It's the offseason, but there's a lot of news that could impact the dynasty team. From trades to contract extensions, we've got all the more newsworthy items we'll cover this week below.
Diggs Inn
Blockbuster: The Bills are finalizing a trade that would send four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for draft pick compensation, sources told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5tIJGkve6t
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2024
Even though there had been rumors (for a while!) that Stefon Diggs would be traded away from the Bills, it still came as a surprise that it happened. His tenure in Buffalo is over as he was traded to Houston in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Texans subsequently voided his subsequent contract, leaving Diggs to play on a one-year demonstration contract.
In Buffalo's case, it's clear they had a motive to move on from Diggs, but not from a financial standpoint. Despite being well over the cap, they moved Diggs, freeing up over $30 million in dead cap space. They dug an even deeper hole when it came to the trade cap situation. It's debatable whether his on-field performance was more of a catalyst than his off-field performance. His work famously fell off a cliff in the second half of the season. After Week 7, he failed to eclipse 90 receiving yards in a game and scored just three times. What's even weirder is that he was fired up to start the season, scoring the second-most fantasy points of any receiver up to that point.
But that's now in the past, and Diggs has been given a new home. So how will that affect him and his new teammates in terms of dynasty prospects?
Dynasty influence: On the surface, this looks like a classic case of what's good for Houston is bad for fantasy teams. The Texans have two rising stars in Nico Collins and Tank Dell, with the former accumulating nearly 1,300 total receiving yards and the latter on pace to surpass 1,000 yards before an injury ended his rookie season. there was. Also, in football there's only one he, so wouldn't it be fantastic to have Collins, Dell, and Diggs on the same team?
But Houston has room to grow on the passing side. Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud has proven to be an elite quarterback and can easily support three receivers. Houston was middling in pass attempts in 2023, averaging just 34 per game. By comparison, top teams were throwing 37 times per game.
Additionally, the next three receivers on the Texans side (Robert Woods, Noah Brown, and Jon Metchie) combined for 160 targets. And while all three are still on the team, that doesn't mean they'll be on the team when the season starts. Even if that were the case, Diggs could easily take away most of those targets himself.
As it stands, Collins is the most valuable dynasty asset, followed by Dell and Diggs. Collins rose to WR1 status last season and he's only 25 years old, so that sounds about right. But he too is up for a contract extension soon, and it remains to be seen whether he and Dell are part of the Texans' long-term plans.
One thing we know is that Diggs won't last long in Houston. Yes, they gave up a second-round pick, but he's currently on a one-year deal and looking to cash in by the 2025 season. It's questionable whether Houston can afford to keep all three players on new contracts. Collins is a big name, but Dell is a nice consolation prize. At the same time, Diggs is a rental for both Houston and your dynasty team.
(Price falls
Chiefs WR Lachee Rice is facing eight felonies and could face more charges in his recent street racing incident, resulting in suspension from the league, possible paid leave, and possibly contract loss. facing cancellation. https://t.co/rwf3Uhe2S8
— Pro Football Talk (@ProFootballTalk) April 10, 2024
This week, it became clearer what punishment awaits Chiefs receiver Lachie Rice, who was involved in a car accident last month. This incident and its aftermath is a big deal for the now second-year receiver, and it couldn't have happened at a worse time. He just finished an impressive rookie season in which he not only caught 79 balls for 938 yards, but also won a Super Bowl. He was already being looked at by many as a breakout star in 2024 almost six months before the season started. Now he and the management of his dynasty are waiting for his future.
Dynasty influence: Rice's rookie season ended on a high note, as he not only won a Super Bowl, but also seemingly became a top option for Patrick Mahomes, who wasn't named Travis Kelce. However, his second season has faced some challenges both on and off the field. The latter is the most serious issue, as the charges brought against him would, at best, result in a multi-game suspension this season, draw even more attention from league officials, or, at worst, be removed from the team altogether. may be excluded. Moving on from the Chiefs would be devastating to his dynasty's value as any other landing spot would be considered a demotion.
But even if Rice remains in Kansas City and plays in most of the team's games, there is now competition for the target. Kansas City signed veteran receiver Marquise Brown to fill out the receiver room, and Brown instantly became one of the Chiefs' better options. Most of the 2023 receiver room is back, with the exception of Marquez Valdes-Scanting and his 21 receptions. This means that there are not as many targets to acquire.
If you're currently the manager of a Rice dynasty, now might be a good time to take the next step. Our DLF Trade Analyzer has some suggestions on swaps and I'm excited about it.
These rookie picks look particularly attractive as this 2024 rookie class is slated to be an all-time player at receiver. Get rid of rice-like headaches before they turn into migraines.
Tuahoop
Tua Tagovailoa reiterated that his contract is not on hold. He plans to participate in voluntary training (OTA) this spring.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) April 11, 2024
A decision will need to be made soon in Miami, but it appears QB Tua Tagovailoa will be added to the list of young quarterbacks getting an extension. For Tagovailoa, it's a relief after a rocky start to his career between benching and injuries. Miami doesn't have many options. Their current roster is ready to win right now, and Tagovailoa is far better than any other option out there, whether rookie or veteran.
Dynasty influence: This news is good for managers and potential managers in Tagovailoa's dynasty. In his first season, in which he played every game, he finished last for a QB1 in fantasy scoring. It's definitely a risk, but he's a great fantasy option whether it's a 1QB league or a super flex league. Currently, Tagovailoa ranks outside the top 10 of the Dynasty rankings.
That's great value and a goal for a dynasty team in need of a quarterback. He has elite weapons around him, elite play calling, and elite weather. He bought it.
Michael has been playing fantasy football for over 20 years, with his mother funding his first team when he was in fourth grade. He has contributed to various fantasy football publications, most recently Pro Football, where he spent five years writing on the fantasy side.
