Years Old)
Higgins might seem like an odd choice for a rebuilding team to consider, but he is in a great spot to gain considerable dynasty value — both this season and next offseason. In the short term, he is in a great spot as the #2 target in Cincinnati. Higgins was hobbled by hamstring injuries in 2023 and is now fully healed. He should return substantial WR2 numbers this season. His target share could tick up this year with Cincinnati breaking in multiple skill position players. Higgins is now the most experienced Bengals’ wide receiver, and Tyler Boyd is now a Tennessee Titan.
While the short-term bumps in value are appealing, they do not tell the whole story of his value. Higgins is set to enter free agency after this season and will be in line for a massive payday. There will be multiple teams who view Higgins as an insta-WR1 in their offense. In Cincinnati, Higgins has never had more than 111 targets — a number that could climb by 20 or more with a new fit.
Calvin Ridley signed a four-year contract worth $92 million this past offseason at 29 years old. Higgins’ relative youth will be another appealing trait, as teams will view him as a longer-term asset. If you can acquire Higgins for your dynasty roster, then do so.
Jermaine Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (23 Years Old)
If Higgins is too expensive, consider trading for his younger teammate and eventual replacement, Jermaine Burton. Burton fell to the 3rd round in the NFL Draft, but talent-wise was more in line with early 2nd-round draft capital. (There were off-the-field fears, reportedly.)
Talent-wise, he is an explosive downfield threat. Burton ran a 4.45 40 and played at the highest levels of college football at Georgia and Alabama. If Higgins moves on, Burton will have the fast track on the WR2 job in one of the league’s better offenses.
Short term, Burton is not only competing with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for targets but also second-year player Andrei Iosivas. There will be some painful box scores for Burton managers to deal with early in the season. Trading an older player who is scoring now for the chance to add a player of Burton’s talent and future situation makes sense in a Dynasty rebuild.
