Dynasty Detour 🚧

Strap in. We’ve got @dynastydetourjesse quoting Draft Day, Shedeur Sanders confusing highways with highlight reels, and one dynasty take on Luther Burden that may get us banned from Chicago. From potholes to portal-worthy trade targets, this week’s Detour is jammed with spicy WR takes and deep league landmines — let’s ride.

-- @dynastydetourtom

📝 Traffic Report

Malachi Corley “No Matter What”? Plus a bonus traffic violation heard ‘round  the league.

Rich Cimini of ESPN is reporting that before WR Malachi Corley drafted with the first pick of the 3rd round last year, ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh texted their GM a photo of Corley with the caption “No Matter What.” For those that don’t know, this is a reference to Draft Day (2014 gem of a motion picture) where Kevin Costner played a GM who wrote a similar pre-draft note to himself on a player he truly believed in.

Fast forward a year+ and we have a bit of a different picture. Let’s look at the 2024 Corley experience:

• Receiving: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards, 0 TDs |  Rushing: 2 carries, 26 yards, 0 TDs

Oh yeah and let's not forget… one fumble…on the 1 yard line…completely unforced. 

Yup – bad season. But can Corley come back from the depths to be fantasy football (and football) relevant? Let’s look at the Jets pass catchers:

• Garrett Wilson | 1,104 yds, 7 TDS in the Jets 2024

  • Undisputed WR 1

And then a bunch of other guys (in order my estimate of relevance):

• Mason Taylor | 546 yds, 2 TDS for LSU in 2024

  • Criminally misused in college, 10th pick of the 2nd round

• Josh Reynolds | 194 yds, 1 TD for Den and Jax in 2024

  • Off year last year, following his 600+ yd season for Detroit in 2023

• Allen Lazard | 530 yds, 6 TDs for the Jets in 2024

  • Could be kinda relevant, but hard to know given losing his guy Rodgers

• Arian Smith | 817 yds, 4 TDS for Georgia in 2024

  • Flashing in camp, but potential issues with hands, 8th pick of the 4th round

Plus former Ram Tyler Johnson and Hard Knocks favorite Xavier Gipson. 

So where does all this leave Corley? Here’s what he has going for him:

• New QB and Coach in NY, giving Corley a blank slate

• As you can see from the above names, the role of secondary pass catcher for the Jets is wide open

• Corley is known as the “YAC King”

  • At Western Kentucky, from 2021-2023 he gained 2,068 Yards After Contact, 400 more yards than the next-closest player in FBS

It’s also worth noting that Corley has been injured throughout OTAs and Mini-Camp, which is certainly not ideal. 

The Bottom Line:

The Jets receiving room will be interesting. For owners of Garrett Wilson, I’d expect a HUGE season. Beyond him– it’s anyone’s bet. If Corley (66% owned on Sleeper) or Smith (48% owned) are on your waivers, I’d take a shot on one of them. Priority Corley. SOMEBODY has to step up. Why not the YAC King?

🚨 TRAFFIC VIOLATION - Shadeur Sanders caught speeding…twice.

Things are not looking good off the field for Shedeur, who, as you probably heard, was cited Tuesday for speeding 101 MPH. This was not the first time this happened… in the last month. 

When you are a player who went from a potential top 5 pick to fighting for a spot in the league (presumably partially because of attitude issues), any off the field drama can be killer. I don’t think this has any fantasy impact. But keep an eye on Shedeur– he needs to lock in both on the field and off. Otherwise he’ll be in the fast lane to an early departure from Pro-Football. 

