Over the past three weeks, I have looked at the 2025 Rookie Class and the upcoming 2025 Free Agent Class, and I have even discussed how to pivot off of CeeDee Lamb (while still profiting) through potential trades after Dak Prescott was lost for the season. But this week, it’s not about dynasty theory or long-term planning. It’s time to go to the mattresses, make that final push, and pull off the trade that can push your team over the top to win a dynasty fantasy championship.
I predominantly play dynasty on the FFPC platform. Week 12 is the trade deadline, and it is the last possible chance for FFPC managers to complete a deal. Several other dynasty formats will also have their trade deadline this week. This is it.
Plenty of articles out there — some good, some bad — will rattle off “buy low,” and “sell high” trade targets. But assuming the other managers you play with are not morons, a lot of those deals never come to fruition. I hope to provide realistic targets with varying degrees of cost. Making deals in difficult, competitive leagues can be challenging, but if you target the right players, trades can be completed. Remember, the goal is not to win every trade calculator but rather to put your team in a position to succeed.
Here are a few players you should consider trading for right now.
Trade Targets for Contenders
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31 Years Old
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off their bye week, and Mike Evans has returned to practice. Evans rejoins a Buccaneers wide receiver room depleted by injuries, creating opportunities for an alpha receiver to soak up targets — including plenty of high-value deep and end-zone opportunities. Evans could be red-hot to close the season and a significant factor in the fantasy football playoffs.
Last season, he finished as one of the top wide receivers in fantasy, posting a 23.4% target share, a 29.2% first-read rate, and a 41.4% air yards share. He ended the season as the WR10 overall, averaging 16.6 PPG. This season, he is currently WR23 in PPG with 13.6 through seven games. With Chris Godwin out for the season, Evans is poised to return to his 2023 numbers — or even exceed them.
Evans also has extra motivation: not only are the Buccaneers in the playoff hunt in the NFC South, but he is also chasing history. Evans is 665 yards away from securing another 1,000-yard season. If he hits that milestone, he will rank second all-time with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, trailing only Jerry Rice.
Looking ahead to 2025, Evans remains a viable fantasy option. Tampa Bay extended him this past offseason, ensuring he will have at least one more season with the franchise that drafted him. Evans makes for an excellent value buy for contending teams needing an extra boost in the flex or wide receiver position.
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers, 27 Years Old
Jauan Jennings has been on an absolute tear over the past two games. Jennings has averaged 20.7 PPG and the underlying metrics are even more impressive. Over this two-game stretch, he has a 32.8% target share, an air yards share of 38.8 %, and a 1st read rate of 41.3%. He is a lottery ticket that is actually cashing in. However, he also creates a quandary for dynasty managers: what should they do with him? There is a lot of eye-of-the-beholder valuation with Jennings, and that creates opportunities for trades.
Last week, I acquired Jennings in a TriFlex FFPC league as part of a package deal centered around me sending Stefon Diggs to a rebuilding manager. In another single-QB format, I got him straight up for a 2025 second-round pick.
There is a massive disconnect between his trade acquisition cost and his fantasy football production. Additionally, he may remain fantasy-viable in 2025. There will be target competition with Brandon Aiyuk returning, Ricky Pearsall a year older, and potentially another season from Deebo Samuel, but Jennings will not disappear. He is already on a team-friendly deal that he signed last offseason, and San Francisco could move on from Samuel and replace him with Jennings and Pearsall while saving a lot of money.
Dynasty managers who are contenders are unlikely to trade him away unless you significantly overpay. However, if you're in a league where a rebuilding, or middle-of-the-pack, manager holds Jennings, you might be able to acquire a high-upside wide receiver straight up for a 2025 second-round pick. He is being priced like a WR3 and has rest of the season WR1 potential.
Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants, 25 Years Old
I recently saw a dynasty manager — one of the sharpest I know in higher-stakes formats, like the FFPC — trade Tracy for Keon Coleman just last week. His team is in a bit of a rebuild, and trading a 25-year-old running back drafted on Day 3 for a 21-year-old wide receiver is usually the right move. But with Tracy, the usual rules don’t always apply.
Some dynasty managers have hesitation about Tracy as a long-term asset, creating an opportunity to make a move. Tracy has climbed rapidly in both weekly redraft and dynasty rankings, and his breakout could help fantasy managers in the playoffs and heading into 2025.
I’ll be higher on Tracy than most — not just for the rest of this season, but also looking ahead to 2025. He’s an outlier in draft capital, age, and production. Sure, his age isn’t ideal, but he hasn’t taken the kind of hits that others at his position have. Plus, Tracy is new to the position, with only one full college season at running back.
The Giants seem to understand what they have in Tracy, but their long-term plans aren’t exactly set in stone. A coaching change or a loaded draft class could change the story. While I don’t think the Giants will draft someone like Ashton Jeanty in the first round, there’s always a chance they target a running back on Day 2 or Day 3 of a deep draft.
That said, unless the Giants change how they value the position, it’s hard to see the same team that wouldn’t give Saquon Barkley a "Godfather" offer suddenly prioritizing running back this offseason—especially when they already have Tracy producing.
