Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs
There is no offseason in dynasty football. In fact, the lull between the Super Bowl and the upcoming NFL Draft is the perfect time to improve your roster by trading for under-valued players and parting with declining assets. Before you can maximize your return on investment, it is important to know which players to sell high on and which players make savvy trade targets. In Part 3 of our dynasty fantasy football trade targets series, we will focus on running backs. Be sure to also check out our look at tight ends and quarterbacks. Buy Low Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers) – A ton of dynasty insiders are recommending now is the ideal time so “sell” McCaffrey after another injury-marred season. If you’re a fantasy manager with a contending roster, take advantage of the potential market. Despite the shortened season, McCaffrey still looked like one of the best backs in the league, ranking 2nd in yards per route run and 5th with 18.2 PPR points per game. Winning championships comes with an acceptable amount of risk-reward. If your roster is an elite RB away from seriously contending, see if you can sell a first in this underwhelming rookie class and acquire a player with true difference-making ability. Khalil Herbert (Chicago Bears) – Although stuck behind incumbent starter David Montgomery, Herbert performed well in a featured role last season. When Montgomery was sidelined from Weeks 5-8, Herbert averaged 97 scrimmage yards per game with a pair of contests producing north 0f 18 PPR points. The sixth-round rookie also outperformed Montgomery in several advanced metrics. EVADED TACKLE/ATT YDS CREATED/ATT BREAKAWAY RATE PPR PTS/ATT PLAYER YPC YDS/TGT JUKE RATE Khalil Herbert 4.2 6 28.20% 0.32 2.21 3.9% 0.66 David Montgomery 3.77 5.9 24% 0.28 2.08 3.1% 0.71 Montgomery is also in the final year of his rookie contract, meaning he’s set to enter free agency after the 2022 season. While Montgomery is still the back to target in 2022 redraft leagues, it’s not inconceivable that the new regime will let Montgomery walk if they feel Herbert, who is younger, cheaper, and looked quite promising in 2021, can be an effective option. That makes Herbert an intriguing dynasty buy who can probably be acquired as a trade throw-in. Ke’Shawn Vaughn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – With Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones set to enter unrestricted free agency, Vaughn is currently the only running back under contract in Tampa Bay. Upon Tom Brady’s retirement, we may see the Bucs choose to go full rebuild. That would mean little to no money spent on a position like running back, which would give Vaughn a legitimate shot at entering camp as the starter. Although a bust through his first two seasons, Vaughn did produce 13-plus PPR points and score a touchdown in three of Tampa’s final four games when finally given double-digit touches. He also posted an impressive 89.1 Elusive Rating at PFF- 14th among all running backs. Eno Benjamin (Arizona Cardinals) – Like the Buccaneers, Arizona’s top two running backs are currently unrestricted free agents. That leaves Benjamin as the only running back on the roster. The 2020 seventh-rounder only got 40 touches last season but looked decent in Week 18 when thrust into action. He also showed promise as a pass-catcher, where he was graded out at 83.3 by Pro Football Focus, the No. 5 receiving grade among all running backs. Benjamin is also probably widely available on the waiver wire, making him the ideal no-risk acquisition. Sell High Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta Falcons) – After a mostly middling career as a wideout, Atlanta unlocked the secret to Patterson’s first-round pedigree by moving him almost full-time into the backfield. That resulted in a career-best season out of Patterson, who accumulated 1,166 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs. But now 31 and set to enter free agency, there is no guarantee that Patterson will continue to be utilized in such a prominent role, particularly if he signs with a new team. Further, Patterson ranked just 46th in juke rate and breakaway rate while ranking 5th in fantasy points per opportunity. Those aren’t sustainable figures and paint the picture of a “one-hit wonder” type of performance. Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers) – Jones just restructured his contract so he’ll be back in Green Bay for at least one more season, but he doesn’t even look like the best back on the team. That honor goes to A.J. Dillon, who began to take over a bigger share of the touches in the second half of last season. Dillon averaged 14.6 PPR points per game in Green Bay’s final nine contests and was given the third-highest rushing grade overall by PFF. Dillon also had more red-zone rushing yards (112) and touchdowns (5) than Jones (92,4). At 6-feet at 247 pounds, that’s a role Dillon should continue to be featured in. With the status of QB Aaron Rodgers also up in the air, now is a good time to see what Jones can bring in return. Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints) – Mired with the worst salary cap situation in the league, breaking in a new coach, and missing a legitimate quarterback, the Saints could be in for a precipitous fall. While that alone is a poor situation for a starting running back, Kamara also could be facing severe consequences for a battery charge incurred at the Pro Bowl. This could include a rather length suspension even if the case is settled before the summer. There’s just an awful lot of risk involved with Kamara right now and if you can get anywhere near his value to a desperate league-mate, it might be a good time to move on from a potential headache.
Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Tight Ends
Complacency is not a desirable trait in fantasy football, particularly in dynasty formats. The weeks after the Super Bowl and before the NFL Draft are prime times to shore up rosters by sending out trade offers. Knowing which players make solid value buys and which are at or near their peak values is integral towards shoring up your roster in the offseason. After already breaking down quarterbacks to target, here are the tight ends that dynasty fantasy football enthusiasts should consider buying or selling in the early part of the 2022 season. Buy Low Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons) – “Buy Low” is a bit of a misconception, here. Pitts is generally considered the top tight end in dynasty formats but off the heels of a disappointing one-score showing, do your due diligence and see if the manager in your league that invest the 1.03 or 1.04 on Pitts last spring is willing to listen to offers. Even if you’re paying the fair-market value for Pitts, he’s a player you want to try to target if at all possible. Irv Smith Jr. (Minnesota Vikings) – A popular breakout candidate last summer, Smith missed the entire 2021 campaign with a knee injury. With Smith absent, Tyler Conklin managed to haul in 61-of-87 targets and produce a solid TE17 showing. Smith offers far more downfield ability and scoring upside than Conklin, and with the Vikings’ offense returning mostly intact, Smith will once again offer TE2 value and his price should be steeply discounted. Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – With both Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard slated to hit free agency, Brate currently sits atop Tampa’s depth chart. Brate easily surpassed Howard in the pecking order last year and posted a respectable 30/245/4 line as the No. 2 tight end. Tampa’s roster is loaded with skill-position talent that could depart this offseason, so there’s a chance Brate could be in-line for a fairly significant role in 2022. Blake Jarwin (Dallas Cowboys) – Injuries have torpedoed each of Jarwin’s last two seasons but with Dalton Schultz currently set to break the bank as our top-ranked free-agent tight end, there’s a small chance Jarwin reclaims the starting job in Dallas. Schultz is also a candidate for the franchise tag, but he’s essentially free right now, and acquiring him wouldn’t involve much dynasty capital. Sell High Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) – Kelce’s run as the undisputed No. 1 PPR tight end came to an end in 2021, with Mark Andrews taking top honors. As good as Kelce has been, it would be unprecedented for a tight end that will be 33 in October to continue to put up elite numbers. There is a notable drop-off in production for most tight ends when they turn 32, and Kelce’s receiving yards, yards per catch, and fantasy points per game figures from 2021 were his lowest in five years. Having Kelce as your fantasy starter has been a cheat code for most of eight seasons, but father time catches up to everyone, even the goats. Dynasty managers would be wise to be proactive now while Kelce will still bring a considerable asset haul. Hunter Henry (New England Patriots) – Among top-10 PPR tight ends from 2021, Henry had the fewest targets (75), yards (603), and receptions (55.) A full 32.8% of Henry’s total points came from his nine touchdown grabs. That’s not a sustainable number in a low-volume New England passing attack that should look vastly different sans Josh McDaniels. Among tight ends last season, Henry ranked 6th with 17 red-zone targets and second with 12 looks in the end zone. Even a small correction, which should be expected, could cause Henry’s fantasy production to drop precipitously. C.J. Uzomah (Cincinnati Bengals) – Uzomah had a career-best showing in 2021 but still only posted overall TE19 numbers. While an appearance in the Super Bowl is fresh on the minds of many football fans, Uzomah will likely fetch more in return than he will this summer. A free-agent who just turned 29, the Bengals will have no trouble finding a better option via the draft or could simply choose to push forward with Drew Sample, who was the club’s second-round selection three seasons ago.
2021 Dynasty League Rookie Deep Sleepers
This is a guest post contributed by @101chalk The players selected at the top of all rookie drafts in dynasty leagues usually end up on the worst teams in the league. Those middling teams and ones that failed on an
The players selected at the top of all rookie drafts in dynasty leagues usually end up on the worst teams in the league. Those middling teams and ones that failed on an opportunity to secure the bag are left scrounging around for the sleepers that either went unnoticed or ended up on the waiver wire. By finding those diamonds in the rough, you can gain a huge advantage in retooling for the following season.
