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Jackson Sparks identifies trade targets in fantasy football dynasty leagues for 2023. These are potentially undervalued players to target in keeper formats.
Dynasty fantasy football has become increasingly popular, and as a result, many leagues have already concluded their 2023 rookie drafts or are planning to do so soon. However, to stay ahead of your league mates, it's important not to simply stash away your dynasty league until the 2023 season starts. Instead, it's time to identify players on other rosters who could be worth trading for.
Potential targets are those who either had a disappointing campaign in 2022 or saw their perceived value drop based on offseason transactions. That being said, trade targets that come with a hefty price tag of picks and players will not be recommended. If you can acquire elite studs like Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase, feel free to overpay.
However, that's not the focus of this article. As a general rule, it's a savvy move to acquire aging win-now pieces from fantasy managers who panic about the age apex. There's always a risk with those types of players, but the reward can yield league-winning upside. Without further ado, let's dive into some of the top dynasty league targets heading into 2023.
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Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Needless to say, Cam Akers has had a rocky start to his NFL career. He was an exciting prospect coming out of Florida State and showed promise in his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, injuries and issues with Sean McVay have contributed to his career rollercoaster. However, he recently turned 24 years old and doesn't have a significant workload on his legs.
After a disastrous start to his 2022 season, there were talks of trading him, but he managed to deliver four top-14 RB finishes in the final six weeks. With Los Angeles only adding sixth-round running back Zach Evans and not signing a veteran back, Akers is expected to have a prominent role, possibly even as a workhorse.
While the Rams' offense may not reach the same level of excellence as in their 2021 Super Bowl run, it should still be an average unit in 2023, providing Akers with more touchdown opportunities. Considering all this, dynasty managers who have held onto Akers despite his ups and downs may have mixed feelings. This makes him a potential target for trade offers.
Akers is one of the most affordable potential workhorse backs in fantasy football. Sean McVay has expressed optimism about him during the offseason, though the value of such hype is subjective. It's worth noting that Akers' job security beyond 2023 is uncertain. If he has a strong RB2 season this year, the cost to acquire him will be justified.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
Antonio Gibson exceeded expectations in his rookie and sophomore seasons, finishing as RB13 and RB10 (PPR), respectively. Despite this, he was still an underrated fantasy asset due to his age and consistent production heading into 2022. However, it turned out that he was worth fading in his third year. Gibson ended up as only the RB28 and failed to finish in the top 35 at his position over the last six weeks of the regular season.
Nevertheless, the Commanders' offense is expected to improve with its underrated weapons. Gibson possesses a versatile skill set that Brian Robinson Jr. does not. While Robinson is likely to be utilized as the early-down grinder, Gibson could potentially take on the "Jerick McKinnon" role in 2023 and beyond under the new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy.
In PPR formats, Gibson has significant upside as the primary pass-catching back. Despite his overall poor fantasy output, he still managed to achieve 7.7 yards per reception (the 12th-most among RBs), 1.66 yards per route run (ninth), and a 12% target share (11th), despite running only 213 routes (25th).
Washington ranked 20th in passing plays per game, but it is expected that Bieniemy will increase the pass volume in 2023. As long as Gibson remains healthy, a mid-level RB2 season is well within his range of outcomes. It is advisable to take advantage of the discount on Gibson now.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Diontae Johnson has emerged as a highly sought-after "buy-low" option across various fantasy football sites. This may make it challenging to strike a deal with his current managers. However, it is worth exploring the possibility of acquiring him. Since 2020, Johnson has amassed 460 targets, ranking behind Tyreek Hill (464), Justin Jefferson (476), Stefon Diggs (484), and Davante Adams (498). That's quite impressive company.
Despite transitioning from Ben Roethlisberger to Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett as his quarterbacks last season, Johnson remained a target magnet and finished as a top-eight receiver in terms of targets. It is well-known that Johnson did not score a touchdown in 2022, despite accounting for 40% of the Steelers' end zone targets. However, this is unlikely to persist in 2023 where he is bound to find the end zone.
