The Hype Index - 05.19.25
Pat Bryant | WR | Denver Broncos | WR204 → WR78
Why he’s rising:
Bryant came out of nowhere—WR204 to WR78 is a jump worthy of Olympic qualifiers. A big-bodied, physical receiver with strong hands and decent tape, he’s the kind of post-draft riser that gets dynasty managers scrambling for YouTube highlights and tweeting things like “sleeper alert.”
Dynasty Impact:
There’s a lot to like on film—toughness, tracking, aggression—but let’s not ignore the reality: this hype balloon is already airborne. His situation in Denver offers a real shot at early snaps, but at what cost? I’ve seen him go for a 2026 1st+, and at that price, it’s less about projecting upside and more about flipping lottery tickets for payouts. You didn’t miss on talent—you just may have missed the bargain bin.
Action to Take:
💰 SELL THE SPIKE
The window to buy low has slammed shut. If you’re holding and truly believe, fine—ride it out. But if someone’s offering a future 1st, take the profit and walk away like a dynasty day trader. That’s smart money. There will be more Bryants.
Elijah Arroyo | TE | Seattle Seahawks | TE36 → TE23
Why he’s rising:
Arroyo was TE36 and functionally invisible just a few weeks ago. Then Seattle spent real draft capital—a 2nd-round pick—and suddenly, he's in the conversation. This isn’t just camp puff talk. Arroyo brings a WR-caliber route tree and enough juice after the catch to flip a short throw into a house call. That’s fantasy TE gold if it hits.
Dynasty Impact:
This is the rare mix of traits, opportunity, and affordability. He’s attainable in most leagues, which is wild considering the ceiling. Maybe it’s Seahawks fatigue. Maybe the market’s just slow to adjust. Sure, there’s some injury baggage—but if you’re shopping in this TE range, you’re already gambling. At least Arroyo comes with jackpot odds. Either way, Arroyo is a TE prospect with real difference-making upside—and you're only paying late TE2 prices to find out.
Action to Take:
📈 BUY THE HYPE
Rebuilders, this is your moment. Flip an aging vet to a contender or tier down from a fading name-brand TE and scoop Arroyo plus picks. It’s the perfect blend of upside and value. Don’t wait for the preseason breakout game—by then, the window's closed and you’re overpaying.
Sell Vets for Arroyo & 2nd rd pick
From a rebuilder’s perspective, this is a smart long-view play—flipping aging assets for a high-upside TE prospect and a future 2nd. If you believe in Arroyo’s athletic profile and want to reset your timeline, this is exactly the kind of value-shifting move you make before the vets completely fade.
Sell Stud for 1st + Arroyo
Moving off an aging George Kittle for a 1st-round pick and a high-upside dart like Arroyo is a savvy rebuild move. Otton is just filler here—this is about flipping short-term production for long-term growth potential.
Dylan Sampson | RB | Cleveland Browns | RB30 → RB41
Why he’s falling:
It’s been a wild ride for Sampson’s dynasty value. He climbed into the Top 5 of several pre-draft rookie RB rankings, fueled by fan hype and fun tape. Then the NFL reminded us who’s in charge. Cleveland drafted Judkins first—a bigger, better version. Sampson’s fall from RB30 to RB55 was swift and brutal. He’s recovered a bit, but the shine is definitely dulled.
Dynasty Impact:
The talent isn’t the problem—Sampson has instincts and starter traits. But the path to relevance is blocked by Judkins, and the offense doesn’t exactly scream “committee upside.” His best-case outcome now looks like a handcuff with juice or an injury-away stash. That can still hold value… but mostly to the right manager.
Action to Take:
🧠 SELL THE DIP
Look for the Judkins manager or anyone who still believes. I’d take a 2025 2nd in a heartbeat, but the real move is packaging Sampson in a larger trade to upgrade into a more secure profile. His value may recover a bit more, but I’m exiting while the market still remembers his name.
Shedeur Sanders | QB | Cleveland Browns | QB23 → QB32
Why he’s falling:
This was supposed to be a locked-in late 1st-round rookie pick. But instead of a glow-up, we got a full-blown slide. No Combine workout (trendy move, but still), mixed interview buzz, and then Draft Night… woof. Ward went 1st. Dart went in Round 1. Sanders? Sat through 143 picks before finally hearing his name called in Round 5. Suddenly, the first-round rookie QB is now going after Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson in dynasty startups.
Dynasty Impact:
His value is chaos. Some leagues have him moved for WR4s, others are tossing 2026 1st-round picks like confetti. I’ve seen upgrades to Dak for just a 2nd, and even 1-for-1 with Tyreek Hill. This isn’t a market—this is a roulette table. The belief is still there in some circles, but the reality is the NFL told us exactly how they feel. Contenders are licking their lips, trying to flip him for profit, while the true believers dig in and wait for his chance.
Action to Take
🎲 HOLD (or BUY Smart)
I’m not touching him in the 1st round of rookie drafts. That’s not conviction—that’s ignoring everything we just saw. Get your guy, sure, but know when you're making a gamble vs taking an unnecessary risk. If someone’s still buying the pre-draft dream, go ahead and cash out. The mistake isn’t drafting Shedeur—it’s expecting Round 1 ROI after a Round 5 reality check.
That said, value is in the eye of the trader—if we’re talking something like a Rashod Bateman straight-up? I’m taking Sanders every time.
Give me the falling QB with upside over the WR clinging to depth chart scraps. Bateman’s ship feels sailed, while Shedeur—despite the crash landing—still holds intrigue in 2QB formats.
This is a sharp contender move—Dak is a locked-in valuable fantasy QB and worth far more than a Round 5 rookie and a future 2nd. Sanders still has upside, but this is selling a reliable engine for a scratch-off ticket and some lunch money..
This is the type of deal that makes you blink twice—a future 1st and 2nd for a Round 5 NFL QB? Wild. If Sanders hits, you break even. If not, you just lit premium capital on fire. High-risk, Low reward
This is a pure timeline play—Tyreek helps you win a title today, Shedeur might not even see the field. If you're rebuilding, I can justify this move, but contenders should be all over the Tyreek side.
Anthony Richardson is a proven fantasy cheat code when healthy, with real top-5 QB upside baked in. The floor is injury risk, sure—but the ceiling is league-winner.
Shedeur Sanders? Pure projection. We haven’t seen him on an NFL field, and he fell to Round 5 for a reason. You're basically hoping for a Dak-like emergence against all odds.
