The Most Critical Part Of Dynasty is Happening Now. Wake Up and Trade!
Week ten is in the books. By now, you’re either a contender (7-10 wins), pretender (4-6 wins) or rebuilder (0-3 wins). Playoffs are just around the corner, and therefore so is the end of the trading season.
No matter the record of your team(s), you should be analyzing the roster at its current state and making moves accordingly. Each fantasy team should have a specific goal in mind, so with that being said, here are some options to consider as we move forward with the last few weeks of the season.
Contenders
Congratulations! Seven or more wins at this stage means you’ll finish the season with a winning record, and that also means the playoffs are well within your reach.
You might be sitting back and enjoying your roster as-is, but there are some things you should consider moving forward. How deep is your bench? How good are the other winning teams? How desperate are the worst teams in your league?
Unless you already have a deep bench, you should be looking to acquire some key players come playoff time. Here are a few players to consider for the playoffs:
Matthew Stafford, QB DET
He’s currently injured so he should be cheaper. Since Kerryon Johnson went down with an injury, Stafford has had 32, 26, and 28 fantasy points. He might not play next week, and a team with a middling or struggling record may be looking to unload to make a playoff run. His playoff schedule is delicious.
Any QB Over 37
I’m not going to list them all, but there are a ton of players who fit the mold here. If you already have decent QB depth you can skip this. But if you don’t have reliable QBs beyond your starter, you need to adjust now before it’s too late. These old guys will be reliable and affordable.
Damien Williams, RB KCC
You’re not going to hear me say this very often, but go out and get him. He’s returned as the feature back on a high-powered offense. He’ll have virtually no value after this season, so any team with him should be looking to unload. He’s also on bye week 12, which only reduces his value even more. Offer up a third and fourth and you just might get this guy.
Any Reliable and Cheap RB Handcuff
Do you own Devin Singletary? Then go get Frank Gore. Do you have Chris Carson? Go get Rashaad Penny. For most running backs, there is a cheap handcuff who goes with them. Better start acquiring now before it’s too late. Many of these guys can be had for very late picks.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR SF
Sanders got hurt in the Monday Night game vs Seattle. Not only may he miss some time, but he’s also on the wrong side of 30. Any fantasy team with six or fewer wins should be looking to sell. If that’s the case, this guy can be had for pennies on the dollar.
Julian Edelman, WR NE
He might be harder to acquire in PPR leagues, but he’s 33 going on 34 years old. Mention that in your offer comments.
Golden Tate, WR NYG
He has managed above-average numbers thus far, and plays mostly bad pass defenses for the remainder of his games. He’s 31 and won’t be valued highly by any bad fantasy team.
AJ Green, WR CIN
This might come at more than what you are willing to pay, but a team who’s been disappointed with Green all year long may decide that enough is enough and it’s time to rebuild. It might cost you a second rounder to acquire him, but he’s an instant starter when on the field.
Jared Cook, TE NO
He’s about as old as any TE out there and he hasn’t put up good numbers all year long. However, he’s also only played with Drew Brees in a handful of games, and has done well in the process. A low-ball offer now could be fruitful for you in the next few weeks.
Pretenders
You’re in the most-dangerous of situations. If you have a middling record and mortgage your future to make the playoffs and fail, you might set your team back a few years. If you don’t make a push for it and miss the playoffs by just a few points, you’ll be kicking yourself for not making any moves. If you don’t do anything at all, you’ll repeat as a middling team next season.
I would look at a few key elements before deciding what to do:
— How many points has your team scored vs the rest of the league?
— What are the caliber of teams you are about to face?
— Can you afford to lose once and still be OK?
If the answers to all of the above are favorable, then you should consider making some moves and trading for talent before it’s too late. If these answers are not in your favor, then you should be selling off old and unreliable talent while several teams out there are still willing to buy.
