Midseason Dynasty Tiers & Trade Charts for 2025 (Fantasy Football)
We are at the mid-point of the NFL season and for dynasty managers, you are making decisions about whether you want to go for a title or not. Your league’s trade deadline is approaching and it is crucial to understand how dynasty value works.
On the Fantasy Footballers Dynasty Podcast this week, we decided to work through a number of dynasty tier questions and rankings.
For each position, I have organized them in tiers while comparing to where we had these players ranked in August as well as a range and/or starting place for trade compensation. I also have included our Dynasty Lifecycle age ranges, thanks to our excellent dynasty writer Marvin Elequin.
We also teased on the podcast a new tool for the FootClan: a trade analyzer we actually believe in! This will soon be released in beta form but we hope it reflects the way we play dynasty at TFFB!
Quick Thoughts on Dynasty Tiers & Valuations
You’re not going to like hearing this right away: dynasty value is made up. Yup, imagine that. In a game predicated on being fantasy, dynasty values and tiers are made based on personal choice. This isn’t meant to belittle your decisions or somehow poo poo on the process of creating dynasty tiers. It is more holding with an open hand how exact and precise this endeavor is supposed to be.
In this format, you are projecting over multiple years starting a dance between talent, age, pedigree, production, team situation, and contract status. You might value one or two of those traits above the others but they all should be factored in.
I wrote an article last year entitled “Dynasty Tiers: 5 Tips for Assessing Value” where I shared five tips I wish someone would’ve told me years ago about dynasty tiers. Here is the TLDR version for you sick, sick people who would never click a link.
- Tiers are arbitrary.
- You don’t know what you don’t know.
- Not all tiers are created equally.
- Anticipate “tier jumps” in trades.
- Compare & Contrast (after making your tiers).
Certain sites like KeepTradeCut (KTC) use crowd-sourced decisions to try and calculate perceived “value” of each players. We reference this site sometimes on the Fantasy Footballers Dynasty podcast and certainly find it as a valuable part of the dynasty discussion especially considering we’ve been doing a KeepTradeCut segment on the podcast since 2016.
However, I do need to bring up the pros and cons of “dynasty value” sites. The values and figures (based on people voting on the site) eventually condense into one number. This value might feel like a true number and it is true to the site. However, it is an arbitrary value better used as a 3rd or 4th tie-breaker in evaluating trades rather than a set figure: “this is how much this player is worth!“. Consider the “value” of players like Michael Thomas or Juju Smith-Schuster, who were once seen as the 1.01 in startups.
You can value a player a certain way, trade for/away for a certain value, and receive certain value based on their actual fantasy production. Those are three different ways to see one player and we’re not even discussing future production or future value or their age curve, etc. The point isn’t to dive too deep into player takes but rather hold loosely the defining structure of dynasty tiers.
These are my issues with rankings in general:
- Is there that big of a difference between certain players?
- Do we draft or trade based on linear rankings lists alone?
- Are any of these values stable year over year?
- Are we overcomplicating things?
- Do we take the time to zoom out and realize how wildly off we were projecting certain careers 3-5 years out?
The NFL changes so much more than we realize and yet dynasty rankings feel true to us in the moment as a “this is where this player should go”. Often, I find this is a mirroring mechanism for all of us (myself included) who have looked at rankings and tiers so long that it’s easy to get #TakeLock.
There is also a big difference in “here is where this player should go in a startup draft” and “here is how I would rank these players rest of season based on a win-now mode”
We love what is right in front of us while often assuming things will turn out better in the future. The cheapest rookie picks to acquire are further in the future.Rookie picks are a double-edged sword knowing how valuable AND fragile they can be. The cheapest first-round pick you can get would be a year or two in advance. For instance, midway through the 2025 season, the next rookie draft will be your 2026 picks. While making trades, 2027 and 2028 rookie picks will be considerably cheaper than 2025 picks. (This works both ways in deals so make sure you understand what year you are actually trading for.)
In a dynasty league, investing in these assets (in exchange for expiring veterans) at their price is good for rebuilding because they are guaranteed to gain value as time passes. However, the future classes might be seen differently based on different positional strengths. The 2024 RB class was very different than 2025s; this should cause you to pause and consider if you are trading away that type of class.
Quarterback Tiers
Dynasty Lifecycles of Quarterbacks
- The Early Breakout:21 to 24.5- 77% of quarterbacks break out by the end of their fourth season, and about 55% emerge by their second campaign.
- The Peak: 24.5 to 30.5- We see the highest concentration of QB1 seasons between the ages of 25 and 30, as 67% of all QB1 seasons since 2000 are from quarterbacks ages 30 and younger.
