In the Attack the Draft series for the Dynasty Nerds, the staff will take a rookie draft pick-by-pick and evaluate who they would select. Each pick will account for other players on the board, how the team build can affect the pick and possibly change the pick, and also the pick’s trade value.
We are operating under the assumption that the league is a SuperFlex league with a tight end-premium scoring format.
The 1.03 Pick
Time to Attack the Draft!
When the draft dust finally settled last weekend in Detroit, it became clear to me that this draft has a clear top three for dynasty fantasy football: Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr, and this man, Jayden Daniels.
Before the wheels fell off the Sam Howell bandwagon in Washington last season, he was QB11, using points per game. Sam Howell! If Howell can be a fantasy football QB1, I have little doubt that Daniels can also. The rushing upside is salivating. The weapons are improved, with Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz added in free agency and Ben Sinnott and Luke McCaffrey added in the draft.
Emphatically, if Harrison is gone, Daniels is my clear 1.03.
Who Else Should You Consider?
In a word, nobody.
For me, Williams is in a tier of his own with the first pick. Then, take your pick between Harrison and Daniels. They are the next tier.
Let team need dictate your choice; personal preference dictates your choice or perhaps your collegiate fandom dictates your choice. I don’t know. But what I do know is that those are your top two choices and the only two you should consider.
No question, no debate.
Should You Trade 1.03?
Now, this is a much tougher question. Let’s explore some options.
Option 1 – Trade Down for Picks
If you are trading down, realize again that you are trading out of a tier, even by going down just to 1.04. Don’t let a league mate convince you the gap between pick three and four in this class is something cheap like a single third-round pick. It isn’t.
At 1.04, I would take J.J. McCarthy, and I like McCarthy. But McCarthy isn’t Daniels. What would a potential trade-down look like?
First, if you need a quarterback but truly don’t want Daniels, I would try to go down to 1.04, draft McCarthy, and pick up a second-round pick no later than 2.06. That seems to end a tier I’d like to stay within. You can add a skill position player like Ricky Pearsall or Xavier Legette.
Instead, if you feel set at quarterback, trade 1.03 for a later first-round pick in the “big eight” of this draft and add a second later first-round pick. Ultimately, you’d be looking at a trade of Daniels for Rome Odunze and Xavier Worthy or Brock Bowers and Brian Thomas. Depending on your draft, you may even be able to pick up Bo Nix with a second-tier skill position player.
Option 2 – Trade Straight for a Veteran QB
This option depends on your team’s construction and play style. If you are a veteran team ready to win, maybe you should go this route. If you are risk-averse and worried about Daniels flopping in Washington, maybe you should go this route.
Potential targets using 1.03? How does Kyler Murray sound? Maybe the manager with Jordan Love is worried that last year was a fluke. Are you still a believer in Trevor Lawrence?
Two Options I Would Avoid
Are you thinking about taking 1.03 and packaging it to go up and get Williams at 1.01? Don’t unless you can get 1.01 for a low cost. While Williams does seem to be the safer prospect, Daniels’ rushing upside will prop up his value once he gets on the field. By the time the season ends, there might be much difference in value between the two quarterbacks.
Finally, another thing to consider. By all accounts, the 2025 draft class is not going to be good. The quarterbacks in 2025 look especially rough at the moment. I would not trade 2024 draft picks to get back any into 2025, especially if it means giving up a good quarterback like Daniels.
The Final Word
To summarize, having the third pick in this year’s rookie draft is a great place to Attack the Draft. It is an attractive trade piece to maneuver with. Above all, at worst, and I use that word very gently, you will end up with a phenomenal player in Daniels. In a Superflex league, it’s hard to argue with that type of return.
Looking for more draft ideas? Try our DynastyGM Trade Browser or the DynastyGM Trade Calculator. Best of luck drafting!
