Build for a push next season with some dynasty targets if you are at the start, middle or beginning of a rebuild. So with that in mind let’s take a few minutes to look at some of the players that I would like to target moving into the 2023 season for my rebuilding rosters. As always youth is king in a rebuild, but I will also highlight some veterans that are coming in at a bargain price that could help speed up your rebuild or at very least bridge you over until reinforcements arrive.
For each position I’m going to highlight four types of targets:
- Buy High- these are players that any team should be targeting, they are ascending players who are rising in value and this could be your last chance to buy them before they become untouchable.
- Buy Low- these players have all underperformed at some point this season and can be bought for a price that is likely as cheap as they will ever get.
- Injury Discount- these are a mix of studs and role players who are all available significantly cheaper now than they will be come week one of 2023 due to injury.
- Dart Throw- these players are likely to be on your waiver wire or can be traded for at a bare minimum cost, most are players who haven’t hit the radar for most managers but who could burst on scene in 2023.
Buy High
Justin Fields (Bears- Age 23.7)
Justin Fields was left for dead halfway through this season but a midseason explosion saw his value nearly double making him QB7 in dynasty value, despite injury and limited weapons around him he still sits as QB5 on the year. While Fields’ price tag has certainly skyrocketed the past month I think it is far from it’s ceiling. I anticipate Fields being the 2023 version of Jalen Hurts and he will be a top 5 super flex dynasty asset by this time next season.
Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins- Age 24.7)
Tua Tagovailoa has seen his share of ups and downs through the beginning of his NFL career, but his play has stabilized this season and the talent around him makes him an elite option going forward. Tua is currently valued as QB9. He currently sits as Qb16 in points this season due in large part to a concussion sustained earlier in the season. Tua has put some distance between himself and the tier of veteran quarterbacks and his price is not going to be going down any time soon. Grab him now before he jumps into the next tier up.
Buy Low
Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars- Age 23.2)
Another young quarterback who took some time to find his way, Trevor Lawrence is starting to show he can live up to his lofty expectations. Lawrence sits as the most surprising QB9 I can remember in recent years but still find his value holding at QB11. Lawrence is over half the cost of the elite tier quarterbacks and while he likely won’t be giving you Mahomes or Allen level production in 2023 there is every reason to believe he can give you mid to high end QB1 numbers at a QB2 price tag. Trevor finds himself in the same price range as Dak Prescott, a player who I don’t think has the same ceiling as Lawrence.
Kenny Pickett (Steelers- Age 24.5)
Pickett is another youngster who hasn’t set the league ablaze as of yet, but as his rookie season winds down he finds himself cutting down on the turnovers and firmly entrenched as the Steelers franchise quarterback of the future. The numbers have not been there so far as Pickett ranks QB27 on the season but there is every indication that he will make a Lawrence type rise to relevance in the coming years. Get in on Pickett at his rock bottom price and lock in a low end QB1 for the next 10 years.
Injury Discount
Jameis Winston (Saints- Age 28.9)
I found Jameis on the waiver wire of a super flex dynasty I’m in… I find that almost a puzzling as the Saints refusal to let Winston play over Andy Dalton. The team says this is to let him fully recover which should see him return as the Saints starter in 2023 as the have no draft capital or cap space and surely can’t play another year with Andy Dalton under center. Jameis currently sits as QB40 on fantasycalc.com and is nearly free everywhere. I can’t think of any other quarterbacks on waivers that have a top 5 finish in their fantasy career. Scoop up Winston everywhere he is available because even if he never plays another snap in the NFL you likely lost nothing swinging for the fence with him.
Trey Lance (49ers- Age 22.6)
Trey Lance held rock solid in value throughout a rocky year one of his career despite having little to no success, that value held through right into 2022 until a season ending injury completely derailed him. No quarterback in the league lost more value over the first 12 weeks of this season than Lance. Is he the 49ers quarterback of the future? Will he turn out to be a bust? No one really knows for sure, but the price tag on this former top 5 pick is likely never going to get any cheaper. Lance is currently valued in the same range as Mac Jones, if that doesn’t make you want to grab onto this cheap lottery ticket I don’t know what will.
