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Buy Low
D.J. Chark, WR, JAX - Chark provides league-winning potential with Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Oakland, and Atlanta still left on the schedule and Nick Foles back at quarterback. Nothing against Gardner Minshew, but Foles was hurt dropping a long score in the bucket in the corner of the end zone and Chark has been uncanny finishing plays this year. He’s already an every-week start at 23, and he should be one of the most coveted assets in dynasty leagues.
Gerald Everett, TE, LAR - The Steelers were able to take away Cooper Kupp in a development that short-circuited the Rams' third-down offense and delivered a season-high 12 targets to Everett. Brandin Cooks isn’t due back soon and Everett could emerge as a core target for Jared Goff as he gets suboptimal protection in the same way Austin Hooper did for Matt Ryan. His pedigree as a second-round pure receiving tight end implies a high ceiling with good quarterback chemistry.
Joe Mixon, RB, CIN - Can Mixon be pried from his dynasty team? It’s worth one more shot. His fantasy value is resuming usefulness, so teams might be more willing to ride out the stormy seas with him, but he’s probably not seen in the light a 23-year-old do-everything running back should be. He still looks like an ascendant talent despite having to paddle upstream, and he could be free of this organization in 2021 anyway. Bet on the talent and career arc.
Will Fuller, WR, HOU - Fuller was on a lot of redraft waiver wires and might not be seen as an essential piece. He hasn’t created a sustained impact this year so it’s reasonable to be dubious of a view that values him right now when he hasn’t even proven that he is healthy yet. Week 15 and 16 give us Tennessee and Tampa Bay and that’s really all you need to know. If you doubt Fuller’s ability to stay healthy, consider Kenny Stills as the buy here. If Stills makes you just as hesitant, maybe the answer is Darren Fells or Duke Johnson Jr. Someone is likely to be riding shotgun with DeAndre Hopkins to fantasy goodness here.
Brian Hill, RB, ATL - Hill is being seen as a mere one or two-week band-aid for fantasy lineups, but he could be much more than that. Ito Smith didn’t greatly distinguish himself with the opportunity he got and Qadree Ollison is a one-dimensional back. Hill isn’t outstanding in any way, but he’s functional in all facets of the game and has a physical, no-nonsense running style. Devonta Freeman isn’t known as a quick healer and he’s overpriced in upcoming years. Hill just might be the incumbent back next year.
TreQuan Smith, WR, NO - Remember Smith fever last year? He had one of the best non-Michael Thomas plays on offense last week and Ted Ginn Jr’s drops were especially costly, so the vectors might be changing here. Smith could feast against the Bucs secondary this weekend. It might be the last game before his arrow is pointing up again.
Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI - The Eagles need help in the passing game and Goedert is just the guy to do it. After the Patriots this week, they get Seattle, Miami, the Giants, and Washington in a string of weak pass defenses that should yield results for Carson Wentz. Goedert is more likely to draw a matchup he can win than Zach Ertz, who is an emphasis for opposing defenses allotment of coverage resources against a weakened pass offense.
Curtis Samuel, WR, CAR - Samuel is routinely getting open downfield and his numbers don’t reflect what could be there with a more advanced quarterback and better offensive line play. His ability to create big plays downfield hasn’t been nearly fully harvested yet, but against Atlanta twice, Washington, and Seattle over four of the next five weeks, he could become a key part of championship runs.
The trade deadline is here in many dynasty leagues. Here are some ideas for teams on both sides of the curve
Rebuild Sells
Mark Ingram, RB, BAL - The Ravens offense is an irresistible force and Ingram gets to punctuate drives enough to present a high ceiling on modest volume. He’s going to be 30 but many backs have been sustaining some relevance into their 30s lately and Ingram has looked as good as ever this year.
Marvin Jones, WR, DET - Jones is still in top form with his 30th birthday coming and a brief lull without Matthew Stafford may make him an easier target to acquire from a rebuilding team. He’s due 6.5 million next year, reasonable considering that the Lions have developed nothing behind him.
Damien Williams, RB, KC - Williams might not have value past this season and he could lose his grip on the starting job before the end of the year, but he is electrified with the scoring potential of the Chiefs offense and we all remember what he did down the stretch last year.
Travis Kelce, TE, KC - Kelce is probably still a year or two away from that Rob Gronkowski steep slowdown, but it’s coming. He has had multiple surgeries including microfracture and he’s getting up a little more slowly and gingerly more often than he used to. Patrick Mahomes II will maximize his value and you want multiple cornerstones for him, but it might be best to get out of Kelce positions if you aren’t primed to make a run this year or next.
Julian Edelman, WR, NE- Edelman is 33 and has been through the meat grinder, injury-wise. He might have another WR2/WR3 year or two left, but he also could be one severe injury away from role-player status.
LeVeon Bell, RB, NYJ - Bell is toiling away in a terrible situation that isn’t going to improve greatly next year now that we know Adam Gase will be back. His ability to take over games and a surrounding team that can allow him to do that are never going to intersect again but he might have a faint scent of that first-round aura still on him in the eyes of a team or two in your dynasty league.
Golden Tate, WR, NYG - Tate has been making huge plays since coming back from suspension. He also hasn’t had the full complement of Giants pass-catchers around him for any game, and he’s playing with a lot of players who are 25 or younger and on the upside of their careers.
Rebuild Buys
Dawson Knox, TE, BUF - Knox has ahead of schedule in development and his athleticism is standing out while being married to enough skill to start to matter in fantasy leagues despite playing in one of the lower wattage pass offenses.
Devin Singletary, RB, BUF - The Bills hemming and hawing about featuring Singletary is keeping a buy high window open.
Kareem Hunt, RB, CLE - Don’t forget Hunt is only 24. He looked like the player he was with the Chiefs and sooner or later will get to lead another backfield.
Noah Fant, TE, DEN - Fant’s huge catch and run touchdown might have been the kind of play that turns a career around and allows him to bring all of his gifts to bear on the field. He’s exciting to acquire, but the lack of nerve and poise showed before the Browns secondary parted like the Red Sea could resurface. He might actually be a good sell if you are a win-now team.
Robby Anderson, WR, NYJ - At some point, we have to believe Anderson’s ability will resurface. He’ll be subjected to the randomness of free agency, which could pair him with an ideal quarterback and increase his value, or force him into a downgrade at quarterback, but getting out of the morose Gase/Loggains offense and Jets franchise would be a plus in any event.
Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, WR, TEN - Brown might be untouchable, but Davis has fallen out of favor despite having a top-five pedigree. The Titans passing game has a pulse after flatlining under Marcus Mariota’s lead, but neither of these talents has come close to being fully utilized.
Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS - McLaurin’s numbers have been muted lately, but he had the kind of start out of the gate that indicates possible greatness, especially when you adjust for Case Keenum.
