The Dynasty Trading Post: Week 12

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: Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston has plummeted in market value to the QB40+ zone. Any previous quarterback with a profile of production and pedigree dropping to this range of low value is a buy candidate in premium formats. Winston fits well with a QB6 and QB10 finish in his career and QB18 as recently as last year in aPPG. Winston, Marcus Mariota, and others are ideal stashes even when devolving into primary backups, as they offer upside from there and potentially rebounding all the way to a clarified starter.

• Key trade idea: Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, 23 3rd for Chase Claypool

The Claypool side has the most dynasty market juice, but Claypool is hardly an insulated asset after being moved by Pittsburgh and struggling to find a role in Chicago. Dalton offers an NFL starter for now, plus fits the same criteria as Winston as a long-term dynasty Superflex stash profile.

• 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: Jameis Winston for Kenyan Drake, Ben Skowronek

Drake is a short-term spot starter with low upside, and Skowronek may not provide any quality starts after a dud game in Week 11 despite Cooper Kupp being out. Dealing away ancillary players plus shedding a roster spot for a waiver wire pickup is an ideal trade construction.

RUNNING BACKS

Theme of the Week: DAndre Swift

DAndre Swift's decline in usage in recent weeks, despite being cleared from the injury report, is one of the more perplexing running back situations of the season. Swift has shown elite upside at his best but has yet to string dominant play together for most of a season - while healthy - in his young career. Swift has dropped into the teens of the position by the trading market and was as high as RB2 last offseason. If believing in his talent and usage returning to alignment, RB10-15 is a quality value. On the flip side, if viewed as not a foundational back, this price still offers exit opportunities.

• Key trade idea: DAndre Swift, Chase Claypool, 24 2nd for Saquon Barkley

This points to retaining more of his previous value. Adding to Swift to gain Barkley is an optimal move, especially not having to include a future Round 1 pick.

• Key trade idea: DAndre Swift, Wan'Dale Robinson for Josh Jacobs, Josh Palmer

Jacobs is certainly an upgrade in the confidence of workload and usage for the near term. Jacobs is only one year older than Swift with the biggest question mark being his upcoming free agency. Swift is still locked into his rookie contract, but that may not be a good thing if falling out of favor in Detroit or is clearly behind Jamaal Williams.

• Key trade idea: DAndre Swift for Deebo Samuel, 23 2nd

If strong at the running back position and losing steam with Swift, rebalancing to a core wide receiver is one of the easier trades to execute. Shop to a team heavier at wide receiver or light at running back and these types of deals are well within reach.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Theme of the Week: Cooper Kupp

Any elite producer or profile with an extended injury offers a market opportunity between contenders and non-contenders to shift production from now to the future. Kupp will be 30 years old in 2023 but is on the elite producer spectrum. His price has fallen to the fringe of the top 10 wide receivers.

• Key trade idea: Cooper Kupp, Latavius Murray for Amari Cooper

A trade made by two fringe playoff contenders, losing Cooper is a loss for this season, but getting Murray back could be as valuable (or more) in the closing weeks as Cooper. Kupp is a year older than Cooper but offers more high-end upside in 2023 and beyond.

• Key trade idea: Cooper Kupp, 23 3rd for Jaylen Waddle

TIGHT ENDS

Theme of the Week: Juwan Johnson TE21

Juwan Johnson is up to TE13 in PPG on the season after a slow start. He has found the end zone five times over the past five games and surpassed 40 yards in a game six times through 11 games. Johnson is a wide receiver convert with a poor man's Darren Waller appeal to him. There is still a sturdy discount to his potential upside in the trade market in the TE20-25 range after being a free agent in the offseason and even in the early part of the season in many dynasty leagues.

• Key trade idea: Juwan Johnson for Parris Campbell

An ancillary wide receiver is a quality sell candidate in general for a starting running back or, in this case, upside at tight end. Campbell is, at best, a secondary receiver in the NFL and locked into that role in Indianapolis. Another example this week was Johnson traded straight up for Van Jefferson, a similar construction.

• Key trade idea: Juwan Johnson for Deon Jackson

The avenue to Jackson winning this trade is an extended absence by Jonathan Taylor or the perfect storm clarity for a key fantasy playoff week for Jackson in lineups. Jackson is the type of running back profile likely to be challenged or replaced in the offseason.

Check out all of Chad Parsons' content at Footballguys.