The 2023 fantasy football season might be over, but there is still much work to be done with your dynasty fantasy football rosters.
As the saying goes, “There is no offseason in dynasty,” and with the state of the league these days, it’s even more accurate. Players are shifting teams more than ever, trades are becoming more prevalent, and coaches are showing they have shorter leashes for mistakes in a results-oriented league. Staying on top of your rosters and making smart moves in the offseason are the keys to winning in-season.
Here are three players you’d have to be crazy to trade away before the 2024 season.
Dynasty DO NOT TRADE List (2024 Fantasy Football)
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC)
Expectations for Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence have been sky-high since he came into the league in 2021. The first-overall pick got a pass in Year 1, given the Urban Meyer fiasco. He took a step in the right direction in year two, finishing as the overall QB8.
Heading into the 2023 season, Lawrence taking the next step to elite status was a no-brainer. However, after a tough year in which he finished as the overall QB13 and failed to earn a playoff berth, many dynasty managers are down on the once-generational QB talent.
It might be tempting to jump ship on Lawrence now, lest things worsen in 2024. That would be a foolish move, given what the third-year signal caller dealt with this past season. In addition to both WRs Zay Jones and Christian Kirk missing significant time, Lawrence was dealing with a host of injuries, including a severe ankle sprain suffered in Week 16 against Tampa Bay.
Lawrence hasn’t had the easiest go of it in his three NFL seasons. Between injuries to himself and his teammates, a toxic head coach and extremely lofty expectations to live up to, Lawrence gets a pass in my book. We have yet to see the best of the former Heisman Trophy finalist, and his dynasty trade value is close to the lowest it’s been in a long time. The smart move is to hold onto Lawrence and see what happens in 2024.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)
If you read or listened to any of my work last offseason, you know I was higher than most on rookie RB Tyjae Spears. He was under-appreciated playing at a smaller school in Tulane but nonetheless boasted an impressive skill set heading into the NFL. Landing in Tennessee behind Derrick “King” Henry seemed less than ideal at the time but has proven to be a boon for Spears and the Titans alike.
While the rushing volume was meager for Spears this season, averaging 5.8 carries per game, he made his mark in the passing attack for the Titans. In 17 games, he averaged 4.1 targets per game and amassed 385 yards on 52 receptions — good numbers for a rookie RB in a run-forward offense.
It now appears that Derrick Henry will be moving on from Tennessee for the 2024 season, and it’s all systems go for Spears. Of course, there is always a chance the Titans bring a veteran to compliment him. But even then, we saw what he could do behind one of the best RBs of his generation in Henry.
The price to acquire Spears in dynasty right now is rising quickly, and it’s tempting to cash in now as his value skyrockets. However, given the role he is likely to step into, you could be selling a potential league-winning, top-tier RB asset for far less than you’d wish you had gotten a year from now.
Rashee Rice (WR – KC)
The most glaring issue heading into the 2023 season for the Kansas City Chiefs was their need for more impressive, reliable talent in the WR room. Names like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson don’t exactly strike fear in the hearts of opposing defense, am I right? It was almost a foregone conclusion that the Chiefs’ offense would run through TE Travis Kelce again, hoping that one of second-year WR Skyy Moore or rookie Rashee Rice would emerge as a legitimate WR1 for Kansas City.
While the season started slow for both wideouts, Rice began to separate himself as the season went on. From Week 12 through Week 17, he averaged 18.5 PPR points per game, catapulting from WR42 through Week 11 to WR4 from Week 12 on. Amongst all rookie WRs, Rice is tied for first in receiving grade (85.1) with Puka Nacua, per PFF.com. In addition, Rice ranked first overall amongst rookies in catch rate (79%) and yards-after-the-catch-per-reception (8.3) and second in receiving yards (937).
The Chiefs offense is one of the most dynamic in the league when it’s operating at full capacity. With the emergence of Rice as a legitimate threat for QB Patrick Mahomes, do you want to part with that potential volume? It’s not out of the question he could be in line for repeating his stellar stretch in 2023 and landing as a top-5 WR in 2024.
What you’ll get in return for Rice in a trade right now isn’t worth giving away a WR who could be a plug-and-play not only in 2024 but for years to come in Kansas City.
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Nate Polvogt is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him @NatePolvogt.