Here are rookie sleepers at RB, WR, and TE that you should roster in hopes of uncovering a gem in your dynasty leagues.
Rookies Who Could Emerge in 2021
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson is the classic thunder-and-lightning type running back, filling in the former portion of such a duo. A physical grinder, Stevenson possesses an imposing stiff-arm much like former Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount (who many have comped Stevenson to). Even though Stevenson is a bruising back, he has demonstrated the ability to evade defenders near the line of scrimmage by using his athleticism (e.g., good footwork, solid contact balance, and spin moves)…
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Dynasty 2021 Devy Rankings
Looking at 2021 Heisman Rankings is a way to look ahead at the values of your future dynasty rookie picks when playing Dynasty fantasy football. In the coming weeks, our team will be writing up the top talent that will likely be the 2022 NFL Rookie class. Here’s a look at some of the top prospects. If you play Developmental (Devy) dynasty, you’ll already know these names. Bijan Robinson RB, Texas (draft class eligible 2023) Tank Bigsby RB, Auburn (draft class eligible 2023) Breece Hall, RB Iowa State George Pickens WR Georgia (acl injury) Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas Spencer Rattler QB, Oklahoma DJ Uiagalelei QB, Clemson (draft class eligible 2023) Jahmyr Gibbs RB Georgia Tech (draft class eligible 2023) Sam Howell QB, UNC Kayshon Boutte WR LSU (draft class eligible 2023) D’Eriq King QB Miami JT Daniels QB, Georgia Kedon Slovis QB, USC Jayden Daniels QB, Arizona State Chris Olave, WR Ohio State David Bell WR Purdue Bryce Young QB, Alabama (draft class eligible 2023) CJ Stroud QB, Ohio State Matt Corral QB, Ole Miss Max Borghi RB Washington State British Brooks RB North Carolina Marcus Major RB Oklahoma Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State John Metchie WR Alabama Casey Thompson QB Texas (rising out of nowhere) Do you play Dynasty Fantasy Football? Leagues are on sale NOW for the Dynasty Football World Championship. With over 800 teams already signed up for this season, it’s an incredible way to enjoy playing dynasty fantasy football. Every year we crown a Dynasty King, the team who scores the most points over a three year period. True dynasty greatness. Take your shot at glory and enter the Dynasty Football World Championship! Leagues starting as low as $75 per season. Superflex leagues too! As you can see the Hiesman Trophy winners are often fantasy stars.
2021 Dynasty Rookie ADP & Startup ADP
Enjoy Startup Draft Advanced ADP! We are tracking startup draft results from our high-stakes DFWC leagues which has created our Advanced ADP numbers!
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Superflex Dynasty Rookie Rankings – Round One
SuperFlex leagues are becoming more popular each year with the glut of the position of quarterback becomes more prevalent across the fantasy landscape. Seems every team even in 12 team leagues has 2 quality options to choose from on most
1. Trevor Lawrence, QB – Jaguars
Lawrence is a no-brainer at the top of any quarterback premium formats. He enters the NFL with top-10 dynasty value at his position and will be in position to further improve upon that value. The Urban Meyer-led offense is sneakily loaded with playmakers who will flourish under the arm talent of Lawrence. Expect DJ Chark and Marvin Jones to man the outside while second-year breakout candidate Laviska Shenault operates out of the slot. The dangerous tandem of Travis Etienne and James Robinson will provide a nice security blanket out of the backfield. Fire away with Lawrence at 1.01.
2. Justin Fields, QB – Bears
Despite being the fourth quarterback taken in the NFL draft, Justin Fields sits just below Lawrence at second overall due to his combination of elite arm and leg talent. Once the Bears bench Andy Dalton after four games, Fields will step in and immediately pay dividends for fantasy owners. A Dak Prescott-like rookie season is within reach with Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney being a thunder and lightning duo on the outside. Matt Nagy’s play calling will improve with the rookie phenom at the helm of the offense.
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Dynasty and Superflex Rookie Quarterbacks Outlook
In fantasy, an anchor at the Quarterback position is underrated. Many think you can just get one off the waiver wire, but having an Andrew Luck on your team proved to be quite valuable in years’ past. Is Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence – Clemson / 6’6″ – 213 lbs
After three years of wrecking the NCAA, our golden boy is finally entering the NFL. Lawrence holds one of the most impressive resumes in recent memory and looks to continue his success at the next level.
