It’s time to start looking ahead to free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. However, between now and then, there’s still plenty of speculation about where players will go, which team will draft which player, who will push a veteran out of a job, etc. And then of course this speculation, and ultimate landing spots, will impact dynasty trade values.
This creates an opportunity to potentially get in on some value that may never be feasible again once the questions are answered. Here are four players to consider trading now to get some value before free agency begins.
Dynasty Trade Advice: Players to Sell
Kenneth Walker III (RB – FA)
Coming off being named the Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker’s value is at an all-time high. However, from Weeks 1 to 17, Walker was the overall RB23 in PPR leagues and the RB29 in points per game (10.9). Yes, he was unleashed when Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL, but a couple of things stand out:
- If Walker returns to Seattle, there might be some time where Charbonnet isn’t on the field, but he will eventually return.
- If Walker leaves, where will he go?
Spotrac estimates Walker’s market value at about $9 million per season. The Seahawks have over $63 million in cap space, so they could bring him back if they want. If not, it’s unclear where he could land, and I’d be a bit worried it would be in a spot where he’d be less valuable.
Ride the Super Bowl MVP value and get some nice assets in return.
Rashee Rice (WR – KC)
This one is more of a personal vibe than anything else. When Rashee Rice was on the field, which was from Week 7 to Week 15, he was the WR2 in PPR leagues, and that includes a Week 10 bye.
However, Rice has been named in a civil suit for domestic violence and could face yet another suspension. He can’t stay out of trouble and is not an asset I’m willing to risk rostering much longer, especially with Tyreek Hill becoming a free agent and a potential reunion between him and his old team.
Rico Dowdle (RB – FA)
Rico Dowdle was one of the bigger surprises this past season, rushing 236 times for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 39 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown. However, if you look at the game logs, he started slowing down massively at the end of the season.
Dowdle averaged 3.2 yards per carry or fewer in six of his last eight games and only topped 50 yards in three of those games. Due to his reduced role down the stretch, he has said that it’ll impact his free agency decision.
Even if he comes back to Carolina, Chuba Hubbard, whom the Panthers paid, will be healthy again, and Dowdle’s role could diminish as it did toward the tail end of last season. He was a fun story this season, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for it to repeat elsewhere.
Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
I’ll caveat this one by saying it depends on your situation. If you’re still competing this season, hold onto Christian McCaffrey. If not, now might be a good time to ship him and start looking ahead to the future.
The 49ers rode McCaffrey this past season — 311 carries and 102 receptions in the regular season (plus 94 additional touches in the playoffs). That’s a massive workload, especially for a player who will be turning 30 in June.
Maybe McCaffrey will be fine, but given his past injury concerns, the workload and averaging fewer than four yards per carry, I have a feeling he could slow down sooner rather than later. Yes, Derrick Henry is still going strong, but he doesn’t catch 100+ passes per year.
George Kittle tearing his ACL will facilitate touches, but I think the 49ers would hope they don’t need to ride McCaffrey the way they did this season moving forward, especially as they push for Super Bowl titles. His value will be massive, and if you’re a team that might not be competing this year or next, ship him out for assets and begin rebuilding.
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