5 Dynasty Impact Players to Trade or Draft Before Next Season
#1 Xavier Worthy
The Great
I know this is really original. Picking a first-round WR who has a QB named Patrick Mahomes with an offensive mastermind Andy Reid who has been waiting for a replacement for Tyreek Hill. I’m sure none of you saw this coming. Yes, we all know he ran the fastest 40 combine time at 4.21 seconds. But did you know that he scored a 99 on his interview score? What does this even mean? This means he has the highest level of understanding of the manipulation of defenders, route running, schemes, and motivation and confidence indicators. Over the last two years, there was one WR in each draft who had a 99-interview score. Zay Flowers and Garret Wilson. ALSO, he had a 2.21 YPRR (Yards Per Route Run). YPRR is one of the most common statistics used in evaluating a wide receiver prospect’s success in the NFL. While this isn’t an exceptional score, anything over a 2 is considered to be good enough, AND only 10 WRs broke that threshold in this year’s draft. The opportunity, data, speed, college stats, and everything screams to draft this guy. Outside the big 3 (Rome, Malik, and MHJ), he is personally my number 4 to 5 based on league scoring. If he falls to you late in the first or early second (based on how many players are in your league), take him. Do not question it and take him.
The Ugly
Worthy is tiny tiny. He comes in at 165 pounds. Devonta Smith also came in at around 170 when he was drafted, so I do not consider this to be a huge red flag. It was worth a mention. Also, Worthy is going to have fierce competition in his first year. Kelce, Rice, and Brown will all want targets. Rice might be facing a suspension, Brown is on a one-year deal, and Kelce might decide to join his brother full-time on his 100-million-dollar podcast at the end of next year. It’s much easier to hang with Taylor Swift when you don’t have to play football and can talk about it. There is a lot of upside for Xavier’s future.
#2 Zamir White
The Great
In the offseason, it was a surprise that the Raiders and new coach Antonio Pierce didn’t resign Josh Jacobs. This indicated that they were either going to draft a RB or ride with Zamir White. They decided to ride with Zamir. As we have seen in interviews and based on multiple players associated with the Raiders, Pierce is a player’s coach. He plays hard-nosed football and plays his studs. Last year after Pierce took over Josh Jacobs averaged 20 carries a game. After Jacobs got hurt, Zamir averaged 21 carries a game. If you look at the 2023 analytics, this would have been the #1 most rushing attempts by any RB. There are not many cowbell RB in the NFL, but Zamir is going to be one of them. In the draft, Pierce went out and drafted a Center in round 2 and an O-Line in round 3. With no running backs to be found, Zamir should be the lead back with no questions asked. This will currently be the lowest value you will be able to buy him for. He is worth around a mid to late 2nd pick, Cole Kmet, Pat Freiermuth, or Jerry Jeudy are other potential trade options. By this time next year, he is going to have Kyren Williams value. If Pierce stays his head coach, I see Zamir continuing to be the guy. But what about Alexander Mattison?
“ We’re talking about depth, but at some point, they can come in and give us that jolt.”
Clearly, Mattison is going to be a change of pace back. Also, if you think Alexander Mattison will ever be the guy after last year, you are sadly mistaken.
The Ugly
Aidan O’Connell is the Raiders starting quarterback (Minshew will compete to become the starter due to his contract but Aidan is the QB1 at the moment). While Aiden has shown glimpses of excellence, teams will feel confident loading the box. Also, Zamir is a round 4 draft pick. We have seen it time and time again where low picks, even day two picks at RB get replaced in the blink of an eye. Tyler Aguilar recently comes to mind. Kyren Williams might get added to this list by the end of next year.
