Several factors go into building a consistently elite dynasty team. One of those is identifying the top player on every NFL team. Another is knowing which players you should trade away before their fantasy value decreases.
Typically the starting quarterback is the top dynasty asset on every NFL team in Superflex leagues. However, they are rarely the premier asset in 1QB leagues. To help you build the best dynasty team possible, I will identify the top dynasty asset and sell candidate for every NFL team.
Today I breakdown the NFC North teams: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings.
- Top Dynasty Asset & Sell Candidates: AFC East
- Top Dynasty Asset & Sell Candidates: AFC North
- Top Dynasty Asset & Sell Candidates: AFC South
- Top Dynasty Asset & Sell Candidates: AFC West
- Top Dynasty Asset & Sell Candidates: NFC East
The Top Dynasty Asset
While the Bears lack an appealing offense on paper, David Montgomery has been one of the more consistent running backs over the past two years. After ending the 2020 season as the RB4, averaging 17.7 PPR fantasy points per game, Montgomery was the RB13 on a per-game basis last year, averaging 15 fantasy points per contest. Despite a struggling offensive line, Montgomery totaled at least 849 rushing yards every year of his career. More importantly, he is the unquestioned featured back in Chicago. While Khalil Herbert filled in well last season, he isn’t a threat to Montgomery’s role. Montgomery is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He will have a massive 2022 season in an attempt to earn a new deal.
D’Andre Swift has struggled to stay healthy so far in his career, yet he has been productive when on the field. After averaging 14.6 PPR fantasy points per game as a rookie, Swift averaged 16.1 per contest last year. He has finished both years as a top-18 running back in PPR and a top-24 running back in non-PPR despite missing at least three games both years. More importantly, Swift has plenty of room to grow in his game. He has back-to-back RB2 seasons to start his career despite averaging only 132.5 rushing attempts per year. Furthermore, Swift has only 17 touchdowns in 26 career games. After adding some weight this offseason, Swift should stay healthy and have a top-10 finish in 2022.
After a quiet rookie season, AJ Dillon had a breakout season last year. He averaged 10.9 PPR fantasy points per game and 4.3 yards per rushing attempt. Furthermore, Dillon showed an ability to play a meaningful role in the passing game. He caught 34 of his 37 targets for 313 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His 313 receiving yards were only 78 fewer than Aaron Jones despite seeing 28 fewer targets. With Davante Adams in Las Vegas, Jones and Dillon are the two best weapons on the Green Bay offense. Dillon will take a step forward this year, whether on the ground or in the passing game. More importantly, the Packers can get out of Jones’ contract after the season. Thus, Dillon could have a featured role starting next year.
Only two years into his career, Justin Jefferson is already one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He totaled at least 88 receptions, 1,400 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in both years. Furthermore, Jefferson has been one of the better deep ball players in the league, averaging 15.5 yards per reception in his career. More importantly, he has finished as a top-six wide receiver in both years. While Kirk Cousins isn’t the best quarterback in the NFL, he has done an excellent job for Jefferson’s fantasy value. Jefferson is arguably the top dynasty wide receiver.
The Top Sell Candidate
The Bears don’t have the most appealing offense on paper. Yet, they have several good young players, including Justin Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet. Thus, Chicago lacks a clear sell candidate. However, Velus Jones Jr. is the best option. He will see a high volume of targets as a rookie to warrant a late-round dart throw selection. However, the Bears have a projected $97.2 million in cap space next offseason. Short of a terrific rookie season, Jones could find himself buried on the depth chart next year. If you grabbed Jones in your rookie draft, be sure to trade him by the end of the year for a better draft pick in the 2023 rookie draft.
Last year was a season of two halves for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Over the first 11 games, he averaged 4.7 targets and 7.6 PPR fantasy points per game. Then St. Brown averaged 11.2 targets and 25.2 fantasy points per game over the final six games of the year. While he improved as the year went on, St. Brown was force-fed targets to close out the season. The Lions lost T.J. Hockenson for the year in Week 13, while Swift missed time with an injury. Furthermore, the Lions added DJ Chark and Jameson Williams this offseason. St. Brown is a solid dynasty asset, but now is the time to sell high if possible.
After an offseason full of retirement and trade speculation, Aaron Rodgers signed an extension with the Packers. He will now spend the rest of his career in Green Bay. However, his fantasy value took a massive hit in the offseason as the Packers traded Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Then they let Marquez Valdes-Scantling leave in free agency. The Packers also didn’t use either of their two first-round picks on a wide receiver. After targeting Adams 31.6% of the time last season, Rodgers no longer has an alpha No. 1 wide receiver. Hopefully, Allen Lazard or Christian Watson can fill that void. However, neither will ever turn into Adams. Rebuilding teams need to trade Rodgers away in the coming months.
Adam Thielen has been one of the better wide receivers the past five seasons, averaging at least 15 PPR fantasy points per game in four of them. Furthermore, he has averaged 947.5 receiving yards per season over the past six years. However, Thielen turns 32 years old before the start of the 2022 season. He has missed 22.5% of the games the past three years because of various injuries. With Jefferson becoming the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver on the team, Thielen has seen his target share drop the past two years. Thielen has also turned into a touchdown-dependent player recently. His touchdown rate in 2020 was 18.2%, while it was 14.7% last year. Now is the time to move on from the veteran receiver.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
