Dynasty Trending Observations: Aaron Rodgers, JJ McCarthy and Diontae Johnson
The dog days of summer are here but there are still developments that could alter your dynasty plans this season. Below are a few of the latest examples of movement to monitor.
Mr. Rodgers New Neighborhood
Aaron Rodgers with his new WR1 pic.twitter.com/PKRmkQKoeN
— SteelerNation (@steelernation) June 9, 2025
After revamping the offense, from Russell Wilson and George Pickens to now Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, the Steelers are hoping the changes are enough to push them out of the NFL middle class. While they haven’t had a losing season in 21(!) seasons, they also haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. The loss of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the 2021 season has had a significant impact, as Pittsburgh has attempted to find a long-term solution at the position but has come up short. Rodgers is the latest in a string of options that Pittsburgh hopes will get them to a championship game of some kind.
For Rodgers, he’s hoping to show that he can still win. Statistically, Rodgers can still sling it, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns last season despite the dumpster fire known as the Jets finishing just 5-12. You can point to several reasons for that, including Rodgers to some degree. But the Steelers franchise being much more squared away and stable, much like the Packers, can only help Rodgers start winning again.
So what does this all mean for Rodgers’ dynasty value?
Dynasty Impact: When you compare the Steelers and Jets offenses from a year ago, they were both mediocre, with the Steelers finishing 19th in offensive DVOA to the Jets 21st. Both had playmakers and the Steelers, after the trade for DK Metcalf, ensured they would again. If we use last year as an example, Rodgers finished 15th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring. That’s not bad considering Rodgers was 41 and in the midst of a season-long losing campaign.
If anything is going to hold Rodgers back, it’s his new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Smith’s offenses are known more for running the ball than passing but they can also be efficient. In Tennessee, where Smith made his name as a coordinator, the Titans finished in the top ten in passing touchdowns and quarterback Ryan Tannehill finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in both seasons under Smith.
Using our DLF Trade Analyzer, Rodgers is currently worth between a late third-round rookie pick and an early fourth in superflex leagues.
At that price, even as a third quarterback, I’d pull the trigger. The season is unpredictable between performance, injuries, and just luck, and having some insurance at the most important position isn’t a bad idea.
McCarthyism
Over the past ~14 months, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy has compiled a bigger inventory of practice and reps than you might realize. Here's what he has shown us, or at least the people who have taken the time to watch him. https://t.co/Ym5gx7PfVA
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) June 17, 2025
While not technically a rookie, Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy will be viewed, and treated, as one this season. The tenth overall pick in last year’s draft, McCarthy suffered a knee injury that wiped out his entire rookie season. And despite the impressive season that veteran Sam Darnold had in his place, Minnesota let Darnold walk so they could stick with their plan of McCarthy at quarterback who will start his first professional game this year.
Coming out of college, McCarthy was one of the fastest risers in pre-draft rankings. He never had the throwing statistics that some others in his class did but was accurate and did win at Michigan, including the National Championship in 2023. Accomplishing what he wanted (and with sanctions looming), McCarthy left school and entered the draft, where the Vikings were so enamored with him that they moved up a spot in the first round just to make sure they got him.
He was set to start his rookie season before the knee injury only for Darnold to fill in and play at a Pro Bowl level. Can McCarthy do the same?
Dynasty Impact: Fantasy analysts have been salivating over McCarthy all off-season. Yes, he’s looked good without pads on but it’s more about the situation. He’s surrounded by talent including, at minimum, a top-two receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson. He’s also coached by a Sean McVay-disciple in Kevin O’Connell who managed to coach the veteran Darnold to a top-ten fantasy finish.
Using our DLF Trade Analyzer, McCarthy is currently valued as an early-to-mid first-round pick in superflex rookie drafts. That sounds right and, if you’re in the market for a quarterback, would be well worth it seeing as there is only one quarterback prospect (Cam Ward) who is even on the same level as the first-round quarterbacks of a season ago including McCarthy, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Box Nix and Michael Penix Jr. If the current McCarthy manager in your dynasty league is willing to give him up for that price, you should buy.
Blind Slot
Diontae Johnson seems to be the clear favorite to win the starting slot job in Cleveland.
Jeudy and Tillman are expected to start on the outside. Both had a much higher YPRR on the outside
The Browns only other slot WR options are
Jamari Thrash
David Bell
DeAndre Carter pic.twitter.com/aF5svUPgx2— Chris Wecht (@ChrisWechtFF) June 17, 2025
You deserve a medal if you’ve been a Diontae Johnson dynasty manager for his whole career. From a third-round pick to a 1,000-yard receiver to not being able to stick with three teams in 12 months, it’s been a roller coaster. His dynasty ADP has looked like an actual roller coaster.
At this moment, we’re at a low point. He signed for a little over a million dollars with Cleveland this off-season in the hopes of winning the slot receiver position. And while that isn’t the best setup for a good fantasy season, here is some hope. The Browns offense loves to pass, so much so that they ranked first in the league last year in pass attempts, averaging 38.9 per game. And while the quarterback position is still unsettled, it wasn’t last year either, with four different quarterbacks starting for the Browns, and the Browns still slung it around. So with all that said, can Johnson’s roller coaster of an ADP start rising again?
Dynasty Impact: The fact that the Browns may go young at quarterback is a good sign for Johnson’s fantasy prospects. The younger player may be more prone to throw it in the short-to-medium part of the field as opposed to the outside where Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman will be. It’s no different than in 2022 when Johnson saw 147 targets in Pittsburgh when rookie Kenny Pickett was under center.
The bigger question is if Johnson can stay on the field and not because of injuries. His behavior to close out the 2024 season contributed to his lack of suitors this off-season and forced him to take a non-guaranteed deal with the Browns.
But if he can still be on the roster when the season starts, he’s worthy of a flyer for your dynasty team. Using our DLF Trade Analyzer, he’d only cost a late-fourth-round or early fifth-round rookie pick. The players left at that point of a rookie draft may not make their roster. Johnson may not either but at least Johnson has experience as a starter and fantasy asset.