- The Years of Sustained Production: 30.5 to 35 (ages 30.5 to 35) 27.5 to 30- We start to see a drop-off in production at the age of 28, where the PPG average declines by about 10%. We see a drastic decline after Year 7 as the PPG average drops by 29.1%
- The Decline: 36 to 39- Avoid investing in players that fall within this age range, and proactively trading quarterbacks away before they reach the age of 36.
- The Outliers: Age 40 & Beyond- Just a few old guys hanging out here that are fliers in dynasty.
Tier 1
Yup! These are the dudes. In a SuperFlex league, why move off any of them? The only rationale argument I’ve heard is related to Jalen Hurts and the tush push being outlawed eventually. Until then, it is business as usual. In a 1QB league, I still want multiple 1sts.
Trade Compensation (SFlex)- 2 1sts + tier 5 or better WR
Tier 2
This is not a spot I would recommend “tiering down” in SuperFlex leagues. All four QBs here represent annual stability along with the type of potential ceiling outcomes that make them very, very hard to replicate. Drake Maye is one of the biggest risers from early August jumping from a fringe QB1 in startups to now firmly in the discussion as someone you could take at the end of a 1st round SuperFlex dynasty startup. Just 23 years old, he currently is the QB4 on the season.
Trade Compensation (SFlex)- 2 1sts + another piece
Tiers 3 & 4
Many of the QBs listed here were named in Marvin Elequin’s “Identifying Breakout Candidates” before the season.
Trade Compensation (SFlex)
- Tier 3: 2 future 1sts
- Tier 4: Future 1st + + tier 6 RB/WR
Tiers 5 & 6
Imagine thinking before the season Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones would make the leap into being “safer” dynasty assets!
2025 Sam Darnold is averaging 10.6 yards per pass attempt when 2+ TEs are on the field- #1 in NFL
2024 Sam Darnold averaged 9.3 yards per pass attempt when 2+ TEs were on the field- #1 in NFL
— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) November 4, 2025
Young QBs are often overvalued in SuperFlex rookie drafts, a topic I’ve written about previously. Cam Ward was the 1.01 in the NFL draft but pencilling him in just because “he is a QB” is often. Since 2014, 53% of QBs taken in Round 1 of a rookie drafts lost perceived “dynasty value” from Year 1 to Year 2. Call that a buy-low opportunity in Year 2 or a market that overvalued the position in Year 1. 38% of these QBs vaulted into being top-10 dynasty QBs by Year 2, a valuable commodity.
Consider that the clock starts ticking way faster on a true ceiling outcome for #1 overall picks like Ward, Bryce Young, and Trevor Lawrence. Over the last decade, Baker Mayfield is the only QB to NOT hit 18+ fantasy points per game (a top-12 threshold) in 1st four years and then eventually surpass that mark later in this career. That stat isn’t just for #1 overall picks but ANY QB PERIOD.
Trade Compensation (SFlex)
- Tier 5: Future 1st + another piece
- Tier 6: Two 2nds or a 2nd + another piece
Running Back Tiers
Dynasty Lifecycles of Running Backs
- The Early Breakout: 21 to 24.5- This is the time frame when most breakouts occur (78%).
- The Peak: 24.5 to 27.5- Based on the chart above, the peak of a running back’s career is usually at the age of 26, which has the highest PPG average outside of age 21
- The Decline: 27.5 to 30- We start to see a drop-off in production at the age of 28, where the PPG average declines by about 10%. We see a drastic decline after Year 7 as the PPG average drops by 29.1%
- The Outliers: Age 30 & Beyond- Only 5% of top-24 seasons fall within this age range, as most running backs are already past their prime.
Tiers 1 & 2
There isn’t much to say about these tiers other than to reiterate that these RBs fit every single dynasty season. Don’t sell just for the sake of selling a RB if you think you are “rebuilding”.
Trade Compensation
- 3 1sts is the starting place but might not be enough
- Tier 1: 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 3
- Tier 2: 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 4 or better
Tier 3
I wanted to focus on this tier because there is a giant gap between the top-4 RBs and this one. All of the young RB assets here are building blocks for dynasty and should cost multiple 1sts BUT they do come with a few question marks. Who are the Dolphins beyond this year? What is up with Hampton’s injury timeline? Will the Browns ever be good? Where is Bucky Irving and can his body handle a giant workload?
Trade Compensation– 2 1sts is the starting point
Tiers 4 & 5
We discussed tier 4 at length on the Dynasty podcast including some of the RBs who received contract extensions this off-season and what to do with Saquon Barkley.
