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, while 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 are past the halfway mark of the fantasy football regular season and by now you know whether or not your team is a contender, or if it’s time to rebuild. Injuries are piling up, especially at the QB position, and it’s time to take a good long look in the mirror and decide whether or not your team can actually win a title in 2023.
No matter which category your team falls into, there are plenty of trades that can be made to improve your roster, and we will cover a handful here. Below, I’m going to highlight one player a contending team should look into buying and one player a rebuilding team should try to acquire.
Contender Buy – Sam Howell, QB WAS
This buy will make a lot more sense in superflex leagues, but I could see it working out in start-one QB leagues as well. Howell has quietly been a top-eight-scoring QB in 2023 and has been at least top 12 in scoring in five of eight weeks. Howell was the QB1 overall in week eight, scoring 32 points. Normally, that player would be highly coveted, but because of fifth-round draft capital and no guarantee of being the starter in the future, Howell remains a bargain in trades.
The truth of the matter is that he is a starting QB right now, scoring substantial points on a weekly basis, and is a quality replacement for a position that is losing starters daily. Add in the fact that Howell was one of my highest-ranked prospects in the 2022 draft class, regardless of his draft capital, and he seems like a great buy to me!
Courtesy of DLF’s Player Gamelog App
Pivot Up
Acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
- Jameson Williams and a 2024 late second = Sam Howell
If a team is looking to rebuild and is concerned about the future with Howell, this kind of offer could be very interesting for them. Williams is a promising prospect, but he’s struggling to earn playing time in an offense that values veterans. There’s a chance that adding just a third-round pick works, so I would start there and end at the 2nd.
Same Tier
Acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal
- 2024 late first-round pick = Sam Howell
- Rhamondre Stevenson = Sam Howell
The easiest trade you can probably make for Howell will be sending your projected late 2024 first-round pick for him. I always try to save my first-round picks for a player who can truly help my team, and Howell definitely fits that category. The nice thing about using picks is that you can make a trade with anyone. All it takes is a dynasty player who still values Howell as a second-round pick. Yes, losing your first will hurt next May, but if it helps you win a championship this season, you won’t be too worried about that.
The Trade Analyzer is also valuing Rhamondre Stevenson higher than Howell. If that’s the case in your league, that would be one of the easiest trades you’ve ever made! Stevenson showed some flashes last season, but that offense is broken and doesn’t appear to be getting better any time soon. I’d also be willing to add to Stevenson, if that’s what it takes to get the deal done.
Pivot Down
Acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
- CJ Stroud = Sam Howell and Brandon Aiyuk
I absolutely love this trade, and technically the analyzer thinks you can even get a little more on top! Chances are you recently drafted CJ Stroud with a 1.04-1.06 pick in your rookie drafts, so turning him into a wide receiver who’s valued around that range, while also adding a starting QB that’s top eight in scoring seems like a smart move to make. Stroud started the season off hot but has fallen back down to Earth in recent weeks, so I’m looking to take advantage of any gained value he still has while I can. A trade like this could easily be the difference in a first-round playoff loss or a championship.
Rebuilder Buy – Michael Mayer, TE LV
The 2023 rookie draft class has done a great job of producing early and often, making it difficult to trade for most of them on the cheap. One of the few that hasn’t received too much hype yet is Mayer. Once considered the top TE in the rookie class, Mayer’s value has dropped pretty substantially over the past few months. While there have been multiple reasons for that value drop, I don’t think we’re very far away from his value returning to where it once was. The perfect situation for trading for Mayer will be a contender that has grown impatient while needing to score points.
Mayer started the season slowly, not topping 70% offensive snaps until week six, but he had a mini-breakout that week, totaling five receptions for 75 yards. Unfortunately for Mayer, the Raiders completely imploded after that week and have now fired their general manager and head coach, while also benching their starting QB, Jimmy Garoppolo. You may be asking yourself, “Why would I want to invest in anyone on that team?”, and it’s a reasonable question. The simple answer is all it takes is another good game or two from Mayer for his value to return. The Raiders’ new starting QB, Aidan O’Connell, is young and inexperienced but flashed in the preseason and could easily be an upgrade from Garoppolo, at least fantasy-wise. The good news is that even if it takes longer than I am expecting, you have time to be patient if you’re rebuilding.
Pivot Up
Acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
- Early 2024 third and Chuba Hubbard = Michael Mayer
I don’t love this kind of trade for a rebuilder because the goal is to accumulate as many picks as possible. It is one I’d be willing to make, however, if that’s what it took. Hubbard is starting to get some hype recently and between bye weeks and injuries, someone may be willing to make this deal straight up, or close to it. It was only a few months ago that Mayer was valued as a mid-second-round pick, and look at the current value of the other TEs that went around him who have already broken out.
Same Tier
Acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal
- Michael Mayer = Joe Mixon
If you have Joe Mixon or a similar running back and are moving towards rebuilding, chances are you’ve had difficulty trading him. The good news is that Mixon just had his best week of the season and Joe Burrow appears to be back to full health. It’s time to take advantage of that, by getting an asset that can gain value from a declining player. Technically, the analyzer is showing Mixon has more value, so it may be smart to start by asking for a little extra on top of Mayer. I would recommend being willing to do the deal straight up, if that’s what it takes.
Pivot Down
Acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
- George Kittle = Michael Mayer and an Early 2024 second
George Kittle has proven to be a valuable, albeit inconsistent dynasty player. Just like Joe Mixon, Kittle also just had a big week, and it’s time to pounce. The ability to gain eight years back in your TE position while also adding an early second, or possibly even a late first is, extremely appealing for a rebuilder.
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