The best dynasty fantasy football managers are always in search of the next great buy-low option to target for their fantasy team.
Here is a collection of names you should be able to acquire at a reduced cost heading into the 2024 NFL season.
What Is a Dynasty Fantasy Buy-Low Option?
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term “buy-low,” it is a phrase commonly used in the finance world where you invest financial resources into buying the stock of something at a lower price because you believe that it will have a higher value in the future.
In dynasty leagues, this generally comes in the form of acquiring a player via trade who has recently seen his value drop by a significant margin — due to lack of production on the field, a recent injury, or potential contract/roster changes — which presents an opportunity to acquire said asset at a discounted price.
Top Players To Buy in Your Dynasty League
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos
On the surface, most fantasy managers believe Javonte Williams is positioned to be the Denver Broncos’ leading ball carrier in 2024. But the usage and efficiency we saw from Jaleel McLaughlin in his rookie year really shouldn’t be overlooked.
McLaughlin averaged 5.39 yards per carry, managed to catch 31 of 36 targets for 160 yards, and found the end zone three times on his 107 total touches working behind Williams and alongside Samaje Perine. The addition of Audric Estimé out of Notre Dame in the fifth round this past NFL Draft clouds the potential roles of this backfield heading into 2024.
The limited amount of overall production and McLaughlin’s lack of size at 5’7” and 187 pounds has him flying under the radar for many fantasy managers entering his second year. Yet, his efficiency, explosiveness, and versatility should make him a very intriguing dynasty stash on your bench while this backfield figures things out for 2024.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
Another second-year back who finds himself in an interesting situation heading into 2024 is Roschon Johnson in Chicago. The Bears added RB D’Andre Swift very early in free agency, signing him to a three-year deal to bolster a backfield that felt like a true committee last year.
Johnson’s rookie campaign of 561 total yards on 115 total touches (34 receptions) and two scores was underwhelming for those who believed he could steal the leading role away from Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, but his per-touch efficiency and reliability as a pass protector showcased he can be a useful and effective asset out of the backfield when called upon.
MORE: 5 Sell-High Trade Candidates in Dynasty Leagues
Sure, Swift will undoubtedly have the inside track to the leading role in this backfield. However, Johnson’s RB47 finish as a rookie and the addition of a productive veteran lowers his dynasty value by a fair margin approaching Year 2.
If Swift’s durability concerns resurface or they don’t view him as the preferred goal-line option, Johnson could see a larger role than expected — which makes him an intriguing buy-low option in an offense that many believe could take a big step in the right direction in 2024.
Deuce Vaughn, RB, Dallas Cowboys
I am fully prepared for everyone to laugh at this suggestion, but I am still one of the few who believes Dallas Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn can be an effective ball carrier in the NFL.
Admittedly, Vaughn’s 23 carries for 40 yards (1.74 yards per carry) his rookie year don’t suggest the claim I just made above. His smaller stature at 5’6” and 176 pounds appeared to limit his ability to play through contact against the bigger, stronger, and faster defenders at the NFL level. This is reflected in his 0.7 yards after contact per attempt and zero broken tackles in 2023.
However, I still believe in Vaughn’s vision, elusiveness, lateral agility, and instant acceleration as a ball carrier who provides this Dallas offense with the most big-play ability heading into his second season. His disappointing rookie year makes him an asset you can acquire at a very reasonable price.
Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields shareholders have to be absolutely beside themselves after this offseason. He spent the last three years under siege with a makeshift, struggling offensive line and didn’t have a ton of talent to throw to outside of DJ Moore (for only one season). Yet, he still managed to be a productive fantasy option under center during the last two years.
Considering the high expectations many had for Fields last season, he still finished with the exact same fantasy points per game as Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in 2023 at 18.4. That doesn’t exactly suggest he is a scrub.
Additionally, Fields averaged 20.5 fantasy points per game in 2022, which made him the QB5 overall, with Darnell Mooney as his WR1.
How in the world did Justin Fields pull this off?! 🤯#Bears | #NFL
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 31, 2023
Furthermore, quarterbacks who run for 1,143 yards and eight scores in an NFL season aren’t common. Only three quarterbacks in NFL history have ever rushed for 1,000 yards in a season. Fields’ rushing abilities still rival those elite dual-threat signal-callers who will regularly be drafted within the first three rounds of your startup dynasty draft in Superflex formats.
I am fully aware it is a tough pill to swallow that Fields is slated to start the 2024 season behind Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh. But the elite fantasy ceiling is still there.
MORE: Dynasty Trade Calculator
Wilson is a 35-year-old quarterback and is on a one-year deal. If he struggles under center this year, I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Fields sees time as a starter over the back half of the 2024 season. In the worst-case scenario, Fields plays out the final year of his rookie deal and becomes a free agent next offseason.
His current situation makes him an excellent buy-low candidate. At 25 years old, he still possesses elite fantasy upside.
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Christian Kirk suffers from a case of the “boring, middle-aged WR2” syndrome that often afflicts solid, productive veteran options. Other names on this list include Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett, and Chris Godwin.
Sure, Kirk will likely never possess WR1 overall upside, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a very valuable asset for your dynasty roster for the next few years. We are only one season removed from his WR12 finish in full-PPR formats back in 2022, and Kirk still averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game last season before an injury cost him the final five games of the year.
With Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones’ departures, Kirk and Evan Engram will be Trevor Lawrence’s two most familiar faces in the passing game in 2023.
Sure, dynamic rookie WR prospect Brian Thomas Jr. and the volatile Gabe Davis will have their roles in this offense as outside vertical threats, but Kirk is still going to see a dominant snap share out of the slot in 11-personnel sets. This role has helped him earn an average of 7.5 targets per game over his first two seasons in Jacksonville.
On the surface, Kirk’s WR47 fantasy finish last year, the addition of two vertical playmakers to this offense, and lack of elite upside make him an overlooked option in this offense. Another season similar to his 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight TDs back in 2022 isn’t too farfetched heading into 2024.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
We all knew Derrick Henry’s reign wasn’t going to last forever, and his departure to the Baltimore Ravens left a vacancy on his throne as the leading back of the Tennessee Titans.
Many thought we were on the cusp of entering the Tyjae Spears era in Tennessee with the release of Henry … until the Titans decided to pay market value to sign Tony Pollard to a three-year deal this offseason.
Naturally, this muddies the water for Spears’ fantasy outlook this season, but I don’t believe it will be the fantasy death sentence many are expecting.
Spears’ production in a complementary role behind Henry should not be overlooked. Fewer than 20 backs in NFL history have rushed for over 400 yards and caught 50 passes in their rookie year. Spears is one of those players after producing 453 yards with 385 more receiving yards through the air on 52 receptions and three scores.
Them: How excited are you for a Tyjae Spears breakout season next year?
Us: 😏😏😏
(Via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/IfJibMzlza
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 29, 2024
Sure, his RB34 fantasy finish wasn’t elite by any stretch, but Spears’ per-touch efficiency — 4.53 yards per carry — was actually quite impressive when you take into consideration the struggles of the Titans’ offensive line and offense as a whole in 2023.
On the flip side, Pollard was the leading ball carrier for one of the NFL’s highest-scoring offenses last year and managed just an RB14 fantasy finish with a career-low 3.99 yards per carry on a career-high 252 carries.
KEEP READING: 2024 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Mock Draft
I believe Pollard will certainly be involved in 2023 and will cap Spears’ fantasy ceiling a bit, but Spears could very well lead the Titans in carries while they work in tandem.
I’m still a believer in Spears’ talent as a runner, and I believe the signing of Pollard actually opens a buy-low window for Spears heading into the 2024 season.