The season officially starts tonight. That means managers can make dynasty trades for the last time today without game action influencing the market. Rookies are the topic of today’s article, because many will be seeing their first NFL snaps this weekend. Values will change tremendously come Tuesday, and that will be something managers can take advantage of. I will address that properly with moves in next week’s article. However, these are some moves managers should look to make before the start of the season.
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Players to Trade for in Dynasty Football
Buy the Depth Chart Panic
Depth charts are starting to be released for Week 1 of the NFL season. And as expected, some high-profile rookies are listed as backups and even third-stringers. Now would be the perfect time to capitalize on that and make a dynasty football trade with a panicked manager.
Kaleb Johnson is the standout player. Johnson, being third on the depth chart, was more widely reported on than the other players I will mention. That is partly because Jaylen Warren received an extension right before the depth chart was released. Warren is the first Steelers running back to sign an extension since 2006, when Willie Parker inked a four-year deal.
Naturally, some are worried even though the deal only lasts for two additional years. This extension does not change their view of Johnson. He may not get immediate work, but his workload will continue to increase throughout the season. In a trade, if managers can get someone of his caliber for a 2026 second-round pick, with a plus on top. That would be ideal, but I would be open to sending a contending 2026 first in a weaker draft class and getting something extra back.
R.J. Harvey, Omarion Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson are all similar examples, and Jacorey Croskey-Merrit, to a lesser degree, as he was not a premium draft selection. All of these rookies are currently not starters on their depth charts. Hampton and Henderson are likely close to unobtainable. Harvey and Johnson are ideal trade targets due to the legitimate competition and their draft positions. Croskey-Merrit is someone I would look to trade away, but you may be forced to hold after this news.
Potential Last Chance to Trade for Star Rookie Receivers
Emeka Egbuka, Tetairoa McMillan, and Travis Hunter will all make their debut this weekend. And it might be the last time managers can trade for them at their lowest value over the next couple of years. All three have great matchups on Sunday and are poised to keep on that upward trajectory for the rest of the year.
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka will be looked upon as one of the biggest dynasty draft steals in recent memory. He was a late first for most of the spring, until the news about Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan was released. Now, he will start Week 1 in a potential shootout against the Atlanta Falcons as the number two option behind Mike Evans.
In terms of dynasty trades, I would be comfortable sending a 2026 first and second-round pick for him. However, it might cost managers two firsts at this point. I would meet in the middle at a first rounder and a player; it may not work, but it is worth a try.
Tetairoa McMillan
McMillan has also seen his value rise throughout the offseason due to the news surrounding his team’s receiver room. Jalen Coker will miss at least the first four games due to a stint on injured reserve, and Adam Thielen is now on the Vikings. McMillan, due to the circumstances, may receive a significant target share in the 30% range to start his career. McMillan’s value is likely to increase after a good matchup against a weak Jaguars defense. I would be open to moving two firsts for McMillan, but would look to get the trade done with players instead. Maybe someone like Garrett Wilson or Chase Brown gets a deal close to the finish line for McMillan.
Travis Hunter
The rollercoaster of dynasty value for Travis Hunter is soon to come to an end. All speculation about whether he will be an offensive player first will end on Sunday, if it hasn’t already. The first depth chart has him as a starting receiver but a second-string cornerback. Liam Coen is an offensive mind and will likely get to use his top draft pick on his side of the ball. Hunter has an elite ceiling, but I understand the pause when it comes to snap share.
Hunter’s value will move the most of the three, and which way will depend on how many snaps he sees on Sunday. So, keep an eye on the manager who has Hunter on their team. Panic could set in as soon as Sunday night, so I recommend waiting and seeing when it comes to Hunter. However, if he sees a majority on offense, it may already be too late.
Conclusion
The number one piece of advice relating to dynasty trades after week one is not to overreact. Rookies may not see the snap share that you expected. Relax and wait. Other players may not see the targets you want. Remember Amon-Ra St. Brown putting up 13 yards in primetime last year when Jameson Williams went nuclear. St. Brown ended up finishing the season as a WR1 and performed well. So, my number one piece is not to panic, but also not to be afraid to strike a deal in your favor after the first week of play.
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