If you “stay the course”, then you can expect to finish with a 0.500 record this season, not be bad enough to get a good draft pick, not good enough to make the playoffs, and find yourself in this same situation next season. Don’t fall asleep! Make a move one way or another, or doom yourself to repeat it.
A middling team won’t want to acquire depth, but rather find upgrades to players that are already on your roster. Players mentioned below will have to be acquired by trading away talent in return. Examples will be given to help assist you in your quest for the playoffs, if you so choose such a path.
Russell Wilson, QB SEA
He’s still a great player and has several more seasons left in him, but to a bad team he’s just taking up value. If you have Gardner Minshew, you can offer him and a future third and fourth for Wilson. A bad team might like someone to build around that simultaneously doesn’t hurt their draft stock.
Nick Foles, QB JAC
This is a little bit of a risk, but if the Jaguars can make Minshew look amazing, perhaps is the same with Foles. He could also be had on the cheap since most people would be scared of Minshew.
Need RB upgrades? Making an offer to a rebuilding team? Try offering some young pieces they can build around who won’t help you in your quest to win this year. Darrell Henderson, Ronald Jones, Derrius Guice, and Kerryon Johnson would all be good candidates to trade away for the following players:
Tevin Coleman, RB SF, Chris Carson, RB SEA, and Aaron Jones, RB GB
Not elite players, but effective ones on a high-powered offense. Each of these guys will see several touchdowns in their future.
Melvin Gordon, RB LAC
Probably won’t be returning to the Chargers next year, but has a chip on his shoulder for the remainder of the season. He’ll be fighting for a contract so expect him to put his best effort from here on out.
Julio Jones, WR ATL
It’s possible that a bad team will have Jones on their roster and not know what to do with him. It’s going to take a decent offer to get him. Something like Deebo Samuel and a second rounder should get the conversation going.
REBUILDERS
If things went as planned, then even though you’re sitting near the bottom of the standings in your league, you’ve already prepared for this and you’re going to roll into the off-season with a plethora of draft picks.
Or, maybe things didn’t go as planned and now you find yourself in a vulnerable situation. If this is the case, read up and look at all the players you should be selling. Add to the list anyone who is 33 or older at QB, 28 or older at WR, 27 or older at RB, and 29 or older at TE.
In addition to acquiring draft picks for the upcoming 2020 season, you should also be checking to acquire young talent who hasn’t yet made a mark in the NFL. These guys won’t jeopardize your draft position, yet should help you next season and beyond:
Gardner Minshew, QB JAC
He will be riding the pine the remainder of the season. He’s of no use to any playoff team, but he’d be a huge asset to any rebuilding team. If you have an older QB you can offer up in trade, do it now.
Derrius Guice, RB WAS and Kerryon Johnson, RB DET
Both players are on injured reserve and mostly forgotten about. They are nothing more than a poker chip to any aspiring playoff team at this point. Use this to your advantage if you have a startable RB wasting away on your bench.
N’Keal Harry, WR NE
He hasn’t played yet this year, but is expected to make an appearance sometime soon. If you can grab him before he sees the field, you could come out on top.
DaeSean Hamilton, WR DEN
Sanders going to the 49ers opened up the door for Courtland Sutton, but it also gave way to Hamilton, the WR2 on the Broncos. He hasn’t had much of a chance to make a splash yet, and might not until next year due to the quarterback issues in Denver. Getting him now could be a big boost to your team next year.
Parris Campbell, WR IND
He has a ton of upside, but any desperate playoff team might be forced to trade him away in exchange for your aging stud.
Will Dissly, TE SEA
He’s on IR for the year, so that won’t hurt your draft stock. He’s been hurt his first two seasons in the league so there’s some risk, but his value will also increase when next season approaches, and that’s the kind of player you want to acquire anyway. Do it if you can.
*****
Whatever kind of team you have right now, this is the crucial moment in the year to make a move. You must decide what type of team you have and make a move accordingly. Do not sit back and wait for the playoffs or the off-season to come to you. Get a head-start on it now and be ahead of the rest of the league.
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