Trade Compensation
- Tier 4: Future 1st + 2nd + young piece
- Tier 5: Future 1st or two 2nds
Tiers 6 & 7
These tiers are a hodge podge of RBs near the end of their lifecycles along with young fliers who could easily ascend into a bigger role. Keep in mind the fluctuating value of some of these RBs checking the temperate of your league mates and their neediness for the RB position. For example, Rico Dowdle should easily fetch more than the future 2nd round rookie pick I have listed for his tier.
We often see managers mistakenly label their teams as rebuilding or “must-sell” without realizing the context of league turnover and not taking advantage of windows of opportunity. At the RB position, you can scoop up players near your league’s trade deadline that fit your dynasty team’s season.
- Create a simple list and assess where each member is: Juggernauts, Contenders, Wildcards, Rebuilds
- Identify archetypes of players or positions you need: Studs for Sale, Insurance RBs, Lottery Ticket RBs
- Make sure you are not just honing in on ONE player/team.
Trade Compensation–
- Tier 6: Future 2nd + young piece
- Tier 7: Future 2nd
Wide Receiver Tiers
Dynasty Lifecycles of Wide Receivers
- The Early Breakout:21 to 25.5- most breakouts occur within a wide receiver’s first three seasons in the league (80%). In other words, we should know fairly quickly if a prospect will yield a positive return on investment for our dynasty teams.
- The Peak: 25.5 to 30.5- Wide receivers have a much longer peak than RBs as it could extend well into their age-30 season.
- The Decline: 30.5 to 33- Only 15% of all top 24 seasons since 2000 have come from wide receivers ages 31 and older.
Tier 1
This group does not need a ton of commentary and we tried to go as quickly as possible on the podcast. Recognize that the guys listed here are the premier assets in all of fantasy football. It does not matter what season your team is in (rebuilding, etc.), this is what dynasty is what made for. The bigger question: what are you trying to gain trading them?
Trade Compensation
- 3 1sts is the starting place but might not be enough
- 2 1sts + 2nd + a WR in tier 3 or better WR/RB
Tier 2
All four of them are proven assets. I do need to give a vote of confidence for one of them: don’t overthink it with CeeDee Lamb. Hold onto him as he’s just now entering the prime of his career at 26 years old. Our writer Marvin Elequin profiled Lamb before the season in his “Players At Their Peak for 2025” article.
The lone worry I brought up before the season in my Top-50 Dynasty WR Tiers article was if Malik Nabers goes the “Garrett Wilson” route and ends up with 1,000s of targets but a lack of TDs. Welp, Jaxson Dart looks like the answer at the QB position so ignore those words for now.
Trade Compensation– 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 3 or better
Tier 3
I was tempted to put London in Tier 2 especially after this past week’s 3-TD performance. Perhaps the biggest push back will be McMillan vs. Egbuka. This is a perfect example of how linear rankings fail to capture the 2-3 year approach of viewing dynasty. We discussed on the podcast if Egbuka could keep up his TD production.
McMillan, on the other hand, is commanding the type of alpha target shares we want to see early on. The hit rate on top-10 WRs with this type of production profile is great for dynasty purposes. Our writer Marvin Elequin profiled McMillan in his “Identifying Breakout Candidates for 2025” article. He noted that over the last five years, 50% of WR breakouts occurred in their first campaign, while 63% have come from Day 1 receivers.
Trade Compensation– 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 4 or better
Tier 4
Consider that all of these WRs still fit your season even if you are rebuilding. We expect George Pickens to get a massive contract extension this off-season, hopefully from the Cowboys. Thomas and Collins are both major fallers for different reasons. Collins is due to the ascension of other young players and a stagnant Texans offense. Thomas, on the other hand, is of his own doing. Don’t panic sell him but realize the vibes alone have have pushed him down a tier or two. His QB has the lowest completion % versus zone coverage in the NFL BUT his WRs also have the highest drop rate in the NFL. Luckily for us, drop rate is one of the least sticky stats so if someone in your league is worried, start with a low ball offer for a 23 year old WR in his second year in the NFL.
Trade Compensation- 2 1sts OR 1st + 2nd + young piece
Tier 5
Comparing players across positions is what ultimately allows you to “see the draft board” in a dynasty startup draft or in trades. Some tiers are larger than others. While certain tiers might only include 3-4 WRs, the 5th tier might have up to 12 names! Depending on where you feel comfortable, these tiers allow you to stretch yourself in the draft (or in trades) and gain an edge over your opponent.
Trade Compensation
- Future 1st + 2nd OR
- Future 1st + young RB/WR in tier 6 & 7
Tiers 6 & 7
I wrote an article before the season entitled “Dynasty Trade Windows: Timing the Market” that can give you a look at the NFL/Fantasy calendar and when it is most valuable to trade veterans. I’ve mentioned on the recent podcast that someone like Davante Adams might be worth a 1st + another young player to you while someone in your league might see it more as a young player (RB/WR) and a 2nd round rookie pick. What is his exact value? No one knows but starting the negotiation asking for more than what you think is a good starting place.