Dart Throws
Jordan Love (Packers- Age 24.1)
Aaron Rodgers is old. Aaron Rodgers is injured. Aaron Rodgers is not particularly popular among the locker room. All of these things guarantees that at some point the Packers are going to see what they have in Jordan Love. By the time you read this article the free add window on Jordan love may have already closed. Love could take over this job at any day and if he performs anywhere near a functional quarterback he can be a 2023 fantasy starting quarterback for your super flex squad totally free of charge.
Malik Willis (Titans- Age 23.5)
The same arguments I made for Jordan Love apply to Malik Willis. Ryan Tannehill is old and injured and this Titans team is nearing a point where they must turn their roster over and start fresh. The future for this team could be a duo of Malik Willis and Treylon Burks. Willis can currently be had for QB30 value which places him firmly on most waiver wires. This should be Tannehill’s last run at a Super Bowl before the Titans are forced to see what they have in Willis. Add the mobile quarterback with hug upside now and see if he hits.
Buy High
Rachaad White (Buccaneers- Age 23.6)
The past few weeks have seen Rachaad White’s usage nearly double due largely to injuries to Leonard Fournette. White has made the best of his opportunity and appears to have at least taken a 50/50 split on the Bucs backfield. Lenny isn’t getting any younger or faster and it is obvious to everyone that White is the better back. white is currently valued as RB22 and despite a modest rise in value he is nowhere near his peak. Buy White now and have what looks to be the Buccaneers 2023 starting three down back.
Joe Mixon (Bengals- Age 26.4)
I was surprised to find out that Mixon is only 26 years old, it seems like he has been an RB1 for the past ten years. I must not be the only one who didn’t realize his age as he currently comes out as a mid range RB2 in dynasty value despite being a locked and loaded RB1 for his entire career. A running back who has battled injury and who is past the age apex isn’t typical one to target in a rebuild but Mixon is just so undervalued that I can’t help but acquire him, if for no other reason than to flip him for a healthy profit. His value is at an all time low as he has battled a concussion the past two week, take that opportunity to buy at rock bottom price.
Buy Low
Isaih Pacheco (Chiefs- Age 22.8)
Pacheco is a buy low as I write, but with each game that passes his price increases. Right now Pacheco is valued as RB24 but that is nearly double his price from a month ago. The Chiefs are completely done with their former first rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco’s only real competition for touches is a 30 year old journeyman in Jerick McKinnon. The Chiefs will likely keep McKinnon involved as they push for the AFC’s top seed but come 2023 there is little reason to doubt that this will be Pacheco’s backfield.
Khalil Herbert (Bears- Age 24.6)
Khalil Herbert is my favorite target. He is a combination of buy low and injury discount. Herbert has missed the past month with a hip issue and before that was splitting time with David Montgomery as the Bears attempted to drain every last drop out of the soon to be free agents legs. Montgomery will get paid by someone next year and Herbert will be healthy and with the Bears backfield all to himself. If the bears are able to add more weapons to the arsenal and Justin Fields can continue to progress, Herbert could be the steal of the century as he has more than enough talent to be a top 10 running back.
Injury Discount
Breece Hall (Jets- Age 21.5)
This one will not come cheap, but if it weren’t for a season ending knee injury Breece Hall would likely be in the untouchable column next to Justin Jefferson. Not too long ago Hall was being penciled in as the no doubt dynasty 1.01, that value has since taken a slight dip and he is now valued as RB5. If you have any of the four running backs current ranked above him, trade them for Breece now, you will thank me next year. Breece Hall is going to be the RB1 in fantasy football for as long as his health allows, take this once in a career opportunity to buy him at a slight discount.
Javonte Williams (Broncos- Age 22.6)
A player who entered the 2022 season as a consensus dynasty top 5 running back now finds himself valued as RB17 due to a season ending injury. That is absurdly low. Williams value shrunk buy nearly 50% and he is now a must have for any team out of contention. The going rate for Javonte is currently a 2023 second round pick, I will be acquiring him everywhere at that prices and simply stashing him on my IR until he returns and sees his value skyrocket once more.
