The Rocker Step Dynasty League wasted absolutely no time turning the startup draft into a trade market. On January 9th-11th alone, 22 of the 60 picks in the first five rounds were traded, with managers aggressively reshaping their boards in real time. First-round quarterbacks moved, elite veterans slid into unexpected ranges, and future rookie capital was leveraged early and often.
Below is a full breakdown of every trade from January 9th, graded with the dynasty process in mind and paired with the actual players selected at each pick.
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Milwaukee Milkmen: A
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Minnesota Mooners: C+
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This deal really lives or dies on whether Jayden Daniels is viewed as a legitimate tier-break quarterback rather than just the next name in a crowded top-of-the-draft QB cluster. If Daniels truly separates himself from the rest of the class, then the aggressive move up can at least be justified on process. But even operating under that assumption, paying a future first to climb from Caleb to Jayden an extreme premium, especially in a dynasty landscape where liquidity and optionality often matter as much as landing the “right” player.
From Milwaukee’s side, the value calculus is much cleaner. They still walked away with a comparable quarterback bet in Caleb Williams (even though he was later traded to the Hogs) while tacking on a 2027 first, a move that quietly compounds long-term leverage. That extra first preserved flexibility for future trades, insulates against roster volatility, and gives Milwaukee multiple outs if Williams hits anywhere near expectation. When one side captures the same positional upside and future capital, it’s hard to argue otherwise—this is a clean value win for the Milkmen.
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Milwaukee Milkmen: B-
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Tidewater Ospreys: B+
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This trade is fundamentally a bet on asset insulation versus positional scarcity. From Tidewater’s side, the appeal is obvious: landing Jaxson Dart as a long-term quarterback swing while pairing him with Travis Etienne at 7.02 is strong draft economics. Etienne has already shown he can outproduce Bucky Irving on a per-game basis, and grabbing that level of RB production in the seventh round stabilizes weekly scoring without forcing later reaches. When paired with Drake Maye, Tidewater suddenly has two plausible long-term answers at the most difficult position to solve.
Milwaukee’s return is more abstract, but not without merit. Bucky Irving still carries theoretical upside if health ever cooperates, and Xavier Worthy offers spike-week utility in an offense that can create explosive plays. The real hinge, though, is the 2027 first, which restores optionality and preserves future leverage. That pick keeps Milwaukee flexible if their QB room stalls or if they need to pivot directions quickly. Still, given Etienne’s proven production and Dart’s positional value, Tidewater exits this deal with more immediate clarity and less risk.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: A-
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Hickory Hogs: B-
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This is one of the cleaner value extractions of the draft for Santa Barbara. Brock Bowers at 2.12 in a TEP format is exactly the kind of structural advantage dynasty managers should chase. With Trey McBride going nearly a full round earlier, Bowers falling to the turn represents a meaningful market inefficiency. Adding DeVonta Smith at 8.01, well past his typical range, compounds that value and gives Santa Barbara two insulated, long-term starters at premium positions.
Hickory’s side reflects a continued philosophy of future capital accumulation, but it comes with opportunity cost. Trevor Lawrence was later flipped, which softens the immediate blow, but the process still hinges on whether those future firsts convert into players of Bowers’ or Smith’s caliber. Woody Marks doesn’t meaningfully move the needle, and at 25, his dynasty runway is limited. This trade isn’t disastrous for Hickory, but it underscores the risk of prioritizing abstract value over concrete difference-makers.
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Phoenix Brewskis: A
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Hickory Hogs: B-
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For Phoenix, this was a decisive, roster-defining move. The logic is sound: Josh Allen may never be cheaper than this, and when a path opens to secure an elite, week-breaking quarterback without completely mortgaging the future, you take it. Phoenix effectively turned a package of picks into Allen and later parlayed the secondary pieces into Trevor Lawrence, fully stabilizing their QB room in one sequence. That kind of consolidation is how contenders separate themselves early.
Hickory again leans into pick volume, and while they did well to extract another 2027 first and later flip CeeDee Lamb for additional capital, there is a real diminishing-returns problem here. First-round picks are only as valuable as what they become, and you’re hoping they eventually turn into players like Allen or Lamb — the very players you’re trading away. The process isn’t wrong, but it carries compounding risk if even one of those future selections misses.
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Milwaukee Milkmen: A
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Hickory Hogs: C
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This is one of the clearest wins of the entire draft. Milwaukee walked away with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, securing two top-12 players at their respective positions without giving up elite cornerstone assets. Even if you believe in Caleb Williams long-term, the certainty gap between Caleb and Dak plus the positional dominance Lamb provides makes this trade lopsided in practice.
From Hickory’s perspective, it’s another bet on future picks and theoretical upside. Caleb Williams is a strong asset, but pairing him with Kyle Monangai doesn’t meaningfully balance the scale, and once again the return leans heavily on a 2027 first whose eventual value is unknowable. Milwaukee captured present-day dominance and long-term stability — exactly what dynasty managers should prioritize when the opportunity presents itself.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: B
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San Diego Puppies: B
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This trade is notable for how reasonable it is. San Diego gets their cornerstone quarterback in Lamar Jackson, a move that instantly clarifies roster direction and weekly ceiling. Pairing Lamar with even modest surrounding talent creates structural advantage in Superflex formats, and giving up Jalen Coker to do it is negligible in the short term.
