Tuesday Transactions: Week Nine
We are officially halfway through the fantasy season. What a crazy season it has been to date. Paths are starting to emerge for many dynasty teams and after a weekend of many low scores, sniped touchdowns and more injuries, the road to a title or the punt toward next year is becoming more and more clear. Regardless of the direction you head, here are five transactions to consider for week nine.
Tom Brady, QB TB – Buy
Never again did I think I would be here – considering the purchase of a 43-year old player on a new team, for anything close to what the market price might be. Alas, I am here. The mid-tier quarterback landscape has eroded considering the injury to Jimmy Garoppolo, woeful performances by Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, and many others in this range.
Finding a reliable second (or third) quarterback for the stretch could be huge. Adding Antonio Brown to the mix, getting Chris Godwin back from injury and a Rob Gronkowski in mid-season form puts Brady in a spot with many weekly weapons and a very favorable schedule. Instead of guessing who he will be throwing to, invest in the passer and push for a title.
The Move – I would pay a late first-round pick in a 12-team superflex league. Another idea would be to move another QB2 (Garoppolo, Sam Darnold, Teddy Bridgewater) with a questionable future in a deal to acquire Brady. Any team out of the playoffs will be motivated to move Brady and I want to add a few more shares for the home stretch.
Marvin Jones, WR DET – Sell
After struggling mightily to begin the season, Jones has rattled off back-to-back games of 13 and 18.9 PPR points. With Kenny Golladay sidelined for up to a month, the sell window for Jones may have opened slightly. Given how volatile the wide receiver position is, dealing Jones away seems like a bad move given points are so valuable, but consider that what we saw in the first six weeks of the season might just be the eventual landing point for the former Bengal.
Jones will be 31 years old in March and will have zero off-season market value. Take advantage of the back-to-back solid performances and the narrative that he should be a nice start with Golladay out.
The Move – Immediately shop Jones in your league chat or trade bait if you are out of it. I would accept a third-round pick plus an upside player in a 12-team superflex league and any second-round pick is an easy smash. As a contender, consider pivoting off Jones for another WR with less opportunity but higher upside. James Washington, Allen Lazard, and Anthony Miller all come to mind.
Phillip Lindsay, RB DEN – Buy
This is one that has intrigued me for a few weeks and then the news about Melvin Gordon being arrested popped up. The price to purchase Lindsay, at that moment, was too high. One week later, Lindsay suffers a concussion in a game without Gordon and ends up missing out on a huge game in lineups.
Unfortunately, the contract favors Gordon, and it is crystal clear Lindsay is not an option in the receiving game. Like Ronald Jones, he is a fantastic early-down runner but would need a fresh start to realize his true potential. With only four targets in four games this year, I am not buying Lindsay to help me this year. This makes it a risky purchase considering his lack of pedigree. The good news? Lindsay is a free agent after this season and has already been at odds with Denver on an extension.
The Move – The logistics of a Lindsay deal are difficult and will take some conviction. As a pretender, consider moving a more projectable runner like James Robinson or Myles Gaskin for Lindsay and his value in draft picks (second-round pick in superflex). As a contender, I would consider paying a future second-round pick. A premium should be placed on Lindsay in point-per-carry or big-play leagues.
Trey Burton, TE IND – Sell
This one seems obvious. However, given how decimated and inconsistent the position has been this season, the market should open-up for a former top-ten dynasty tight end. Looking closer, Burton has only drawn 20 targets in five games and is stuck in a trio committee on his own team. He saw 39 snaps on Sunday, but Jack Doyle (45) and Mo-Alie Cox (32) create a near dead-even platoon.
Burton has also scored two rushing touchdowns which have accounted for nearly 30 percent of his fantasy points. Considering how bad the Colts passing offense has been, the return of Michael Pittman and potential return of Parris Campbell, the production for the Philly Special cohort is not sustainable.
The Move – Target the George Kittle owner regardless of if you are contending. Burton is a player to shop no matter if you are using him or not, and if you are able to secure a tight end back in a deal who owners are ready to give up on (Chris Herndon, Ian Thomas, Dawson Knox), make the deal. In a superflex, tight-end premium league, any of those players plus a third-round pick would be the price.
Auden Tate, WR CIN – Add
The situation turned for a positive with Tate in week eight as he passed Mike Thomas on the depth chart and caught all seven of his targets for 65 yards. Joe Burrow looked for Tate on two critical third-down conversions and with an AJ Green trade still not out of the question, check your waiver wire for Tate now.
The Bengals are on a bye in week nine but face some great matchups in the second half of the season. This should provide volume and a solid role on a pass-heavy offense and could push Tate into a weekly streaming option on your bench.
The Move – Tate is a must-add in leagues with 28 or more roster spots or start three wide receiver leagues with at least two flex spots. In shallower leagues, he might be added anyway with hopes there might be some market buzz after a Green trade.
CONCLUSION
Through seven weeks, dynasty leagues are starting to see the separation of contenders and pretenders. Be aggressive on either side and start looking down the road at playoff matchups and schedules. After a certain point, injuries will be difficult to navigate and in a crazy season, being the early bird on buying or selling may prove to be the sharp side this season.
- Four Tight Ends to Buy, Sell, or Hold in Dynasty Leagues - August 23, 2023
- Four Wide Receivers to Buy, Sell, or Hold in Dynasty Leagues - August 16, 2023
- Four Running Backs to Buy, Sell, or Hold in Dynasty Leagues - August 9, 2023
