Dynasty News has been a part of Footballguys for well over a decade. Our Jeff Tefertiller combines strategy with relevant NFL news to help dynasty managers excel with their teams. It examines some of the larger happenings of the week from a dynasty perspective. The news may be injury- or performance-related.
Dynasty News: Brock Purdy, San Francisco
The Brock Purdy elbow/shoulder injury has been the major news story of the week. The injury seemed to come out of nowhere. But, it could be the reason for Purdy’s decline in accuracy this season. The injury was enough for the star quarterback to get an MRI last Monday. At that time, the 49ers thought he could play through the injury. After ruling Purdy out on Friday, coach Kyle Shanahan talked to reporters on Saturday. He said, “The way (Purdy’s elbow/shoulder) responded this week, it’s really up in the air for next week, so we’ll have to see on Monday.” When talking to reporters, Purdy said that he “can’t remember a play that [the injury] specifically happened on.” This is one of the reasons we think that the injury has lingered for a while. San Francisco is not known for injury transparency. Brandon Allen started at Green Bay in Purdy’s stead. He is a large step down from Purdy. There is a chance that – with another loss – the team shuts Purdy down for the year. On Sunday, Adam Schefter tweeted, "49ers believe QB Brock Purdy should be able to return next Sunday at Buffalo despite his shoulder soreness. Then again, they also thought he would be able to start today at Green Bay before he couldn’t. Still, for the time being, there does not seem to be a high level of concern." Dynasty managers should look to stash Joshua Dobbs now, just in case Purdy’s injury stretches out. Allen has an fractured finger on his left hand and did not play especially well against the Packers. Having a spare quarterback during the fantasy playoffs is a good thing. If you can keep the 49ers quarterback off an opponent’s roster, even better.
Dynasty News: Daniel Jones, Free Agent
Friday morning, Jordan Schultz broke the news on Daniel Jones, “BREAKING: The #Giants are releasing QB Daniel Jones, sources tell @NFLonFOX.I’m told Jones asked for his release and the team is granting it after his benching. “ After he was demoted to fourth string and the writing was on the wall that Jones would not be back in New York this year, he asked for his release. He did not make it through the second year of his four-year extension signed in the 2023 offseason. Since signing that contract, Jones is 3-13 as the starting quarterback. New York will eat more than $20 million in dead cap due to releasing their quarterback. It is doubtful any team will claim Jones on waivers due to his contract, so he is expected to sign an incentive-laden deal this week to be a backup. One might wonder whether Jones will ever be a starter in the NFL again. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, tweeted out some interesting contract context, “Assuming he is not claimed Daniel Jones' cap hit with the #Giants will be $47.105M this year and $22.21M in 2025.” Fellow cap expert, Joel Corry, tweeted, “Since Daniel Jones' fully GTD $35.5M 2024 base salary has an offset, the Giants will get a little salary cap relief if he signs with another team after clearing waivers. Jones will make the prorated amount of his $1.125M league minimum salary ($62,500 per week) on a new team.” We expect him to take a career path similar to Andy Dalton, Carson Wentz, and Jimmy Garoppolo and sign in 2025 as either bridge for a rookie or to back up a veteran on a title contender.
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The season has not turned out the way Aaron Rodgers and the Jets had hoped. Coach Saleh and general manager Douglas have both been jettisoned. So, it should not have come as a surprise when Dianna Russini reported Saturday that Rodgers wants to play for a different team in 2025. New York is coming out of their Week-12 bye and has no shot at the playoffs. New York will have an entirely new regime in place and will want to start over, top to bottom. It also means that Davante Adams will likely be on the move again. Since Rodgers is under contract through the 2025 season, the team will trade him. Tennessee seems like a good trade target since Rodgers recently purchased property in Nashville. The 40-year-old signed a three-year deal last year and the Jets will incur a large cap hit if they trade the passer without redoing his contract first. Russini also reported that it appears “increasingly likely” that the Jets will place Rodgers on injured reserve in the coming weeks. It could happen as soon as this week. Veteran Tyrod Taylor is his backup and would inherit an offense full of weapons. Taylor could be a league-winner for some SuperFlex dynasty managers.
The Raiders are in place for a high draft pick in 2025, hopefully to use on the quarterback position. In Sunday's loss to the Broncos, Gardner Minshew II broke his collarbone and is out for the season, according to Ian Rapoport. Desmond Ridder came in to replace Minshew and was the same lacking quarterback that we saw in Atlanta. Long-time Raiders beat reporter, Vic Tafur, tweeted, "Can confirm that Raiders QB Gardner Minshew II has a broken collarbone and is done for the season. Tashan Reed and I expect Aidan O'Connell to be back for Friday's game against the Chiefs." The Minshew injury would mean a big step down for dynasty managers of Meyers and Bowers just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
Last Wednesday, Kansas City head coach, Andy Reid, was asked about the status of receiver Marquise Brown. Reid responded that Brown is "making very good progress” and “He's another one who's excited to get out there and get going." The Chiefs may have a full and healthy receiving corps for the playoffs. The veteran receiver signed a one-year deal with Kansas City this past offseason and will be anxious to show that he is fully healthy after the collarbone injury suffered in early September. He will add another dimension to the pass-happy offense. Brown is a player to acquire via trade in dynasty leagues before the trade deadline because he could have a strong playoff run on national television, boosting his dynasty value.
Dynasty News: Seattle Tight Ends
Before Thursday’s limited practice session, tight end, Noah Fant, was sidelined since Week 8 with a groin injury. Rookie fourth-rounder, AJ Barner has taken Fant’s spot in the starting lineup. While Barner is still learning and growing, the team could decide to part ways with Fant in the offseason. His 2025 cap hit is $13.5 million if he is still on the team. If Fant is let go, the Seahawks only have $4.5 million in dead cap space. Barner is improving every week and could be Seattle’s 2025 starting tight end. The Seahawks used a valuable pick (121st overall) on him so the organization’s brass saw promise in the youngster. Dynasty managers are encouraged to stash Barner from the waiver wire. Fant missed Sunday's game against Arizona and is a below-average NFL tight end who would sign elsewhere, but the chances of him being a fantasy factor are not high.
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