Now is the time to take a look at your dynasty fantasy football team to get ahead of the curve when big names are ultimately moved when NFL Free Agency begins. Getting a jump on dynasty fantasy football is sure to give you an advantage to feel more comfortable about your team when those players do get moved.
Below, we have five players who you should look to trade away for dynasty fantasy football.
5 Dynasty Fantasy Football Players to Trade Away
Christian Kirk (Houston Texans)
Christian Kirk was at the top of veterans who could be cap casualties. Given his season-ending injury, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars standing to save $10.5M, it was obvious the team would move away from him. They pulled the trigger, trading him within the division to the Houston Texans.
We saw the lack of production from the slot for the Texans this past season. Now, with Kirk coming off of an injury and turning 29 in November, there isn’t much optimism that he will return to form. If you can sell him to someone optimistic about the change of scenery, it would be a wise idea.
Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings)
We saw Sam Darnold have an incredible career revival with the Minnesota Vikings. The issue is, it kind of feels more like a Geno Smith situation than a Baker Mayfield situation given Darnold’s current contract and the Vikings’ quarterback room. Reports suggest that the Vikings want to bring Darnold back, as J.J. McCarthy seems to have rehab to go. The issue is that when McCarthy is ready to go, the Vikings’ plan has to be to use him, given the draft capital that they spent on him.
If Darnold were to find himself on a new team next season, one big thing will stand – his supporting cast. Darnold did play well last season, but with Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal, he had one of the better play-making rooms in the league. There is not a team that would take a chance on Darnold that also has similar talent. This could be a situation where if the Vikings do keep Darnold and he plays, you may get better trade value for him at the trade deadline, but in his current situation in Minnesota, there is probably just one year max that you will get out of him here. In my opinion, test the waters and make a dynasty fantasy football trade, if you can.
Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs)
A year after dominating the playoffs, Kansas City Chiefs starting running back Isiah Pacheco disappointed last season. While that had to do with his injury, when Pacheco returned this season, he was not used nearly as much as anyone thought he was going to be. In the playoffs in particular, the Chiefs elected to run Kareem Hunt more than any fantasy manager would like. With that being said, Isiah Pacheco is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this upcoming season. With Hunt a free agent this season as well, it makes sense that the Chiefs take a chance on the deep running back class in the draft.
Outside of the draft, the Chiefs may also be in favor of signing a free agent like Nick Chubb. Pacheco may be finding himself falling down the depth chart. Given his injury history, if Pacheco were to find himself on a new team next season, it would be hard to find himself in many more scoring opportunity offenses than Kansas City.
Javonte Williams (Free Agent)
Javonte Williams is set to hit free agency and, given what we saw from him in the last few seasons in Denver, it seems like his career as a starting running back is over. In a Sean Payton offense, who has been known for his running back committee approach, he consistently underperformed. He finished 2024 with a stat line of 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns. I don’t think Williams has much dynasty fantasy football trade value at this point in his career, but it may be a better investment to take a chance on a fifth-round pick than roll Williams out as your Flex2 next season.
If the Denver Broncos are serious about competing in the AFC next year, they need to get consistent running back play next season. It feels like Williams will end up on the Philadelphia Eagles or Detroit Lions practice squad and be used just as an injury replacement, similar to what we saw from Dalvin Cook.
Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens)
Given the state of the tight end position in dynasty fantasy football, I understand the hesitation with trading away Mark Andrews, but this may be the best value that you are going to get from him. He is coming off a season where he brought in 11 touchdowns, but he will be 30 in September. There are some reports swirling that Andrews could be on the move at the start of the new season or even cut. While I do think that the Ravens could get some value from trading Andrews, I don’t know that they do cut him.
If he were to find himself on a new team this season, I don’t know that there is a better position for him to be in than Baltimore. He was the top receiving option for the best quarterback in the league this season. With Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely continuing to progress, along with Rashod Bateman and likely other receiving options, Andrews is sure to start a decline as one of the better tight ends in fantasy football.
