There are so many podcasts, articles, YouTube shows — you name it — telling you which players to buy low and sell high in Fantasy Football. Dynasty leagues are no different, and in fact, trading activity ramps up due to the concepts of rebuilding and contending. Often, we are inundated with this kind of trade talk throughout the Fantasy Football industry.
However, there is a rare concept that can pay off big in the long term. It requires a certain amount of risk, and to an extent, a lot of skill. That is the concept of buying high.
Buying a commodity that has already gained value is a difficult concept for some Fantasy managers to accept. This isn’t a situation where you’re making speculative plays. It’s also not about accumulating a number of draft picks and spreading your chances by hoping multiple players will hit. Instead, it’s about saying, “I want to invest in a great situation, even if the price is high, because I believe in its long-term value.”
No one is going to give you a discount with these players- far from it. Opposing managers are going to hold your feet to the fire- and it may still be worth it.
There is one rule with buying high — don’t be wrong on your valuation. If you are going to pay a premium price, then you need to get a premium return on value.
Here are a few players that have gained considerable market value and are still terrific trade targets. These players can become foundational pieces for your dynasty roster this season, and give you an edge in winning a league championship.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, 27 Years Old
Philadelphia is on bye week, and it may be the perfect time to send the Barkley manager an offer. No, I do not love recommending older RBs as trade targets, but Barkley looks like the league winner at the position. He also has a two-year window — at least — in Philadelphia. He has two 30+ point weeks. This is a player wh0 could push your team over the edge and open up a two-year championship window. If you are already a contender, push the chips in right now and make an offer for Barkley.
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans, 25 Years Old
The Dynasty marketplace has not fully adjusted to what Collins is. It is starting to shift, but not in the dramatic fashion that Collins’ level of play deserves. Collins is already worth more in dynasty than any member of the 2022 NFL Draft class of WRs (London, Olave, Wilson), but there are still managers who would accept one of those three along with another piece in a 2-for-1 trade.
Collins was ranked as a WR2 in many dynasty rankings this summer—even in sharp ones. The market will soon realize that he should be ranked somewhere around dynasty WR6-8. Scott Barrett compared him to an NFL legend in this week’s Everything Report.
In Week 2, I traded Puka Nacua and a 2025 3rd for Collins. An offer like that would be laughed off at this point, but it is a solid starting point to see if there’s a glimmer of hope in acquiring a rare Alpha WR1 producing at the level Collins has this season.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers, 24 Years Old
Jayden Reed, much like Collins, will have at least a fair number of dynasty managers who view him as a “sell high” candidate. I think we are only beginning to see Reed tap the surface of what he can be — an explosive per-touch killer capable of taking over the week and winning it. He has the explosive element to his game that we have seen out of unique talents like Tyreek Hill and Deebo Samuel. Matt LaFleur seems to know it. Jordan Love certainly knows it. Does the rest of your league know it? I have Reed as WR8 overall for the rest of the season.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys, 25 Years Old
Ferguson was knocked out of the game in Week 1 and missed Week 2. Weeks 3 and 4 have been everything we want to see usage-wise at the TE position. Over the two-week span, Ferguson has had a 21.8% target share, a 21.4% 1st read target, and a .27 TPRR. His role is locked in as Dallas’ #2 target behind CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson has Top-3 TE potential.
Consider making an offer on these players RIGHT NOW. Their value could continue to grow throughout the season, and your October price paid could look like a steal in November.
Those players are not the only ones worth mentioning. There were plenty of players who gained and lost dynasty value in Week 4.
Stock Up
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings, 22 Years Old
Jordan Addison was a curious case this offseason. A first-round draft pick out of USC in the 2023 NFL Draft, Addison arrived in Minnesota with a lot of promise and quickly delivered. Addison etched his name in the Minnesota record books around legendary Vikings. He finished second in franchise history in receiving TDs by a rookie with 10 — behind Randy Moss, and caught the most passes by any Vikings rookie - besides that Justin Jefferson guy.
Instead of praising Addison, the dynasty and redraft community poked holes in his game. “Unsustainable TD rate,” “QB issues,” and “target competition” were all coupled into one mega argument. Addison became extremely affordable in dynasty startups and redraft and an afterthought of sorts for many.
Addison missed Weeks 2 and 3, but returned with a bang in Week 4. He scored — you guessed it — two TDs in Minnesota’s big win over Green Bay. Addison now has 12 TDs in 19 games as a pro. The analytical arguments against Addison are there, but he is a big play artist in one of the league’s best offenses. His target share was only 14.3%.
Minnesota has one of the best offenses in the league right now and it is one that we want exposure to. Addison’s upside potential is one that cannot be ignored. Sam Darnold is playing at an incredibly high level. Expect more TDs for a player that has proven to be very good at consistently scoring them.