Santa Barbara counters by acquiring Justin Jefferson at a slight discount coming off a quieter season, along with Derrick Henry, who remains a usable contributor despite his age. This is a classic win-now versus foundational QB swap, and both sides accomplished their goals without egregious overpayment. These are the kinds of trades that age fine because expectations were aligned from the start.
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Windy City Hellhounds: B-
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San Diego Puppies: B+
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At first glance, this deal looked expensive for Windy City — and in some ways, it was. De’Von Achane and Quinshon Judkins represent elite RB upside, and San Diego securing both in one transaction is a significant win. Achane’s efficiency profile alone can tilt matchups, and Judkins adds long-term insulation at the position.
That said, Windy City did well to land Trey McBride in a TEP format, where he profiles as a weekly difference-maker, and Jameson Williams at the 6/7 turn is excellent value given his ceiling. This trade ultimately comes down to roster construction: San Diego leaned into explosive RB production, while Windy City prioritized positional advantage at tight end. Slight edge to San Diego, but not by much.
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Tulsa Templars: B-
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Phoenix Brewskis: A
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Now that the dust has settled, this is a defensible price for Patrick Mahomes, but it still feels slightly incomplete for Tulsa. Mahomes is a weekly stabilizer and a dynasty luxury, but moving up three spots without recouping an additional mid-round pick leaves some value on the table. Even a 10th or 11th would have balanced the transaction more cleanly.
Phoenix executed this perfectly. Moving back three spots while picking up Saquon Barkley in the fifth is a no-brainer, and George Pickens provides long-term WR insulation. This is exactly how you should trade down in the middle rounds: extract real players, not just abstract value.
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Phoenix Brewskis: B+
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Miami Cigarritos: B
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This trade is subtle but effective. Phoenix secured Rashee Rice while only moving back one spot, and the addition of Jake Tonges in the 19th is a low-risk, situational upside play tied directly to George Kittle’s health. Rice’s volatility — both on and off the field — makes valuation tricky, but the talent is undeniable.
Miami’s return in Chase Brown is more straightforward. He’s not flashy, but reliable RB production is increasingly scarce, and Brown offers usable weeks without requiring projection gymnastics. This trade is less about upside and more about roster philosophy, which is why it grades evenly.
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Tulsa Templars: B+
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Phoenix Brewskis: C+
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Tulsa paid a fair, if uncomfortable, price for Rashee Rice. When Rice is on the field, he profiles as a potential fantasy dominator, but his off-field volatility caps his perceived market value. Still, securing that upside in the fourth round is defensible, especially for teams willing to absorb risk.
Phoenix extracting two first-round equivalents is strong process. Given Rice’s uncertainty, this is likely the correct exit point, and it restores long-term leverage without forcing Phoenix into uncomfortable lineup decisions. This is one of those trades that can look brilliant or disastrous depending on Rice’s trajectory — and that’s exactly why the price landed where it did.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: C+
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San Diego Puppies: B+
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Santa Barbara reached a bit for Jordan Love, betting on insulation and age rather than raw value. While Love is entering his prime and offers stability, the cost relative to market feels slightly inflated. The added rookie pick helps, but this was a proactive move rather than a value-driven one.
San Diego executed excellent process. By waiting, they landed Jared Goff several rounds later and picked up DK Metcalf plus an additional rookie pick. Even accounting for Goff’s age, this is a clear win in asset efficiency and roster flexibility.
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San Diego Puppies: C+
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Hickory Hogs: B+
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This is one of the stronger trades for Hickory. Brian Thomas Jr. at 5.01 may be the cheapest he’s ever available, and pairing him with DK Metcalf and Chris Godwin solidifies the WR room with both ceiling and floor. AJ Barner adds TEP depth at minimal cost.
San Diego took a volume approach, making multiple swings across positions. While Tyler Warren is a strong TEP bet, uncertainty at QB limits his short-term ceiling. This trade highlights the difference between accumulating shots and acquiring proven difference-makers — and Hickory clearly did the latter.
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Minnesota Mooners: A
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Phoenix Brewskis: B-
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In hindsight, this is a steal for Minnesota. Kenneth Walker reasserted himself as a true workhorse once Charbonnet went down, and grabbing him at 7.05 is excellent value. Adding Shedeur Sanders as a developmental QB further sweetens the deal.
Phoenix’s return hinges on Jordan Addison, whose off-field issues have created additional uncertainty. While Blake Corum is a fine depth piece, the gap between Walker and Addison feels much wider than five draft slots. Minnesota clearly capitalized on timing and market hesitation.
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Windy City Hellhounds: C+
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Tulsa Templars: B
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Windy City addressed a positional need by securing Sam Darnold, but the declining value of early second-round rookie picks dampens the return. This trade feels more reactive than opportunistic.
