The dynasty trade market can be a bit cruel to those trying to get maximum value on running backs with uncertain futures. Should dynasty fantasy football managers attempt to move Saquon Barkley, Chase Brown, or Roschon Johnson ahead of the 2024 NFL offseason?
Should You Trade Saquon Barkley in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
One could make an argument that Barkley is one of the biggest “what if” stories in all of fantasy football. He has been stuck in a mediocre-to-terrible offense throughout his entire NFL career while dealing with some significant injuries during his prime years, which has made his entire fantasy career feel like a bit of a disappointment.
Despite having one of the best prospect profiles to ever enter the league at the RB position, Barkley has finished as a top-five fantasy running back on just two occasions through his first six years.
Factors like poor quarterback play, limited playmakers to draw attention away from him, and inconsistent offensive line play have all made an impact on Barkley’s overall production.
After turning 27 earlier this month, Barkley finds himself in a similar situation to last year. If he enters free agency, there will be a market for a player who produced 1,242 total yards and 10 touchdowns over 14 games — despite playing in what was one of the worst offensive units in the NFL.
Barkley showcased that he still has plenty of that game-breaking juice to be a difference-maker to a team in need of a leading back.
In today’s day and age at the RB position, much of it will come down to how much money a team is willing to shell out for an aging asset at a devalued position. But if Barkley lands in an ideal location, then he certainly could produce another couple of RB1-type seasons before he turns 30.
Unfortunately, the market for Barkley is unknown at the moment.
There is also a possibility he could return to the New York Giants in 2024, which would do little to boost his dynasty value.
Barkley is a bit of a headache for fantasy managers, but I would almost prefer to ride out the offseason in hopes he lands in a great spot because — let’s be honest — any alternative can’t be much worse than what he produced in last season.
Should You Trade Chase Brown in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
Did Brown make a strong enough impression on the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff over the last six games of the season to move on from Joe Mixon this offseason?
That’s a question we’ll likely get the answer to in a couple of months, but my initial gut reaction to that question is probably not.
Sure, Brown flashed a bit when given an expanded role over the final six games of the year — scoring on a long catch-and-run against the Indianapolis Colts back in Week 14.
But his overall body of work as a ball carrier didn’t exactly make Mixon an expendable commodity quite yet.
His 179 rushing yards on 44 carries through his rookie campaign is certainly a small sample size, and he failed to top four yards per carry in four of his final six games.
However, Brown has likely carved himself out a reliable role in the passing game, catching 14 of his 15 targets for 156 yards and a score last year. His long-term dynasty value feels like it’s more closely tied to his role as a pass catcher than hoping he takes the leading role in this backfield in the coming years.
Brown has the home-run-hitting ability to be a low-end Flex option if Mixon does return in 2024, but his standalone value will likely be limited, making him a better handcuff option than Flex play if this scenario plays out.
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Still, he does have some upside as a potential leading man if the Bengals make Mixon a salary cap casualty this offseason.
Ultimately, I’m intrigued by Brown’s role in this Cincy offense for 2024, and I don’t see a dynasty manager paying the type of perceived fantasy-ceiling price point to make me want to trade him off of my roster.
Should You Trade Roschon Johnson in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
I was beating the drum often and loudly that Johnson would be the leading back in the Chicago Bears backfield by the end of his rookie season. As we all know, that scenario did not play out in 2023.
Johnson was effective both as a ball carrier (352 yards on 81 carries at 4.35 yards per carry) and a pass catcher (34 receptions for 209 yards on 40 targets) during his rookie year, but he split work with both Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman the entire season.
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Johnson saw 10 carries in a game just once in 2023, but with Herbert failing to establish himself as a clear leading man and Foreman set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, the path to an expanded role for Johnson still exists moving forward.
I have no interest in selling low on Johnson after his disappointing rookie year and have him as a strong hold entering the 2024 season.