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 2024 or rebuilding for a dynasty title challenge in 2025. 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
After seven months of anticipation, there’s nothing better than the inaugural weekend of the NFL football season. The countless hours of research, X threads, and prognostication all comes to a head when opening kickoffs are underway simultaneously across the country.
This preseason/early-season window also opens up some intriguing options in the trading sphere. While making dynasty deals in-season creates a unique set of challenges, the savvy manager uses these obstacles to his/her advantage in improving the future of their squads no matter the standing of their teams.
Rebuilder Buy – JJ McCarthy, QB MIN
When the Minnesota Vikings selected McCarthy with the tenth overall pick in April’s draft, there was much joy throughout the football landscape. Viking fans saw an immediate upgrade in both the short and long term to the parade of mediocre backups who lined up under center after Kirk Cousins was lost for the season. The dynasty community saw not only a proven prospect with multiple seasons of collegiate success, but a strong-armed leader who could pepper the best wide receiver in the league with targets for years.
Unfortunately, to the horrors of Skol Nation and dynasty managers alike, it was announced in mid-August that the Michigan product would miss the entire 2024 season after surgery on a torn meniscus. While the hopes for an immediate impact are dashed, it doesn’t change McCarthy’s entrenched position as the future franchise quarterback.
All of the dynasty positives for McCarthy still stand but are just delayed for a year. The former Wolverine will enjoy essentially a redshirt season to learn the intricacies of an NFL playbook and professional life. Therefore, presenting a unique buying opportunity for those dynasty managers with an eye towards the future.
*All values represent those in Superflex (2QB leagues)
Pivot Up
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
Terry McLaurin and Rhamondre Stevenson = JJ McCarthyÂ
Neither McLaurin nor Stevenson have any business being on a rebuilding roster and acquiring the Vikings 2025 starting quarterback in return for their shares is the right move. Conversely, the side of this trade trying to compete gets solid, weekly starting options in both McLaurin and Stevenson.
Same TierÂ
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal
Deebo Samuel = JJ McCarthy
Samuel is a WR1 with weekly top-five upside thanks to the many ways Kyle Shanahan schemes to get the ball in his hands. Yet, at 28 the clock is ticking to get a maximum return for shares of the San Francisco receiver on the trade market. This deal is appealing to those with dynasty teams on both sides of the competitive coin.
Pivot Down
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
AJ Brown = 2025 first-round pick, Michael Penix, and JJ McCarthy
This is truly a win-win scenario for both the contending and rebuilding squads alike. Two quarterbacks with first-round draft capital on top of an opening-round rookie selection is quite the haul in a superflex league. The manager receiving AJ Brown might need another productive veteran added to push this deal across the finish line.
Contender Buy – Dak Prescott, QB DAL
While both the entire fantasy and actual football world await the news on Prescott’s missing contract extension, the season will start for Dallas in Cleveland on Sunday with Prescott under center.
It seems as if certain members of the dynasty community are forgetting Prescott’s fantasy football bonafides due to his uncertain future in Dallas. The Mississippi State product finished as QB4 last season and QB9 in 2021 after missing some time in 2022. These questions around his future in Dallas create a share-buying window of opportunity for those contending managers in superflex leagues needing an upgrade at the second quarterback position.
Prescott possesses league-winning potential at a discount as long as he’s unsigned past this season. Now, if he ends up inking a deal with Dallas at any point in the coming week(s), this value reduction ceases but the Cowboy signal-caller is still a great option for a contending team.
*All values represent those in Superflex (2QB leagues)
Pivot Up
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
Drake Maye and Jaxon Smith-Njigba = Dak Prescott
Maye could solidify himself as both the Patriots franchise quarterback and a reliable QB2 in superflex. COULD. Prescott is already a top-end weekly lineup option for those seeking their league’s title. I don’t love parting with Smith-Njigba, but there’s no guarantee he will make enough of a jump this season to help contenders.
Same TierÂ
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal
Justin Herbert = Dak Prescott
This may be a controversial take, but if I’m all-in for a dynasty championship this season, give me Prescott as my QB2 over Herbert. The Los Angeles quarterback is set to helm one of the most run-centric offenses in the entire league. That’s not to say he’s not a solid option, but lacks true championship-winning upside. Prescott, on the other hand, is projected to lead one of the most voluminous aerial attacks in football.
You’ll probably need to wait until Herbert gets a clean bill of health for this weekend, but that appears to be coming sooner rather than later.
Pivot Down
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
Kyler Murray = Dak Prescott and D’Andre Swift
If you’re a contender and have Murray as your QB2, you can go into the season feeling content. However, if help is needed at another position, you can swap the Arizona Cardinal for Prescott and another competitive piece. With the arrival of Marvin Harrison Jr in the desert, Murray’s value has seen a rise over the last several months. Use this spike to acquire Swift, a talented player being somewhat undervalued who’s in a great position to succeed. Your league mate rostering the Cowboys (franchise?) quarterback, is likely more than willing to make this deal given the uncertainty around Prescott’s future.
Summary
While setting lineups, putting in weekly waiver bids, etc. are all crucial aspects to a successful fantasy football season, the dynasty manager knows their path to glory is not that simple. With each game snap, the trade market gets even more complex and the smart dynasty degenerate must react in kind. However, making the right move for your squad (no matter the competitive standing) can mean the difference between a future championship and being forever stuck in dynasty purgatory.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - November 22, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - October 18, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - September 6, 2024