Lawrence brings his tall, skinny frame with hopes of adding muscle mass before facing off against NFL defenders. He is a polished passer, showing excellent accuracy and ball placement to all levels of the field. He has good arm strength and will not struggle to drive the ball down field. Lawrence is a great athlete who will not be afraid to tuck and run when the play breaks down, which adds an extra plus-element to his future fantasy value. Though he has been deemed a so-called generational prospect, Lawrence does need improvements in multiple aspects of his game. Disguised coverages can throw him off course and force ill-advised throws. His delivery and release can be a bit too long and slowz which could be problematic sooner than later. Lawrence remains one of the best quarterbacks to enter the league in the last decade, and he has a great chance to solidify himself as such.
- Grade: High-end starter – pocket passer
- Draft Projection: 1st Overall
- Projected DFWC ADP: 9th or 10th pick aggressively, no later than early 2nd. In Superflex he’s the #1 Rookie pick overall.
- Comparison: Justin Herbert
- Bottom Line: Lawrence is the 1.01 in any superflex or 2QB formats, even if you’re not a believer. Worst case, he will perform at a low-end QB1 level for years to come.
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Dynasty Rookie Tight Ends Outlook
Rookie tight end is a deeper than expected class this year which includes an elite can’t miss prospect, but what does that mean for dynasty rookie drafts in the Dynasty Football World Championships? Let’s take a deeper dive into the
Kyle Pitts – Florida / 6’6″ – 245
Pitts is an athletic freak who is able to work in-line, in the slot, and outside the numbers. He will be a gigantic mismatch in the red zone by using his size and massive catch radius. With excellent body control and ability to adjust to back-shoulder throws, Pitts will be impossible to cover man-to-man. He holds his own as a blocker and does surprisingly well creating lanes in the run game. Though he shows the potential to be a high-end weapon, Pitts is not a can’t-miss prospect. He struggles to separate against man coverage and isn’t a fluid athlete, albeit difficult to fully coordinate a 6’6″ frame. He often double-clutches the ball, which will allow defenders an extra chance to break up the play.
- Grade: High-end starter
- Comparison: Jimmy Graham
- NFL Draft Projection: 1st
- Projected DFWC ADP: Mid 1st Round
- Bottom Line: Pitts has the ability to be a high-end, pass-catching tight end should he improve his route fluidity. He’s far from a generational player, but he will be a Noah Fant-level weapon for years to come. Ease the hype just a bit, folks.
Pat Freiermuth – Penn State / 6’5″ – 245
Freiermuth is an all-around player who will excel as a blocker just as much as a receiver. He has a strong, well-balanced frame to help engage and hold blocks with ease. Freiermuth is comfortable hitting the seam and is tough to bring down with the ball in his hands. He tracks the ball well but needs to come down with a higher percentage of contested catches. His speed is slightly above average, but he wins in all other facets. Knowing when and where to sit down in coverage is a plus and will benefit his NFL quarterback almost immediately. Once he refines his route running and boosts his confidence in his hands, watch out for the Freiermuth explosion.
