Tuesday Transactions: Week Seven
If you are reading this, your dynasty team has survived the crazy week seven byes and you are trying to process just how effectively your depth held up. The buyers and sellers should emerge from the chaos and the time to be thinking about which direction to go is nearing the end. Check your All-Play record, potential points and playoff criteria and begin discussions to move toward the top or the bottom. Here are five transactions to make prior to week eight.
Cooper Kupp, WR LAR – Sell
If Kupp has been in your lineup for the first seven weeks of the season, the squad is likely sitting near the top of the standings. He leads the lead in targets, catches, yards, touchdowns and fantasy points. He sits atop the leaderboard as the highest-scoring fantasy player in the NFL. You might ask, how can I sell? Easy. The past is the past. And shopping Kupp is not a prediction that this production cannot continue to an extent. With that said, this season looks like Adam Thielen’s 2018 numbers on steroids and the value apex has likely been reached. A contender can afford to have their cake and eat it too by listening to deals on Kupp.
The Move – consider moving Kupp for any of Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen or Diontae Johnson plus a future first. All three are past their bye weeks (giving you an extra week of production) and can likely account for 80 percent of what Kupp can (or more) the rest of the season. The first-round pick (either 2022 or 2023) provides extra security in your bank account to use on additional insurance as the season continues. Contenders with some margin for error should look into this deal unless you also have Matthew Stafford. Do not break up the stack!
Sony Michel, RB LAR – Buy
Another Ram. This is not intentional, at least not when I brainstorm different angles to invest across a large portfolio. Lost in a disappointing day for starter Darrell Henderson, Michel saw just two touches and has cemented himself in a strict “injury away” category going forward. Furthermore, the extra byes may have forced Michel into more lineups than normal during the week and could cause managers to lose sight of exactly what he is. The team ranks second in yards per play and ranks in the top 12 in most appreciable rushing categories.
The Move – consider selling a higher-trustworthy running back such as Myles Gaskin or James Conner in a deal for a second-round pick and Michel coming back your way. If you have neither of these on your roster, look at your backfield players, determine if you could trade any of them for a first-round pick and if the answer is “no”, consider trying this deal to acquire Michel. You are flipping a coin that he gets a stand-alone opportunity on a short-term basis and with Henderson’s injury history, the time is coming.
Nate McCrary, RB BAL – Add
This transaction is about as deep as this article series will go. As it stands, it is never deep enough at the running back position and as we have seen with many backfields already in 2021, opportunity can happen in a blink of an eye. McCrary battled with Ty’Son Williams for a roster spot in the preseason and just days before the injuries to JK Dobbins and Justice Hill, was claimed by the Broncos off waivers and added to their 53-man roster. Days later, the Ravens were searching for bodies and added Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell. The Broncos waived McCrary and he re-signed with the Ravens practice squad after three weeks and with injuries and lack of production in the run game, he should get his shot shortly. An average and undrafted prospect, the sheer idea of being free and on a great offense is worth adding.
The Move – add McCrary in leagues with more than 30 roster spots, a taxi squad (he is a 2021 rookie) and prioritize him in leagues with points per carry. He becomes another body on your roster that even one week of potentially using him in your lineup pays for his acquisition cost (free) in spades. The list of drop candidates for him is long. Just ask yourself… what is the path?
Taylor Heinicke, WAS QB – Buy
For the third game in a row, the Washington Football Team struggled mightily and suffered a double-digit loss to a likely playoff team. Effectively sitting more than four games out in the NFC East and the defense unable to stop opponents through the air, much of the blame in football circles and in the dynasty community focuses on Taylor Heinicke. He has not performed great by any means but he certainly is not the issue. With Ryan Fitzpatrick at least two weeks away from having an MRI re-check, the chances he is back this year becomes less and less. At QB16 on the season, Heinicke ranks fourth in the league in rushing yards and may just finish the rest of the year out at quarterback no matter what the record in Washington. Ron Rivera did the same thing in 2019 with a flailing Kyle Allen and had no other direction to head.
The Move – the market is down on Heinicke believing he will be replaced. Capitalize by paying a third-round pick if the Fitzpatrick buzz heats up or swapping Ben Roethlisberger or Teddy Bridgewater plus as a potential “safety” pivot. It is very likely he outscores both of those options on a weekly basis as long as he keeps the job and in a market all-about name recognition, the time to acquire window is wide open.
Zach Ertz, TE ARI – Sell
Following the Thursday night football loss in week six, Ertz was shipped off to Arizona after his swan song in Philadelphia. After an inactive week, he posted a top six week in his first go-around in the desert and established himself among many who can be used as a throw-in starter in your lineup. The situation is fantastic as it features the league’s fastest offenses and elite quarterbacks. Furthermore, perception says Maxx Williams was a usable tight end until losing the remainder of his season due to injury. Bring in Ertz. The Cardinals targeted the tight end around a 12 percent clip under Kliff Kingsbury/Kyler Murray and despite stepping into a volume situation, the market share is unlikely to be there for Ertz. There is no denying he can be started on many teams but I would rather shoot for a higher-upside option and live with the fluctuations.
The Move – approach the Kyler Murray manager if they are tight-end needy and see if they are willing to pivot. Evan Engram would be an attainable and prime target. Adding to Ertz to acquire Dawson Knox, Dalton Schultz or Gerald Everett (with a piece added) are options to explore. Figure that the situation may change with Ertz and his rest-of-career may resemble something close to Jason Witten; shop him now while the buzz is there.
Conclusion
Seven weeks down, as noted above, truly do a deep dive on your roster and start heading toward the top and the bottom. Follow what NFL teams are saying about their backfields as there are plenty of “one-week filler” starts left to come during this season. My focus is to churn and burn at that position while finding other places to accumulate assets for the future or to spend on points the rest of the way.
- 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
