Dynasty Movement: Week 16

The league felt a seismic shift in Week 15, with the elimination of multiple high-profile teams and the injury to Patrick Mahomes II. With the action winding down, our final chances to shift players based on their weekly performance are quickly arriving. We polled Dynasty staffers Jason Wood, Ryan Weisse, Dan Hindery, Andy Hicks, Maurile Tremblay, and Matthew Montgomery for their biggest Dynasty value movers of the week.

Dynasty Movement at Quarterback

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville

Wood: No player in the history of the sport has been harder for me to analyze than Lawrence. I've viewed him as a complete bust, a franchise cornerstone, and many phases in between. Right now, he's on a heater, and coach Liam Coen appears to have the franchise moving in a great direction. The dynasty ranks at quarterback thin out very quickly, and Lawrence is young enough that he warrants being slotted into that tier of quarterbacks you feel great about having. He's not a must-have, but he's squarely back in the "nice to have."

Tremblay: Lawrence delivered a historic six-touchdown performance against the Jets in Week 15, throwing for five scores and adding a rushing touchdown while accumulating 381 total yards and posting a career-high 136.7 passer rating. This explosion extended a three-game streak with at least two touchdowns per contest and no interceptions. Head coach Liam Coen has unlocked Lawrence's downfield ability while maintaining efficiency alongside a dominant running game and elite receiving weapons. At 25 years old, Lawrence has the proven upside to potentially sustain high-end fantasy production for years to come.

Weisse: I was already higher on Lawrence than the consensus, and I'm still moving him up. He capped off a strong month with a career performance in Week 15, and it finally feels like things are clicking. Lawrence looks far more comfortable in Liam Coen's system; the processing has been quicker, and the offense is doing a better job playing to his strengths. With a solid group of weapons around him and a coaching staff committed to building the scheme around what he does well, Lawrence looks set up to be a long-term QB1 in dynasty rather than the frustrating weekly roller coaster he's been in the past.

Hindery: We have seen highly drafted quarterbacks struggle early, lose their footing, and then find success in their mid to late 20s with a new team. While Lawrence never fully lost the starting job in Jacksonville, his career arc has some similarities. He finally got healthy, found the right coach, and the game has slowed down enough for his natural talent to shine through. Liam Coen looks like one of the best young play-callers in the NFL, and it is easy to get excited about the long-term outlook of this Jacksonville offense led by Coen and Lawrence, especially if Travis Hunter takes a second-year leap.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis

Wood: Jones has played his way up the dynasty rankings this season, and we shouldn't take that away from him. However, he tore his Achilles this month, and the Colts' front office would be committing franchise malpractice if they fully committed to him as their starter with a multi-year deal. Jones could ultimately be Wally Pipped, as I expect the team to prioritize drafting a new starter or signing another veteran in the coming months.

Mac Jones, San Francisco

Wood: There are a few backup quarterbacks who have a chance to vault up the dynasty rankings depending on how the offseason unfolds. Will the Eagles trade Tanner McKee to a team that views him as a starter? Will the Bears allow Tyson Bagent to compete for a starting role elsewhere? At the top of that list has to be Mac Jones, who played exceptionally well in Brock Purdy's stead this year and looks like an ideal starter for a team running a similar West Coast variant.

Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City

Tremblay: Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during Kansas City's Week 15 loss to the Chargers, an injury requiring surgical repair of both ligaments. The standard recovery timeline of nine to twelve months puts his return dangerously close to the 2026 season opener, with a real possibility he misses multiple games. At 30 years old, Mahomes faces a more challenging rehabilitation than younger quarterbacks, and his rushing ability is now in doubt. His fantasy production had rebounded this season before the injury, but the Chiefs' elimination from playoff contention hints at broader roster concerns around the offensive line and receiving corps. Until Mahomes demonstrates health and effectiveness post-surgery, he shifts from a consensus top-five dynasty quarterback to a much riskier asset, possibly outside the top twelve at the position.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans

Hicks: In an interesting turn of events, Tyler Shough now has more wins than Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, or any other rookie quarterback. Over the last five games, he has won three against teams with playoff aspirations. Given the lack of talent on the Saints' offense, it is a remarkable achievement. With three very winnable games left, he has a chance to make it impossible for the Saints to look elsewhere in the offseason, a big jump in rankings.

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota

Hicks: There is no doubt that J.J. McCarthy has played some awful games in his first full season as a starter. He has probably been soft-benched twice to protect his development. Over the last two weeks, there has been way more upside shown than previously thought possible. With six total touchdowns and only one interception, the Vikings have, most importantly, won both. The yo-yo rankings continue for him. Up again this time. 

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami

Hindery: It appears we have reached the end of the road for Tagovailoa in Miami. The organization seems to have concluded that they are not going to win a title with him under center and are preparing to move on. While some highly drafted quarterbacks have flamed out with their original teams and found success elsewhere, that path feels less likely here. Tagovailoa's physical limitations make him a less appealing reclamation project compared to others who have revived their careers.

C.J. Stroud, Houston

Montgomery: As tumultuous as this season has seemingly been for Stroud, he has been a productive player since returning from injury in Week 13 against a Colts team that was as hot as they could be all season. Since his return, he has thrown for 739 yards and four touchdowns. He is also at 62% completion percentage, signaling that he has returned at minimum to a quality starter, and there is no reason to believe he can't help stabilize your team, and have week-winning performances. Stroud is still a buy guy in dynasty leagues, and this narrative that he is bad is simply wrong. 

Justin Herbert, LA Chargers

Montgomery: I am considering worst-case scenarios for the rest of the season regarding Herbert, given this injury that is clearly limiting his performance. He has had five straight games at 16 total points or fewer. While it is a get-right spot this week against a Cowboys secondary, any injury limiting a quarterback's performance should be taken seriously. I don't think he is someone you should panic-sell, but don't be surprised if this injury lingers for the rest of the season. It is worth noting that this is his third separate finger injury since 2023. 

Dynasty Movement at Running Back