Fantasy Football Dynasty

Print

Dynasty Trade Targets to Buy, Sell and Hold

Players To Buy & Sell Before Week 1

Savvy dynasty managers send out trade offers before the season starts to capitalize on current player values. 

Those values change rapidly over the next few weeks as games start and the fantasy points roll in (... or don't).

Buying and selling the right players over these first few weeks can put your team in a much stronger position for both the short and long term.

Let’s dive into the recommendations before Week 1 ...

Dynasty Trade Targets To Buy

Our buy candidates range from long-term upside to immediate help that could deliver consistent production for the foreseeable future.

Rookie RBs with Long-Term Upside

The NFL Draft produced no Round 1 RBs, and that has depressed values in dynasty beyond the usual.

When injuries and training camp soundbites join the mix, a few rookie RBs lost perceived value in the preseason -- even though they retain long-term upside.

These are the young players to pounce on if their managers are starting to lose confidence.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers

Brooks' dynamic ability is undeniable. At Texas, he took over for Bijan Robinson and delivered in 2023.

Among 157 RBs with 100+ carries, Brooks ranked:

• 21st in yards after contact per attempt
• 12th in missed tackles forced per attempt
• ninth in PFF's elusive rating
• 12th in PFF rushing grade

He also excelled as a receiver, averaging 13.3 yards after catch per reception. Expect new Panthers HC Dave Canales to take advantage of that.

Despite tearing his ACL in November, Brooks went 46th overall as the first RB in the draft.

But he enters his first season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he will miss at least the first four games.

If managers with Brooks start getting antsy about his injury as well as being on a Panthers' offense that was objectively awful last season, use our Trade Value Chart to pounce on that uncertainty.

Worth the Price Tag

In our Dynasty ADP Market Index, Brooks’ value slid to RB18 before the season in PPR. 

Trading for Brooks likely costs a bit more than his current ADP, but his top-5 RB ceiling is worth the investment.

Trade Value Chart Check

There's a dynasty trade value chart to fit your format, with customized values for every player and upcoming rookie pick.

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 42
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 46
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 36
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 35

Similar Values

• Drake Maye (Superflex)
• James Cook
• Tank Dell
• Saquon Barkley

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

A Day 2 RB who runs a 4.39-second 40 time should pique fantasy interest immediately.

Benson had a solid career at Florida State, averaging an 86.35 PFF rushing grade over his two years.   

He excelled as a gap-scheme runner, averaging nearly an additional yard per carry in gap vs. zone-blocking plays in college.

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing favors gap blocking. James Conner’s 8.8 gap rushes per game ranked fourth in the NFL last season. He also finished:

• RB7 in PPR points per game
• RB1 in PPR points per game from Week 13 on
• fourth in rushing yards per game
• fourth in Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected per attempt
• fifth in PFF rushing grade

If Benson gets the opportunity, he has RB1 upside.

Falling ADP

Back in July, news broke that Benson was only the RB3 on the team.

There was little update since, and Benson’s dynasty ADP has slowly fallen over the last month and a half.

He is down to Dynasty RB23 with managers fearing that he won't have a role.

Conner’s now 29 and in the final year of his contract. He has also missed at least two games in all seven of his pro seasons.

The veteran will likely be done as Arizona’s lead runner after this season. And his next injury could give Benson a chance to vault his market value.

Buy the rookie before that happens.

Trade Value Chart Check

1-QB, 1-PPR: 31
1-QB, Half-PPR: 33
Superflex, 1-PPR: 25
Superflex, Half-PPR: 24

Similar Values

• Baker Mayfield (superflex)
• Christian Kirk
• Rhamondre Stevenson
• Mike Evans

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers

The Packers selected Lloyd 88th overall, showing how much they like him with the Round 3 valuation.

At 220 pounds, Lloyd ran a 4.46-second 40 time, after hitting college as a five-star recruit who holds tremendous athletic upside.

But, Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason, which hampered him for most of August.

Some dynasty managers are scared off by Lloyd’s injury and that he is blocked by Josh Jacobs. 

