After back-to-back gut-punch losses to the Jets and Bears, I'm officially throwing in the towel on the Bengals' 2025 season. Hopefully, they can get something at the trade deadline for Trey Hendrickson and any other expiring contracts. It's the same story for some of my dynasty teams. I tend to hang onto hope a bit longer than most, but with only five weeks left in the fantasy regular season, this is the perfect time to get maximum value for players who will lose a big chunk of their dynasty appeal by the time Week 17 ends.

Injuries have just crushed some dynasty teams with good rosters. Others were young and needed a few breaks to stay competitive, but didn't catch them. Either way, it's time to accept reality, throw in the towel on 2025, and start looking ahead to 2026. The good news is that there are monster players currently sidelined who will come at a major discount, so this is the ideal time to go shopping.

On the flip side, some teams are a piece or two away from making a real push for a dynasty championship in 2025. Maybe you've taken an injury hit, but still have enough depth and firepower to make a run with the right trade or two. I love this time of year because the math gets clean. It's never easier for both sides to come out ahead in a dynasty trade than when one team is chasing a title and the other is building for the future. That's what this article is about: giving you the context and numbers to find those win-win trades before your league's trade deadline.

My dynasty valuation process starts with something tangible: projected fantasy production. I calculate each player's short-term value by estimating their projected PPG minus the replacement-level production at their position. If the replacement level scoring for wide receivers in a PPR league is 11 PPG and a player projects for 21, his current-year value is 10. If he projects for 13 PPG, his current-year value is 2. You get the idea. From there, I estimate future-year values in the same way and apply a time discount to create the overall dynasty trade values that make up the baseline value numbers that are the essence of the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.

The benefit of this approach is that it cleanly separates current-year value from future value, which becomes especially important as the dynasty trade deadline approaches. Most trades this time of year happen between contenders and rebuilders, so this month's Dynasty Trade Value Chart breaks each player's total value into two components: 2025 value and future value.

With both 2025 value and future value calculations, I calculated the percentage of each player's total dynasty value that is based on their expected production for the rest of this season. We'll go position by position, highlighting players expected to lose the most value over the next two months (targets for contenders) and those expected to retain or gain value (targets for rebuilders). The 2025 value numbers are based on rest-of-season projections and midseason ADP from real drafts, while future value represents what's left of each player's dynasty value once the current-year portion is stripped away.

Win-Win Example: By the Numbers

Here's a good illustration of how putting numbers on player values can help both sides understand the value proposition and walk away happy. Suppose a contending team lost Cam Skattebo to a season-ending injury a few weeks ago and is looking to acquire Christian McCaffrey from a rebuilding roster.

In my current trade values, McCaffrey is worth 21 total points, with 12 tied to his rest-of-season production and 9 for his future value. Skattebo, meanwhile, is valued at 12 total, all of which is future value since he is out for the year.

From the contender's perspective, paying a premium for McCaffrey makes perfect sense. He is projected to lose more than half of his dynasty value by the end of the season, but that short-term production is exactly what a team chasing a title is buying. McCaffrey ranks at the very top of my rest-of-season value rankings and is projected to score around 12 PPG above replacement level, which is a massive number at running back.

From the rebuilding team's side, the logic flips. McCaffrey turns 30 next summer and is on pace for over 400 touches this season, which means his dynasty value will drop sharply once 2025 ends. Skattebo, on the other hand, offers future upside without any current-year opportunity cost.

A deal like Skattebo plus a small add-on, such as a mid-round rookie pick or depth piece, for McCaffrey could easily qualify as a true win-win. The contender gains elite production for the stretch run, while the rebuilder swaps a depreciating asset for one with rising long-term value and a sweetener on top. Holding onto McCaffrey on a non-contender would be close to dynasty malpractice. 

Tools and Full Values

As always, my most current dynasty trade values that can be adjusted to your specific format can be found in the Dynasty Trade Value Chart tool. Full listings of player values can always be found there.

To make this month's article easier to read, I have included image tables that feature the top targets at each position for contenders and rebuilding squads. I also want to make available a Google Sheet that has all of my trade values, including current and future values for the Top 300 dynasty players. 

Top 300 with Current and Future Values

Quarterback

The table above highlights several quarterbacks worth considering as trade candidates if you're not a contender (especially the top three names) and strong targets for teams in the playoff hunt looking to upgrade at QB2.

Matthew Stafford
It's hard to know how many more years Stafford plans to play, but if you're not contending this season, now is the time to move him. I estimate he'll lose more than 40% of his dynasty trade value once the 2025 fantasy season ends. Stafford has been on an absolute tear lately and now ranks as QB7 in fantasy points per game. He should be starting for a team with championship aspirations, not one playing for the future.

Jacoby Brissett
Two of the toughest quarterbacks to value in my Week 10 update were Brissett and Kyler Murray. Arizona's coaching staff continues to say Murray will start once he's healthy, but the offense has looked better with Brissett under center. There's no reason for the Cardinals to rush Murray back, and if they wait until he's fully ready, Brissett should get more opportunities. He's a solid depth target for contenders looking to cover bye weeks or injuries. There's also a non-zero chance he opens 2026 as a starter somewhere—possibly even in Arizona if the Murray trade rumors have any truth to them.

Sam Darnold
At midseason, Darnold ranks as QB13 and has been an excellent QB2 option. He's been hot lately, averaging 295 passing yards and 2.8 touchdowns per game over his last four. If you're a contender who has dealt with injuries to Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, Brock Purdy, or Kyler Murray, Darnold makes a strong plug-and-play target. He's still young and playing well in Seattle, which gives him short-term value and some long-term intrigue. The risk is that his track record is shorter than most of his peers, which makes him a tricky dynasty asset—he could either solidify his value with a strong finish or lose significant ground if his performance dips heading into 2026.

The table above highlights quarterbacks projected to lose the least amount of their current value over the next two months. These players are either currently discounted due to injury or not especially useful to contenders this season, but could be valuable in the years ahead.

Joe Burrow
This was one of the toughest players to value for 2025. All reports suggest Burrow's rehab is going well, and he appears on track to return around the start of the fantasy playoffs. The question is: why rush back for meaningless games in what looks like a lost season for the Bengals? I've hedged by setting his Superflex value for 2025 at just 2. Regardless of whether he returns this year, Burrow is the clear top target for rebuilding teams. Nearly all of his dynasty trade value is tied to future seasons. Seeing what Joe Flacco has done with Cincinnati's offensive weapons only reinforces Burrow's long-term appeal. He's an easy top-five quarterback projection for 2026 and beyond.

Jayden Daniels and Brock Purdy
The timelines for Daniels and Purdy to return remain uncertain, but both still project extremely well over the long term. That makes them strong buy-low options for rebuilding teams. If you can afford to wait out the injuries, their value should rebound once they're back under center in 2026.

Michael Penix Jr., Cam Ward, and C.J. Stroud
These three young quarterbacks are unlikely to lose much dynasty trade value in the coming months. Each offers room for optimism as their supporting casts develop and they gain more experience. In particular, Penix and Ward could take big steps forward once they have a full season of starts under their belts. We've seen talented young passers like Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Jared Goff struggle early before turning things around. If you don't already have multiple elite quarterbacks on your roster, stockpiling upside options like these is the next best strategy.

Running Back