Dynasty Buys for Competing or Rebuilding Teams
Whether you are competing or looking to be out of the playoffs there is always moves to be made. Below I have some of my favorite buys for your dynasty team on both sides of the spectrum.
Buys for Competing Teams
QB – Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
I feel the Lions want to be a run-first team really bad. Secretly they know they are a pass-heavy team with running backs that can take the volume if need be. The issue is that they do not really need to be. I feel Goff is quietly a top 12 Quarterback. I say that because if you ask most people to name the top 12 quarterbacks this season, like 90% of people probably will not think about Jared Goff. He has arguably a top 5 receiver in Amon Ra St. Brown. Plus, arguably a top 5 tight end in dynasty right now in Sam LaPorta. Sprinkle in Jahmyr Gibbs‘ playmaking ability after the catch and you get a full recipe for success. Through the first 8 games, he has 2,174 yards with 12 touchdowns. I honestly think he can double those numbers plus some. His remaining schedule is easier than his first half. Not to mention his playoff schedule (week 15-17) is Denver, @ Minnesota, @ Dallas. The championship week at Dallas will be tough, but if you are acquiring him just to have depth, then grab him to carry you to the championship, then start your other quarterbacks. If I am competing then I would not mind trading a Bryce Young for him straight up or a late first.
RB – Kareem Hunt (Cleveland Browns)
Jerome Ford is seeing most of the work, but Hunt is more efficient. We know the type of back that Hunt is and how he can dominate on every level of the game. In the past 4 games he has averaged at least 12 rushing attempts per game. People may be sold off on him because of the lack of work he gets in the passing game due to Ford. That could hurt but he may not need it come playoff time in your leagues. Starting week 15 he plays Chicago, @ Houston, then the Jets. Three teams with not so difficult run defenses. Due to his age and threat of Ford, a buy low for him would be two thirds or even a late second round pick in 2024. If I am giving up a player, I would try to give Alexander Mattison, who has a bye week 13 plus has a harder playoff schedule it seems. Mattison should be the RB1 for Minnesota moving forward after Cam Akers was declared out for the season.
WR – DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans)
Rookie quarterback Will Levis is going to have his mistakes. He is also going to have his favorite target. Hopkins will be that target. The two will continue to build some chemistry and we will see a few more explosion type of weeks from the star receiver. You may only be able to get him if he is on a non-competing team, but he will be worth the buy. He plays Houston twice in the playoffs. He is bound to go off against his former team at least once. I would bet that game will be the one in Houston (championship week). Week 16, he plays Seattle at home. People may ask a first for him due to his name, but I would try to buy him for a second round pick, if possible. I would pay two second round picks if that is a counter. For a player I would sell Quentin Johnston for him. A receiver that has not panned out as I had thought.
TE – David Njoku (Cleveland Browns)
Yes, another Brown. Njoku seems to be catching his stride. He is the second best receiving option on his team behind Amari Cooper. This means the targets should come. He not only has an easier playoff schedule (see Kareem Hunt above), but starting week 12 he plays @ Denver, @ Rams, Jacksonville. Three teams that could allow big plays to the tight end with Watson at the helm. He is currently TE17 on the season, which puts him in that streaming category to me. One second should get you him, but I would try a couple thirds before sending that. If you wanted to trade a player I would be comfortable trading Trey McBride for him. McBride is a young talent for the Cardinals. Kyler Murray is coming back which should help McBride moving forward, but Zach Ertz also has the possibility of coming back, which would knock McBride’s current volume of targets. Plus, McBride opens up week 15 against the 49ers. He also has a week 14 bye week which could be crucial if he is your only tight end.
Keep in mind those are players I would buy right now if I were competing and looking to make a strong playoff push. Now let’s transition to players I’m buying if my playoff hopes are all but done.
Buys for Rebuilding Teams
QB – Aidan O’Connell (Las Vegas Raiders)
O’Connell has not had a game this season where he scored over 10 fantasy points. He has only started 2 games this season. In both games this season he threw for less than 65% completion percentage. The bright side is he had over 200 yards passing in both. He did not throw a passing touchdown in any of those games. Right now, the new Interim head coach seems to like O’Connell moving forward. He is a perfect buy low to invest in a possible low end QB2 for the future. If he just does not get it done, then the Raiders will, or should, invest in a quarterback come draft time. He has one of the best, if not the best, receiver in the game in Davante Adams. Let O’Connell catch his stride and ride the glory wave. You can probably buy him for a couple fourth round picks as he isn’t doing anything for his current team. If you want to give a player, try giving Dalvin Cook straight up. If you are feeling spicy I would trade Bryce Young for O’Connell plus a first and second round pick. Personally, I like 6 quarterbacks in this next class more than Bryce Young.
RB – Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Harris has been slightly outproduced by running mate Jaylen Warren. Harris has 11 more total yards than him. Warren has almost double the receptions with 29 compared to Harris’s 15. The offensive line has not given Harris any sort of justice which may worry some. He is still a good running back to me. With the emergence of Warren though it is possible the Steelers trade him to possibly get more draft capital come this off season. Either way at RB29 currently, I feel he is a great buy candidate with tons of upside heading into next year. I would trade David Montgomery for him straight up. Montgomery should be coming back shortly. Gibbs has become the star we wanted. The Lions could possibly still give Montgomery a heavy workload once he returns. I would rather take the back competing with Warren than the one competing with Gibbs. If the person wants picks, I would send a third-round pick for him; at best a possible late second round.
WR – Jerry Jeudy (Denver Broncos)
Leading up to the trade deadline there was speculation that the Broncos would trade one of either Courtland Sutton or Jeudy. Neither of them got moved. I cannot imagine the Broncos having both on their team next year. My bet would be that they move Jeudy since he is younger. They can probably get more value for him. Jeudy has yet to see over 1,000 yards in a season. His 2022 season he came close with 972 receiving yards. Jeudy has underperformed since being drafted in 2020. He has been called a JAG “Just Another Guy” by some. His potential may be unlocked if he joins a new team. Regardless, I would send a third-round pick for him. If you were looking to send a receiver in exchange I would send Tee Higgins for Jeudy plus a second a round pick.
TE – Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Otton is quietly a top 20 tight end. A big reason for that could possibly be his 2 touchdown performance last week with 70 receiving yards. He has seen over 90% of snaps in each game this year. This just means they trust him in the offense. I do not see them replacing him next year, but they could possibly replace their quarterback. Tampa Bay may even lose their WR1 if they decide to trade Mike Evans. The latter is less likely to happen. Although he has been in trade speculations for some time. The point is that there is plenty of upside for Otton going into year 3 of his career. If you can trade a couple third round picks for him, I would. If you are trading a player, I would trade Alexander Mattison, Logan Thomas, or Jonnu Smith for him. I think all three of those players have better rest of season value than Otton. Otton has the better dynasty value.
Keep in mind I am only buying these players if I am no longer competing. At this point in the season, one should know their chances of making it into the playoffs and if they can make a run or not. If your playoff hopes are still alive, try trading for the first four players. If not try to buy low on the next four. I hope this helps you moving forward in your dynasty leagues.
Thank you for reading. Follow me on X at @ThePPRShow for more dynasty content. Peace & Love.