Part of the Platoon

HC Matt Lafleur has always platooned runners as Packers HC, with Jamaal Williams, AJ Dillon, and even Dexter Williams getting solid snap counts when Aaron Jones was the lead back.

Even with Jacobs, LaFleur stated he still prefers the committee approach. 

With Dillon out for the season, Lloyd should get plenty of snaps and could earn more with success. An injury to Josh Jacobs would thrust Lloyd into a lead role. 

Lloyd is down to RB44 in PPR Dynasty ADP. 

With a dynamic offense around him, Lloyd could outperform that as a rookie. He certainly sports long-term upside beyond that.

Trade Value Chart Check

1-QB, 1-PPR: 20
1-QB, Half-PPR: 21
Superflex, 1-PPR: 17
Superflex, Half-PPR: 16

Similar Values

• Daniel Jones (superflex)
• Devin Singletary
• Keenan Allen
• Luke Musgrave

Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders

The history of McLaurin’s QBs reads like the back of a milk carton:

• Case Keenum
• Dwayne Haskins
• Alex Smith
• Kyle Allen
• Taylor Henicke
• Carson Wentz
• Sam Howell

Those QBs have helped limit McLaurin's production and keep him underrated as a player. But the poor-QB streak may finally change.

Consistency With Upside

The Commanders invested the second overall pick in Heisman Trophy-winning QB Jayden Daniels. 

Though Daniels' rushing ability defines his fantasy upside, his downfield throwing  will be the best McLaurin has seen in his career.

McLaurin has had at least 77 catches, 1,050 yards, and 4 TDs in each of his last four seasons.

His impressive consistency despite poor QB play suggests McLaurin may not have reached his ceiling yet. We could see that ceiling as soon as this season.

Target Competition Traded Away

The Commanders opted to trade away former first round pick Jahan Dotson due to his poor fit with OC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

This leaves the following WRs after McLaurin in the WR room:

• Dyami Brown
• Olamide Zaccheaus
• Noah Brown
• Luke McCaffrey
• Jamison Crowder

For the short term, McLaurin should be a target hog, even with TEs Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott along with RB Austin Ekeler earning targets.

For the long term, he is a 29-year-old WR locked in as the top wideout with a potentially elite QB. 

Our aging curve still has him performing at 90% of his peak production for this season and continuing to produce 75% or better of his peak value over the next four years.

Unexciting = Value

Consistency is unexciting for dynasty managers, and that has been McLaurin's game.

This pushes his ADP down to WR32 despite no finish lower than WR30 in PPR in a season.

If your team needs a WR3 or flex boost, McLaurin is worth buying.

Trade Value Chart Check

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 36
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 37
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 31
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 28

Similar Values:

• Will Levis (superflex)
• Davante Adams
• Josh Jacobs
• 2025 Early 2nd (1-QB)

Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Godwin’s 2023 was one of the most unlucky TD seasons for a WR in recent history.

He ranked:

• 19th in targets
• 15th in catches
• 23rd in yards
• 27th in expected TDs
• 73rd in actual TDs

The lack of TDs (and thus fantasy points) opens a great buy window before the season begins.

Target Earner

Godwin ranked 15th among WRs in targets per game over the last three seasons (8.73), the best indicator of fantasy production, per Sharp Football.

Even playing alongside Mike Evans for his career, Godwin’s talent has earned targets no matter who the coach or QB has been.

With Baker Mayfield in tow for another season, Godwin should turn more of those targets into TDs to improve upon his 2023 WR28 finish in PPR.

Contract Year

Godwin’s contract with the Buccaneers runs out after this season.

Though he has had success there, leaving the Buccaneers could even boost his dynasty value by landing him in a better offense or sharing the field with a weaker corps mate than Evena.

If Godwin stays with the Buccaneers, he'd continue to hold his value.

Age-Adjusted Production

Godwin enters his age-28 season, and our aging-curve data has him producing at 96% of his peak production both this year and next. 