- Grade: High-end starter
- Comparison: (reserved for members only)
- Draft Projection: (reserved for members only)
- Projected DFWC ADP (reserved for members only)
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Preview: 2021 Rookie Wide Receivers Outlook – 1 of 2
Members enjoy this outlook of 2021 Rookie Wide Receivers Outlook to prepare you for your upcoming rookie dynasty drafts by our NFL Scouting Analyst Riley Bymaster. This Rookie Profile Feature is MEMBER ONLY and designed to help dynasty fantasy players evaluate the incoming crop of NFL Rookies. We’ll be releasing rookie profiles for all the prominent dynasty rookies, including Dynasty ADP, Dynasty Rankings, draft boards and more. Subscribe today and use the Promo TD30 for 30% off your first two months! The play of the 2020 rookie wide receiver class quickly rivaled that of the loaded 2014 class that included Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, and Allen Robinson. Coming off of a season where the world was formally introduced to Ceedee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, and Tee Higgins, among others, there is another set of uber-high expectations for the incoming rookie class. Be careful with going all in on the so-called depth of this group of wideouts as there are several well-known players who carry higher bust potentials than the community may believe. However, these first six receivers carry the top-heavy class. Ja’Marr Chase – LSU / 6’0” – 201 lbs Having opted out of the 2020 season, Chase left us salivating about his phenomenal 2019 year where compiled a whopping 1,780 yards on 84 receptions and 20 touchdowns. His teammate at the time, Vikings’ soon-to-be sophomore Justin Jefferson, was the clear-cut second option for the 2019 Tigers. Chase brings his running back-like frame to the position and is likely headed for the title of first receiver off the board in this year’s draft. On the field, Chase leaves little to be desired as he shows game-in and game-out what he brings to the table as an alpha wide receiver. He shows incredible hands and the ability to snatch and tuck the ball away quickly and safely. Chase’s ability to high-point the football and play above the rim is the best in the class, which will immediately translate to the NFL. He is solid after the catch and will shake a good number of tackles with the ball in his hands. Chase needs to improve the quickness in and out of his breaks, but he brings a well-rounded, elite skillset to the table. Grade: Elite starter Draft Projection: Top 10 Projected DFWC ADP: 1.02 Comparison: AJ Brown with a sprinkle of DJ Moore Bottom Line: Chase will enter the league and immediately become one of the top receivers in all the NFL. He is a sure-fire top 5 pick in every fantasy format with the potential of being a perennial All-Pro. Don’t pass on Ja’Marr Chase. Rashod Bateman – Minnesota/ 6’0” – 190 lbs The Minnesota product sat out most of the 2020 campaign after being diagnosed with COVID and losing 10 pounds in the process. After breaking out as a freshman with 700 yards and six touchdowns, Bateman and teammate Tyler Johnson roasted the rest of the BIG 10 throughout the 2019 season. Totaling over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns, Bateman proved to be a go-to receiver with significant room to grow. Bateman’s route running and ability to separate with ease will easily translate to the next level. He snags passes away from his frame and keeps his momentum in the process. He shows clean footwork in his releases off the line of scrimmage, which will give cover corners problems in the NFL. Bateman may struggle with fighting through contact with physical, handsy corner backs. He dominates in the short and middle areas of the field, but we would like to see him win vertically a bit more before he can take the next step into the elite group of NFL receivers. Grade: ???? Draft Projection: ???? Projected DFWC ADP: ???? Comparison: ???? Bottom Line: ???? This is reserved for our Premium Members. Click here to read the Member version or click here to subscribe. DeVonta Smith – Alabama / 6’1” – 170 lbs Deemed the “Slim Reaper” by many in the fantasy community, Smith is the newest product of the Crimson Tide wide receiver factory. After a Heisman-winning campaign in 2020 where he accounted for just under 1,900 yards, 117 catches, and 23 touchdowns, fewer concerns were raised about Smith’s razor-thin frame. He proved his worthiness of a first-round pick by dominating every single Saturday against tough SEC defenses. Smith is a fast player who likely falls between Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs on the explosion scale. He holds the biggest catch radius in the class as he’s able to catch any pass within a 10-foot radius. Smith has elite body control and has no issues adjusting to back shoulder or poorly thrown balls. He is a shifty runner after the catch and was used quite often on smoke and tunnel screens. His run blocking vastly improved from 2019 to 2020. Smith’s only concern is slightly leaning into his breaks when running deep posts or digs, but his NFL receiver’s coach should be able to tighten the screws relatively easily. Grade: Solid starter Draft Projection: 1st Round Projected DFWC ADP: 1.04 Comparison: Calvin Ridley on theoretical steroids Bottom Line: Smith is a natural playmaker whose weight will matter less than many may believe. He is best suited to play opposite of another elite receiver and may take a season to develop into his full potential. He is no worse than a top-three receiver in the 2021 class. Jaylen Waddle – Alabama / 5’10” – 180 lbs One of the most debated prospects in recent years, Waddle’s best collegiate season came during his first year on campus where he totaled 848 yards and seven scores on 45 receptions. Keep in mind this came on a loaded offense with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith, and Josh Jacobs. He suffered a brutal ankle injury against Tennessee during the 2020 season, which kept him off the field for the majority of the year. He hobbled his way through the national championship game which likely provided ambivalent feelings from scouts and NFL personnel.
2021 Rookie Wide Receivers Outlook – 1 of 2
The play of the 2020 rookie wide receiver class quickly rivaled that of the loaded 2014 class that included Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, and Allen Robinson. Coming off of a season where the world was formally introduced to Ceedee Lamb,
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