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, 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’re more than a quarter of the 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 tradable assets.
Contender Buy: Amari Cooper, WR BUF
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.”
Fresh off four receptions for 42 scoreless yards against the Eagles on Sunday, Cleveland receiver Cooper currently sits at WR40 on the season. Despite the horrific start, there’s reason for optimism on the horizon after he was traded to the Buffalo Bills.
The worst-kept secret in the entire National Football League is that as long as Deshaun Watson is under center for the Browns, the team is in a never-ending pit of despair in both reality and fantasy football – but a the trade that sees Cooper paired with one of the top quarterbacks in the league could deliver championships to those rostering the former Raider.
*All values in both the contender and rebuilding sections are from a 12-team Superflex league.
Pivot Up
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
Amari Cooper = Michael Penix, 2025 third-round pick
While Michael Penix is a nice taxi-squad stash in two-quarterback formats, he’s doing nothing to help your team win a championship this season. Send both him and the third-round rookie pick to a rebuilding squad where they belong.
Same Tier
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the Same Tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal
Amari Cooper = Trey Benson
Trey Benson looks to be stuck firmly as the RB3 for the Arizona Cardinals behind bell-cow James Conner and scat-back Emari Demercado. The talented rookie could still have a bright future, but that future will likely begin next season.
Pivot Down
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
Amari Cooper and Joe Mixon = JJ McCarthy
How about adding a starting running back on a dynamic offense? Mixon’s value is sure to be inflated due to his 132 total yard, two-touchdown performance on Sunday, but this deal is a necessity for championship-hopeful dynasty managers. McCarthy isn’t going to help you win your league’s championship this season on IR.
(See below as to why this is also a great deal for the rebuilding side.)
Rebuilder Buy: JJ McCarthy, QB MIN
Everything I wrote about JJ McCarthy a month ago still rings true with one notable exception; the Vikings are the surprise of the league at 5-0 behind a career resurgence from Sam Darnold. At first glance, you may think the former Jet quarterback being a front-runner for Comeback Player of the Year is bad news for the injured rookie. Yet, this scorching start by both the Vikings and Darnold means shares of McCarthy are at an all-time value.
Trade for McCarthy immediately after reading this sentence as these discounted prices might have an expiration date. Darnold has not shown an ability to sustain this success throughout his career. You want to swing a deal for the former Michigan quarterback before the clock strikes midnight on the current Vikings signal caller as his last stat line of 14 of 31 for 179 yards, 1 INT is concerning.
Pivot Up
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
JJ McCarthy = Amari Cooper, Joe Mixon
If you’re rostering Amari Cooper or Joe Mixon and not competing for a championship, trade them immediately. Getting a future franchise quarterback in exchange is maximizing their value.
Same Tier
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the Same Tier of valuation, in a straight-up swap deal
JJ McCarthy = Travis Kelce
Just like above, this is a trade for all of the “rebuilders in denial” who thought they could make one more title run this season but are falling flat. The TE landscape in fantasy football is an absolute wasteland and Kelce is showing signs of returning to his former top three TE form. Capitalize on this before it is too late.
Pivot Down
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
JJ McCarthy and Trey Benson = DK Metcalf
When you have a premier player on a retooling roster, there’s no time to waste in maximizing their value. Metcalf (WR12) will be a catalyst for a receiver-needy team striving for glory while you’ll get rookies who should see a nice uptick in value come the offseason.
With each passing week both your team’s competitive status and the overall dynasty landscape start to take shape. Now is the time to do 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 - November 22, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - October 18, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - September 6, 2024
