The dynasty trade deadline begins in some leagues as early as the Week 12 kickoff, roughly two weeks away. The key window is upon dynasty teams to explore team direction-specific trades, whether in or out for the 2025 season. Reference New Reality 238, which breaks down how to assess your team strength beyond a win-loss record. Also, hedge on the side of contending. With five weeks to go in the regular season for most dynasty leagues, even being out of the sixth spot (typical playoff cut-off) by two games offers a legitimate chance to make a run. Be realistic but optimistic.
Additionally, something Jordan McNamara and I have frequently discussed on the Footballguys Dynasty Show in the past (and currently on the Dynasty Think Tank Show) is the significant difference between not contending this season and still maintaining a focus on contending the following season. Making a trade tilted for the future beyond the current season is different from gutting a team and creating a steeper uphill climb to compete the following year.
Here are suggested target players, at each position, by team direction, with their likely cost:
Contending Teams
The biggest pieces of advice for contending team trades are:
Make a dynasty trade. Carefully select player profiles that are durable beyond 2025, ideally aiding your title journey for multiple seasons. Generally, older, productive players are the ideal subset, as their price is a fraction of that of their younger peers who are similarly productive due to age erosion in the trade market.
Older running backs are typically some of the more treacherous acquisitions if paying a premium, which is why the suggested roster-building methodology includes strongly utilizing the waiver wire, as well as drafting them in rookie drafts, thereby preventing the need to trade for the position.
If trading away a future pick (as a contender), include 2026 picks instead of 2027. The phrase that applies here is "control the controllable." The known is you are a contender this year - the biggest factor in where those 2026 picks reside within the round. The 2027 picks are unknown, especially relative to the data points known for 2026 picks. Being nine weeks into this season is a significant advantage to projecting pick ranges compared to a null set of data, yet known from the 2025 season.
QB Joe Flacco, Cincinnati
Joe Flacco is QB2 in PPG since joining Cincinnati. Only Lamar Jackson (one game played over the span) bests Flacco on the shootout-centric Bengals. Flacco is easily the best bang-for-your-buck quarterback add as a contending team. Elite production and yet for a future 3rd (or even multiple 4ths) type package. Non-contending teams will not want to hang on to Flacco into the offseason. Even if solid at QB1/2, adding Flacco provides insurance due to bye weeks, injuries, or merely more upside than one of your options in a given week or matchup.
RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina
Rico Dowdle is third in the NFL in rushing yards despite being a clear starter for only about half of Carolina's games this season. Dowdle surged back to a clarified starting role over the slumping Chuba Hubbard in Week 9. In the three most likely weeks a fantasy team would have started Dowdle this season, Dowdle has 28, 32, and 33 points. Dowdle is a wrecking ball of upside for a non-elite price on the trade market. Carolina is a sneaky 5-4 heading into Week 10, and they only have one avoid-level matchup left on the strength-of-schedule docket for running backs (Rams in Week 13) remaining. The general level of Dowdle in the trade market ranges from a single future 2nd to an offer like Dowdle-3rd for 2nd-2nd. Another recent market trend is a sagging profile, similar to D'Andre Swift-2nd for Dowdle-3rd.
WR Courtland Sutton, Denver
Courtland Sutton is running more than 36 routes per game (a top 10 fantasy threshold) and is above his career average in yards-per-route-run this season. While a Davante Adams type is more impactful to add to a contender, Adams is more likely on a contending roster already. Sutton is cheaper and, likely, more accessible. Denver's lone avoid matchups are the two Kansas City games remaining, but two Las Vegas target matchups more than offset the strength of schedule. Sutton is readily available in the trade market for a future 2nd or a touch more.
TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City
Death, taxes, and Travis Kelce aiding contending dynasty teams. Kelce is TE8 on the season in PPG and TE4 in total points since Rashee Rice returned to the lineup. Kelce has almost hit his Vegas over-under for season yards as Kansas City hits its Week 10 bye. The explosive plays are back for Kelce, and a myriad of other weapons in the Chiefs' passing game (Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, Tyquan Thornton) are opening up more passing lanes and yards-after-catch opportunities for Kelce than in previous seasons. In premium formats, Kelce costs in the 2nd to 2nd+ range, while stock PPR is more in the 3rd-round pick zone of cost.
Non-Contending Teams
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