Dynasty Fantasy Football Trades
Taking advantage of potential valuation trends in the trade market is imperative. That is even more true during the season when players can experience wild valuation changes on a week-to-week basis. Each week, I will be highlighting some players you should be looking to move or acquire and the reasons why.
Buy – Dameon Pierce, RB HOU
The Houston Texans’ offense has been one of the most exciting stories of the season through the first five weeks. CJ Stroud has been incredible, and the offense has far outproduced what most people have expected. Despite that, Pierce is languishing as the current RB32 in points per game, averaging 9.6 points per game. A considerable part of the issue has been the distinct lack of touchdowns. The NFL this year is averaging 1.59 passing touchdowns for every rushing touchdown. The Texans are averaging eight passing touchdowns for every rushing touchdown.
Pierce will likely see more rushing touchdowns through the year’s second half. It is also encouraging just how much work he is seeing. He has seen a 68.6% opportunity share, which is the 11th largest in the league. Now may be the perfect opportunity to buy low on Pierce with regression due and a schedule of upcoming games that includes the Panthers and Cardinals. I would happily pay a contender’s 1st for him right now, although, with his slow start, you may be able to temp him away for a couple of second-rounders.
Buy – Austin Ekeler, RB LAC
Ekeler is a fantasy star. However, he’s been sitting on people’s benches for the past four weeks, not contributing any points. There is a chance people have forgotten just how valuable he is when healthy. Furthermore, the injury could have scared them into getting what value they could before he potentially falls off a cliff. If you’re a true contender, he is absolutely worth the risk. Mike Williams is injured, meaning more targets will be available when Ekeler returns. Yes, he is an aging star, and you likely only have this season, maybe next year, to get any production out of him. Still, for the price of a contender’s first-round pick, I am happy to pay that price for hopefully 12 weeks of top-five running back production.
Sell – DJ Moore, WR CHI
Wow, what a performance last Thursday night. Moore almost singlehandedly won people’s matchups last week before the week had even begun. If people believe that the Bears passing offense is resolved and Moore will consistently produce like a top 18 wide receiver moving forward, I will use this opportunity to sell high. Moore is currently the WR5, averaging 22 points per game. However, 45% of those points came this last week. Before the Thursday night game, he averaged 15.2 points per game, good for the WR19.
Furthermore, he has also been fortunate in the touchdown department. He has a touchdown rate of 18.5%, the fourth highest among wide receivers with at least 20 targets. The league average among that group of players is 7.5%. That average TD rate would put Moore as the WR12, averaging 18.4 points per game.
By all means, do not take this as a sell Moore at all costs suggestion. This is merely a suggestion to sell high on a player in a precarious offense with a quarterback who could be gone at the end of the season and will likely regress in the touchdown-scoring department. I would need at least a mid-first to move on from Moore, but perhaps a sensible move could be to sell high on a player like Moore while buying low on a player like Diontae Johnson, who is returning from injury next week. You will likely be able to pick up an additional asset in the process.
Sell – George Kittle, TE SF
Kittle has the potential to be a league-winning fantasy star. However, on the 49ers’ current offense, there are so many mouths to feed that he is just difficult to start on a week-to-week basis. So far this year, Kittle has had two top-five weeks at the position and three weeks outside the top 24. He is the epitome of a boom-bust player who can collapse your week with a poultry score. If you can use his phenomenal Sunday night performance to sell high and move to a more consistent tight end like TJ Hockenson or even Sam LaPorta, it will significantly benefit you in the long run.
Rebuilding Buy – Daniel Jones, QB NYG
I do not want to acquire any part of the New York Giants offense this season. They’re falling apart before our eyes and have issues along the line and at all of the pass-catcher spots. However, if you’re rebuilding, you don’t care what happens this year. In superflex leagues, quarterbacks are gold dust, and being able to buy incredibly low on one rarely presents itself. While Jones isn’t having a great season, the Giants will get Andrew Thomas back from injury, who is arguably the league’s best left tackle, which will help solidify the offensive line. They will also have another draft and currently $43m to spend in order to bolster the offensive skill positions.
However, the most appealing point concerning Jones is that with his current contract, he isn’t going anywhere. The Giants have no option but to start him in 2024 and, realistically, 2025 as well. Two years of a starting quarterback is incredibly valuable in a superflex format, particularly for one with the rushing ability and fantasy upside of Jones. So, if you can utilize this poor start to pounce and acquire him for anything less than a mid-first, I would make that move.
I need more information – Josh Downs, WR IND
Downs broke out this week with Gardner Minshew under center for much of the game. He posted an impressive 6-6-97-0 stat line. He is in this section because the only time Downs has posted over six fantasy points has been in games where Gardner Minshew has played significant time under center. He has not put together any fantasy-relevant production with Anthony Richardson under center. I liked Downs as a prospect and am hopeful he could be a useable fantasy piece after this season. However, Richardson is the franchise quarterback, and until they can combine consistently, it’s hard to buy into the flashes.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Trades - January 2, 2025
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Trades - December 26, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Trades - December 19, 2024
