Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired
Standing still is the fastest way of moving backward 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
We’re more than a quarter of a way through the fantasy regular season and the time for hypotheticals is over. Right now, you should either be acquiring the missing piece(s) for the stretch run or stacking your roster with future draft picks and young stars.
Let this article also serve as an intervention for those dynasty GMs in denial about their flagging squads; you never want to be the second, third, etc. team in your league to start a rebuild. “The early bird gets the worm,” and other similar cliches apply here. You’ll be left with second-round picks and second-tier players the longer you hold onto your tradeable assets.
Contender Buy (Superflex) – Dak Prescott, QB DAL
It was fictional salesman Buddy Garrity who said: “When all the scared rats are leaving a sinking market, that’s when a real entrepreneur steps in – a true visionary.”
Nobody would blame any dynasty manager for not wanting to invest in shares of Prescott. Fresh off a three-interception, sub-200-yard clunker on Sunday Night Football, the Dallas signal-caller currently sits at QB22 on the season. Despite the horrific start for the season, there’s reason for optimism on the horizon for Prescott.
Defensive domination by the Cowboys’ defense against the Giants, Jets, and Patriots eliminated the need for the aerial attack to be deployed. Those days of Prescott simply having to be a game manager for the team to win are gone, and the schedule becomes much more fantasy-friendly in the coming weeks. Two of Dallas’ next three contests are against the high-powered offenses of the Chargers and Eagles; then during the crucial stretch run of weeks 13-17, the Cowboys are matched up against Seattle, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit. Expect Mike McCarthy to utilize CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, Brandin Cooks, and the rest of the weapons at Dak’s disposal in these matchups.
Yes, the Cowboy quarterback was absolutely manhandled against San Francisco in a game where they needed a ton of offense. Yet, the 49ers are one of the best (if not the best) defenses in the NFL and will do that to many opposing offenses this season.
The nationally televised nightmare of a performance presents a unique opportunity for savvy dynasty players contending for a championship in superflex leagues to acquire a QB2 with immense upside.
PIVOT UP
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets.
- Drake London and Jameson Williams = Dak Prescott
Coming off both his highest yardage total (78) and fantasy finish (WR19) of the season, now is the time for contenders to sell high on Drake London. Both the uneven play of Desmond Ridder and Arthur Smith’s commitment to Woody Hayes’ offensive philosophy make the Falcons’ wideout a risky weekly option for those with playoff aspirations. London has finished outside of the top 24 at the position in 60% of his games this season including an opening weekend goose egg. Yet, the former Trojan’s youth, draft capital, and better quarterback play on the horizon make him an attractive option for rebuilding squads.
Jameson Williams had an uneventful two-reception/two-yard return from suspension in week five against the Panthers. However, the Alabama product is the exact type of boom-bust, swing for the fences, 22-year-old receiver for a team pressing the reset button. Williams could catch fire by the end of the season for the Lions, but using this perceived value to acquire a quarterback given the scarcity of the position in Superflex is the correct move.
SAME TIER
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal.
- Bryce Young = Dak Prescott
It’s been a rocky start to his rookie season for Young as he has almost as many interceptions (four) as touchdowns (five). But once again recency bias is our friend as the number one overall selection had his best game of the season with three touchdowns and a QB10 weekly finish. It’s far too early to write off the Crimson Tide alum’s career, but I don’t want to ride that roller coaster if the end goal is to win the trophy. I’ll take the veteran Prescott as my QB2 and let the rebuilding squad weather the Panthers’ franchise quarterback’s growing pains.
PIVOT DOWN
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset.
- Garrett Wilson = Dak Prescott and Marquise Brown
Some people may call for my head in the comments, and if this is my last article as a part of DLF, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Look, Garrett Wilson is simply a low-end WR2 with a WR4 floor if Zach Wilson (no relation) is under center. The Ohio State alum is currently WR27 on the season, and his highest weekly finish is WR20. This was not the top-five upside a contender needs nor expected from Wilson to start the season. He’s a much more intriguing prospect for your league mate starting from scratch. Prescott offers much higher upside in the superflex format.
Marquise Brown is quietly having a solid season for the rebuilding Cardinals in the desert. The former Raven is WR12 with a 27.1% target share on the season for a team with a terrible defense in many positive game scripts. He’ll be a strong addition to any contending team and can provide the WR1 upside you’re not getting from Garrett Wilson.
Rebuilder Buy – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR SEA
The first four games of his career have been troublesome for Smith-Njigba from a fantasy perspective. As expected, the former Buckeye is third on the team in targets (20) behind Tyler Lockett (27) and DK Metcalf (23). Though Smith-Njigba is leading Seattle in target rate per snap (15.2%). The issue is the rookie receiver only has an aDOT of 3.2 yards as he’s being used primarily in the screen game and quick-hitting passes.
The season is still young, but much more was expected of Smith-Njigba given his top 20 draft capital. Now, there’s still time for him to turn it around this season, but your league mate striving for championship glory is likely losing patience. Now is the time to swoop in and grab him as one of the pillars of your rebuild. The 31-year-old Lockett has an out in his contract after this season. Further, there’s a chance Seattle will see a quarterback upgrade as soon as next season from journeyman Geno Smith.
The Seahawks didn’t select Smith-Njigba as the first receiver off the board to use him as a gadget player. Now is the time to buy shares coming off the bye week and four unproductive outputs. Remember, Smith-Njigba shared a collegiate receiving room with both Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson; both men were not ashamed to admit their teammate was the best of the three.
PIVOT UP
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets.
- Austin Ekeler and Evan Engram = Jaxon Smith-Njigba
So… you were hoping Austin Ekeler could carry your fringe squad to one more year of competitiveness. Unfortunately, now you’re in a rebuild. Yet, there’s good news for you on the horizon: Ekeler is 99% (his words) to return to action this week and it’s time to sell. The Charger back will be coveted by most contending teams in your league. Throw in the TE7 on the season in Evan Engram and acquire the 21-year-old rookie with massive future upside.
SAME TIER
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal.
- Stefon Diggs = Jaxon Smith-Njigba
At age 29, Stefon Diggs and his league-winning upside (currently WR2 overall) is rotting away on your non-competitive roster. Worse yet, his 24.2 fantasy points per game is keeping your squad in purgatory instead of fully committing to tearing it all down. Send him to a squad where his talents could be the missing piece for their title run. The Smith-Njigba manager may even throw in a second or third-round pick for your troubles.
PIVOT DOWN
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset.
- Tyreek Hill = Marvin Mims and Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Again, if you’ve been in denial about your team’s standing in the league, it’s time to “trust the process.” Tyreek Hill is the overall WR1 and has no business rostered on any dynasty squad without the end goal of a championship this season.
Rookie Marvin Mims is a good buy-low option right now coming off a game where he fumbled twice. Both the short and long-term futures look bright for the Oklahoma alum. The struggling Broncos should look to part ways with Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy as early as the next few weeks. Mims should finish the season strong and could find himself as the Broncos WR1 come next offseason.
With each passing week both your team’s competitive status and the overall dynasty landscape start to take shape. As my DLF comrade Aaron St Denis said last week, take an honest self-evaluation of your roster’s points compared to the rest of the league, then act accordingly. It’s those who are the most proactive in their roster transactions that find the most success in this 365-day dynasty gauntlet.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - December 8, 2023
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- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - October 13, 2023
