The best laid Dynasty startup strategies don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes other managers in your leagues jump multiple rounds of ADP to select a player you planned on targeting. Not to fear. Here we present the dynasty gamer with reasonable pivot players within extremely talented offenses that could see a spike in opportunity this season. These are Dynasty ADP pivots to utilize when priced out of their first option in a startup draft.
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Jayden Reed (78 overall, WR31 – KTC) | Christian Watson (103 overall, WR40 – KTC), Dontayvion Wicks (135 overall, WR52 – KTC)
The Green Bay Packers are an offense I want exposure to on my Dynasty teams. It is a highly efficient offense modeled after the Kyle Shanahan scheme. Last season, Jordan Love ranked No. 5 in pass attempts, No. 3 in deep ball attempts, and No. 2 in red zone attempts amongst quarterbacks. Love also ranked No. 2 in the NFL in passing touchdowns. While Green Bay ranked middle of the pack in Pace of Play (No. 16 overall), they could pick up the pace in Love’s second year under center. Even if they decide to stay neutral in pace of play, the offense will be efficient. Taking chances on some of their top pass catchers is wise in dynasty startups.
The most expensive option is Jayden Reed, who currently ranks as the WR31 according to Keep Trade Cut. That price is reasonable. I’d definitely recommend targeting Reed in Dynasty Startups, but it isn’t the end of the world if he is selected by someone else. The Packers receiver room is one of the more ambiguous rooms in the NFL. That means Christian Watson – the 2023 fantasy analyst darling – could lead the team in targets. Or, it could be one of my favorites, Dontayvion Wicks, who is currently being drafted as WR52 on Keep Trade Cut. The simple point is the Packers wide receivers need to be a part of your Dynasty startup draft strategy in 2024.
Xavier Worthy (No. 75 overall, WR 29 – KTC) | Marquise Brown (No. 125 overall, WR 49)
I get it. I love Xavier Worthy just as much as the next guy. He looks to be the future featured wide receiver in Kansas City. Worthy is the wide receiver into whom the Chiefs have invested the most draft capital. However, he’s likely going to difficult to acquire in Dynasty startup drafts.
If Worthy comes off the board sooner than his ranking would suggest, why not pivot to Marquise Brown? Sure, he is only under contract for one year, but throughout his career he has proven that WR49 is his floor, not where he should be drafted in Dynasty. Over the last three seasons, Brown has ranked as the WR21 in fantasy points per game (2021), the WR27 in fantasy points per game (2022), and the WR49 in fantasy points per game (2023). He’s also earned at least 100 targets in four out of his five NFL seasons. If he earns 100 targets with the Chiefs, he will finish as a top-36 wide receiver at the very least. Currently, he’s being drafted as the WR49 in Dynasty startups according to Keep Trade Cut.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (No. 9 overall, WR 4 – KTC) | Jameson Williams (No. 123 overall, WR 48 – KTC)
It’s very difficult to acquire an elite wide receiver, and there is no question that Amon-Ra St. Brown is an elite NFL wide receiver. Currently St. Brown is coming off the board as player No. 9 overall, WR4 in Dynasty Superflex startups. That is rich. If a Dynasty gamer selects St. Brown that high in a Superflex Dynasty draft, it means they would likely be selecting him over players such as Joe Burrow, Anthony Richardson, and Caleb Williams. That is a move I personally could not make, especially in Superflex.
The next best way to get exposure to this ultra talented Detroit Lions offense may be to take their current WR2: Jameson Williams. The offseason was a ringing endorsement of how the Lions feel about Williams. They didn’t add a wide receiver of note to compete with him, and let Josh Reynolds walk out the door in free agency. The WR2 job is Williams’ to lose, and while he is likely going to have ups and downs, the ups could be extremely nice.
Drake London (No. 29 overall, WR 10 – KTC) | Kyle Pitts (No. 58 overall, TE 5 – KTC) – Darnell Mooney (No. 225, WR 81 – KTC)
Many Dynasty gamers, including myself, believe this is finally the year for some of the Atlanta pass catchers. Gone is Marcus Mariota. Enter Kirk Cousins and the newly drafted Michael Penix Jr. Cousins should be the starter right away and provide plenty of accurately thrown footballs in the direction of Drake London and Kyle Pitts. However, London is very expensive. Currently, London is ranked as the player No. 29 overall and WR10 overall in KTC’s Dynasty Superflex Rankings. The first pivot is Pitts, but he is still being drafted relatively high. Currently, the tight end is ranked as the player No. 58 and TE5 overall in KTC’s rankings. Out of those two options, I prefer Pitts at cost, but what if both come off the board sooner than they should?
Not to fear. Darnell Mooney is here. Mooney was added in the offseason and paid a handsome 3-year, $39-million contract with $26-million guaranteed. Not bad for a wide receiver who has barely been targeted 60 times over the past two seasons. In a world where wide receivers are held in high regard, some might say the contract isn’t that big of a deal. The truth is it is a big deal. That’s because Mooney is going to be the WR2 (option three) in a passing game that will crank up the volume. Mooney will likely be used as a field stretcher, as well. That should help London and Pitts. However, there will be games where Mooney will steal the show. My guess is he earns 100 targets and provides multiple spike weeks.
Mike Evans (No. 87 overall, WR 34 – KTC) | Chris Godwin (No. 105 overall, WR 42 – KTC)
This one is simple, but true. Mike Evans scored 13 touchdowns last season. Chris Godwin scored two touchdowns. That won’t likely happen again. Also, Evans is past age 30 and will turn 31 this year. Godwin is 28 years old and cheaper in Dynasty. It doesn’t make much sense, especially considering Evans earned just four more targets in the offense last season. The obvious difference between the two players was touchdowns. Regression says that gap will not be so wide in 2024.
Both Evans and Godwin look to be good players in fantasy football this season. This is because they are playing with Baker Mayfield who ranked No. 7 amongst quarterbacks in pass attempts last season (566) and No. 1 in deep ball attempts (79). Mayfield also ran the offense at an efficient pace. The Bucs were No. 13 in Pace of Play amongst all 32 NFL teams. There is some uncertainty about new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. However, he comes from the Los Angeles Rams, Sean McVay, and has experience within that system, as does Baker Mayfield. Given the state of the offense, this should be a team that cranks up the passing volume yet again this year. That will mean big years for both Evans and Godwin. If you miss out on Evans, Godwin is right around the corner and perhaps the better value at cost.
See Seth’s players to fade in Dynasty startups here: Dynasty Fantasy Draft Strategy | Six Players to Fade in Dynasty Startups