Brian Thomas, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars, 21 Years Old
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a trainwreck, and that has shrouded attention away from Brian Thomas Jr.’s recent breakout. Jacksonville drafted an absolute stud in Thomas Jr., and it is beginning to show on a weekly basis. BTJ has been targeted nine times in consecutive weeks — a massive leap in target volume. Per Fantasy Points Data, he has earned a 22.8% target share and a 1st Read Target % of 27.3. In Week 4’s 24-20 loss to Houston, he had his best game as a pro. Thomas Jr. finished with 6 catches for 86 yards and a TD, and added a 13-yard rush.
Last season, Calvin Ridley finished the year as WR18 overall. Through four games played, Thomas Jr. is outpacing him and is currently the WR14. He is second among all rookies in receiving yards with 275, and trails only Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. in PPG with 14.5.
Expect Thomas Jr. to continue to gain dynasty value throughout the season. If your leaguemate does not realize what they have in him, make an offer.
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers, 23 Years Old
Diontae Johnson is not the only WR ascending in the Andy Dalton led Panthers offense. Legette was one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2024 rookie class of WRs. He committed the unforgivable dynasty sin of having a late career breakout. His final season at South Carolina was special. Legette finished the year with 71 catches for 1255 yards and 7 TDs at the highest level of competition in college football. But his production in his previous 41 games was nonexistent.
While early-career breakouts are great indicators of future success, outliers exist, and Legette appears to be one of them. He has ideal size (6-1,221) and athleticism (4.39 40, 40” vertical leap). Carolina traded into the 1st round of the NFL draft to select him with the 32nd overall pick. Adam Thielen’s injury has propelled him into a much larger role, and he is producing.
In Week 4’s loss to Cincinnati, Legette finished with a 24.4% target share and a 33.8% air yards share. He set career highs with 10 targets, 6 catches for 66 yards, and scored a TD. Legette is a perfect compliment to Diontae Johnson, and should maintain a strong role moving forward. He could prove to be a steal from where drafters had to select him in rookie drafts.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers, 24 Years Old
Brock Purdy continues to provide exceptional value to dynasty managers, and certainly to the San Francisco 49ers. Purdy may be providing the best ROI in pro sports. With a contract of only $985,000 Purdy is easily the lowest-paid starting QB in football this season. He broke out in a small sample size his rookie season, then exploded in 2023 in year two. Purdy led San Francisco to the Super Bowl, and finished as QB6 overall in fantasy along the way.
Any thought that Purdy would be a one-year fantasy wonder have quickly been dismissed early this season. Despite Christian McCaffrey missing the entire season, and Deebo Samuel and George Kittle each missing games, Purdy still is 2nd overall in the NFL in passing yardage. He leads all starting QBs in YPA with 9.2. He has a great opportunity to finish as a QB1 for the second consecutive season.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks, 23 Years Old
It is time to have a conversation about Kenneth Walker being a Top 5 back in dynasty. I was bullish on Walker heading into the season, and had him as one of the dynasty winners of the entire offseason.
There was a lot to like. Walker had shown that he was good at football and could make a fantasy impact with spike week potential. A new coaching staff promised a more aggressive and stylistically fantasy-friendly approach than the previous staff. Walker was praised by both head coach Mike Macdonald and OC Ryan Grubb multiple times this summer. Everything was shaping up for Walker to have his best season as a pro.
So far, Walker’s level of play has been outstanding. He missed Weeks 2 and 3, but his Week 1 and 4 outputs were as good as it gets. Walker has averaged a jaw-dropping 26.5 PPG. 40.6% of his rush attempts have gone for 5+ yards. His target share of 9.9% may not jump off the page at you, but it is significantly higher than his previous marks of 6.9% and 6.4%.
Just as promising as Walker’s play has been the level of RB production Seattle backs have had under Grubb. In Weeks 2 and 3, Zach Charbonnet finished as an RB1 with scoring outputs of 17.8 and 25.7 points. Seattle has four straight weeks with a RB1 finish. This offense is trending up, and Walker is the focal point. His 33-point outburst in Week 4 could be the first of many spike weeks.
Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers, 23 Years Old
Can you imagine the excitement levels Christian Watson fantasy managers would be having right now if Watson produced a 5-78-2 stat line on 13 targets AND scored 24.8 points on the week? Well a Green Bay WR just did that, but it was Wicks. All off-season, Wicks was like a secret across the ball-knowing community — this stud WR that nonball knowers just did not understand.
Part of the argument for Wicks is that Watson could not stay healthy. Well on Sunday, we saw just that. Watson is now dealing with an ankle injury. Early indications are that it is not a major one. Regardless of Watson’s return date, this is an opportunity for Wicks to cement his role for the rest of the season. This is a competent coaching staff. If Wicks played like he did on Sunday, he can earn a prominent role for the rest of the season and possibly beyond.
