Dynasty League football buy-low targets: Justin Fields, Darnell Mooney and more

We’re in a bit of a lull in dynasty football right now, that period between the NFL draft, fantasy rookie drafts and the opening of training camps. There’s a lot to process and player values ​​continue to change.

After participating in twelve rookie drafts to date, and by continuously monitoring the rankings and social trends, I have identified many intriguing valuations that I believe represent remarkable opportunities. The acquisition cost is always the most important part, and it’s safe to assume that when you express interest in an asset on another list, that cost will immediately increase. In my situation it becomes even more difficult because my dynasty resume is already known and finding willing trading partners can be difficult.

For this article, I’m going to focus on the players outside of my top 75 (even lower in the consensus rankings), which will increase your chances of making a trade due to their lower valuation. When looking at my rankings, it’s a relatively simple exercise to see which players I have higher compared to other rankings.

By now you know that you can find all of my current rankings, including rookie rankings, right here on DynastyLeagueFootball.com, the oldest, largest, and most trusted source for dynasties on the web.

Justin Fields, QB, PIT

• Age: 25 DLF Rank: QB33 (SuperFlex)

The dynasty community is a “what have you done for me lately” collective, and Fields has been left for dead. Ranked behind rookies Will Levis, Bo Nix and Michael Penix, and veterans Daniel Jones, Derek Carr and teammate Russell Wilson, the rose is blooming. I was never sold on Fields’ fit in Chicago, but now in Pittsburgh, and with certainly more dynamic potential than expected in starter Wilson (one-year deal), his starting job and production potential are significantly discounted. My full expectation is that Fields will start games midway through the season. In a SuperFlex format, a third-round rookie selection to acquire Fields is a steal, and a late second overall pick – behind JJ McCarthy – isn’t out of the question.

Romeo Doubs, WR, GB

Doubs scored a career-high eight touchdowns on just 59 receptions in 2023. His 96 goals were also a career high. With Jordan Love fully entrenched as the starting quarterback, things are looking good in 2024. The Packers have a young receiving corps, but I don’t see a threat to Doubs’ starter status. His consensus WR63 rating is too low considering his 2024 potential as he enters his third season. I believe he has a 30% lead in receptions, targets and touchdowns and a 50% lead in yardage, potentially eclipsing 1,000 yards for the first time in his young career. I’m willing to acquire Doubs for a third-round rookie, but I’m willing to pay a top second.

Joshua Palmer, WR, LAC

I continue to rate Palmer much higher than the consensus, which is reflected in my WR50 ranking. He’s not a “sexy” receiver, but he has the size and craftsmanship that I’ve come to appreciate in developing assets. Palmer struggled with his health in 2023, as did most of the Chargers’ receivers, but he is fully healthy in 2024 and, as he enters his fourth NFL season, is currently on the top receiver list. I don’t rate the 6-foot-1 target as a sustained scoring threat, but his “nearly free” acquisition cost means the price is right for dynasty managers playing in a PPR format.

Darnell Mooney, WR, ATL

A change of scenery and an upgrade at quarterback (Kirk Cousins) is exactly what was needed to put Mooney back on the dynasty’s radar. That said, it appears his lack of production over the past two seasons has been too much for dynasty managers to forgive. In his sophomore NFL campaign in 2021, the speedster produced 1,055 yards on 81 receptions, and there’s every reason to believe he’ll rise again in 2024. The Falcons offense has been retooled, Cousins ​​is expected to be under center in Week 1, and Mooney should be a starter on offense. While he’s not a prolific touchdown scorer, there’s more than enough potential here to steal Mooney given his next-to-nothing acquisition cost.

Jerome Ford, RB, CLE

Jerome Ford has been a fixture on my buy list for the past year, and he paid off in 2023 when Nick Chubb was injured. Ford showed he’s three times better, producing 813 yards and four touchdowns as a rusher, and 44 receptions and five touchdowns as a receiver in 2023. Chubb is still recovering from injury and will be a free agent in 2025, when Ford has one year left on his original rookie contract. There is no premium in his current RB34 valuation, although his current trade calculator value remains unrealistic as a rookie selection in the mid-third round. I’m willing to pay an early to mid second round pick to acquire Ford before the start of the 2024 regular season.

Roschon Johnson, RB, CHI

Entering his second season, Johnson’s dynasty value continues to decline following the team’s acquisition of DeAndre Swift. I have Johnson ranked as my RB30 as a value asset for the future. Swift’s three-year, $24 million contract isn’t trivial, but he has yet to demonstrate long-term bellwether qualities, while Johnson appears to have the size and dynamic skill set that dynasty managers prized in 2023. Yet another case of a second-year player fading from the dynasty community based on unrealistic expectations early in his career. Currently listed as an early third-rounder in rookie draft compensation, I’m willing to invest a mid- to late-second-round rookie selection or equivalent in his acquisition. I don’t believe Swift is the long-term answer, and Khalil Herbert appears to be on the outside looking in.

Israel Abanikanda, RB, NYJ

If you follow my work, you know it would be hard to rank much lower among dynasty running backs. Two years ago, I took an aging but productive approach to my roster building regarding running backs. I begin my search with a desire for current, unthreatened production on the one hand, with an eye on devalued opportunities as I look to the future on the other. Abanikanda, just another pre-draft darling, fell to the dynasty draft due to the Jets’ surprise 2023 draft selection. Buried under Breece Hall and a host of other options over the past year, Abanikanda is available for next to nothing and may soon be featured on a waiver wire near you. Still just 21 years old and with three skills, patient or rebuilding dynasty managers should acquire him in the coming months.

Jake Ferguson, TE, DAL

Ferguson is finally seeing an uptick in dynasty value, but he’s still a value considering his current TE13 ranking. Scheme remains a top variable in my tight end rating, and the Cowboys offense remains one of the better ones with Dak Prescott remaining at the helm. Producing 761 yards and five touchdowns on 71 receptions in 2023 in his first year as a starter, things are looking good again in 2024. His role remains secure, as does his situation with CeeDee Lamb double-teaming on the outside busy. I’m not one to get the best prices on the open market, and Ferguson’s value window is closing. If you want a dynasty bargain on a back-end TE1 with upside, get it now!

I hope you enjoyed this look at the eight players I’m buying into the Dynasty. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below. I look forward to interacting with my readers. Give me a follow on Twitter and Threads: @DLF_Jeff

As always, be happy, healthy and please be good to each other!

(Top photo of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)