Vox Talks: Trade Targets for Contenders
Welcome back to another edition of Vox Talks; the series that peels back the curtain on the private DLF writer Voxer chat.
It’s one of the best times of the year. Both pro and college football are in full swing, fantasy teams are taking shape, and baseball is almost over (don’t @ me). Next time you read this series, the 2017 fantasy football season will be at the halfway point. By that time you should have already decided if your squad is a contender that will be vying for a playoff spot or if it doesn’t have the juice to get there this season. I personally like to wait until week six to make the ultimate decision as to whether I’ll be looking to buy productive veterans for a run or seeking to sell off pieces to set myself up for future success.
Waiting as long as possible to throw in the towel on a season is generally my modus operandi because I’m stubborn and hate to lose. I don’t like to admit that my team is no longer competing for the title and will scratch and claw my way through a 2-3 or even 1-4 start because I’ve won championships from that position. Sometimes your team is scoring well in the top half of the league but you are just playing an unlucky early schedule. The absolute worst weeks for me are when I am the second highest scoring team of the week but played the number one scoring team. But I digress… The most important part of any stubborn owner’s toolkit when pushing for the playoffs is the ability to identify high quality and/or consistent veteran production for the lowest price possible.
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One of my favorite targets right now is Doug Martin. The Tampa Bay running back returned in week five and put up 82 yards and a touchdown on 14 touches. Martin is currently being drafted as RB26 and the 75th player off the board overall. I suspect in the November mock drafts he will be going as a mid to high RB2 rather than the high RB3 he is currently being selected as. Two seasons ago he produced 1,673 total yards and seven touchdowns but has been discounted due to age, an injury plagued 2016 season, and the three-game suspension he served at the beginning of the 2017 season. Don’t let those things sway you from adding a potential league winning running back for the price of a late first/early second round rookie pick. I’d start by offering my second and negotiating from there.
Before we get to the guys our writers are targeting, I’ll throw out one more of my trade targets. On a team that needs an every week starter at wide receiver I’d be buying Chris Hogan for a price similar to Doug Martin; right in that late first / early second range. On a points per game basis, Hogan is currently WR9 in ppr leagues through five weeks; that’s nine spots and 2.52 points per game more than the much more expensive receiver playing across from him in New England.
Here are the guys that our writers are looking to buy for their championship run.
LeSean McCoy. Aging bellcow on a bye. Touchdowns will come in bunches after being skunked through five weeks. Buffalo’s remaining schedule consists entirely of cupcake defenses (sans KC in wk12). (Matt’s thoughts: Shady will likely cost you a mid first round pick).
Larry Fitzgerald is the perfect buy for a contending dynasty team looking for rest of season production. At the ripe age of 34, he is still killing it coming in at fourth in wide receiver targets and WR8 in PPR scoring. I’d imagine you could get him for a 2018 second or third if the owner is in rebuild mode. He could be a high-end WR2 for your championship run. You should at least be in discussions with the Fitzgerald owner in your leagues.
Jordy Nelson still carries a higher price than some vets but his production is something that I’m willing to pay up for on a contender. Owner prices are certainly variable but if he’s on a failing Squad, I’m offering some youth. (Matt’s thoughts: I think it would take a pick somewhere in the 1.1-1.09 range to land Nelson despite his age, but he’ll likely be useful in 2018 as well)
Mine is Pierre Garçon. The sheer volume he’s going to receive is enough to get him in my ppr lineups. He’s eighth in the league in targets and 11th in receptions through week five. (Matt’s thoughts: You should be able to get Garcon for an early-mid second from a team looking to move older players)
Danny Amendola. Because I’m a glutton for punishment, and he’s the 33c store version of Chris Hogan. (Matt’s thoughts: an early third should get this done)
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Creator and Co-host of Dynasty Game night, the fantasy football game show.
Creator and host of the Zookeeper Stories podcast.
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