Between Christmas and Championship Week, it could be easy to overlook developments affecting your dynasty team. We have you covered with a few of the bigger nuggets below.
Thomas Keepers
https://twitter.com/Underdog__NFL/status/1870980703695044785
Don’t look now, but a rookie receiver is quickly ascending to elite status and isn’t the receiver most expected. In a draft class that included Marvin Harrison Jr, Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze – all top-ten picks – it’s the 23rd pick Brian Thomas Jr who is dominating down the stretch and becoming a league winner. The Jaguars receiver has totaled at least 75 yards in each of his last five games and scored four times in that span. He’s already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and, as the post above points out, is doing something that only elite receivers have been able to accomplish during their rookie season.
To be fair, Thomas was still a highly-rated prospect and played at a big-time program. However, playing in Jacksonville and well outside the NFL playoff race, it’s possible he wasn’t quite getting the attention he deserved but it’s hard to ignore now, especially the last two weeks. Even if Thomas’ production takes a nose dive down the stretch, he’ll be at the top of dynasty receiver lists heading into next season. But how high can he go?
Dynasty Impact: Thomas has primarily played with Trevor Lawrence under center and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. But in the last two games – where Thomas totaled over 100 yards and at least one touchdown – he actually had backup Mac Jones under center while Lawrence nurses an injury. This should be viewed as a good sign that Thomas can still produce whether there’s a good (Lawrence) or even middling (Jones) option.
When looking at dynasty rankings, DLF already has him at 11 but there is room to grow.
Thomas is one of the youngest on this list already and should be considered a better prospect than MHJ and Nabers thanks to their respective rookie campaigns. Throw in Garrett Wilson as another receiver that Thomas would be taking over and you’re talking about a top-eight asset.
Treat him as such this off-season, If you’re a current Thomas manager, hold on and build around him. And if the Thomas manager in your league has any misgivings, snap him up.
Welcome to Hollywood
https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1871199011392405564
It would be fair to call Marquise Brown‘s professional career a disappointment. Drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, he has just one 1,000-yard season with no other seasons totaling over 800 receiving yards. He’s on his third team in six seasons and could be on his fourth in 2025 since he’s only on a one-year deal with his current team the Chiefs.
But he’s stuck in our collective dynasty minds because of games like the ones he’s had since his return. In his first game since Week 15 of last season, Brown saw eight targets – good for second on the team – and caught five of them for 45 yards. Then on Christmas Day, he had seven targets, four catches and 46 yards. Those are not huge stat lines but Brown proved he could run with the Chiefs offense, giving him some hope of doing so next year and beyond. And while Brown should be an asset if he were to stay on the Chiefs, what if he doesn’t?
Dynasty Impact: Brown’s dynasty value has been nothing but peaks and valleys including this year that’s seen his ADP dip to a career-low.
If he can get healthy, and re-sign with the Chiefs, his value will surely start to rise again. Of course, every team in your dynasty league would probably want a piece that could artificially inflate his price. If that’s the case, avoid it. Or if you’re a current Brown manager and he re-signs with the Chiefs, sell high.
If Brown ends up on another team besides the Chiefs in 2025, then definitely avoid him. Even in his best season – 2021 with the Ravens – he barely registered as a top-30 fantasy receiver. And that was when he saw 146 targets! The chances are slim he sees that kind of attention ever again which means his chances of producing at a high level are even lower.
What the Buck
RB Bucky Irving did not get a touch in the last nine plus minutes of the game. When asked if he was possible to get Irving in the game during a two-minute situation, even in 21 personnel, Todd Bowles said, “Yeah, it’s possible.” Why didn’t they do it? “Well, like you say, Rachaad…
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 23, 2024
For all that the Bucs running back Bucky Irving has done his rookie season – 1,200 total yards, seven touchdowns – he’s still operating in a timeshare with veteran Rachaad White. This was on full display this week as the post above describes. Now the Bucs are feeling as frustrated as Irving’s dynasty managers after White not only wasn’t as productive as Irving but fumbled the ball away to clinch a loss.
For Irving managers, this season has been bittersweet. Despite being the sixth running back taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, Irving has been head and shoulders above his fellow rookie running backs. Between his early, albeit shared, usage and production, it made his ADP shoot up on a rocket.
Iriving is now considered an RB1 heading into the off-season. But this off-season will determine if he stays here.
Dynasty Impact: Save for a select few, running back’s fantasy fortunes can be heavily determined by the situation around them. Look at Irving’s teammate White. He was considered an RB1 at the end of last season but saw his dynasty ADP quickly decline thanks to the arrival of Irving.
So while Irving may finish this season strong, don’t take it for granted that he’ll stay there. If anything, use the off-season as an opportunity to sell high. Use him to either upgrade another position or acquire a few draft picks, of which you could potentially find Irving’s replacement.
Michael has played fantasy football for over 20 years when his mom funded his first team in the fourth grade. He’s contributed to various fantasy football publications and most recently spent five years writing for the Fantasy side of things at Pro Football Focus.