Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Strategy: Who's Worth Your First-Round Pick In Rookie Drafts?
Sam Wallace breaks down five players that would be worth considering trading your first-round rookie draft picks for this upcoming offseason in dynasty leagues.
I've been on record saying that I enjoy the offseason more than the actual NFL season in my dynasty fantasy football leagues.
Yes, of course, I love tuning in on Sunday afternoons but the offseason is when the foundation is laid. It's when trade discussions heat up, free agency hits, and the NFL Draft kicks off.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Strategy
One of the most common questions I get from our Fantasy Life Community Discord this time of year relates to how to properly value draft picks. The Family Guy "mystery box" gif is commonplace in our channels as we all anxiously await landing spots for the incoming crop of rookies.
All that being said, if you're looking to move off your 2025 first-round pick(s), who are some players you might consider targeting? Let's break down five potential trade targets.
Who's Worth My First-Round Rookie Draft Pick In Dynasty Leagues?
Tee Higgins, WR - Bengals
I'm objectively biased when it comes to Tee Higgins but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. Our own Matt LaMarca said it perfectly when he brilliantly crossed March Madness with fantasy football and labeled Higgins as: Dangerous When Healthy.
LaMarca went on to say, “Ja’Marr Chase was the No. 1 receiver in terms of PPR points per game, but Higgins was tied with Justin Jefferson for the No. 2 spot.”
With official confirmation over the weekend that both Chase and Higgins will be in Cincinnati for the next four years, there's no reason to doubt that Joe Burrow can keep supporting both of his star wideouts for years to come.
It might seem counterintuitive to trade away a first-round pick for someone who isn't even the WR1 for his own team, but this isn't your traditional example. Burrow threw for almost 5,000 yards and 43 TDs last year while completing 70% of his passes. If someone is "down" on Higgins for sharing the field with Chase, go snag this still-elite talent.
Rome Odunze, WR - Bears
It's the perfect marriage when talent and opportunity come together. Sometimes, however, even the most talented of players need to ride out their current situation until it gets better.
That's how I'm approaching Rome Odunze this offseason.
As a rookie, he was the clear No. 3 option behind both DJ Moore and Keenan Allen for fellow rookie QB Caleb Williams.
Despite being third in essentially every major receiving category, Odunze did lead the team in air yards which does bode well for both his future usage and corresponding fantasy value.
Another year of growth from both Williams and Odunze, coupled with the hiring of Ben Johnson to coach the Bears, should be more than enough to bolster what was an underwhelming season for the talented wideout.
We often have to put things in perspective. Despite coming in as the WR3 in our Rookie WR Model for 2024, Odunze's model score of 91 would actually put him as the No. 1 option in the 2025 class, even ahead of Tetairoa McMillan.
I'm anticipating a meteoric rise in production and opportunity for Odunze in Year 2. A future first-round pick could be enough to land him on your dynasty squad.
Kenneth Walker III, RB - Seahawks
Before I start, I would like to pour one out for Fantasy Life megastar Kendall Valenzuela. Her Seattle Seahawks have had quite the tumultuous offseason and I know she's experienced all the emotions.
Currently, Sam Darnold is slated to start Week 1. His top two options? Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. I bet you didn't have any of those moves on your offseason bingo card.
One of the sneaky winners throughout all of this is Kenneth Walker III. Still only 24-years old, he struggled with injuries in 2024 but still managed to score seven times on the ground. He may share the backfield with Zach Charbonnet but Walker is one of the best pure rushers in the league.
Despite Charbonnet profiling more as a change-of-pace option, Walker is actually better in every statistical passing category as well.
Darnold will have solid weapons in Seattle; it's the offensive line that will remain a big question mark. Walker will be tasked with balancing the offensive attack and has demonstrated both a nose for the endzone (26 total TDs in three seasons) and an ability to handle a workhorse-type role.
Need a boost to your dynasty RB stable? Walker checks every box worthy of sending a mid/late first-round pick.
Chase Brown, RB - Bengals
Let's highlight one more backfield option for your dynasty offseason needs.
Chase Brown assumed lead-back duties following the departure of Joe Mixon and he more than made the most of his opportunity. Here is his impressive season-ending stat line:
- 229 rushing attempts
- 990 rushing yards
- 7 rushing TDs
He also added 54 / 360 / 4 on 65 targets through the air.
The Bengals are bringing back their top-three pass-catchers from last year in Chase, Higgins, and Mike Gesicki but Brown will have more than his fair share of opportunities on both the ground and through the air.
If you won't listen to me, here's what Matthew Freedman had to say about Brown when he pegged him as a 2025 breakout candidate:
And in his final eight games, he had 930 yards, 6 TDs, and a position-best 9.5 Utilization Score (per our industry-leading Fantasy Life Utilization Report). As a heavily used No. 1 RB in a top-five offense, Brown has the potential to go off with a top-three campaign, but it will likely be easy to acquire him outside of the top 10 at the position.
If you strip away the name and just look at the numbers, you would have no problem shipping off a future first-round pick for this budding fantasy superstar.
T.J. Hockenson, TE - Vikings
The TE position is tricky. You know it; I know it; everyone knows it.
If you have a strong, weekly starter at the position, it's worth more to have them on your team than whatever "fair" value you might get back in a trade. That's precisely what makes suggesting a trade target so tricky but I'll see what I can do.
T.J. Hockenson will never be the primary receiving option for the Vikings. That title will forever belong to Justin Jefferson. Normally, we like our TEs to be high-end target earners but, in this instance, targeting a secondary (or tertiary) option fits the bill nicely.
Jefferson and Jordan Addison will always draw primary coverage assignments from opposing defenses which allows Hockenson to dominate the middle of the field. Add in the fact that J.J. McCarthy is (currently) slated to start Week 1 and Hockenson's appeal as a safety value only increases his appeal.
Even if the Vikings go in a different direction and sign Aaron Rodgers to a short-term deal, Hockenson will still remain an integral part of the offensive game plan.
As mentioned, normally we want primary reads as our TE targets— think of players like Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Brock Bowers, and Trey McBride. Even so, looking down into the next tier of players can land you a solid option with significant upside without the same price tag.
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