Matthew Berry’s NFL Combine Buzz: The Dynasty Spin
The annual NFL Scouting Combine is the first major event of the off-season, in many ways signaling the start to what has grown to become dynasty players’ favorite time of year. The week’s primary focus is on the incoming rookie class, but the event is so much more than that. With coaches, executives, agents, and media all mixed together in one city, the reports that leak from Indy are endless.
One of my favorite pieces of fantasy football content each year is Matthew Berry’s look back at what he saw and heard at the Combine. I’ve bene fortunate enough to meet with Matthew at the Combine in recent years, and I can confirm the scene he describes is fully accurate. Walking into a bar or restaurant is like opening a present on Christmas morning. You might not know what you’ll find, but you know it will be good.
If you haven’t already, go read Matthew Berry’s 25 Most Interesting Things He Heard at 2025 NFL Combine. It’s free to read over at NBC Sports.
While Matthew is a huge supporter of the dynasty game in general, most of his focus in this specific article was how things could play out in the short term. I wanted to take a second look at what Matthew heard, sharing some dynasty spin. Here we go!
QUARTERBACK BUZZ
Much of the conversation at the Combine clearly focused on Matthew Stafford and the Rams. While we now know the outcome of that situation, it does kick off a round of quarterback musical chairs that will impact Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, and others. Back to Stafford, although it briefly looked like he was a goner, the veteran remaining in Los Angeles is a good thing for his dynasty value over the next two seasons, which is all we can count on from the 37-year-old gunslinger. It’s also good for Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and all other key Rams players.
Rodgers is, by default, going to be one of the most discussed players this off-season as he looks for a new home. While he’s still a hot-button player in the media, dynasty managers have moved on. He carries very little value, even in superflex formats, and considering the two options Matthew suggested as possible landing spots (Titans, Giants) are below-average offenses, I doubt this changes anytime soon. I did find it surprising that Rodgers is reportedly willing to wait for an injury to a starting quarterback if one of those two teams don’t work out. Don’t expect Rodgers to be signing as soon as the bell sounds next Monday.
Sticking with the quarterback position, perhaps the biggest shocker of Matthew’s article was that the Jets are planning on starting Tyrod Taylor to begin the season, while hopefully grooming a rookie quarterback at the same time. This makes Taylor worthy of a pickup in superflex leagues, but it is certainly not encouraging for Garrett Wilson, who is still being drafted as a top-15 dynasty receiver. I’m afraid it could be yet another wasted year for Wilson.
The Steelers took a chance on cheap acquisitions last off-season, adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Although Wilson was the starter for the majority of the season, it is reportedly Fields that Pittsburgh prefers to sign. I doubt they have much competition. Fields, still just 26 years old, is a major value for dynasty managers, coming in as the QB27 in our latest dynasty ADP. Meanwhile, the dots continue to be connected for Wilson and former head coach Pete Carroll, now in Las Vegas. Like Rodgers, the veteran Wilson is a player dynasty managers have all but given up on, understandably so. He produced four QB1 games last season and could be moving on to another team with limited offensive threats.
As Matthew put it, the Sam Darnold stuff is just odd. The Vikings seemingly don’t want him, which is understandable given their investment in JJ McCarthy. While there are plenty of teams with quarterback needs, along with a poor rookie class and subpar free agent crop, Darnold’s suitors are still unclear. Many dynasty managers were concerned that Darnold was just a product of the system in Minnesota. Perhaps that fear is widespread in the league as well. Regardless, Darnold’s meager ADP of just QB26 is suddenly reasonable and understandable.
Sam Darnold | Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
I’ll mostly leave the rookie analysis to another article, but Matthew heard what almost everyone seemed to hear at the Combine. Cam Ward impressed. Shedeur Sanders didn’t. The gap between the two is seemingly widening when it comes to the NFL Draft, which is likely to carry over to their dynasty value as well.
WIDE RECEIVER MARKET
Like the quarterbacks, the options for wide receiver-needy teams are limited as both the free agent and rookie groups are considered below average this season. That means there will be some surprising contracts handed out and even more surprising names on the trade market.
Matthew pointed out that veteran Chris Godwin, coming off a significant injury, is expected to stick with the Buccaneers. This is great news for Godwin’s value, along with Baker Mayfield’s outlook, but it could throw some cold water on the Jalen McMillan hype. In our latest ADP, Godwin came in as the WR36 while McMillan is the WR45. Even with Liam Coen gone, I have high hopes for the Tampa Bay offense. Both players are targets at that value.
Stefon Diggs is in a similar situation…a veteran receiver coming off a knee injury. While he is not expected to remain with his most recent team, Houston, there is reportedly a strong market for Diggs. He’s a screaming dynasty value as the WR60. As always, this part of the off-season is the time to trade for those aging veterans.
Stefon Diggs | Credit: Troy Taormina
Finally, this should come as no surprise. The recently released Davante Adams wants to follow Aaron Rodgers wherever he goes. The market for Adams is expected to be much stronger than that of Rodgers though, so the wideout’s patience could be tested when free agency opens next week. Like Diggs and Godwin, I fully support buying low on Adams, given that his value has dropped so much. He’s all the way down to the WR43 in our latest ADP and could certainly be had for a later second-round rookie pick in most leagues.
RB ROUNDTABLE
Perhaps my favorite buy of the off-season is Cardinals’ second-year back Trey Benson. Unlike some of his fellow 2024 rookie backs, Benson didn’t fall flat, he just played second fiddle to veteran James Conner. Although Conner is not going anywhere this year, Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon spoke glowingly of Benson at the Combine press conference. Benson and his dynasty managers will need to be patient, but I still see a future dynasty RB1 here, coming in currently at RB36 prices.
While it is no surprise that Tampa Bay loves what they have in Bucky Irving, what Matthew heard beyond that should get dynasty managers’ attention. The Bucs’ brass was reportedly raving about Sean Tucker, who Matthew suggested could overtake Rachaad White this coming season. If Tucker is on your open dynasty waiver wire, you know what to do. Also, pencil him in as your 15th round pick in your upcoming dynasty startup. He’s already shown flashes when given the chance.
Sean Tucker | Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck
Matthew also heard some 49ers buzz, including expectations of a fully healthy Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason being a trade candidate. Even after a very strong start to the season, Mason is seemingly a dynasty afterthought, falling to the RB58 in our latest ADP. He’s just 25 years old and would be the RB1 for many teams around the league.
QUICK HITS
Let’s wrap it up with a few other things Matthew heard during his time in Indianapolis…
- Don’t give up on Dalton Kincaid yet. He was evidently more hurt than most knew last season, which resulted in his poor numbers. He’s tumbled to the TE10 and is a great value there.
- There are concerns that Amari Cooper is simply done. Based on what we saw last season, that would not be a surprise. Unlike the other veteran wideouts discussed earlier, I am not buying low on one of my former faves.
- Denver will be drafting a running back. Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin are already in the dynasty dumpster, but what Matthew heard just solidifies that.
- Mark Andrews could be on the move. Ravens’ leadership almost spoke as if that was a done deal. Andrews should have a chance to regain his dynasty value regardless of where he lands.
- The Jags and Liam Coen are building around Brian Thomas, and could be saying good-bye to veterans Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. Brenton Strange is a worthy waiver-wire add in TE-premium leagues.
- The Colts’ leadership has shown no confidence in young quarterback Anthony Richardson. His dynasty value is already bottoming out, and they made it clear they would be adding some veteran competition. Uh oh!
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