While he faces competition for targets from George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and Allen Robinson, Johnson has demonstrated his ability to earn targets over the past three seasons. His potential may not reach the level of Jefferson, Diggs, or other star receivers, but he has the qualities of a high-end WR2, particularly in PPR. If the opportunity to acquire Johnson for less than a future first-round draft pick arises, make the trade.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
Christian Kirk is the sole player on this list who had an outstanding season in 2022. However, the addition of Calvin Ridley is causing apprehension among fantasy managers, leading to a decrease in Kirk's value. He had a WR12 performance in PPR formats last season with 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite this, Kirk is currently being drafted around the WR24 position in redraft leagues.
Furthermore, his dynasty stock declined after the Jaguars acquired Ridley in the middle of last season. We shouldn’t automatically assume that Ridley will become Trevor Lawrence's new WR1 after being away from football for over a year. While Ridley had a remarkable campaign in 2020, amassing 1,374 receiving yards, he has never surpassed 900 yards in any other season and is bound to be rusty after an extended absence.
Even if Ridley lives up to the hype, Kirk remains an enticing dynasty investment for the upcoming seasons due to his connection with Trevor Lawrence. It is not uncommon for teammates to finish as WR1s alongside each other. There is no reason why Ridley and Kirk cannot coexist and generate significant upside.
Moreover, Kirk is nearly two years younger than Ridley, making a compelling argument in favor of him being the preferred option. Especially considering his demonstrated production in Jacksonville. Skilled players can thrive, and elite quarterbacks are capable of supporting multiple dynamic fantasy wide receivers. It is advisable to acquire Kirk now.
Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs
Admittedly, Skyy Moore wasn't particularly impressive when he entered the league. However, considering his lower price compared to Rashee Rice and significantly lower price compared to Kadarius Toney, he has become a top dynasty trade target.
During his rookie year, Moore only caught 22 passes for 225 yards without scoring any touchdowns. However, with JuJu Smith-Schuster now in New England, the Kansas City Chiefs lack established receivers on their roster. Toney, on the other hand, seems like an overhyped gadget player. Rice is usually ranked a few spots ahead of Moore in both redraft and dynasty formats, with added rookie hype increasing his price.
Since Moore didn't make much of an impact as a rookie, fantasy managers might be willing to part ways with him at a relatively low cost. In reality, he has just as good of a chance as anyone else to lead the Chiefs' wide receivers in targets. If he manages to do so, you can expect a significant return on your investment in 2023. Even if he turns out to be a disappointment, it's still worth taking a cheap flyer on his potential upside.
Darren Waller, New York Giants
Darren Waller is the oldest player on this list, but he is certainly worth considering as a valuable acquisition. Especially if his current fantasy manager has forgotten just how exceptional he has been. As a former wide receiver, he achieved a TE3 season in 2019 and a TE2 season in 2020. Injuries have hampered his performance in the last two years.
During this offseason, the Raiders traded him to the New York Giants, where he is expected to be the primary target for Daniel Jones in the passing game. Irrespective of the effectiveness of the Giants' offense as a whole, Waller will undoubtedly receive a significant number of targets. It is uncommon for tight ends to operate as a team's WR1, with only one or two players in the league fulfilling this role.
Over the past three years, out of the 15 tight ends who received at least 100 targets, 13 of them finished as a top-six scorer at the position. Assuming Waller can put his injury concerns behind him, it seems highly likely that he will achieve this feat. Additionally, it is worth noting that the Giants lack size among their wide receivers, which could result in Waller commanding a significant share of the targets in the end zone.
Dynasty managers might be quick to place Waller on the trade block, particularly considering he will turn 31 in mid-September. However, he possesses an excellent opportunity to re-emerge as a significant advantage at the tight end position.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is the quintessential "buy low" candidate following an injury. Dynasty managers may be hesitant to part ways with him due to his history of fantasy production. Despite the criticism from football fans and analysts, Murray has provided a high upside as a fantasy QB since his first day. Last season, he ranked as the QB7 in fantasy points per game (minimum of 11 games played) following a QB4 performance in 2021.
He has unquestionably established himself as a reliable starter in single-QB leagues. However, his midseason ACL tear might cause some managers to panic. In single-QB formats, acquiring a high-caliber dual-threat quarterback has never been more crucial. Murray proves to be one of the most valuable players in two-QB and Superflex leagues when he's performing at his best.
As a former Heisman winner, he is just 25 years old. Even if the Cardinals decide to move on from him after 2023, he will bring his dynamic skill set to a new franchise. Considering the possibility of him missing a significant portion of the 2023 season, Murray is best suited for rebuilding rosters.
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