Don’t be sad that the fantasy football season is over; be glad it happened in the first place. However, if you are among the many football enthusiasts who play dynasty-format fantasy football, you know the season never truly ends. So while we might be staring down the barrel of the NFL offseason, there’s plenty to be done as a dynasty manager. Between now and the beginning of training camp is when champions are made. This week, Jon and I give you our dynasty rookie draft sleepers at the quarterback and running back positions.
NFL News & Notes
Mac Jones-ing For A Trade
The New England Patriots have been making waves in the NFL offseason as reports surface that they are shopping their quarterback, Mac Jones. Speculation is swirling about which team may be interested in acquiring the talented young quarterback. Is this a sign that they are trying to make a play for a quarterback like Lamar Jackson, or is head coach Bill Belichick content to ride out 2023 with second-year signal caller Bailey Zappe?
Trevor And Calvin Making Sparks Fly
In other quarterback news, Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars recently had his first throwing session with his new teammate, Calvin Ridley. Lawrence expressed his excitement about having Ridley on the team, and it’s clear that the young quarterback is looking forward to working with the talented wide receiver. Jacksonville has a loaded receiving corps with Ridley, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram. The question now is whether Ridley will be the WR1 for the Jaguars right out of the gate in 2023 and if he is worth the price to acquire in dynasty leagues.
“New England West”
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels continued his attempt to create “New England West” this week. The team signed former Patriots’ backup quarterback Brian Hoyer to back up recently acquired Jimmy Garoppolo. This move raises questions about the Raiders’ draft strategy at quarterback. Are they now out of the running for a quarterback in the upcoming draft?
Dynasty Rookie Sleepers
We all know the marquee rookie prospects heading into the upcoming NFL Draft. However, there are some dynasty rookie sleepers that aren’t being talked about enough.
Quarterbacks We Like Outside The Top Five
Max Duggan (QB — TCU)
Max Duggan isn’t the sexiest name in this class. However, you cannot deny what he did in his senior season at TCU. He led the Horned Frogs to the national championship game in style, throwing for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns while only throwing eight interceptions. In the right spot, Duggan could easily become fantasy relevant in Superflex formats.
Stetson Bennet (QB — GA)
While Duggan got his team to the dance floor, Stetson Bennett made his Bulldogs the bell of the ball, winning their second-straight national championship this past season. While Bennett will be 26 when the NFL season starts, don’t write him off. He played well at Georgia in a pro-style offense under offensive Todd Monken, now in the same position in Baltimore. Could this be a hint as to why the Ravens seem content to let Lamar Jackson go elsewhere?
Running Backs We Like Outside The Top Five
Tyjae Spears (RB — Tulane)
If you haven’t yet heard the name Tyjae Spears, you’re welcome. While the talented back out of Tulane hasn’t gotten the press of guys like Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, he will soon. He was impressive at the NFL Combine, and his senior season stats are hard to ignore. He rushed for over 1,500 yards, logged 21 total touchdowns and added 22 receptions for 256 yards. Likely a Day 2 draft pick, he will rocket up rookie dynasty rankings as we enter rookie draft season.
Israel Abanikanda (RB — Pitt)
Israel Abanikanda was the most underrated running back prospect before wowing scouts at the NFL Combine. His 4.39 40 time has him flying up rankings everywhere. He impressed in 2023, seeing him rush for 1,431 yards and finding the end zone a total of 21 times. He is likely still a Day Two NFL Draft prospect. However, in the right situation, Abanikanda could be a fantasy-relevant asset out of the gate in 2023.
For more on NFL news and the implications in dynasty format fantasy football, as well as our full discussion on dynasty rookie sleepers, make sure to download this week’s episode of Dynasty Diehards.
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