Win-Now Dynasty Trades to Make Today
Why do we play fantasy football? Ultimately it is to win. Draft picks and potential stars on your roster might look sexy on Twitter trade polls but having that trophy on the mantle means so much more.
The NFL has been a whirlwind of trades and activity this year. As we get closer to the NFL Draft, maybe some of your league-mates might be looking to make a move or two. It is a great time to capitalize early and make moves to improve your fantasy lineup.
What deals can you be making this off-season to help you win now? Utilizing tools and resources at DLF, we can find trades that have occurred in other leagues in the fantasy-verse. Let us take a look and find some trades to set you up for success in 2022.
The Tools
The Dynasty Trade Analyzer, more than a simple dynasty trade calculator, is an asset that helps owners get the complete picture when making trade decisions. Drawing data from rankings, Average Draft Position, and even recent trade data helps owners shape player value in real-time.
The Dynasty Trade Finder collects data from thousands of leagues hosted on MyFantasyLeague. Here at DLF, that data is collected and criteria including league scoring and starting lineup are then used to classify each deal. Owners can search and filter through these results to find results to guide their fantasy deals.
Every fantasy league is different. Your home league in Cleveland might value Nick Chubb much differently than a home league in Tampa Bay or LA. Ageism might seek some player values and the closer we get to rookie drafts, we all know how the value jumps for draft picks.
Draft Pick Trades
Using the Dynasty Trade Finder, I looked for trades involving picks towards the middle and late in the first round for players and deals to help you win in 2022 and even beyond.
This is an easy win to get DJ Moore for a first. I like Rashod Bateman and loved OJ Howard coming out of Alabama, but there is not a player in the 2022 draft I would want over Moore. The Panthers have made an effort to improve the quarterback situation as they attempted to make a play for Deshaun Watson and will likely be in play for Malik Willis or another top rookie. Go grab Moore before the NFL Draft.
The DLF Trade Analyzer currently has Moore as a value of around 612 and only the 1.01 is currently valued more than him at 625.
Another Moore trade sees a first and second pick being moved for him – this is another slam dunk win-now move.
In a win-now window, I would love to land Joe Mixon. Compared to the top runners in the 2022 draft, give me Mixon. Drafting in the back half of round one in 2023 will likely have you missing out on the likes of Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and a WR like Kayshon Boutte or Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Mixon on the Trade Analyzer is valued at around 595.8. This trade makes sense for a team that was in the playoffs last year with an eye on repeating in 2022.
Dalvin Cook is getting close to that backside slide of the age apex for RBs but is a great player in a win-now window. David Njoku has always been a more physical gift than actual production. Rhamondre Stevenson was dealing with a split between Damien Harris and Brandon Bolden for the majority of the season.
Add in that you can score Bateman, and this is a great deal with some long-term potential at the WR position.
I get the concern over Derrick Henry’s foot injury last season. But this is a steal. If you can wow the Henry owner in your league then send this over now! After you finish the article of course…
Henry has racked up a massive amount of carries in his career. He was grossly misused early in his career but has become the king of fantasy backs even without the targets his peers get.
It’s not just about the RBs. This deal was made in January and I have to imagine one side was very disappointed to see Russell Wilson don a Broncos jersey. Wilson goes from Seattle to the mile-high city where the moon balls he had tossed to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett the previous season will now be landing in the hands of Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. Go and try to get either of the Broncos playmakers.
Looking over some of these deals, it becomes evident you can likely score some great back-end RB1s and some RB2s for a package with your back end of round one picks.
Running Back deals to keep an eye on
There is some intrigue in the 2024 class. Players like RB TreVeyon Henderson are going to be the talk of the NFL Draft and QB Caleb Williams will probably be at the top of plenty of superflex drafts. There is a lot of talent in the 2023 draft that will be pushed down draft boards.
In a win-now trade where you still have possible picks in 2022 to deal on draft day to recoup your picks, make this deal and get that trophy.
Christian McCaffrey has been hit with the dubious “injury-prone” label the last two seasons. But making a play for a player who sat his rookie year with a foot injury and late pick in a thin draft is great value for CMC.
Wide Receivers cheaper than ever
Making the move from Green Bay to Las Vegas shouldn’t have dropped Davante Adams to this value in a 1QB league. Derek Carr will be able to push the ball and Josh McDaniels will scheme plenty of ways to capitalize on the addition.
As was mentioned earlier, the Seahawks receivers will be missing having Wilson at the QB just as much as the fanbase. Things can quickly change however and don’t get too down on Metcalf. The team is still likely to add a QB not named Drew Lock. Plus garbage points matter and Seattle should be playing from behind often in 2022. This might just be a good time to get Metcalf no matter what situation your team is in.
If you go to the 250 Dynasty Rankings at DLF and use the values from our Trade Analyzer, you can see that the trade tool values pick 1.01 at about 625 and Derrick Henry at 609. The value drops to 558 at pick 1.02. If you can get an owner to bite on any pick below pick 1.02 for Dalvin Cook or a back end RB1 and then any RB2 it is a strong value.
On the WR side, the values of the receivers don’t really drop to RB levels until around Stefon Diggs and Chris Godwin. Courtland Sutton is ranked as the WR29 amongst the DLF crew of rankers. He is a perfect player to target on the cheap as players might discount him after his injury to end the year.
Target those back-end RB1s and those WR2s who might have an age discount.
Your league might not see all these players in a similar light but there is value to be had. Adding an RB or a WR2 at these values will be a steal during the season. Go send out some offers and see what you can get.
Pete is a Western Washington University (Go Vikings! Undefeated at Football since 2009!) History grad with a doctorate in dynasty football, from a certificate he bought online. He prefers stats and analytics but realizes film grinding is an important part of the process. Dabbles in "Mild Takes" and believes in the process.