Dart Throws
Zamir White (Raiders- Age 23.2)
Zamir is merely a 2023 stash in hopes that the Raiders don’t draft a replacement running back now that they have declined the fifth year option of Josh Jacobs and have seemingly been priced out of his services after a massive year. My hope is that Zamir gets a chance to be the Raiders starter and Zeus’ talent shows through and returns a solid RB2.
Jaylen Warren (Steelers- Age 24.1)
Since the middle of Steelers training camp there have been rumbles of Jaylen warren taking over from Najee Harris as the Steelers starter, this change seemed to be on the cusp of fruition when Warren went down to injury and was forced to miss time. Najee has never been efficient and Warren looks every bit the guy who should win the job. He is currently valued as RB57 and that’s a great bargain for a player that could be the starting running back for Pittsburgh come 2023.
Buy High
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions- Age 23.1)
I was admittedly late to buy in on Amon-Ra St. Brown, all of his 2021 production seemed to be buoyed by injuries to other players and lack of target competition and his value seemed unsustainable. The Lions have fixed that problem and have traded or stopped using every talented player on their roster besides St Brown. He did however see a brief dip in value the past few weeks in anticipation of Jameson Williams making his debut and eating into his target share. Although Williams has returned he hasn’t really been a factor in this offense and you should take this brief window as a chance to buy Amon-Ra before he is too expensive to even consider.
Chris Olave (Saints- Age 22.4)
Olave has easily been the most impressive of all the rookie wide receivers despite being on one of the most dysfunctional offenses in the league. His starting quarterback play can simply not get any worse and despite the fact that he is currently valued as WR12 he is sure to have a sophomore explosion in store for 2023.
Buy Low
George Pickens (Steelers- Age 21.8)
Pickens was likely the most talented of the rookie receivers but fell in the draft due to health and character concerns, while he has started off at a moderate pace there is every indication that the Steelers have found themselves yet another stud receiver in the second round. The inept Steelers offense has limited his production as a rookie but Pickens makes highlight plays every week and in 2023 is set to explode and cement himself into the ranks of the elites. 2020 had Justin Jefferson, 2021 had Ja’Marr Chase, I believe 2022 will have George Pickens. Buy him now at high end WR3 value before managers realize what he is.
Devonta Smith (Eagles- Age 24.1)
Smith came into the NFL with high expectations of being the WR1 for the Eagles, after his rookie year those dreams were dashed when the Eagles traded for stud WR AJ Brown. This trade completely tanked Smith’s value and he soon became a throw in piece in many trade. Smith currently finds himself as WR24 and can be had in the same price range as Pickens. Smith won’t win you any championships but he is a dependable WR3 at a great discount.
Injury Discount
Treylon Burks (Titans- Age 22.7)
Burks has suffered through asthma and injuries in his first season and that has subsequently seen his value dip to low end WR3 ranges. Burks is the only talented pass catcher in this offense and has recently begun to break out and show he can be the alpha Tennessee had hoped he would be when they drafted him to replace AJ Brown. One more solid game and Burks will soon find himself in the much pricier tier of young receivers. Go get Burks now before he blows up.
Rashod Bateman (Ravens- Age 23.0)
Bateman came into the 2022 season with more hype than any other receiver after the departure of Marquise Brown to Arizona. That hype was soon derailed as he battled a foot injury and was eventually shut down for the season. Combining his injury and the often lost appearance of the Ravens offense and his value has lost nearly 1/3 of its preseason high. Unless the Ravens draft a receiver Bateman will go into the 2023 season as the second option behind Mark Andrews and should provide a solid return on his current low price.
Dart Throws
Skyy Moore (Chiefs- Age 22.2)
This dart throw is nothing more than my gut feeling and belief in his prospect profile coming out of college. The draft capital, the talent, all of it just adds up to Skyy Moore being a great receiver if he ever gets his chase to move up the depth chart. Skyy is currently valued as WR61 and is worth a flier, buy into the profile and hope he gets his chance to produce.
Justyn Ross (Chiefs- Age 23.0)
Another Chiefs rookie receiver buried on the cluttered depth chart. Ross was once viewed as the top receiver in his class but spent the majoirty of his college career battling serious injuries. His rookie year in the NFL followed his college pattern and he missed the entire season with a foot injury. Ross is a long shot who may never overcome his health issues but if he can ever manage to stay healthy he has the physical talents to be one of the most dominant receivers in the league, not to mention he is literally free on the waiver wire in every league in which I do not participate.