Trade Compensation
- Tier 6: Future 1st or two 2nds
- Tier 7: Future 2nd
Tier 8
Ok, let’s be honest: I had to get to 55 WRs or am I really doing my job for this company? Some of the young WRs in this tier are perfect examples of fliers to throw into deals and sweeten the pot for potential rebuilding teams. I wrote an article titled Dynasty WR Thresholds That Matter if you want to assess where young WRs is at half way through 2025.
Keep in mind these are rookies still learning some of the nuances of the game and how to best work in an NFL system. Some liken it to a slow burn throughout the year but these thresholds are the average of players taken in these rounds, not the tip-top guys. Hitting 21% TPRR is an impressive feat for any player in the NFL as on average just 26 WRs per season reach that mark. Of that group, only 39% were 1st round NFL WRs. As always, we need to context with these types of stats but this is a starting place for evaluating rookies.
Trade Compensation– Future 2nd
Tight End Tiers
Dynasty Lifecycles of Tight Ends
- The Early Breakout:21 to 25.5- Historically, we rarely see tight ends break out in their rookie season. Welp, except for the last 3 years. Instead, they are far more likely to emerge in their second and third campaigns, accounting for about 61% of all breakouts since 2010.
- The Peak: 25.5 to 29.5- Since 2010, 59% of all TE1 seasons were from tight ends between the ages of 25 and 29. In addition, 62% of all top-six tight end seasons fall within this age range.
- The Decline: 29.5 to 32- Ages 30 and 31 have accounted for the highest percentage of declines over the last two decades (28%).
Tier 1
Much like the other Tier 1 positions, why would someone want to trade away these assets? Both are young focal points of their offenses that could easily see 140+ targets each season for the next five years. Ask yourself this question: are these annually top-5 TEs (apart from injury) until they turn 30 years old? With the lifecycle of TEs
We get the question all the time about how high should we adjust Bowers or McBride in TE-Premium leagues? In a SuperFlex/TE-Premium, I am fine taking taking Bowers towards the back of the 1st round of a startup (1.10-1.12 range). McBride slides a little bit further where he ends up being more around the back of the 2nd round (2.09-2.12).
Trade Compensation
- 3 1sts is a good starting place. Seriously. Even if you have multiple stud TEs, don’t diminish your price.
- 2 1sts + tier 3 TE could get it done as long as you believe
Tier 2
These are the YAC kings of the NFL. Tucker Kraft recent injury is going to hurt his value for the rest of the season. He will enter Year 4 this off-season with some question marks about his recovery process and how the team approaches a long-term deal.
Trade Compensation
- 2 future 1sts
- Future 1st + Tier 3 TE
- Future 1st + 2nd + Tier 4 TE
Tiers 3 & 4
Trade Compensation
- Tier 3: Future 1st + young piece
- Tier 4: Two 2nds or 2nd + tier 6 RB/WR
Tiers 5 & 6
Trade Compensation
- Tier 5: Future 2nd or 2 3rds
- Tier 6: Future 3rd
Quick Reference Dynasty Trade Chart
I decided to gather all of the trade compensation “starters” in one spot. Print it out so you can put it on your fridge in your mother’s basement. The draft picks listed are related to SuperFlex Dynasty Leagues.
| Position | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Tier 6 | Tier 7 |
| QB | 2 1sts + Tier 5 WR | 2 1sts + young piece | 2 1sts | Future 1st + tier 6 RB/WR or tier 3 TE | Future 1st + young piece | Two 2nds or a 2nd + another piece | Future 2nd |
| RB | 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 3 | 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 5 or better | 2 1sts or 1st + 2nd + young piece | Future 1st + 2nd | Future 1st or two 2nds | Future 2nd + young piece | Future 2nd |
| WR | 3 1sts + more or 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 3 or better | 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 4 or better | 2 1sts + a RB/WR in tier 5 or better | 2 1sts or 1st + 2nd + young piece | Future 1st + 2nd | Future 1st or two 2nds | Future 2nd |
| TE | 3 1sts or 2 1sts + tier 3 TE | 2 future 1sts or future 1st + Tier 3 TE | Future 1st + young piece | Two 2nds or 2nd + tier 6 RB/WR | Future 2nd | Future 2nd or 2 3rds | Future 3rd |
Comments
Nice article. I printed off the chart at the end. This will help a ton. Thanks, fellas!
Super helpful and practical insights. Thanks fellas!
Trade offers sent. Hope I can make a run this year
Nice info guys appreciate the work . Thank You