Although the term “veteran” is often used to supplant “old” when describing an NFL player, anybody beyond a rookie is technically a vet. That differs from a vested veteran, which is when a player accrues four years of experience. It’s a muddy term, but in the dynasty community it’s mostly irrelevant. The fear of an age-cliff lives at the forefront of every dynasty manager’s mind. Running backs quickly turn from a generational talent to a declining asset. Wide receivers are the next great thing until they pull a hamstring.
In other words, anybody over the age of 24 is old in the dynasty community. Below are some of my favorite old players to target right now.
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Derek Brown’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Sleepers
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Pick Trade Strategy & Advice
- Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
Dynasty Veterans to Target for Contenders
Miles Sanders (RB – CAR)
The former Offensive Rookie of the Year recently traded in the wings on his helmet for a headshot of Sir Purr. While Miles Sanders’ value has been greatly debated since signing with the Carolina Panthers, the common consensus appears to signal a sizeable ding in his fantasy value and appeal. On one hand, Sanders is departing a strong situation in Philadelphia where he ran behind an elite offensive line. On the other hand, he saw just 26 targets go his way last season and ceded 20 rushing attempts from inside the five-yard line to QB Jalen Hurts.
Regardless, comparing Sanders in Charlotte to Sanders in Philadelphia is more of a red herring than a sensible approach to the matter. The more apt comparison is Sanders in Charlotte versus Sanders in Atlanta, Tampa Bay, or another potential free agent destination. Sure, Miami would have been ideal, and Detroit has its appeal, but Carolina has its perks. The roster boasts a strong offensive line, as well as a high-end defense, and will presumably add a talented rookie quarterback. That type of cocktail typically leads to a ground-and-pound approach. Their motto is ‘keep pounding’ after all. Add in a quality offensive head coach and a lack of running back talent behind Sanders, pending the draft, and there’s potential here for a workhorse role.
One of the more productive backup running backs in the league, Alexander Mattison’s free agency provided him an opportunity to seize a starting role once and for all. Instead, he resigned with the Vikings to return as their backup running back. Or did he? Dalvin Cook‘s cap hit is just over $14 million in 2023 and $15.6 million in 2024 but the Vikings can save nearly $11 million by cutting Cook post-June 1.
It’s reasonable to wonder why there wasn’t more of a market for Mattison, but he netted $3.5 million per year with a $2.5 million signing bonus. It’s tough to envision Minnesota paying $20 million combined for the two of them. If they had plans for Cook, they certainly could have found a more cost-effective backup plan. Mattison didn’t start a single game last year, but in his four starts in 2022 he averaged 21.7 PPR points. The assumption is that Mattison faced a limited market and reclaimed his job as a backup. He’s worth a cheap investment for spot starts, but if he takes the Vikings starting job outright, he can take your dynasty squad to the next level.
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