Stock Down
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville, 24 Years Old
Remember all the nice things I said about Brian Thomas. earlier? Well, we have major concerns about the fantasy viability and dynasty value of his QB, Lawrence. One of the best QB prospects in the last 10 years, Lawrence was viewed as a transformative piece for a dynasty roster. He arrived in Jacksonville as the franchise savior, but for most of his career, he has been anything but.
To his credit, Lawrence rebounded from an awful 2021 rookie year to become one of the most improved QBs in both fantasy and real-life success in 2022. He finished as QB12 in PPG and saw his TD passes increase from 12 as a rookie to 25. Lawrence had a lot of momentum under Head Coach Doug Pederson heading into year three. He had the weapons, with newly acquired Calvin Ridley supporting 2022 free-agent signings Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. Lawrence’s redraft and dynasty startup value soared — he was routinely selected as a mid-level QB1 — before falling flat with a disappointing QB13 finish.
The market cooled on him this season, but he still cost dynasty managers significant draft capital in superflex dynasty startups. He was often selected ahead of players like Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy. There are more than a few managers out there who might want a do-over.
Lawrence is currently QB25 in PPG, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-4 — the only winless team in football. Pederson will likely be the first NFL coach fired this season. Lawrence has an abysmal 53.3% completion percentage, and he ranks 34th in YPA at 5.98. The Jaguars are reeling, and so is Lawrence’s dynasty value.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets, 24 Years Old
No, this is not an argument for you to sell or an impassioned plea suggesting that Wilson isn’t a great player to have on your roster. This is simply a reality check.
Two things are true when it comes to Wilson. One, he is very good at football. Objectively, he does many things that jump off the screen when you watch him play, and he certainly looks like a player worthy of the Jets' Top Ten pick in the NFL Draft. Two, he will never deliver on what we wanted him to be in fantasy football—at least not right now. Much like other members of the 2022 WR class, Wilson is really more of a very solid WR2 than a high-end WR1. And he certainly isn’t the dark horse WR1 overall candidate that I and many others hoped he would be this past offseason.
Many things have gone incredibly wrong for Wilson during his first two seasons in the league. No high-profile WR has had to deal with the ineptitude at the QB position that Wilson has faced. To his credit, Wilson has proven to be a target magnet—he had 315 targets in his first two seasons. In that same span, he caught 178 passes and went over 1,000 receiving yards in both seasons. The argument for Wilson in 2024 was that with improved QB play and consistency from Aaron Rodgers behind center, he could finally take that massive leap forward and give Jets fans and dynasty managers alike the top 5 WR season they’ve been craving.
So far, we’re woefully far from that. While Giants rookie Malik Nabers has set the NFL on fire with a blazing start to his career, Wilson currently sits at 7 PPG—60th among all WRs. He even trails Allen Lazard (11.4, 34th). His 34 targets are tied for 9th in fantasy. Yikes.
Do I expect this number to improve? Absolutely. But Wilson’s dynasty trade value has already taken a significant hit. Unless we see a CeeDee Lamb 2023 post-bye week change in offensive philosophy, Wilson will remain in WR2 purgatory for the rest of the season.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons, 23 Years Old
We have reached Defcon 5 with Kyle Pitts’ dynasty stock. He scored 0 points in Week 4. We cannot blame Arthur Smith for this one. His route participation reached a season low 58.3% — a startling drop that has been on a steady decline since Week 1. Pitts’ PPG average is 6.1 which is lower than his 2022 or 2023 marks.
Multiple coaching staffs and multiple OC have used Pitts sporadically. This is beginning to become a trend, and not a good one. He is still young, and that is certainly a redeeming factor for his dynasty value, but the situation is at catastrophic levels for his short term value.
Pitts is right there with Mark Andrews for biggest fantasy disappointment at the TE position.
Dynasty Watch List
AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks, 23 Years Old
I wrote about Erick All a few weeks back, and Barner could soon be joining him as an appealing Big Ten to the NFL rookie TE scooped up across multiple dynasty leagues. Barner caught two passes for 27 yards and a TD. He outsnapped Pharaoh Brown, trailing only Noah Fant in TE snaps.
Tyrone Tracy, RB, New York Giants, 24 Years Old
I was very bullish on Tracy as a target late in dynasty rookie drafts this past offseason. A converted WR, Tracy has size, speed and an intriguing skillset. He could see significant workload if Devin Singletary misses Week 5 with an injury.
Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco, 24 Years Old
Jordan Mason continues to perform at a high level. We still have absolutely no sample size on how long Mason can keep this up at the NFL level. Could the increased volume clear a path for Guerendo at some point this season?
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens,
Derrick Henry and Justice Hill have been terrific. Henry looks like a league winner, and Hill is providing juice in the passing game as the RB2. Speculative fantasy managers should consider scooping up Mitchell. He is currently an afterthought, but an injury to either Henry or Hill could provide a pathway in the second half of the year for Mitchell to contribute. He is not close to being ready to play, but he was a Harbaugh/Monken favorite in 2023. Mitchell had three RB2 or better performances in 8 games played.
