Fantasy football trade deadline: Dynasty targets for competing and rebuilding teams (2024)

As we enter mid-season, you now have an idea of your team’s prospects for 2022, placing you as a “competitive” team or, perhaps, as a “rebuilding” one. The two different states require drastically different actions.

Of course, there’s also a large in-between state of existence for dynasty coaches, that wide band of mediocrity in which a small number of players are buoying a team from existing at the bottom of the standings or, while competitive, the team is clearly out-performing expectations. As a dynasty coach you must be objective about your team’s prospects.

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By now those who follow me @DLF_Jeff know one of my primary mantras: Be the best or be the worst, don’t be mediocre.

Bad things can happen to good teams, so we don’t want to make a knee-jerk reaction in response to any single event. By the same token, we don’t need to be in a race to the bottom to ensure we’re the worst. It’s all about identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your team(s) and transitioning the team to a state of greater competitive level over time. Sometimes that may require selling aging and productive veterans to get younger or acquiring those same aging assets who become production “anchors” (in a good way) on your squad. Some players aren’t sexy to acquire but just produce week over week.

Let’s get to my list of players for competitive or rebuilding teams!

As always, any referenced dynasty Trade Analyzer, player rankings or ADP data comes from DynastyLeagueFootball (DLF), the oldest and largest dynasty-centric site on the planet. All rankings assume a PPR format.

Competitive Teams

The goal here is simple. Your team is competitive and you want to maintain momentum, shore up areas of weakness and provide production flexibility for a run within the playoffs. Your future draft picks project late in each round but still have value to teams looking to rebuild. We’re looking to strike a balance between current production of the player(s), durability (production security) and, hopefully, multiple years of remaining career length.

Kirk Cousins, QB MIN

Age: 34 DLF Rank: QB18

The underappreciated passer is currently producing as the QB17 in 2022, is beyond his bye and has the weapons and system to produce well in the second half. He provides a low-priced, high ceiling, option for a late season-run. You may need to pony up your late second-round selection but if you need a safety net at the position, Cousins is a fine addition.

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Derek Carr, QB LV

Age: 31 DLF Rank: QB17

See Kirk Cousins above for nearly the same evaluation. I don’t buy into the ceiling narrative of Carr into the second half of the season, but owners have started to unload the underperforming asset who is operating as fantasy’s QB19 as week seven comes to a close. We’re talking safety nets here not earth shaking trades.

Leonard Fournette, RB TB

Age: 27 DLF Rank: RB26

Leonard Fournette is a perfect example for what we’re trying to accomplish as a competitive team. He’ll finish the regular season at 27 years-of-age, is operating as the current RB6 through week seven and he’s three-down capable. Fournette is likely to be back in Tampa Bay in 2023 with two years remaining on his contract and rebuilding coaches are unloading shares at a rapidly increasing rate. There is positional risk-on variables here but his lower price accounts for that.

Aaron Jones, RB GB

Age: 27 DLF Rank: RB16

Coaches have been unloading shares of Aaron Jones all year and I’ve been scooping him up when the price is right, including straight-up for a projected high second-round selection in one case. Fantasy’s RB8 through week seven continues to outproduce backfield mate AJ Dillon due to receiving ability and with the Packers being far less competitive in 2022, more opportunities for Jones should continue to result. He’ll turn 28 in December but I believe he has at least two seasons of productivity beyond 2022.

David Montgomery, RB CHI

Age: 25 DLF Rank: RB19

How about a player with just a bit more tread left on his tires? David Montgomery has been a popular “sell” target on the heels of Khalil Herbert’s production. A recent injury sidelined the 25-year-old, and Herbert stepped in and showed great promise. A free agent in 2023, buy Montgomery now not only for his production capability down the stretch of 2022, but also for the likelihood of a new starting situation next year. His late-first value is tough to ignore and his nearly three game absence has resulted in an RB38 performance through seven weeks. Add back in his average production and he’s closer to the RB17. Sell the heck out of Herbert’s production and threat to other coaches while you know Montgomery is a free agent next year.

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Jerry Jeudy, WR DEN

Age: 23 DLF Rank: WR28

An acquistion of Jerry Jeudy violates one of my tenets about competitve team trade targets as it relates to production risk. But too many are too low on Jeudy and there’s every possibility he’s moved before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 1. But should he remain, I value his reciver profile, age and upside while expecting Russell Wilson to be much better in the second-half of the 2022. I know it seems far fetched based on what we’ve seen, but a new quarterback with new receivers in a new system often requires 6-8 weeks to acclimate. We’re in that period now! Jeudy also carries a 30% disoc*nt to Courtland Sutton.

Mike Evans, WR TB

Age: 29 DLF Rank: WR27

In dynasty, Mike Evans seems to be one of those receivers who coaches love or hate, similar to Keenan Allen. I own zero shares of the plus-sized target but given his current value-to-production curve, I’m beginning to get intrigued if I can acquire him cheaper than what is listed here. As we cross the hump of 2022, if Evans is rostered by a coach not making the playoffs, there’s valuable current-year production with runway for further production in 2023 and beyond. He’s currently sitting as fantasy’s WR16. Be aware that a Tom Brady retirement could impact production beyond this year but not enough for me to ignore potential for the remainder of 2022.

