Dynasty Fantasy Football: Targets Acquired

Xavier Worthy | Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Rob Willette Posted On December 13, 2024

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

We have reached the fantasy football playoffs in most leagues. For playoff teams, it is time to load up on players who can help you win a championship (assuming your league has not already had its trade deadline pass). For teams who missed out, it is time to get to work on 2025 and beyond. Both paths are more prudent than doing something silly like spending quality time with your loved ones.

Fortunately, there is an opportunity for any team to improve moving forward, even if you are not the one fortunate team who hoists hardware in January. Targets for both contenders and rebuilders alike are outlined below.

Rebuilder Buy: Xavier Worthy, WR KC

Despite being a consistent piece in the Kansas City offense, fantasy managers are cooling on Worthy. His ADP has dropped significantly over the past month, and his mistakes on the big stage have likely left a sour taste in the mouth of fantasy managers who have closely watched the Chiefs.

Worthy still has an elite trump card, however, and has always been more than just a speed merchant. He has shown the ability to be a playmaker within the offense and there is ample reason to be optimistic for year two and beyond.

Pivot Up

Pivot Up – acquiring a higher-valued asset in exchange for multiple lower-valued assets.

Tony Pollard and Darnell Mooney = Xavier Worthy

Courtesy of DLF Trade Analyzer.

Pollard and Mooney have both had strong seasons in a new location. Pollard looks healthy after the serious leg injury suffered in the playoffs in 2023, while Mooney looks reborn outside of Chicago. Pollard will be 28 this spring, however, and while I like Mooney as a complementary receiver, the runout for him this year has been pretty flawless in terms of turning him into a weekly starter. Worthy is a younger, more explosive talent, and landing him for a pair of solid if unspectacular veterans is a good piece of business.

Same Tier

Same Tier – acquiring an asset in the same tier of valuation in a straight-up swap deal

Xavier Worthy = TJ Hockenson

TJ Hockenson has returned from a serious knee injury suffered late in 2023 and looked just fine, if perhaps a step down from his usual self. He should continue to improve the further he moves away from the injury, and it is not as though he is reaching an advanced age for tight ends. My main concern is volume, which is where Hockenson has thrived since becoming a Viking. Justin Jefferson remains the main man and Jordan Addison has taken a leap in year two. He figures to be move back into the mid-tier TE1 pack, a price I would happily pay for what I believe will be an ascending Worthy heading into the off-season and 2025.

Pivot Down

Pivot Down – acquiring multiple lower-valued assets in exchange for a higher-valued asset.

Tank Dell = Xavier Worthy plus 2024 fourth

I am not holding Tank Dell’s modest second season against him. He suffered a serious lower leg injury in 2023 and has not looked quite the same. I expect better moving forward, but feel Worthy is the superior talent and adding a pick on top of move just makes it all the sweeter.

Contender Buy: Jerry Jeudy, WR CLE

It is unlikely we ever see a better runout for Jeudy. Jameis Winston is throwing the ball over the field, the Browns running game is struggling, and Cedric Tillman has missed time with a concussion. This has all transpired to make Jeudy one of fantasy’s best receivers over the past month.

All these factors make Jeudy tough to buy into long-term – at least at his level – but he could be one of those unheralded players who helps managers win titles.

Pivot Up

Jerry Jeudy = Jalen McMillan plus early 2025 fourth

McMillan has flashed as a rookie, taking advantage of Chris Godwin’s injury to make a few splash plays. I like him as a long-term contributor, though I have a hard time imagining I would be haunted by parting with him to land a stretch run star like Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy also has plenty of run left in Cleveland, and the value gap between he and McMillan should be much wider.

Same Tier

Jerry Jeudy = JK Dobbins

Dobbins has been a great story in 2024. He has rebounded from terrible injury luck to become the feature back for the Chargers. He is on IR at the moment, however, offering no value for the playoffs, and I am skeptical he is here to stay as a feature runner, in LA or elsewhere. It feels like a great time to move off of him if managers are buying the renaissance.

Pivot Down

Jerry Jeudy plus 2025 third = Ricky Pearsall

We know the hardships Pearsall has had in 2024. A preseason gunshot wound truncated his campaign, and he has vacillated between being part of the 49er offense to being an afterthought all year. I like him to be a long-term piece for San Francisco but foresee him having more real-life value than fantasy value. Taking advantage of the rookie hype to land Jeudy – who is only 17 months older than Pearsall – could be a move that puts teams over the top.

Summary

There is no time for dynasty managers to rest. Tweaks are always required, and apathy can lead to long losing streaks.

Jerry Jeudy feels like a unique opportunity to add an immediate, high-end contributor whose long-term value is also strong given the security he has in Cleveland. Both he and Worthy have made their fair share of enemies in the fantasy community, making them classic buy opportunities as emotions mar the decision-making process of others.