Week One of the 2023 NFL season is in the books.! Dynasty managers have spent all offseason drafting rookies, making trades, and nit-picking every aspect of their rosters. We officially have points being scored, and the wins and losses are beginning to pile in. Some managers are ecstatic that their offseason moves have paid off, while others are pulling their hair because they made a big move for Drake London. Right now is the best time to take advantage of a shift in the market, so let’s review some great dynasty buys before Week Two of the NFL season.
Roschon Johnson, RB, CHI
Johnson was one of my favorite players to talk to at the Senior Bowl, and watching his career progress throughout the year has been a joy. Week One was his first crack at real action, and Johnson looked great. As expected, the Bears’ first game against the Packers was a complete committee at the running back position. The carries were split relatively evenly, with Khalil Herbert getting nine and Johnson and D’Onta Foreman receiving five.
Johnson was able to stand out in other ways. In the receiving game, he could haul in six catches on seven targets, which more than doubled the production of the other two backs. He was also the only back to find the endzone. The cherry on top of this performance was his excellent pass blocking. He was a step above the other two in this regard. Johnson will be the lead back much sooner than even I predicted. I will send out two second-rounders in trade offers this week to acquire him.
Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN
Another Senior Bowl alum impressed this past weekend in his NFL debut. Rookie Spears outsnapped Derrick Henry this past Sunday 34 – 30. These snaps didn’t turn into much production, as he only saw three carries for 27 yards. He did add four targets in the passing game. However, this lack of production can help us, as it will suppress his value. Managers who are only boxscore scouting may not realize how involved in this offense Spears is. Spears should be upon this start to the season and will quickly become a flex-worthy option. Pounce while you can and send out a second-round pick to add Spears to your dynasty roster.
Rashee Rice, WR, KCC
Thursday Night Football may seem like forever ago, but we must remember the takeaways from the season’s first game. Rice was not a starter and played only 30% of the snaps. However, he quickly looked better than the other receiving options that were out there. The target leaders for the Chiefs were Kadarius Toney, Noah Gray, and Rice. Toney had a hilariously poor performance, and Noah Gray will return to the sidelines once Travis Kelce returns. Unfortunately, Rice scored a touchdown so the price may be lofty, but this could easily be the last chance to acquire him for relatively cheap draft capital.
Zach Ertz, TE, ARZ
Enough with the rookies; let’s talk about a few veterans that are buys. The first is 32-year-old Ertz of the Arizona Cardinals. This Cardinals team will struggle this year, so there will be a lot of garbage time production up for grabs. The talk all offseason was whether it would be Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, or even rookie Michael Wilson who would soak up all of these fourth-quarter targets. The answer, surprisingly, has been Ertz through one week. He commanded ten targets in the Cardinals’ 20 – 16 loss to the Washington Commanders. Especially in tight-end premium leagues, Ertz makes an excellent buy for any contender. The yards and touchdowns aren’t there, so start trade talks with a third-round pick if possible.
Allen Robinson, WR, PIT
Don’t look now, but Robinson isn’t dead yet. The 30-year-old veteran has found a new home in Pittsburgh after having a ghost of a year in Los Angeles in 2022. Most had Robinson as an afterthought when projecting out the Pittsburgh offense, but Robinson could command a 16% target share during a 30 – 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. That number will improve as reports have broken that Diontae Johnson will miss a few weeks due to an injury. Reach out to the Robinson manager and try to get some veteran production on the cheap.
Now that we are in season, the information will come fast and furious. Dynasty managers must stay on top of the current trends regarding player values. The most active managers going out and buying players at the right time will find themselves playoff-bound this season. Check back tomorrow, as I will be going over some key dynasty sells that must be unloaded before their values dip any lower.
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I hope you enjoyed this week’s Winning With Vegas. For more content like this, follow me on Twitter @DanT_NFL. DMs are always open for questions, comments, or craft beer recommendations!
