Dynasty Movement: Week 7

The Dynasty staff gathered to work through multiple quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends who are the biggest risers or fallers in rankings through five weeks of action. Check out the Footballguys Dynasty Football show with Jagger May and myself for more Dynasty content. We do three episodes weekly, discussing a variety of relevant Dynasty trends.

Dynasty Movement at Quarterback

Bo Nix, Denver

Andy Hicks - After a rough start to his NFL career, Nix has turned it around in grand style. His first three weeks resulted in zero passing touchdowns and four interceptions, but we have had five passing touchdowns and only one interception over the last three weeks. He is unlikely to be a fantasy force with a strong defense but deserves upward-ranking changes. 

Jared Goff, Detroit

Andy Hicks - With a dominant running game, Goff had a slow start to the season, with only five touchdowns in his first four games. That changed against the Cowboys, where Goff could do as he pleased. The preference for the Lions would be for Goff to take a back seat, but the schedule indicates that is unlikely to happen. Expect more good passing games from Goff moving forward—a slight bump in anticipation. 

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland

Ryan Weisse - There is no way to look at the Browns' offense this season and think there is anything better on the horizon. Because he was a starting quarterback with rushing upside, I had kept Watson in my top 20, a viable option in Superflex. At this point, I want nothing to do with him. He looks uninterested, and not even a change of scenery could bring me back to the table. He is outside my Top 30 and could fall further.

Caleb Williams, Chicago

Jason Wood - What a relief. I was all-in on Williams entering the season, and those initial weeks were a gut check. Fortunately, things are coming together in a big way, and you can see it in Williams' on-field performance and his vibrant, excited energy in post-game press conferences. He's feeling comfortable in the system and executing at a high level. He's solidly in my Top 10 and has room to move higher, particularly with Kyler Murray and Dak Prescott dropping a few spots.

Corey Spala - Dynasty is not supposed to be reactionary, and Williams has been the clear-cut case for the notion. It should not be surprising a rookie would need a few weeks to adjust to the NFL. Over the last three weeks, Williams has been the most efficient quarterback. He is at the forefront of turning the organization around. He is our current QB9, and I would move him up in the rankings. I would be comfortable having him ranked ahead of Kyler Murray (QB8) and Joe Burrow (QB7); I am sure we can argue over Patrick Mahomes II (QB5), too.

Sam Darnold, Minnesota

Jason Wood - Darnold has played his way into the Top 20. Before you think that's reactionary, consider how few quarterbacks are both young enough to project multiple years of high-level play and are executing at a high level. Sure, players like Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins have redraft value and may maintain value into 2025 and beyond, but Darnold is only 27 years old, and the Vikings look like the best team in the NFC. All the key pieces are young and under contract, and I don’t think we should worry that J.J. McCarthy’s presence means the Vikings aren’t willing to commit significant money to Darnold on a multi-year deal.

Dynasty Movement at Running Back

Derrick Henry, Baltimore

Andy Hicks - The superlatives regarding the performance of soon-to-be 31-year-old Henry is well deserved. He looks much better in a Raven jersey than he ever did for the Titans during his storied career there. His age is undefeated, and while the end will likely come quickly, his managers should continue to roll the dice. He may even be an excellent option for trade. 

Kyren Williams, LA Rams

Ryan Weisse - While I didn't move Williams up much, I did adjust his tier. With the elite running backs, Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, and Jahmyr Gibbs, looking less than elite to start the year, Williams' play and consistency must be rewarded. At just 24 years old and playing for Sean McVay, who is willing to give him every touch he can handle, Williams is my RB4 and in the same tier as the elite guys I mentioned above.

D'Andre Swift, Chicago

Jason Wood - We want Swift to be something he's not, and we hold it against him. Swift is prone to peaks and valleys, and the volatility can be maddening for fantasy managers and their coaches. Yet, when push comes to shove, he's generally delivered good to great numbers and held off the other running backs on the roster. We just saw that unfold again. As soon as reports surfaced that Roschon Johnson would get an opportunity in Chicago, Swift re-awakens and dominated snaps and touches, looking great. Given his age and the upward trajectory of the Bears' offense, Swift warrants a top-25 ranking, at a minimum.