#3 Rachaad White
The Great
Last year Rasheed White averaged 16 attempts a game. The big difference here is that he also averaged 64 receptions for the Bucs. This made him RB 4 in receptions and RB 7 in rush attempts. The name of this game is volume. Volume normally results in points. It is as easy as that. To add flue to the fire the Bucs went out and drafted arguably one of the best centers in the draft in round 1. It will cost you to get White as he is floating around a mid to late first-round pick which is a lot in this draft class, but you might be able to leverage some older players like Kupp, Adams, or Cousins to set yourself up nicely for the future. Similar to Zamir, I only expect his value to go up by the end of next season.
The Ugly
Now we just discussed how easily a 2nd or 3rd round RB could be replaced. White fits this bill as he was drafted in the third round in 2022. The Bucs added Bucky Irving on Day 3 of the draft. I personally do not think he has much to worry about because Bucky is 5’9” and 190 pounds. While we have had some amazing 5’9” RBs (AP and Le’Veon Bell) he lacks size. Also, the Bucs just hired a new OC Liam Coen which could eat into his volume. I see this being a bigger factor than Bucky.
#4 Ladd McConkey
The Great
Shocker! Another rookie WR who is going into a pass-heavy offense (ranked 3rd in 2023 only behind the Chiefs and Washington), with a solidified dynasty-level QB. McConkey has the opportunity that comes with the Chargers WR room consisting of Quentin Johnson, Joshua Palmer, and Derius Davis. McConkey’s YPRR (Yards Per Route Run) was number 3 in this draft at 2.54, one spot above Rome Odunze. He is going to fit perfectly into the slot and be given an insane number of opportunities. He will become a PPR monster. I have him alongside Worthy sitting at my 4-5 rookie WR rankings in this year’s draft based on league scoring. If you can get him late in the first or anywhere in the second, take him.
The Ugly
McConkey was dwarfed by Brock Bowers at Georgia in receptions, yards, and TDs. Maybe Brock should have made my list, but McConkey was clearly #2 in the UGA offense. McConkey has a new Head Coach (Jim Harbaugh) and Offensive Coordinator (Greg Norman – Ravens OC 2019 – 2022). Jim picked up the best OT in the first round in Joe Alt.
“Offensive linemen are weapons and the tip of the spear.”
With Greg establishing the rush offense in Baltimore and Jim focused on hard-nosed run heavy football, the Chargers’ entire scheme and offensive identity will be shifted. Do I think this offense is going to change, absolutely. Do I believe it is enough to not daft McConkey, absolutely not.
#5 Daniel Jones & Jameson Williams - 2 for 1 special
#5: Daniel Jones and Jameson Williams
The Great
Before I lose all my credibility, just hear me out. Both guys absolutely won the draft. Would I trade for both of these guys the same year, absolutely not, would I throw a package deal for a low pick and a middling veteran at the end of his shelf-life, absolutely. These two are close to falling off the cliff but somehow are still hanging on. Consider these two as lottery tickets of the year and in great spots to cash in. Daniel Jones might be stealing millions of dollars from the Giants, but the Giants will Giant. It’s what they do. With that said, they picked up arguably the best WR in the draft Malik Nabers. He has speedster 2nd-year rookie Jalin Hyatt, capable rusher Devin Singeltary, TE Darren Waller, and in free agency, they signed FIVE offensive linemen. If there was a year for Daniel Jones to succeed, it would be this one.
With Jameson Williams, it really comes down to opportunity and the Lions doing nothing to improve their WR room. If there was a year for him to break out, now would be the time. He is a solidified WR2 this year, with no suspensions looming, and the Lions drafted 1 skill position player in the 4th round at RB. The rest were defense and offensive line. Another lottery ticket waiting to be cashed, with all the upside in the world.
The Ugly
You would be betting on the Giants. This is never a good thing. Daniel Jones might be replaced next year if they do poorly enough this year. His contract and high pricetag won’t save him two years in a row. Williams has been afforded many opportunities already to be successful. This is a low investment (QB30 and WR50) for the chance to hit big. As Kevin Malone said, if anyone gives you 10,000 to 1 odds on anything, you take that bet.
