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Rookie drafts are slowing. Prospecting is wrapping. Non-Points Scoring season shifts to training camp news, depth chart analysis, and narrative street. With most player transaction movement complete, we have an opportunity to identify Dynasty Sleepers, players loaded with the potential to raise their value.
Our Dan Hindery has created the awesome Dynasty Trade Value Chart Plus. This tool is loaded with player values, a new trade calculator, and an easy-to-use trade database that provides real-world examples of completed Sleeper Dynasty trades. The tool can be customized to your league with an easy connection to Sleeper.
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The positional rankings used in this piece came from Dan's value chart. They meant as an acknowledgment of how sharp Dan is relative to the market. Using that as a baseline forces an even sharper lens. You do not need me to tell you that Jonathon Brooks could rise in value if he becomes the Panthers' starting running back.
Running Back Value Risers
TreVeyon Henderson, New England (RB13)
Henderson failed to deliver on high rookie expectations. The downside case sees him still sharing a backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson and an RB42 scoring placement over the first half of his rookie season.
But the upside is intact. Henderson was the RB10 from Week 9 to Week 18. He hit the sixth fastest ball carrier speed in 2025 at 22.01 MPH per Next Gen Stats. He was also tenth in rushing yards over expected per attempt.
At RB13, there are very few backs who look primed to jump him in rankings; he still holds Top Ten positional upside.
ACTION: Aggressively explore trade prices in all formats.
- Henderson for Saquon Barkley + Parker Washington
- Henderson for 2027 1st (consider if strong contender)
- Henderson for Ken Walker III + Mark Andrews
- Henderson for 2026 1.09 + 1.11 + 1.12
J.K. Dobbins, Denver (RB38)
Well all want to unlock the Sean Payton Denver backfield puzzle. Jonah Coleman’s draft selection adds an additional wrinkle to 2025 rookie RJ Harvey. Dobbins has consistently performed when available, ranking RB18 through the first ten weeks of 2025. Of course, availability has been the consistent issue. The most logical breakdown has him leading Denver’s backfield as long as his health allows.
ACTION: Acquire if contending
- Dobbins for 2027 3rd
- Dobbins + Stevenson for Nicholas Singleton
- Dobbins + 2029 3rd for Wan'Dale Robinson
- Dobbins for LeQuint Allen Jr. + 2026 3.04
Injury Away Backups
Braelon Allen, NY Jets (RB50)
Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas (RB51)
Isiah Pacheco, Detroit (RB52)
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee (RB56)
Brian Robinson Jr, Atlanta (RB61)
Ray Davis, Buffalo (RB64)
Running back rankings naturally break into tiers. We know the fantasy stars at the top. The next group is the ambiguous backfields. A starter will emerge, but so will a backup. This naturally pushes the backups for the elite backs to the bottom of the rankings. Opting into an obvious backup over taking a chance on ambiguity would not be the preferred path in redraft. But in Dynasty? Things happen. We are also not paying the opportunity cost of a 12th-round pick in a one-time annual draft.
There are reasons to target this profile. First, the situation is ripe for production. James Conner may be the easiest explanation. Entering 2018, Le'Veon Bell was in a contract stalemate with the Steelers after a dominant first five years. He ended up sitting out the season, and Conner ran with the opportunity, delivering an RB6 season and launching a career as a consistent fantasy starter.
Deeper Sleepers
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