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.
This week, we will analyze Cooper Kupp and Adam Thielen as dynasty buys for contending teams.
*All trades are Superflex unless stated otherwise*
WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Theme of the Week: Seek Elite
With Puka Nacua's hot start to his career in the absence of Cooper Kupp, the question mark would be how the two would co-exist. The gravitation pull of Kupp has not waivered since his return two games ago, with a ridiculous 3.86 YPRR (yards-per-route-run) while seeing a target on 32% of his routes. Only Tyreek Hill is hitting 3.00 YPRR and 0.30 TPRR thresholds this season. Cooper also hit the marks in his historic 2021 season. Kupp is WR3 in expected PPG and is actually below his expectation for touchdowns. The density of future WR1 seasons with Kupp's mid-career profile is outstanding with recent names like Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, and DeAndre Hopkins among active players. Also, Antonio Brown, Reggie Wayne, and Marvin Harrison are among the notable retired names. Investing in Kupp is more than a 2023 bet on the upside as 1-2 more elite seasons is the median expected outcome from this profile. Elite players stay elite and bend age curves more than merely good players at their peak.
Here are a few key Kupp trades this week with him as a buy recommendation:
- Kupp for Trey Palmer, 2024 1st
- Kupp for Darnell Mooney, Luke Musgrave, 2024 1st
- Kupp for Tyjae Spears, Nico Collins
- Kupp, 2024 3rd for Jayden Reed, 2024 2nd, 2024 2nd
Giving a future 1st is a very common inclusion for Kupp deals. If a contender and adding an auto-start elite producer like Kupp, giving a 1st is palatable if already exhausting wielding the 1st in an attempt to upgrade at quarterback in Superflex. If it is a 1QB format, using your 1st for Kupp is an easy decision.
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WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
Theme of the Week: Bridging the Gap
Thielen is the most traded player on MyFantasyLeague.com this week. As the WR6 in PPG and at 33 years old, it is easy to see the market for Thielen as an affordable buy for contending teams and a sell candidate for teams falling out of the race. In Year 10, the comps for putting up a top-12 season are seven peers of Thielen. Terrell Owens and Randy Moss are the alien profiles, with Owens accruing four more top-12 seasons beyond Year 10 and Moss finishing as WR5 and WR15 in seasons beyond this point. Marvin Harrison added another WR1 overall year, and Reggie Wayne posted another top-12 season as well. The other three receivers in the sample size are Brandon Marshall (WR53 peak beyond Year 10), Andre Johnson (WR13 and WR30 seasons), and Julian Edelman (essentially done beyond Year 10). Overall, this is a quality sample size not to assume Thielen is a wrung-out bar rag projection after 2023 in his career arc. Thielen is arguably the cheapest strong production available in the dynasty wide receiver market.
What is the market to buy Adam Thielen?
- Thielen for 2025 2nd
- Thielen for Elijah Moore
- Thielen for Damien Harris, 2026 2nd
- Thielen, 2026 2nd for Kadarius Toney, Tutu Atwell, 2024 3rd
- Thielen, 2025 3rd for Miles Sanders, 2024 4th
The theme here is affordability, especially the final two trades, which do not even include a future 2nd in the package. That is the 1.0 trade plan for acquiring Thielen - offer ancillary wide receivers or running backs, a future 3rd, and some combination of those assets to gauge the market.
Check out all of Chad Parsons' content at Footballguys.
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