Tulsa did well to grab Michael Wilson and Jaylen Warren, both of whom offer legitimate flex utility. Given the steep drop-off in talent shortly after the ninth round, Tulsa’s timing was sharp and value-conscious.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: C+
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Compton Condors: B+
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This trade aged worse once the Charbonnet injury occurred, but even then, the inclusion of a 2027 first made the down-tier worthwhile for Santa Barbara. That pick later enabled further flexibility, which matters more than short-term perception.
Compton landing Justin Herbert is a major win. With Mike McDaniel entering the picture as OC, Herbert’s value spiked immediately. Even if Shough narrows the gap more than expected, Herbert remains a premium dynasty QB.
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Tulsa Templars: B
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Hickory Hogs: B-
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Tulsa slightly wins here by securing Javonte Williams and Rachaad White, two backs with legitimate starting roles in a murky RB landscape. Stability matters more than upside at this stage of the draft.
Hickory’s return in Michael Wilson and Terrence Ferguson is reasonable, especially given Wilson’s strong finish. This trade is balanced, but Tulsa’s RB certainty gives them the edge.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: A
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Hickory Hogs: C
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Santa Barbara crushed this deal. Securing DK Metcalf, a 2027 second, and effectively moving up the board is a textbook example of exploiting positional runs and market fear. Even if Benson was “their guy,” the price paid didn’t align with the board.
Hickory’s return is fine in isolation, but the opportunity cost is high. Trey Benson likely would have been available later, and while Mac Jones at 14.10 is strong value, it doesn’t offset the lost leverage of that 2027 2nd.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: B
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Miami Cigarritos: B
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This was essentially a pick reshuffle, and it’s graded accordingly. Attaching Juwan Johnson to move up four spots is close to even, and most of these pieces were later re-routed anyway. Clean, functional trade with no real winner.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: B+
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Hickory Hogs: B-
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This trade slightly favors Santa Barbara. Matthew Golden is roughly equal in value to the 1.10, and Isaac TeSlaa is a strong depth receiver buried behind quality options. Hickory did well grabbing Tahj Brooks late, but the aggregate value leans Santa Barbara.
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Tulsa Templars: A-
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Hickory Hogs: C-
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Tulsa executed this perfectly. Oronde Gadsden, Chris Godwin, and a rookie second all represent clean value at their respective points in the draft. Gadsden in particular stands out following the McDaniels hire.
Hickory’s return is speculative. Devin Neal has upside, but at that cost, there’s no guarantee of meaningful return. This trade could age better than expected, but Tulsa clearly won on certainty.
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Phoenix Brewskis: B
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San Diego Puppies: B
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As Phoenix put it at the time, this was a “lose-lose” deal — but realistically, it’s fair. Jakobi Meyers for a late second is exactly the market rate, and neither side overthought it.
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San Diego Puppies: C+
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Miami Cigarritos: A-
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This is a strong value capture for Miami. Jalen Coker projects as Carolina’s WR2, and getting him here is excellent process. San Diego’s return includes usable pieces, but Aaron Jones’ age and Huntley’s limited relevance cap the upside.
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Windy City Hellhounds: A-
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Hickory Hogs: B-
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Montgomery in the 14th is outstanding value, and Windy City also secured a future third. While Doubs was later flipped, this was strong asset management.
Hickory’s return is fine — Ayomanor and Jeudy are flexible WRs — but Windy City clearly captured more upside.
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Santa Barbara Conquerors: TBD
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Windy City Hellhounds: B+
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Windy City did extremely well here, landing Rhamondre Stevenson and a 2027 second, both of which retain liquidity and weekly utility. For Santa Barbara, this trade is impossible to fully grade until roles in Pittsburgh and San Francisco resolve. The upside exists, but so does real risk.
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Minnesota Mooners: B
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Hickory Hogs: B+
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This is a clean value pivot. Hickory secures Shedeur Sanders and Tahj Brooks, leaning into youth and insulation. Minnesota takes on volatility with Anthony Richardson, but if he hits, the payoff is enormous.
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Tidewater Ospreys: A-
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Hickory Hogs: B-
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Tidewater efficiently converts depth into Jaylin Noel, an ascending WR archetype. Hickory’s return is volume-heavy but lacks a true anchor. Slight win for Tidewater.
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Santa Barbara: B
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Miami Cigarritos: B
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A simple, clean tight end swap. Juwan Johnson consolidates value for Santa Barbara, while Miami adds volume. No complaints.
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Tulsa Templars: A-
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San Diego Puppies: B
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Tulsa adds Aaron Jones for immediate production while retaining rookie equity. San Diego pivots to future upside with Jonathan Brooks and Justin Fields. Balanced trade, with Tulsa favored short term.
The 2026 rookie class is starting to take shape, and the early signals matter for dynasty players willing to think a year ahead. This positional ranking focuses less on hype and more on how these prospects project to real NFL roles, usage, and long-term fantasy value.
The second round of the NBA Draft often gets overshadowed by the lottery and big trades, but this is where savvy front offices find value. The top is loaded with high-floor role players, project bigs, and overlooked international prospects who can outperform their draft slot.