-- @dynastydetourjesse

🚙 Pothole Patrol

Looking at a few players’ road ahead for bumps in the road

📄 Terry McLaurin - Potential Holdout Amidst Contract Negotiations

This isn’t a pothole, it’s a pebble. The Commanders are currently set to opt into the final year of McLaurin’s contract to the tune of $25.5 million dollars. The soon-to-be 30 year old is reportedly looking for some longer term security as well as a pay raise to put him in the neighborhood of $30+ million a year. There have been rumbles of a potential hold-out, even exploring trades, and it’s all bullshit. Terry has simply given too much to this club and is coming off a career year as the undisputed number one option for new franchise cornerstone Jayden Daniels. The Commanders have too much cap space and too big of a need at WR to let Terry not be apart of their campaign to improve upon their best season since 1991. He will get an extension with plenty of time to spare, and should have just as much success as last year. He would be a great add for any contender for the next year or two if your league mates are dumb enough to let this scare them off.

❔ D.K. Metcalf - Quarterback Uncertainty Long Term

Aaron Rodgers ended the drama circling him that we’ve come to expect from him just about every offseason and signed on with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is obviously better in the short term for Metcalf, who was staring down the barrel of a season bouncing between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard at quarterback, but if you want to stay ahead in this game you have to look further than that. Rodgers has a really good chance at being the oldest player in the league this season, and he has alluded to the possibility of retirement already. He could very well call it a career after this year leaving Metcalf and the Steelers looking at their 5th round quarterback in Howard, or making an addition in the offseason. With their pick likely outside the top 10 and a rather stable quarterback environment around the league, the Steelers could very well be shit out of luck trying to find any established veteran or high potential rookie signal caller. With the way Metcalf’s game hinges on deep routes (5 straight years of being top 12 in deep targets), he is less quarterback proof than your average wide receiver. As it stands, I have him as a low upside WR2 for this year. This is a pothole I am steering clear of before his value starts to really fall.

🧳 Breece Hall - Potential Trade Candidate

It’s no secret that the Jets are going to struggle to contend this year, and with their former second round pick in Hall due for a payday, people around the league are wisely wondering whether investing capital in retaining a running back is the best use of the franchise’s resources, especially with the flashes shown out of Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis last year. The Jets have had some trouble sticking to a story this offseason as far as their vision for the backfield. It feels like every other day a new coach or front office member is quoted saying something different, be it “Breece is going to be a bellcow” or “You’re going to see a lot more of Braelon Allen this year”. Irregardless, the fact of the matter is there is certainly some sense in getting some return on Breece while the team continues to build. Hall has been good in New York, but he is not a must keep for the team, and it’s quite possible he opts to leave in free agency anyway if a contract isn’t agreed to anyway. As for us dynasty players, this bodes really well. Teams like the Chiefs and Bears have already been identified as possible suitors for Hall, and I think it goes without saying that his big play and scoring opportunities go way up if he were to end up in either situation. He also avoids the threat of Justin Fields’ mobility putting a considerable dent in Hall’s goal line work and receiving totals. Uncertainty can be scary as an owner, but I think Hall’s perceived value makes him a hold for as long as he is on the Jets and will shoot way up in the instance he suits up for another team some time this year or next. What we have here is not a pothole, but a portal to much more open roads.

 -- @dynastydetourryan

🚘 Parking Spot Prospect: Luther Burden III

Loads of talent — but does he have what it takes to navigate through the traffic in Chicago?

Chicago used a second-round pick (No. 39 overall) on Luther Burden III, a Missouri product known for his elite physical traits and versatility 

• Physical Profile: 5’11″, 206 lb, ran a 4.41‑ish 40‑yard dash at the combine .
  

• College Production: Following a standout 2023 (86 rec, 1,212 yds, 9 TDs), Burden regressed in 2024, finishing with only 61 receptions for 676 yards — his junior-year totals actually trailed Missouri teammate Theo Wease Jr. (884 yards)
  

Upside: Burden checks all athlete boxes — speed, agility, YAC ability, slot versatility.

⚠️Red Flags: Inconsistent production in Year 3 and limited traditional route refinement. His best yards came off screens, which don't always translate at the NFL level .

There are 152 vacated targets and over 1,300 yards up for grabs in Chicago with the departure of Keenan Allen (and some other bums). That sounds like a great opportunity — until you realize who else is in the room:

• D.J. Moore: Still the WR1. A proven veteran coming off a 1,300-yard season, with built-in chemistry and a fat contract.
  

