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
It is week 13 of the season, and if you’re still unsure about the status of your dynasty roster it’s time to get off the fence. Failing to act now one way or the other will doom your franchise to the dynasty purgatory of seventh/eighth place finishes year after year.
Are you a running back away from securing your playoff berth? Make a deal!
Have injuries and underperformances left you with a few stars surrounded by a sea of mediocrity? Time to ship those stars off to greener pastures and acquire the building blocks to start over.
Week 13: Make a Move to Avoid Dynasty Purgatory
It’s Week 13, and your dynasty roster’s future hangs in the balance. To avoid the dreaded cycle of mediocre finishes, you need to take decisive action now. If you’re a running back away from securing a playoff spot, it’s time to make a trade. Don’t hesitate to bolster your roster for a postseason run. If your team is plagued by injuries and underperforming players, consider trading your star players. Use their value to acquire the building blocks for a fresh start and a brighter future. Making a move this week can make a huge difference regardless of if you’re contending or rebuilding.
Contender Buy – Bucky Irving, RB TB
I’m likely not the only person telling you to trade for Irving right now. If everyone is calling a player a buy he’s probably not very easy to acquire, but it may be worth it to “buy high” on Irving, even if that means overpaying.
Since week six, Irving is averaging 17 PPR points per week, but only a 46% snap share. With Tampa Bay still in the hunt for the division lead, they could decide to put even more on Irving’s plate, leading to even more fantasy points.
With room to grow, the potential to be a league winner with a quality playoff schedule, and at only 22 years old, Irving could be one of the best players to trade for, for your dynasty squads.
Pivot Up:
**Trade calculators can sometimes be slow to react to a fast-rising player like Irving. DLF’s Trade Analyzer needs a few more trades to go through before catching up on his proper value(at least my opinion of his proper value). Because of that, I will be showing trades that I feel appropriately value Irving, even if the trade analyzer is saying it’s not a fair move**
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
Brian Robinson and a 2025 third for Bucky Irving
Robinson started the season off hot, has struggled to stay healthy throughout the year, and very well could be limited or miss time in the playoffs. Add in the age discrepancy and the likelihood of Washington adding another RB in the upcoming NFL Draft, and this kind of move is a smash deal. I would be willing to change the ‘25 third to a second, if necessary, but it’s smart to start low.
Same Tier
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the Same Tier of valuation in a straight-up swap deal
2025 late first for Bucky Irving
At this point, I expect it will take a projected- late first-round pick to acquire Irving. Trading away your coveted picks is always difficult, but could easily be worth it if Irving ends up the league winner I think he can be down the stretch.
Pivot Down
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
Jonathan Taylor for Bucky Irving and a 25 second
Taylor’s value may be falling at the same rate that Irving’s is rising, and this could be a great way of getting out of the inconsistency of the Colts offense. The value discrepancy here means you could even start out by asking for Irving and a 1st, but I’m not sure that deal actually gets done.
Rebuilder Buy – Chris Godwin, WR TB
I know, you just did a double take to make sure that actually said Chris Godwin, a 28-year-old WR, as a rebuilder buy. Don’t worry, nothing is wrong with your vision or your computer. Godwin’s value is at an almost all-time low right now, and could easily be what a rebuilding team needs to contend sooner rather than later.
Godwin was the WR2 overall before dislocating/fracturing his ankle. Unlike many knee-related injuries, we should expect a full recovery for him by the start of next season. At that time, Godwin will be just 29 years old and will be looking for a new contract, whether from Tampa Bay or another team. Assuming a three-year, or possibly even, a four-year contract for him, Chris should have plenty of investment from whichever team he ends up with.
Pivot Up:
Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets
Cade Otton and a 25 second for Chris Godwin
One of the biggest benefactors of Godwin’s injury has been Otton, but I think it’s time to use some of his new-found value to upgrade your future roster. The key here is to use someone else’s second-round pick, preferably a playoff team’s, not your own. If you don’t have multiple seconds, you may have to get a little more creative.
Same Tier
Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the Same Tier of valuation in a straight-up swap deal
Isiah Pacheco for Chris Godwin
If you’ve been waiting for the majority of the season for Pacheco to return to the Chiefs and regain some value, now may be the right time to take advantage of it. Pacheco hasn’t proven to be the healthiest RB in the league, and could easily be replaced or at least end up in a crowded RB room after next year’s NFL Draft, which is filled with quality RB options.
Pivot Down
Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset
Nico Collins for Drake Maye and Chris Godwin
Nico Collins is one of the hottest names in dynasty but is also one of the least-proven players near the top of the ranks. After taking three seasons to show signs of life, he has also missed time in all four of his NFL seasons. I’m not trying to scare you into selling Collins for anything of value, but if you’re able to get an up-and-coming QB like Maye in a superflex league, with the added benefit of Godwin, I think it’s a deal you should highly consider.
This is clearly not your “normal” buys/sells article, with the contender buy being a 22-year-old and the rebuilder buy already being 28, but I hope it’s actionable. With only two more weeks until the fantasy playoffs, now is the time to get deals done, regardless of the way your team is moving.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired - November 29, 2024
- Three Running Backs to Sell Before Your Deadline - November 27, 2024
- Three Quarterbacks with Unsustainable Touchdown Rates - October 22, 2024