Buy High
TJ Hockenson (Vikings- Age 25.4)
TJ was drafted to the Detroit Lions with lofty expectations, but leave it to Detroit to squander another talented offensive weapon. Hockenson was freed from his football prison midway through this season and burst onto the scene in Minnesota quickly becoming the number two target for Kirk Cousins. Hockenson has been a top 3 tight end since the trade and shows every sign of being in the circle of trust, a rarity for tight ends. TJ currently finds himself valued as TE6 and can be had cheaper than injured and aging tight ends like Dallas Goedert and George Kittle. Buy Hockenson now before he is firmly entrenched in the top tier of tight ends.
Greg Dulcich (Broncos- Age 22.7)
From the time the Broncos drafted Dulcich it was clear that they saw him as their tight end of the future and not Albert Okwuegbunam. Dulcich is currently valued as TE12 but has begun to find his way into the ranks of the trusted tight ends, a luxury that is worth significantly more than a TE12 price tag. Dulcich isn’t the biggest name on the market and has only seen a modest rise in value, now is your chance to get in on the ground floor of what could be the next elite tight end.
Buy Low
Trey McBride (Cardinals- Age 23.0)
McBride came into the NFL draft as the consensus top tight end in the class, unfortunately for him he was drafted to one of the few teams that already had a high end tight end. Through his rookie season McBride has produced little to increase his value can be had for bargain basement prices. Ertz is getting up there in age and the injuries are pilling up, eventually Trey will get his chance to be the starting tight end for Arizona and that’s when his talent will show and his value will go through the roof. Buy him now.
Cole Kmet (Bears- Age 23.7)
Kmet came into the season as the most hyped tight end in fantasy and consistently found himself going as a top 6 tight end. That hype was quickly squashed by a Bears passing offense that was perhaps the most inept we’ve ever seen. Kmet was dropped in most leagues including the many leagues I drafted him in and was an after thought until the midway point of the season when the Bears offense suddenly came to life. Kmet’s value still hasn’t fully rebounded from his early season fall and he can currently be had for significantly less than the oft injured David Njoku. Take a chance on Kmet and hope the Bears offense continues to improve in 2023.
Injury Discount
Irv Smith (Vikings- Age 24.3)
Irv went into the season as the other most hyped up tight end in fantasy but a season ending injury quickly saw him flood waiver wires everywhere. Irv will have to deal with increased target competition in the newly acquired TJ Hockenson but a declining Adam Thielen is sure to provide some extra targets. Irv is currently valued as TE33 and his price can’t possibly go any lower, add him now and see if he can rebound with Minnesota or a new team.
David Njoku (Browns- Age 26.4)
The 2022 season has been a roller coaster for Njoku. He was bad, he was good, he was injured. Njoku is currently injured and managers have moved on to replacements leaving Njoku available for the taking. Njoku is cheaper than any other tight end in his talent range and could provide enormous return on investment if he stays healthy in 2023.
Dart Throws
Daniel Bellinger (Giants- Age 22.2)
Bellinger was not a popular tight end coming into the season and likely went undrafted in even the deepest of rookie drafts. The Giants found themselves lacking any reliable pass catchers and Bellinger soon seen his targets increase to a point of relevance. Bellinger was sidelined by a freak eye injury and hasn’t played in the past month which has suppressed his already low price tag. Bellinger is available at low end TE2 cost and looks to be worth a stash moving forward.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (Titans- Age 23.2)
Chig was a virtual unknown coming into rookie draft season but burst onto the scene with some monster numbers at the combine. There is little to go on with Okonkwo other than elite athleticism and freakish size, but with tight ends that is often enough. Chig has been a solid stream over the past month and if given a larger role he could find himself as an unstoppable force in the Titans offense.
That concludes our rebuilding dynasty target list. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week for more players that can be had at a discount. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist. The ADP/Value data for this article was compiled by my friends at fantasycalc.com.
Image Credit: Joe Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 9
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 9