• Rome Odunze: 2024 first-round pick and an alpha in waiting. If anyone eats like a WR1 in a few years, it’s Odunze.
  

• Colston Loveland: Top-10 draft capital at tight end. The Bears didn’t draft him that high to block. He’ll command serious volume from the jump — especially in the red zone.
  

Then you’ve still got:

• Cole Kmet: 90 targets in 2024. He’ll be demoted to a TE2 role, but he’s not going away..
  

• D’Andre Swift: Added 42 receptions on 52 targets. Will continue to soak up checkdowns and screens.
  

🟠 Burden’s Role? He’s likely WR3/slot-only early, with unclear red zone usage and a volatile target floor. The volume is there — just not for everyone. And he’s not the most talented pass-catcher they added this year.

The Bears' offense is in transition — young quarterback, elite draft capital invested in weapons, and a coaching staff clearly committed to building through the air.

• Offensive Identity: Chicago is building out a modern, pass-leaning attack under new offensive leadership. Ben Johnson, the new HC, has a track record for creating unique ways to get players involved, so he must be excited to have his hands on an athlete of Burden’s type. Johnson’s prolific Lions offense allowed for 2 fantasy starting WRs (Amon Ra WR3, Jameson WR 22) and a top TE (LaPorta TE8).
  

• Scheme Fit: Burden’s game fits best in manufactured touches and slot mismatches — bubble screens, drags, YAC work. He’s not yet a refined route technician, which could limit early volume in a timing-based system.
  

• Depth Chart Dynamics: The Bears might spread it out more in 3WR sets, but there’s a real chance Burden starts off behind Moore, Odunze, and Loveland in target priority.
  

🧠 Reality Check: He has the juice, but not the clear path. His early usage depends on formation diversity and how quickly he earns trust — because he’s not walking into targets on talent alone.

🔜 Short Term (2025)

Burden enters Year 1 with athleticism and draft capital, but he's buried in what might be the deepest young pass-catching group in the NFL. His most likely role is as a WR3/slot specialist, with limited red-zone usage and volatile weekly production. He’ll have boom-bust games tied to screen volume and defensive matchups, but don’t expect consistent targets unless there’s an injury.

In dynasty terms? He's a bench stash in Year 1 — best suited for rebuilding teams that can wait for development. Starting him early will take guts (or desperation).

⌛ Long Term (2026 & Beyond)

To hit, Burden needs at least one of the following:

• An expanded route tree and improved consistency as a separator
  

• A major shakeup in the pecking order (Moore trade, Odunze bust, etc.)
  

• Chicago to evolve into a top-5 passing offense that can support three fantasy-relevant pass-catchers
  

We’ve seen slot-dominant WRs like Amon-Ra St. Brown thrive, but Burden hasn’t shown the same polish or feel yet. His ceiling is likely WR2 in PPR formats if everything clicks — more often, you’re looking at a flex-level WR3 who shines during injury stints or favorable matchups.

🛠️ Dynasty Strategy:

• Rebuilders can scoop him late in rookie drafts as a value hold.
  

• Contenders should avoid overpaying — the production window may not open for a while.
  

• If Burden flashes early, sell the hype before target competition reasserts itself.

📝 FINAL GRADE: My 19th rated rookie, behind Kyle Williams 👀. Keep away in the early second, but if he falls to the backend I’m okay with grabbing him – but be prepared to wait a couple seasons for a breakout (if we get one).

 -- @dynastydetourtom

Hope you didn’t read this at 101 MPH. Shedeur Sanders might have, and if his fantasy stock keeps trending the same direction as his driving record, we might need to call a tow truck. Stay tuned for another Preseason Pulse newsletter this time next week, and be sure to follow us @dynastydetour on Instagram and X/Twitter to get our reactions and opinions in between issues, as well as email us with any questions at [email protected]. See you out on the road 🚘️.