Congratulations on making it through another fantasy football regular season. The playoffs are upon us and we’ve got titles to win. Even if you are not a playoff team, there’s always a reason to look ahead and acquire value for your team. 

Throughout the season, I’ll be highlighting players I believe are on the verge of breaking out. For you dynasty managers, you may want to acquire these players before their value spikes.

Zay Jones, WR - Jaguars

In his seventh season, veteran wideout Zay Jones is finally hitting his stride after a turbulent start to the year. He scored in the season-opener, proceeded to miss essentially 2.5 games, came back to score again in Week 5, and then subsequently missed four more contests.

However, Jones could be a low-key league winner this season. Over his last two games, he’s racked up 22 targets. The loss of Christian Kirk (core/IR) opens up 7.6 targets per game. While it looked like Trevor Lawrence (ankle) was going to miss time, he posted mixed results in a close Week 14 loss.

Lawrence tallied season-highs across the board:

• Attempts - 50
• Completions - 28
• TDs - 3
• INTs - 3

He certainly wasn’t 100% and it showed. Still, the uptick in volume was encouraging and Jones also saw a season-high 14 targets which led the team. Teammates Calvin Ridley (13) and Evan Engram (12) also saw a season-high in targets.

The potential for a high passing rate remains on the table, even without Kirk. Entering Week 14, the Jaguars were 27th against WRs and 30th against QBs. They’ve allowed opposing teams to score 20+ points in almost 70% of games this season. That should keep Jones heavily involved as he (finally) appears to be healthy over his last four outings.

Jones is about as cheap as they come with a dynasty ADP of WR72. Like many of the veteran options I’ve suggested this season, he offers a nice blend of value for both the remainder of this season and next season. He’s 28 years old and tied to a young, ascending QB in Lawrence. The uptick in volume throughout the fantasy playoffs makes him an intriguing dynasty addition. 

Chase Brown, RB - Bengals

Rookie RB Chase Brown was selected by the Bengals in the fifth round of the NFL Draft this past spring. A five-year college player, Brown didn’t truly perform until his final season at Illinois. However, the eventual box score is enticing no matter how you look at it.

In that final season, Brown totaled:

• 328 attempts
• 1,643 rushing yards
• 10 rushing TDs
• 27 receptions
• 240 receiving yards
• 3 receiving TDs

Despite that insane final season, our Rookie RB Model slotted him at No. 13 in this class. His age (23), draft capital (Round 5), and lack of elite metrics throughout most of his collegiate career pulled his ranking down. However, there are reasons for optimism. Geoff Ulrich wrote up his dynasty rookie profile and noted the following positives:

At the combine, he posted a 4.43 40 time, an elite vertical, and a surprising 25 on the bench, which has him comparing well with some of the biggest combine studs of past years…In 2022, Brown showcased that athleticism on the regular. He was one of the leaders in explosive runs (10 yards or more) and missed tackles, and was a menace for opposing defenses once he got into the second level.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown scores a touchdown in the first quarter during a Week 14 NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Brown only touched the ball five times through Week 12. However, in the last two weeks, he’s flashed some of that big-play potential as the Bengals have tried to navigate life post-Joe Burrow.

• Week 13 - 9 touches, 61 yards
• Week 14 - 11 touches, 105 yards, 1 TD

Joe Mixon is still the clear RB1 as evidenced by his 40 total carries over the last two weeks (his most in a two-game stretch of the season). However, it’s worth noting that even with Mixon seeing an increase to his already-large workload, there’s been room for Brown to step up.

Fantasy managers need to take notice. It’s handcuff season as playoff-bound fantasy teams set their sights on the prize. His 300+ carries in 2022 highlight his ability to shoulder a large workload and his upside is already evident. Brown is a worthy stash that won’t break the bank. His dynasty ADP sits at RB51 which makes him an ideal target for all dynasty teams.

You can also target Brown in the Pick'em market on Underdog Fantasy, where you can get a 100% deposit match of up to $100 when you sign up below with promo code LIFE!

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Jerick McKinnon, RB - Chiefs

Speaking of playoff-bound teams, it’s time to dust off veteran RB Jerick McKinnon as the Chiefs look to salvage what’s left of their season.

Playoff Lenny vs Playoff McKinnon? Who you got?

Fantasy managers will fondly remember how McKinnon became the poster boy for league winners last season. From Weeks 13-18, he scored in every game and tallied one rushing TD to go along with eight receiving TDs in that stretch.

The absolute definition of league winner.

While it hasn’t been the same story this season, McKinnon could be in line for additional work simply due to the fact that, outside of Travis Kelce, no other Chiefs pass-catcher seems capable of handling a primary role on a consistent basis. Don’t be surprised if Patrick Mahomes leans on his trusted veteran in the weeks ahead as the Chiefs look to maintain pace in a crowded AFC playoff picture.

Week 14 saw Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) miss his first game of the season. It was noted that he wasn’t expected to land on IR but even that comment doesn’t provide a ton of optimism for his short-term availability.

McKinnon did see a season-high seven touches this week and found the endzone for the fourth time in 2023. Fellow RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 11 carries were his most since Week 3 so he’ll likely assume lead-back duties while Pacheco is out. Still, the Chiefs have been a pass-heavy team all season and that fits perfectly in McKinnon’s wheelhouse.

Despite his age (31), McKinnon is worth a look in dynasty formats. He carries a dynasty ADP of RB78. He holds zero value for any non-competing team so he can be acquired for cheap. We’ve seen his week/league-winning upside on display less than a year ago and the script is out there for it to happen again.

Elijah Mitchell / Jordan Mason, RB - 49ers

Remember when I said it was handcuff season? Yeah, the same applies for the RB1 in all of fantasy football: Christian McCaffrey.

CMC has topped 20 PPR points in 10 games this season and has a pair of games with 30+. The blend of floor/upside is unmatched. While we never, ever want to speak negative things into the universe or predict for bad things to happen, savvy managers need to prepare for the worst.

There’s no replacing CMC, but we can mitigate the possibility of loss by securing the alternate option(s) from the 49ers backfield.

Elijah Mitchell (No. 2) & Jordan Mason (No. 3) are the clear backups and should be rostered for any/all CMC managers. Mitchell (knee) missed Week 14 and Mason found the end zone from three yards out after CMC ripped off a 72-yard run to start the game. Mitchell had been averaging 5.5 rushing attempts per game over the last four games so, when healthy, he’s the ideal handcuff.

If nothing else, this is your reminder/encouragement to go spend the necessary future pick to lock up this backfield. It’s a cheap insurance policy that you hope you never have to use. The backup tandem is relatively inexpensive. Mitchell slots in at RB54 and Mason sits at RB77 in dynasty formats. Go get Mitchell, Mason (in that order) and pray you never need them.