David Montgomery, Detroit

Ryan Weisse - At this point, Montgomery's touchdown upside is second only to Derrick Henry. At 27 years old, Montgomery is at the weird age for dynasty running backs. He certainly isn't young, but he might still have two or three good years left, and we should play dynasty in a three-year window. I had Montgomery outside my top 20 but moved him to RB15. He might be the best buy-now asset for teams looking to win championships this season and next.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., NY Giants

Jason Wood -Tracy has looked great in Devin Singletary’s absence. The running back landscape is full of landmines—just look at the players ranked in the 15-30 range in any dynasty consensus, and you’ll see players who could easily fall entirely out of relevance quickly. Tracy, a rookie who primarily played receiver in college, has answered questions over the last two games about his ability to be an every-down asset. While I don’t think we should expect Tracy to overtake Singletary immediately, I believe we can value Tracy with the expectation that he could become the Giants’ lead back in 2025 and hold onto the job for multiple seasons.

J.K. Dobbins, LA Chargers

Corey Spala - Through five games, Dobbins is the current RB15 despite having a bye week. He appears to be recovering from his Achilles injury and setting a new precedent for the injury. Dobbins has 94 opportunities and has totaled 488 yards. He has forced 14 missed tackles and has 2.84 yards after contact per attempt. Dobbins is currently our RB37 and should move up the rankings. I would rank him ahead of Jaylen Warren (RB33) and Rachaad White (RB26).

Kimani Vidal, LA Chargers

Andy Hicks - With Gus Edwards on IR and J.K. Dobbins having a troubled injury history, the next man up is Vidal. With his first real opportunities against the Broncos, Vidal acquitted himself well with a considerable touchdown reception. Dobbins will be run into the ground in the meantime, but Vidal will get multiple opportunities to showcase while Edwards is unavailable. 

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee

Jason Wood - There's a thin line between dynasty relevance and marginalization at the running back position, and Spears is trending toward the latter. No one knew how the Titans would balance Spears and free agent Tony Pollard, but most believed they would be used interchangeably and that their relative talents were comparable. However, six weeks into the season, we have clarity on two fronts. First, Pollard is the lead back—this is not a two-man committee. Second, the Titans are in an awful state, and we can't feel confident about what this offense will look like in 2024, 2025, or beyond.

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville

Jason Wood - Etienne falls out of the Top 10 for multiple reasons. First, he hasn’t looked great this year. Second, the backup Tank Bigsby performed well. Third, the Jaguars are on the verge of yet another complete rebuild, with a new front office and coaching staff likely on the horizon. That’s a recipe for uncertainty, making it hard to trust Etienne as an elite asset despite his age and pedigree.

Jeff Bell - We can check Etienne’s value weekly, but the direction stays the same: down. It isn't easy to imagine him reestablishing himself as the top back with Doug Pederson as coach. He is a Dynasty buy for me, though. Jacksonville traded defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris to Seattle this week, potentially signaling the start of a sell-off, especially if they lose Week 7 to New England. Etienne would be a prime option for getting a fresh start. 

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay 

Corey Spala - Rachaad White did not play in Week 6 and left the door open for Bucky Irving to prove his worth. Irving had 105 scrimmage yards on 16 touches. He looks electric with the ball in his hands; he forced seven missed tackles and had 4.9 yards after contact per attempt. Additionally, he had a 74% snap share and 86% running back rush share in the first half against New Orleans. Irving is currently our RB29 and should move up the rankings. I would rank him over Javonte Williams (RB27) and Tyjae Spears (RB23).

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay 

Jeff Bell - Tucker was a hot devy name in the 2021 and 2022 cycles after posting 1,496 yards as a sophomore. His draft capital did not materialize, but falling out of the draft entirely was a shock. The Buccaneers gave him an aggressive bonus as an undrafted free agent, and he worked his way up the depth chart. With Rachaad White out in Week 6, he exploded. The team has been committed to playing multiple backs between White and Irving; with a rotation established, it will likely break into a three-way share. Tucker was readily available even in deep Dynasty waivers before Week 6, but now he is a young back who must be rostered.