Beyond that, Godwin should continue performing at 93% of his peak value in 2026 and 90% the next year.

If others are worried about Godwin falling off a cliff, take advantage and trade for him.

Godwin’s dynasty ADP has tumbled to WR31, creating a buy window before the season starts.

His low TD production and fear over OC Dave Canales leaving make Godwin a prime buy candidate.

Trade Value Chart Check

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 37
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 37
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 32
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 28

Similar Values

• Bryce Young (superflex)
• Keon Coleman
• Derrick Henry
• 2025 Late 1st (1-QB)

Fantasy Football Targets To Sell

Knowing which players to trade away at their peak value is as valuable as buying the right pieces.

Let’s look at players to move before the season.

Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

Jacobs earned a four-year, $48 million contract this offseason to become the lead back.  

But he is entering his age-26 season with an injury history of foot and leg issues while coming off of the worst statistical season of his career.

Has He Already Peaked?

Jacobs had the best season of his career in 2022 with 1,653 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

Last year, his production tanked: 805 yards rushing and only 6 TDs. (Losing four games to a quad bruise didn't help.)

Jacobs earned his worst PFF rushing grade (70.1) by far. His 2.35 yards after contact per attempt fell 0.47 short of his previous low -- and marked an even steeper drop from 2022 (3.40).

He looked more sluggish with lazy cuts and seemed to have lost his ability to break tackles. Jacobs' 0.12 missed tackles forced per carry in 2023 also marked a career low -- and fell way short of his 0.26 rate each of the previous two years.

Contracts Can Lie

HC Matt LaFleur has used more of a platoon approach at RB throughout his coaching career.

Jacobs earning a big contract might seem to suggest bell-cow usage. But drafting Mar'Shawn Lloyd in Round 3 indicates the Packers still want to use multiple backs.

If Jacobs suffers an injury or the season doesn’t go as planned, the Packers do have an out on his contract after 2024. 

A nearly $6 million roster bonus due next offseason will leave Green Bay a decision on whether to keep or cut Jacobs.

That factor multiplies his downside risk.

Tread on Tires

Age 26 finds Jacobs projected for his production peak, according to our aging curves.

But that production falls off fast, dropping to 80% by his age-28 season.

Jacobs also has had more NFL carries than the typical RB. 

His 1,502 touches rank second among RBs over his five years in the league.

Still Holding Value

Competitive teams will want a back like Jacbos to lock down a starting spot on their roster.

Even with the fear of a cliff for Jacobs looming, he is still being drafted as RB10 in PPR leagues.

If Jacobs does produce as an RB1, there isn’t much room for his value to rise. But plenty of opportunity for it to fall if he falters. Now is the time to sell.

Trade Value Chart Check

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 32
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 33
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 27
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 25

Similar Values

• 2025 early 2nd (superflex)
• Cooper Kupp
• Joe Mixon
• Lamar Jackson (1-QB)

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

With Jacobs gone from the Raiders, White takes over the backfield. 

But, the Raiders signed Alexander Mattison and drafted pass-catching specialist Dylan Laube which blurs the potential roles for the RB group.

Despite this opportunity, there are red flags in White’s profile that makes him a sell now before the season starts.

Success Last Year

After Jacobs went down with a quad injury, White had a solid four-game stretch as Raiders starter:

• 84 carries
• 397 rushing yards
• 1 rushing TD
• 13 targets
• 9 catches
• 60 receiving yards

His weekly PPR finishes over that stretch were:

• RB12 
• RB16
• RB16
• RB21

That led to the opportunity this year, but is it a mirage?

Bad Profile on a Bad Offense

Despite his late-season success, White simply does not profile as a long-term lead NFL RB.

He was a Day 3 pick who never topped 850 rushing yards in a college season and never led any of his Georgia teams in yards per carry.

White also tore both of his ACLs before his college career even started, which raises injury red flags.

He logged only 37 total carries over his first one-and-three-quarters NFL seasons, before last year's Jacobs injury.

Add his profile to a Raiders' offense that is expected to be one of the worst in the league, and the upside appears limited.

