Fantasy Football: 10 Young Stars to Target in Dynasty Leagues

When drafting up your Fantasy Football draft strategy each year, you usually are most concerned with what big name players you can snag in the first four rounds.

Will I land a top five quarterback? Do I go running back with my first round pick? Will this pick have trade value later down the road?

All of these are common questions come draft day.

However, for those who partake in dynasty leagues, a draft day agenda may look a little different.

Late round picks, young talent and intricate and detailed trades become the most important pieces to a string of successful seasons.

It takes a true fantasy guru to maintain competitiveness in dynasty leagues for many years.

Here's a list of 10 young studs that dynasty competitors should target via draft, free agency or trade in the upcoming year.

Mike Williams, Tampa Bay

Buccaneers' wide receiver Mike Williams broke onto the scene last year in Tampa hauling an impressive 11 touchdowns, good for fourth in the entire NFL.

Pretty impressive for a guy drafted 101st overall in the 2010 Draft.

With the constant evolution of Tampa Bay's passing offense and the increasing maturation of Josh Freeman, Mike Williams is one of the most promising receivers in the NFL

It's his touchdown production and impressive YPC average (14.8) that makes Williams such a hot commodity in fantasy leagues this season.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans

The Saints took Alabama running back Mark Ingram with the 28th overall pick in this past year's draft, and with that immediately signaled the end of the Reggie Bush experiment in the Big Easy.

Ingram is a bruiser with goal line touchdowns written all over him, and with the consistent injury questions that circle over Pierre Thomas, it makes Mark look even more appealing.

I'm not sure if you saw his touchdown run in his first preseason game against the 49ers, but if you haven't, I suggest you check it out. It was pretty.

Even if he ends up riding your bench this year, and maybe even next, it's only a matter of time before he's going to overtake Maurice Jones-Drew and Frank Gore on your starting squad.

Ryan Mathews, San Diego

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews was one of last year's premier backs to watch out for.

Unfortunately, he got injured early in the 2010 season and back-up Mike Tolbert filled in quite nicely. This may come as a scare for some fantasy owners in regards to Mathews touchdown production, but there's no doubt that the upside of Mathews far exceeds the talent level of Mike Tolbert.

I mean just look at what Mathews did in the Chargers final two games last year.

44 touches, 222 yards and four touchdowns.

Those numbers is what should be the concern for owners, not Mike Tolbert.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati

A.J. Green was easily my favorite player taken in this past year's NFL Draft.

His talent level and upside is probably what also caused him to be taken number one overall in my dynasty league's short rookie/free Agent Draft.

Like Ingram and most other rookies, Green probably won't get the nod on your starting roster due to the fact that he's not proven. However, I don't foresee it taking more than seven games for that thought to change.

His physical presence and pure athletic ability make him the most talented player for his age, and in no way shape or form should you pass up on this kid in your draft.

Especially if you're a dynasty league.

Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

Hakeem Nicks and Eli Manning formed a real scoring chemistry a season ago and even more so after Steve Smith went down with injury.

Well, now Steve Smith is gone and Nicks is still only 23 years old. I don't know what spells dynasty stud more than that.

As a second year man, Nicks hauled in 79 balls for 1,050 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Those numbers are only going to improve. Every single year.

At such a young age with such a daunting physical presence, Hakeem Nicks should be one of the most sought after wide receivers in leagues this season.

Even if you have to go after him via trade.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay

I'm not going to lie; I was an avid Josh Freeman hater when the Bucs drafted him three years ago.

Now, it's a different story.

I mean, 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns with only six interceptions to a slew of rookie receivers and a mediocre tight end is just mind-blowing to me.

Well, that blowing of the mind is exactly why I have Josh Freeman on this list.

It might take a bit of justifying to have him starting this year on your team, especially if you only start one quarterback, but the potential for years to come is infinite.

C'mon and think about it, a QB of Freeman's caliber coming in to replace an injury to Tony Romo or Peyton Manning. Wow.

It's like the old ESPN commercials used to say: "T.J. Whoseyourmomma, Championship".

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City

I'm going to go ahead and say one thing:

If I have the first overall pick in any fantasy draft, I'm using it on one of two players. Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles.

Yes, over Foster and Chris Johnson, and even more so in a dynasty league.

Charles is a freak of nature, running for over 1,400 yards a year ago at only 24 years old.

Like I stated earlier, Charles is inevitably going to be a top four pick in your league this year, so unless you're so lucky to have one of them, you're going to have to target him through a trade.

Unfortunately for you, that trade might cost you a pretty penny.

He's worth it, though.

Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit

Lions' tight end Brandon Pettigrew is physical freak: 6' 5'' 265 lbs to be exact.

He's in only his third year in the league and it's already clear that he's Matthew Stafford's (or whoever is playing QB in Detroit) second favorite target, outside of Megatron.

His numbers show this, too.

A year ago, Pettigrew snagged 71 catches which was good for third best among tight ends and better than Vernon Davis and Antonio Gates.

He only has room to grow and his touchdown production should increase as the Lions continue to work with him in the red zone and leave the down the field work to Tony Scheffler.

There is definitely no doubt though that Brandon Pettigrew is the best young player at his position, making him a perfect fit for your dynasty squad.

DeShaun Jackson, Philadelphia

DeSean Jackson may be the fastest player in the NFL, making him easily the most dangerous deep threat and punt returner in the NFL.

What's scarier is that he's only 24 years old.

With Mike Vick and his cannon for an arm at the helm for hopefully the next three or so years, Jackson's production is going to be insane.

If your league counts total touchdowns for receivers, Jackson may be one of the hottest commodities because he's arguably the most dangerous return man in football.

Either way, the upside of DeSean Jackson makes him one of the best candidates at receiver for keeper and dynasty leagues.

Julio Jones, Atlanta

Just like I claimed with Mark Ingram, if you didn't catch Julio Jones in his preseason opener against Miami, you should.

He flat out stood out on the screen and the more promising fact is the way that Atlanta was using him in the offense.

They threw to him down the field, underneath and even ran reverses for him, which has to be a fantasy player's dream.

If trading their entire draft away for him wasn't sign enough that he'll be a staple in the offense, playing alongside of All-Pro Roddy White only bodes well for Jones, too.

With White getting most of the attention of the defense, Jones speed and strength should get him open enough to warrant a lot of looks from Matty Ice.

If not this year, like most rookies, it's only a matter of time before Julio is a mainstay on your roster.