Jakobi Meyers, WR NE

Age: 25 DLF Rank: WR57

I love a good bargain! That, coming from me, is a surprise in that I’ve never been high on Jakobi Meyers. But now 25 and coming off of injury, Meyers’ production trend while healthy continues to intrigue me given his current value. I wouldn’t pay a substantial premium for Meyers, who is operating as the fantasy WR47 through week seven, but add back in his two lost games at his current average and you get something much closer to the WR20. That’s enough for me to buy from a coach all the while I talk about his inconsistency and poor offense.

George Kittle, TE SF

Age: 29 DLF Rank: TE4

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Generally speaking, I never trade for tight ends. But if I’m violating that rule it’s because I have dire need and need a production name for the stretch-run. Buying anything lesser is a fool’s errand. Kittle has had health issues of late but while I’m touting injury history and fading his age to the owning coach, I’m simply looking to decrease the premium paid. As a late-first value, he’s an easy sell target for a rebuilding coach looking to acquire picks.

Rebuilding Teams

The drill is reversed here and while I could focus on sell-high targets to maximize your pick assets, I’d rather focus more on the players I’m targeting who I feel have a disparity between current value and future (2023+) production potential. This isn’t about popping the big trade involving multiple picks but, instead, sniping value in return for draft selections or equivalent (trade analyzer) value in players I’m trading away due to age. As a rebuilding team, trading away aging veterans can net late first and second round selections which provides ammunition for other acquisitions. It’s important to realize that when we target lower-production names, it comes with higher risk. We need to be very mindful of our targeting here and not give in to wild speculation.

Trevor Lawrence, QB JAX

Age: 23 DLF Rank: QB9

I’m normally very careful when trying to buy quarterbacks. When doing so, you must buy quality while ensuring staying-power and upside. Lawrence was a rare product as a mid-first selection in dynasty rookie drafts even in single-quarterback formats. That was prior to the Urban Meyer debacle. Now he can be had for a high second-round pick in some cases and I’d be very comfortable moving that value for Lawrence’s upside. He possesses the perfect blend of youth, tangibles, upside and staying power.

Khalil Herbert, RB CHI

Age: 24 DLF Rank: RB41

Unfortunately, Herbert’s value has moved before I got to writing this piece but he still makes for a desirable acquisition as long as the premium doesn’t carry first-round value. David Montgomery will likely move on in 2023 leaving Herbert as the starter on his rookie contract. He’s built for the NFL and, with any luck, Chicago will actually address its receiver position in 2023, resulting in better offensive balance.

Najee Harris, RB PIT

Age: 24 DLF Rank: RB10

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While the current value of Najee Harris for this illustration is showing high first-round value, by the time your read this, it could be materially lower. The offensive struggles combined with early-season injury have sapped Harris of some of his burst as well as his touches. In my estimation, his value is too low and if you can acquire him for mid-to-late first-round selection plus other compensation, it’s an acquisition I’d make. Too many are leaping from the bandwagon for reasons which seem very temporary. While I don’t desire him as my RB1, I’d be very comfortable acquiring him as an RB2 with upside.

Javonte Williams, RB DEN

Age: 22 DLF Rank: RB12

Williams took a meteoric hit to his dynasty value following his ACL injury. Prior to the injury, Williams owners were disappointed when the team chose to re-sign Melvin Gordon, creating another year of dreaded RBBC. Williams should be back early in 2023 and there’s little-to-no chance Gordon is with the team when 2023 kicks off. At only 22 years-of-age and displaying everything we thought he would as a runner, it’s time to capitalize on his misfortune if you can find an acquisition scenario. I’m curious to see the impact on rookie Breece Hall’s ranking following his own ACL tear.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR SF

Age: 24 DLF Rank: WR35

The magic of rebuilding is in the fact that, should you do it well, you will sell above-market players for additional draft or player assets, often netting multiple first-round picks. A favorite strategy of mine is to keep the high picks and offload lower picks for known production plus youth. That’s exactly the case with Brandon Aiyuk, a player finally putting it all together. If you hurry, you may still be able to swap an aging asset or low-first selection for the upside receiver. I think he only gets better from here.

Chase Claypool, WR PIT

Age: 24 DLF Rank: WR45

Moving a second-round asset for Claypool is an easy decision for me. The low cost premium into the upside of the size-speed target is my type of arbitrage. I’m not holding Claypool’s situation against him and if he’s traded into a better situation, I think he has the tangibles to be a star performer. I’ll take the risk-on component and the upside opportunity to his current value as fantasy’s WR41 through seven weeks.

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Alec Pierce, WR IND

Age: 22 DLF Rank: WR44

Alec Pierce’s dynasty value hasn’t moved much of late and may dip following the demotion of quarterback Matt Ryan. If I can flip a second-round asset for Pierce, I do it without any lost sleep. He possesses size, hands and significant runway to greater production based on role. Quarterback play could be an issue in the near-term but that could also work in your favor for acquisition.

Noah Brown, WR DAL

Age: 25 DLF Rank: WR109

I’ve been watching Brown develop from afar and was excited when he got an opportunity early this year. While I don’t believe he has WR1 upside, I do believe that in the right system and with the right quarterback, he could be a material producer. I’ll swap a late-third or fourth-round rookie selection for his upside. With Michael Gallup back from injury, it’s possible Brown is available for free on your waiver wire.

Hope you enjoyed this look at some of my favorite dynasty trade targets for competing and rebuilding teams. If you have thoughts or questions, please be sure to leave a comment and also give me a follow on Twitter: @DLF_Jeff

As always, be well, be happy and please, be good to each other!