Dynasty Fantasy Football Trades

Khalil Herbert

Richard Cooling Posted On December 14, 2022

It’s here; it’s finally here! No, I’m not talking about the upcoming holidays; I’m talking about the fantasy playoffs. I hope most of you will spend the next few weeks looking at matchups and agonizing start-sit decisions. However, for those of you who are looking ahead to next year, I wanted to highlight some players who have the potential to see a sharp increase in value over the coming months.

Khalil Herbert, RB CHI

Herbert has flashed across the last two seasons whenever he has had the opportunity to see significant work, and his dynasty value has crept up since being drafted in the sixth round of the NFL draft in 2021. His November ADP was the highest of his career at 81.5 overall. However, after suffering a hip injury shortly after that ADP was collected, his value will likely be significantly lower, and he could have fallen out of the top 100 picks in December ADP.

Looking ahead to next season, David Montgomery is a free agent, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bears allowing Montgomery to walk out the door as they look towards building around Justin Fields. Herbert will likely step into the lead role of an improving offense with more resources spent on the offensive line if this happens. It’s hard to see re-signing a middling veteran running back as high on their priority list.

Now is the perfect opportunity to speculate buy low on Herbert before he returns from his injury, and you could see an instant profit when Montgomery moves on in free agency. I would happily pay any 2023 second-round pick to acquire Herbert right now. However, if you pivot from one of the more questionable potential free agent backs like Montgomery or Leonard Fournette to Herbert, you may even get a sweetener.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB SF

Garoppolo is currently valued as a fringe fantasy starter, and since his injury and pending free agency, his value has probably decreased. However, despite not being the long-term starter in San Francisco with the return of Trey Lance on the horizon, it is almost certain that Garoppolo will end up being a starter somewhere in the league next year. Yes, he will never be a league winner; however, you can do much worse for your third quarterback in a superflex league.

If you can find someone rostering him who feels he could be headed for the bench and a backup spot again next year, you can sneak him away on the cheap. I would happily pay a 2023 second-round pick, but you can potentially steal him away for less than that if the owner is concerned about him not finding a home in free agency.

James Cook, RB BUF

Cook’s valuation in the past six months has been wild! It seemed after the NFL Draft, you were either a Cook lover or a hater. There wasn’t any middle ground whatsoever. As the season wore on, his value peaked and dropped almost weekly. The Zack Moss–Nyheim Hines trade saw Cook’s value plummet before his performance in week 13 saw his value skyrocket again.

Heading into 2023, it is tough to put a specific value or have a specified opinion on where Cook will be valued. The truth is that much of his future value will probably reside in how he performs during the playoffs for the Bills. Devin Singletary is a free agent at the end of the season, so there is a possible chance that Cook can find himself in a more significant role heading into next year.

While I don’t think the Bills would ever roll forward with Cook as the sole option, you can sell him for a profit in March/April if Singletary does leave in free agency before they likely add someone in the NFL draft in May. If the Cook owner in your league is a believer, he is not selling him on the cheap, but if you have someone who isn’t necessarily a believer, they could be looking to get out on Cook for anything. If you tempt him away for a later 2023 second-rounder, I’d be interested enough to take the gamble that Singletary walks in free agency.

Rashaad Penny, RB SEA

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Penny could be an exciting option to acquire, and he is likely to be free or cost you very little. Penny likely has no future in Seattle, with Kenneth Walker looking like the three-down back moving forward. However, the pending free agent is the exact type of player who could be a cheap free agent acquisition for a good team that could boom in value if he can stay healthy. Now I appreciate that it is a huge if – as he has never managed it in his career. However, when Penny has been healthy, he’s been fantastic.

Penny will cost you a third or even a fourth-rounder to acquire. He is a dart throw that may never be fantasy relevant again, but how many third or fourth-round rookie picks fall into the same category? If Penny were to sign a cheap one-year prove-it deal in Kansas City or Miami, you could only imagine the potential. It is a flyer and will likely never come to anything, but at a price, he is worth the shot in my eyes.