3 Players to Rebuild Your Dynasty Fantasy Football Team Around

If you’re anything like me, this is the time of year when you start to evaluate the state of your dynasty fantasy football team. This can happen after your rookie draft or before it takes place, but this is when you decide how competitive you can be in the upcoming year. We’ve talked rookies to avoid, let’s talk about how to rebuild your dynasty fantasy football team.

I’m the type of dynasty manager that is constantly looking for ways to add to my current roster and get it into contention. Sure, rookie draft season is fun, especially when you’re loaded up with picks, but you know what’s more fun? Winning championships and winning money.

Sometimes though, a championship isn’t in the cards and you know it before the season. So let’s take a look at three players you should be trading for to build your your team around and can help speed up the rebuild process.

Justin Fields (QB) – Chicago Bears

It was a troubling year for the rookie quarterbacks of the 2021 NFL Draft class. The Justin Fields era in Chicago did not get started on the right foot. They are looking to right the ship in 2022, with the hiring of Matt Eberflus at head coach and former Packers quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator.

Fields usage last season under Matt Nagy was borderline malpractice. Fields is one of the most mobile QB’s in the league and that wasn’t properly put on display. Just 23.8% of his dropbacks were in play-action, which ranked 26th at the position and was more than 10% less than the likes of Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen. He has the mobility of those types of guys and ranked well behind them in rushing yards in 2022.

here is 2+ minutes of Justin Fields losing EPA on plays that were mostly or entirely not his fault pic.twitter.com/pIQOMmpFYs

— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) May 20, 2022

The lack of creativity from the play-callers spewed over into other areas as well, the cookie cutter offense led to Fields being pressured on 42.8% of his dropbacks. Only Tyrod Taylor and Jacoby Brissett were pressured more often.

There is plenty of reason to be excited though. Fields flashed a lot of upside during 2021, despite battling plenty of adversity. The offensive scheme that Fields played under Ryan Day at Ohio State lends itself to a downfield aerial attack. Last season he was second in average depth of target at 10.1 yards.

The results have been ugly so far, I don’t expect him to transform as a fantasy asset this year. But I’d expect to see an investment in the offensive line and skill position players in 2023. Fields is far too talented to not breakout in this league with a competent supporting cast, the leap is coming and you should buy while his stock is low. This is the perfect player to rebuild your dynasty fantasy football team around in 2022.

(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)

Brandon Aiyuk (WR) – San Francisco 49ers

Let’s start with the elephant in the room that is Deebo Samuel. It seems as though he has no interest in a contract extension with the team and instead would like to be traded. Whether or not the team does that is not up to him, but when have we ever seen these types of things work out? Perhaps you can point to Aaron Rodgers, but for every Rodgers there’s a Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Davante Adams.

A 49ers season without Deebo Samuel would be incredibly interesting, especially if Trey Lance steps in as the starting quarterback. Aiyuk took a backseat to Samuel’s fantasy stardom in 2021, bottoming out in weeks 1-8 as the WR90 in PPR formats. But in the last 7 weeks of the season he was the WR23 in a healthy San Francisco offense.

Just a reminder that Brandon Aiyuk received a higher target share than Deebo Samuel in the second half of the season last year.

Will be interesting to see how Trey Lance spreads out targets as QB1.

— Joe Beldner 🏈 (@JoeBeldner) May 14, 2022

As we dig deeper into his underlying numbers from 2021 there is an expectation that he could simply fill Deebo’s role should he not return in 2022. Aiyuk was 9th in yards after the catch per reception last season, the same category Samuel led in. He also finished 6th in missed tackles forced amongst wide receivers, he did that with at least 20 less receptions then every WR ahead of him.

Trey Lance is the future at the quarterback position in San Francisco, but the do it all wide receiver position is not going away in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. I would check in on the Aiyuk manager in your dynasty fantasy football league as this guy has al the traits to take over should Samuel depart.

Kadarius Toney (WR) – New York Giants

I’d be lying if I said this guy wasn’t driving me nuts this offseason, but I just cannot quit him. He looked so good in limited work last season. But the injury issues somehow still exist as he’s been limited in optional workouts the team has had this week. It does seem as though the trade rumours prior to the draft have gone by the way side.

Red jersey work for Kadarius Toney pic.twitter.com/NgZga1l9rn

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) May 19, 2022

I’m bullish on the Giants this coming season, probably more so then anyone but Giants fans. The hiring of Brian Daboll and the addition of Evan Neal in the draft should work wonders for this offense. I’m looking at Toney as the clear favorite to be the WR1 in this offense and his skillset paves the way for unlimited upside.

There are two stats that I like to look at when looking for a breakout. The first is target rate, meaning when the player is actually on the field how often is the quarterback looking his way. Toney was 7th last season at 28.9%. The next is yards per route run, which tells me both how often they are targeted but also what they do with those targets. The Giants rookie ranked 17th overall at the position.

Toney has proven that when he’s on the field he demands volume and produces. He forced 12 missed tackles on just 39 receptions last season. Get the ball in his hands and he will create big plays. He has a bright future with Brian Daboll at head coach, this organization is on track to create real stability. If you are ready to rebuild your dynasty fantasy football team, go get him.

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