Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Six Veteran RBs to Acquire in Dynasty Leagues
Sam Wallace shares six of his favorite veteran RBs to target in dynasty formats heading into the 2024 season, including hypothetical trades with our Trade Rater and more.
Their best seasons might be behind them, but each of these veteran players offers value this upcoming season (and maybe beyond).
Here are six RBs for competing dynasty managers to target.
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Derrick Henry
Let's not overthink this one. Yes, Derrick Henry is 30 years old and that's a near-death sentence for an average RB. However, Henry is not your average NFL RB. He apparently spends nearly $250,000 on his body each year and is now the feature-back for one of the league's most dominant rushing attacks in Baltimore.
Fantasy Life's projections have him finishing as the:
- RB2 in rushing attempts
- RB4 in rushing yards
- RB1 in rushing TDs
Is that something you might be interested in?
Yes, in dynasty formats, trading FOR a 30-year-old RB seems counterintuitive, but we have to keep the bigger picture in mind: you play to win the game. Championship banners hang forever.
Here's a fun mental exercise. Using the Fantasy Life Trade Rater, assuming 0.5 PPR scoring, you could theoretically trade away disgruntled WR Brandon Aiyuk for Henry and WIN the trade for this season.
How about that? There's no guarantee that Aiyuk lands somewhere better than San Francisco (or anywhere new at all – remember Deebo Samuel in 2022?), and securing Henry now could help shore up your lineup for a championship run for both this season and next.
Joe Mixon
Joe Mixon has quickly become one of my favorite offseason values. After spending his entire career with the Bengals, he joins a young Texans squad that is looking to make noise in the AFC.
Mixon has finished as a top-10 RB (PPR) in three straight seasons, and we project him to finish there again in Houston.
The biggest thing that stands out for me is where Mixon is going in ADP relative to our projections.
Of the top 10 projected RBs, his ADP, specifically on Underdog, is well below everyone else, especially those projected to finish in a similar range as him. I trust our rankings and projections, so this tells me that Mixon carries an enticing blend of value and upside both this year and next.
Mixon is projected to carry the ball more than 230 times and score seven TDs. With no real competition for meaningful volume, it's wheels up for both Mixon and dynasty managers.
Alvin Kamara
Remember when Alvin Kamara scored six TDs in a single game that propelled countless fantasy managers to titles back in 2020? It feels like a lifetime ago. Still, Kamara represents a value to dynasty managers in the year 2024.
Say what you will about PPR scoring, but points are points.
Yes, an RB that rushes for 10 yards on one play scores the same amount of points as a WR teammate who catches a pass for ZERO yards on the next play. Hey, don't hate the player, hate the game.
Fantasy Life projects Kamara to finish as the RB4 in targets (74), RB4 in receptions (60), and RB4 in receiving yards (458). He might only be a middling RB2 in totality, but that has significant value to a dynasty manager looking to fill out the rest of their roster heading into 2024.
If you need more evidence, Kamara's entire career provides everything you need. He's hit the following thresholds across his seven NFL seasons:
- Top-12 RB - 6 times
- Top-16 RB - 7 times
- 75 targets - 6 times
- 55 receptions - 6 times
- 450 receiving yards - 6 times
It doesn't have to look pretty, and the efficiency might not always be there, but volume is king and Kamara should continue to soak up as much opportunity as he can handle.
Aaron Jones
For about a four-year stretch, Aaron Jones was one of the most complete RBs in the entire league. He offered the coveted blend of rushing ability and pass-catching upside that fantasy managers dream of. However, in his final season in Green Bay, injuries were the big storyline.
However, Jones turned it around at the end of the season. Over the final three regular season games and two playoff performances, Jones was nearly unstoppable, as shown in our Utilization Report Game Log tool below for Weeks 16-20.
He scored 14+ PPR in his final five games, rarely left the field, and ran all the routes. Okay, maybe not all the routes, but that's some high-level route participation for an RB.
Now with the Vikings, what does Jones have left in the tank?
A quick look at the Vikings' depth chart tells me everything I need to know. It doesn't matter if it's Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy under center, Minnesota will need Jones to perform in a big way. Yes, Justin Jefferson will get his and Jordan Addison should remain heavily involved, but there's no guarantee that T.J. Hockenson (knee) will be ready for Week 1.
All this adds up to Jones (29 years old) being the battled-tested elder statesman of the backfield. Assuming he's healthy, Jones, whose only real competition is Ty Chandler, should be given as much work as he can handle both on the ground and through the air.
James Conner
From the feel-good story in Pittsburgh to suddenly entering his fourth season in Arizona, James Conner has been an excellent RB to roster (and start) over the years.
In his three years with the Cardinals, Conner has averaged:
- 197 rushing attempts
- 858 rushing yards
- 9 rushing TDs
- 43 targets
- 36 receptions
- 280 rushing yards
That's good, solid production for a guy who isn't flashy but continuously grinds out productive fantasy seasons.
The Cardinals struggled last year but should make a big leap forward in 2024, especially for fantasy purposes.
Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Kyler Murray will be another year removed from injury, Trey McBride continues to emerge as one the more intriguing young TEs in the league, and the team drafted Marvin Harrison Jr., one of the best WR prospects in some time.
I anticipate this team leaning heavily on Harrison, McBride, and Conner as there aren't many viable secondary options at any offensive position. The Cardinals did add rookie RB Trey Benson to the backfield, but this should be a top-heavy offense with much of the opportunity funneled to its handful of playmakers.
Dynasty managers should be able to cash in on Conner for one more year while the intersection between price and production is still palpable.
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Ezekiel Elliott
Ah, yes, Ezekiel Elliott. Welcome back to Dallas. He remains one of the more intriguing players to project heading into the season, but there's value to be had for dynasty managers.
There's no getting around it: His numbers were bad in New England. It is worth noting that few Patriots were good last season and Zeke did regain some of his pass-catching duties that slipped to Tony Pollard during his first stint in Dallas.
Let's make this simple: Zeke will be the starting RB for last season's highest-scoring offense (30 points per game). Sure, there are reports that Zeke will be part of a committee approach, but you can't look at the depth chart (Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn) and tell me, with a straight face, that anyone else will legitimately challenge Zeke for meaningful carries.
He doesn't have to be as good as he once was. He just has to stay on the field, and that's never been an issue for him. Aside from a suspension-shortened 2017 season, he's appeared in 15+ games every single year.
Volume is king. Zeke will eat (enough). Points will be scored.
