Photo: Troy Taormina, USA Today Sports

Welcome to the dynasty trading post, where optimizing strategy, roster construction, format, and player value oscillations are examined weekly in example and completed dynasty trades.

*All trades are Superflex unless stated otherwise*

QUARTERBACKS

Theme of the Week: Justin Herbert

Herbert continues to work his way down dynasty market value boards, now residing at QB6-ish in some circles, behind Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson of note. Herbert was QB2 at times in startup drafts in the 2022 offseason, even ahead of Patrick Mahomes II. Herbert is lagging in production this season compared to expectations at QB10 in PPG and the past two weeks have been among his three lowest fantasy scores of the season. However, Herbert's weapons have been gutted with Keenan Allen absent essentially all season, Mike Williams missing a chunk of recent weeks, and now Gerald Everett exited in Week 10. Herbert is throwing to DeAndre Carter and Michael Bandy far too much to be a credible NFL passing game.

Buy the dip, and the short-term struggles as Herbert still has a quality 1.21 TD-INT Rate Ratio this season (1.00-1.10 is the NFL average range and is 1.37 for his budding career. The big difference this year for Herbert is his TD rate is 5.5% (per completion) compared to his career rate of 7.6%.

• Key trade idea: Justin Herbert for Tee Higgins, 23 1st, 23 3rd

In terms of asset scarcity, a stud quarterback profile is more rare than a promising young wide receiver not named Justin Jefferson or JaMarr Chase.

• Key trade idea: Justin Herbert, 23 3rd for Justin Fields

Fields was covered in last week's edition of The Dynasty Trading Post, and this week, the price has shifted all the way to getting Herbert+ for Fields. Herbert is on his way toward three straight top-12 seasonal finishes to begin his career, while Fields is seeking his career first in 2022.

• Key trade idea: Justin Herbert for Kenny Pickett, Zach Wilson, 23 1st, 24 2nd

The other side can keep adding ancillary pieces, which is still not enough to give up Herbert. Wilson and Pickett are on the bust path through 1.5 and 0.5 seasons, respectively, and leveling up at quarterback in premium formats is a fast track to contending consistently with anchor players at an anchor position.

RUNNING BACKS

Theme of the Week: Elijah Mitchell

Mitchell is one of the recent examples of being pricey (compared to his pedigree) within the prism of NFL starter but has now sagged down to the RB40s in the NFL backup or RB2 prism. Christian McCaffrey is in town and Mitchell will largely be an injury-away option. However, we did see Mitchell as lineup viable in Week 10 with a run-heavy outcome for the 49ers.

• Key trade idea: Elijah Mitchell for 23 2nd