There’s some risk in acquiring Tracy, but the upside is enormous. He has the potential to take a big step forward in 2025 and deliver for your dynasty team now. Tracy could be the rare player who helps you win both now and in the long term, with an obtainable cost.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns, 28 Years Old
Dynasty managers often perform mental gymnastics when it comes to David Njoku. Even after a 9-catch performance, he remains an affordable, foundational tight end for your dynasty roster. At 28 years old, he costs less in dynasty trades than older TEs like George Kittle and is similarly priced to players in much worse team situations, such as Evan Engram.
Njoku can also be a smart pivot play for contenders with younger TEs who aren’t providing the scoring needed to win a championship.
Since Jameis Winston took over at quarterback, Njoku has averaged 14.7 PPG and shows no signs of slowing down. He has recorded four TE1 finishes in the seven games he’s played this season. His TE9 ranking on KeepTradeCut doesn’t reflect the short-term or long-term value he offers to dynasty managers.
Make an offer and see if your league-mates properly value him. Njoku could be exactly what your team needs at the TE position down the stretch.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans, 28 Years Old
This one takes little to no explanation: Mixon is one of the best players to roster in fantasy right now. He is on a remarkable scoring tear in his first season as a Texan, averaging 22.6 PPG and having the best season of his career.
With Nico Collins back at wide receiver, the Texans’ offense has the balance and firepower to continue providing Mixon with ample opportunities to deliver for fantasy managers. His RB12 price tag on KeepTradeCut is not cheap but also not prohibitive.
Mixon has several traits that make him stand out compared to other high-scoring, older running backs. He costs less than Barkley despite similar production, he is considerably younger than Derrick Henry, and he plays in a much better team situation than Alvin Kamara.
Mixon is more of a two-year window trade target than a "mercenary" target who will only provide value for the rest of this season.
Trade Targets for Rebuilding Teams
2025 2nd-Round Picks
Of course, you want to acquire 1st-round picks, but dynasty managers often undervalue 2nd-rounders — especially in FFPC formats. The two-flex and TE premium setup creates multiple pathways for 2nd-rounder viability.
I have multiple FFPC rosters featuring players like De’Von Achane, Sam LaPorta, and Jayden Reed. The acquisition cost for each of them was a second-round pick.
This year’s incoming draft class has depth at both RB and TE, and multiple intriguing, high-level players will be available in the second round.
JJ McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings, 21 Years Old
Kirk Cousins. Joshua Dobbs. Nick Mullens. Sam Darnold. The Minnesota Vikings continue to produce fantasy-friendly QB scorers in both short and long-term situations. Every single one of these players has had at least one QB1 weekly finish since the beginning of last season.
Darnold, transitioning from journeyman to productive weekly starter and poised to receive a significant payday this offseason, exemplifies everything you need to know about Kevin O’Connell’s system. McCarthy has the potential to surpass all of them in fantasy production. He has a big arm, solid accuracy, and the ability to make throws on the move. McCarthy had a 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan. He is a winner, and the Vikings will want to lead them for years to come. McCarthy also gives Minnesota the competitive advantage of starting a QB on a rookie contract.
McCarthy also has unknown rushing upside. He had a rumored 4.48 40-yard dash at Michigan, and even if this number is exaggerated, he still will bring noticeable speed and athleticism to the QB position. We saw glimpses of what a mobile QB can do in this offense when Dobbs was under center (does anyone remember Dobbs-mania on the Waiver Wire?). McCarthy could combine Cousins’ and Darnold’s passing numbers with elevated rushing production, and be the highest fantasy-scoring QB O’Connell has had.
If there is a team in your dynasty league rostering McCarthy with a glimmer of hope to win this season, make them an offer. You will be thankful you did so next season and beyond.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts, 22 Years Old
Here is a buy-low target who can deliver: Adonai Mitchell. He flashed in Week 10 with a 6 catch performance but was completely invisible in Week 11. Consistent scoring will likely be a struggle for him for the rest of this season.
Mitchell is fourth among all wide receivers over the past month in separation—a trait that typically translates well to fantasy production, though his breakout is more likely to come in 2025. Indianapolis could move on from Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason, potentially paving the way for Mitchell to become a full-time player.
He may never be cheaper than he is right now.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers, 21 Years Old
Brooks’ dynasty value and cost took a slight hit after Carolina extended Chuba Hubbard, but consider that a green light to send offers rather than a red flag to stay away. This one is straightforward: running backs in Dave Canales-led offenses have thrived over the past two seasons.
Last season, Rachaad White averaged 15.8 PPG, and this year, Chuba has been even better, at 16.3 PPG. We want talented backs in this offense. Even with Hubbard back in the fold, expect Brooks to be heavily involved. In terms of volume and touches, this could resemble a David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs situation.
Brooks is a big-time back with two-way ability as both a runner and pass catcher. Surprisingly, he is now less expensive than he was after the NFL draft, despite having returned from a major injury — a hurdle fantasy managers no longer have to worry about.
Roster talented players in advantageous schemes. Don’t let teammate competition steer you away from a player who could significantly accelerate your rebuild.
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants, 23 Years Old
Looking for a low-cost option at the TE position? Consider Johnson. The rookie could take a significant step forward in 2025 and thrive with improved QB play. He possesses the prerequisite athleticism needed to succeed at the position.
Johnson can be a "throw-in" type player in trades who could stick on your dynasty roster for years to come. We want athletic TEs, and few are more athletic than Johnson. His 9.93 RAS score ranks as the 9th highest at the position since 1987.