Long-Term Downside

White’s dynasty ADP isn’t especially high, at RB26. But he could be attractive for contending dynasty teams seeking an immediate starter option.

White might very well peak in value early this season, if he hasn't already. We'd rather go ahead and move on from him when there's a good opportunity than wait for White to prove he's a weak long-term bet.

Trading away White for a young RB or WR who offers just as much upside with less downside is the ideal move.

Trade Value Chart Check

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 26
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 27
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 21
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 20

Similar Values

• Jaylen Warren
• Ja’Lynn Polk
• George Kittle
• Blake Corum

Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson has seen his Dynasty value rise over time. 

In August 2023, he was being drafted as TE29. Now, Ferguson boasts a TE10 ADP.

This may be Ferguson’s peak value, however, making him primed to sell.

Ferguson's breakout sophomore season included:

• 102 targets
• 71 receptions
• 761 yards
• 5 TDs

But he finds himself amid a bountiful group of young, athletic TEs that will make it tough for the Cowboy to stand out.

Low Ceiling?

As an NFL prospect, Ferguson drew more interest for his blocking than his receiving ability. His athletic testing proved mediocre.

That 6.78 RAS looks especially lackluster against the rest of last year's top 12 PPR scorers at the position:

• Sam LaPorta 9.01
• Evan Engram 9.07
• Travis Kelce 9.27
• T.J. Hockenson 9.19
• George Kittle 9.52
• David Njoku 9.32
• Trey McBride 8.20
  
• Cole Kmet 8.92
• Dalton Schultz 7.09
• Dalton Kincaid (n/a, didn't work out at Combine)
• Kyle Pitts 9.64

That group doesn't even include 2023 rookie Luke Musgrave, who lost time to injury after arriving as a second-round pick with an elite 9.78 RAS. Or Brock Bowers (no testing) and Ben Sinnott (9.73) from this year's class.

Top-level athleticism isn't mandatory at TE, but it has certainly proved to matter. And the abundance of good, young, already-productive athletes at the position right now limit Ferguson's upward mobility.

ADP Rising Creates Value

Ferguson's dynasty ADP now matches his TE10 finish in PPR last season. He could continue to score around there. But he'd have to fare even better to make you regret selling off now.

Even as the No. 2 in targets last season for a Dallas team that ranked fourth in pass rate over expected, Ferguson checked in just 15th among TEs in target share.

It's tough to see his valuation climbing much higher than it is now.

Trade Value Chart Check

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 27
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 29
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 22
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 21

Similar Values:

• 2025 late 2nd (superflex)
• Chase Brown
• George Kittle
• Diontae Johnson

Player To Hold

Sometimes the winning move is to do nothing.

Some players carry the potential for big value swings in either direction. Buy at the wrong time, and you'll lose value. Sell too early, though, and you can miss out on both value and production.

We'd rather hold this player for now to see what happens.

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks

The buzz has been heavy for RB Kenneth Walker during training camp, but Charbonnet was a second-round pick just a year ago.

He is talented and gets a new offensive scheme under OC Ryan Grubb that should be more centered on the passing game.

But, how will Charbonnet be used?

If he has a significant role, Charbonnet should gain fantasy value. 

He already boasts one of the best handcuff profiles in the league, and would get a near full workload if Walker goes down.

It would cost value to move him now and miss out on a potential value gain if the Seahawks offense rebounds and Charbonnet scores consistent points.

Trade Value Chart Check

• 1-QB, 1-PPR: 25
• 1-QB, Half-PPR: 24
• Superflex, 1-PPR: 21
• Superflex, Half-PPR: 18

Similar Values:

• Jerome Ford
• Courtland Sutton
• Jerry Jeudy
• 2025 Early 3rd (1-QB)

Build a Dynasty with these Tools

The Trade Navigator with the Dynasty Trade Calculator is just one of the tools available to help you build and maintain your perennial contender. Learn more on how to dominate your dynasty leagues and improve your value with the video below:

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.