Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired
Standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards in a rapidly changing dynasty landscape. The best dynasty teams are the most active in looking for ways to add value to their dynasty rosters, as part of a continuous process.
The Dynasty Targets Acquired series focuses on making dynasty buys to improve your roster, heading towards one of two key destinations – contending to win a dynasty title in 2023 or rebuilding for a dynasty title challenge in 2024. Each article in the series will highlight a dynasty buy for both contenders and rebuilders – with three trade ideas based on the DLF Trade Analyzer: Pivot Up, Same Tier or Pivot Down.
Buying as a contender is all about winning the title now, whilst leaving the window open to compete again year after year. Buying as a rebuilder is all about making the right trades to maximize roster value next season and become a contender for a dynasty championship.
Time Context and Strategy
Entering week four of the regular season, dynasty teams are taking shape: the move towards truly contending or rebuilding is imminent. I spoke in the launch article of this series that being the first to market is extremely important from a trade value and efficiency perspective. This part of the dynasty season should be the most active trading period, no matter where your team sits within the dynasty cycle.
Contender Buy – Keenan Allen, WR LAC
Keenan Allen will continue to see a rise in ADP – the perfect time to buy high on perhaps his last-ever window to sell (Credit: DLF)
Truth be told, this is a move I was recommending prior to the season-ending injury to Allen’s teammate Mike Williams in week three. The knock-on effect is a more expensive price to go and acquire Allen in your dynasty league.
Allen has been a revelation under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore – leading the league in receptions, plus he is currently second in the league in both targets and fantasy points per game at wide receiver. Throughout his career, Allen has been extremely consistent, finishing in the top 15 in fantasy points per game over the last six seasons. He is easily projectable and this new lease of life is adding an elite ceiling to an already elite floor.
The move to go after a 31-year-old veteran wide receiver is not one for the faint-hearted, however the situation presented is excellent, his style of play leads to greater longevity and his range of outcomes in this offense is WR1 overall in 2023. Acquiring a player with his range of outcomes, at this cost is unmatched. Allen’s age is a natural catalyst in trade talks – he should be relatively easily acquirable in non-top-four dynasty teams.
Pivot Up (acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower valued assets)
- Josh Downs and 2024 second-round pick = Keenan Allen
Same Tier (acquiring an asset in the Same Tier of valuation, in a straight up swap deal)
- Christian Kirk = Keenan Allen
After a quiet week one performance, Kirk has been solid the previous two weeks, in a Jaguars offense that isn’t truly firing on all cylinders. With Kirk, you’re losing five years in age, however the ceilings between him and Allen are vastly different in 2023. While Kirk is solid overall, the move to Allen is one which adds points to your lineup, in the quest for a dynasty title.
Pivot Down (acquiring multiple lower valued assets in exchange for a higher valued asset)
- Drake London and 2026 third-round pick = Keenan Allen and 2025 first-round pick
Any contending side holding either of the exciting Falcons duo London or Kyle Pitts would be wise to consider the pivot to get points in their lineup. While there is risk in losing almost a decade in age, London is still a projection and this type of deal provides an opportunity to recoup long-term value with the first-round pick.
Allen will outscore London in 2023 and the future first-round pick provides a chance to find a future Drake London dynasty asset (Credit: DLF Trade Analyzer)
Rebuilder Buy – Marvin Mims, WR DEN
Mims has flashed his explosiveness thus far this year, with long touchdowns as a receiver and kick returner. Overall his usage has been poor, running 27 routes, receiving nine targets and contributing seven receptions through three games. Despite the usage, he leads the Broncos in receiving yards – his time will come.
When I look at Mims’ competition of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Greg Dulcich/Adam Trautman, I can tell a story where Mims develops into the top player on this offense. Sutton and Jeudy have both been involved in trade rumors and Dulcich was playing behind Trautman in preseason. He’s also got the pedigree as a second-round wide receiver and the first draft pick of the Sean Payton era – the existing coaching and front office staff is invested in Mims.
Lastly, one of the biggest concerns with the Broncos offense before the year was quarterback Russell Wilson. Through three games, He is the QB7 on the year and looks improved on the torrid 2022 season he endured under former head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Whilst the long-term questions will persist, I’ve personally seen enough that Wilson isn’t the problem, easy to say when the defense just gave up the third most points in a game all time.
Mims is an intriguing player who has flashed the big play ability through limited opportunity. I expect volume to increase throughout the season and into his second year in the league. He’ll also come a lot cheaper than other underperforming rookie wide receivers such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Quentin Johnston.
Pivot Up (acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower valued assets)
- Kadarius Toney and 2025 second-round pick = Marvin Mims and 2024 third-round pick
The pivot up price could be considered steep in certain circles as Toney is a polarizing prospect with intrigue of his own. Personally, I struggle to invest in this current Chiefs wide receiver core and I’m happy to pivot with the aid of the link to Patrick Mahomes. In this move, it’s important to include the 2025 rather than 2024 pick as this is the rebuilding year with a logically higher pick – if 2025 is the content year the pick value should be later in the round than now.
Same Tier (acquiring an asset in the Same Tier of valuation, in a straight up swap deal)
- Gabriel Davis = Marvin Mims
Davis epitomises the situation over talent type wide receiver, with significant risk attached to his dynasty profile on the back of him being an impending free agent in 2024. Mims is similar to Davis in the sense of the explosive big-play ability, however feels more like a lottery ticket, with unknown upside and provides an easy chance to reroll on a fragile asset like Davis. Based purely on their respective college profiles, Mims has more talent and his projection to a prominent role in this offense is clear to see.
Mims’ college profile highlights a big-play, speedster archetype with good production from an extremely early age (Credit: Player Profiler).
Pivot Down (acquiring multiple lower valued assets in exchange for a higher valued asset)
- Mike Evans = Marvin Mims and 2025 second-round pick
Evans is a Hall-of-Fame-level wide receiver, who continues to produce in his age-30 season. He is a fine play on a contending roster and short-term Mims will struggle to get close to his fantasy output. The window to move Evans at value has passed, however with the age factor, this type of deal between a contender and rebuilder is a win-win for both sides. I would personally make the deal for Mims even if I received less than the 2025 second included here.
Summary
Wide receiver is a fluid position to make trades in dynasty. It’s an appealing trade option for both contending and rebuilding sides – whereas running back and tight end could be considered more for the ‘final piece’ of roster construction. Allen brings you literal WR1 overall upside and comes at an attainable price with his age. Mims is a player with projectable value upside and improved performance in time. Make the trades now, get to market first, and gain the most from these assets.
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