With only a couple of weeks before the NFL Draft, now is a great time to make anticipatory moves since rosters aren’t set in stone yet. The best way to improve your squad and optimize your returns is to buy low and sell high. Our featured analysts are here to identify which players fit that bill to give you the early edge in your 2021 championship chase!
More Dynasty Advice:
Dynasty Rankings | Rookie Rankings
Practice fast dynasty and rookie mock drafts with our free Mock Draft Simulator
Expert | Buy Low | Sell High |
Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches) | Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA) | Chris Carson (RB – SEA) |
Rich Piazza (Fantasy Shed) | Joe Mixon (RB – CIN) | Derrick Henry (RB – TEN) |
Scott Engel (RotoBaller) | Michael Thomas (WR – NO) | Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) |
Matt Okada (BallBlast) | Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) | David Montgomery (RB – CHI) |
Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros) | Terry McLaurin (WR – WFT) | Mike Evans (WR – TB) |
Andrew Gould (FantasyPros) | Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND) | Leonard Fournette (RB – TB) |
Q1. Which player are you buying now in dynasty leagues and why? Also, what are you willing to give up to get him?
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #56
“Tagovailoa is being overlooked by doubters about his ability to perform at the NFL level or fantasy. Many fantasy owners continue to view his 2020 performance as his future dynasty value. Let’s remember Tagovailoa was coming off a significant hip injury that occurred in the prior November of 2019. The weapons surrounding him were less than mediocre at best. Now the Dolphins are soaring in the right direction with Will Fuller’s addition and likely two offensive weapons in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. Tagovailoa had the second-best accuracy rating last season, and the new weapons surrounding him should bring back the talent that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft. I’d be willing to give up a late first-rounder and a player in Superflex leagues to acquire the young quarterback.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)
Joe Mixon (RB – CIN): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #42
“Try to put personal feelings aside and leave the past in the past. The general manager who rosters Mixon has probably had enough and his price may never be cheaper. At just 25 years old during the upcoming season, Mixon still has plenty of time to reap the rewards of what could potentially be a steal of a trade. Cincinnati has moved on from Gio Bernard, so the opportunity for Mixon to take on an even more prominent role is there. Of course, injuries are a concern, but that is also part of why his price tag will be what it is. If it doesn’t work out, you won’t regret buying him because of the price you paid. A mid-tier player and an early second-round pick could get it done if the GM is ready to move on, but he is still worth a back-end first-round pick as well.”
– Rich Piazza (Fantasy Shed)
Terry McLaurin (WR – WFT): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #36
“I think we’ve only scratched the surface of McLaurin in Washington. He’s been remarkably consistent over his career, despite remarkably inconsistent quarterback play from his teammates. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, we could see the ceiling of this wide receiver finally unlocked. Tyler Boyd (if the Bengals don’t draft Ja’Marr Chase) or Robby Anderson/DJ Moore and a late 2nd/early 3rd round pick I think could get it done.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #111
“Pittman Jr. hardly set the NFL ablaze as a rookie, catching 41 of 60 targets for 503 yards and one touchdown in 13 games. Those numbers don’t include his 90 receiving yards on a career-high 10 targets on Wild Card Weekend, and an 87.0% true catch rate indicates he was reliable on accurate throws. The 6’4″ wideout possesses quickness and an excellent catch radius that Carson Wentz should utilize more in Indianapolis. Pittman could emerge as the Colts’ top pass-catcher this season, and he may be attainable as a WR3/4 type for Corey Davis, James Conner, or a fringe starting tight end.”
– Andrew Gould (FantasyPros)
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #59
“The last time we saw Sutton play a full season – as a second-year receiver in 2019 – he had 1,112 yards, 6 TDs, and finished as the WR19 in PPR, with a hideous mixture of Joe Flacco, rookie Drew Lock, and first-time starter Brandon Allen at QB. He is a 25-year-old, bonafide WR1-type talent with double-digit TD upside, is entering what is essentially his 3rd NFL season (breakout alert?), and should get a shiny new QB in the 2021 Draft. I’m willing to pay a mid-to-late first-round pick for Sutton, but I think you can probably snag him for an early 2nd, given the complete lack of hype on this star-in-the-making.”
– Matt Okada (BallBlast)
Michael Thomas (WR – NO): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #32
“I believe some dynasty players are down on Michael Thomas with Drew Brees retiring. No matter who the QB is, he will still get tons of targets. Every trade discussion is different based on needs, but I would see if I could start talks with an RB2 type.”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)
Q2. Which player are you selling now in dynasty leagues and why? Also, what kind of return are you looking for?
Chris Carson (RB – SEA): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #71
“Carson is an excellent candidate to sell high right now. He just signed that two-year deal, which will likely end his low-end RB1 status once it expires. Carson will be 27 at the start of the regular season and has produced over 900 all-purpose yards in the last three seasons. He averaged 15.7 fantasy points last season, which ranked 11th in the league. An owner looking for a solid RB2 will want a running back like Carson. Owners who are rebuilding should look to sell him to acquire assets. This 2021 draft class’s weakness at running back depth could cause a contending team to trade a late first-round pick to have his service for the upcoming year.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)
Derrick Henry (RB – TEN): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #14
“Selling Henry after a 2,000-yard, 17-touchdown season might sound crazy, especially since he is just 27 years old. However, Henry’s age isn’t the issue here. His near 700 carries over the last two seasons alone is what worries me. We can’t ignore the bruising running style Henry carries the ball with, and at some point, the hits are going to wear on him, even at his size. The longer you wait to trade a running back, the less of a return you can expect back, and Henry’s value will never be higher. You could fill many needs on your roster by trading him now and you could also get an early pick to replace him with a promising rookie rusher.”
– Rich Piazza (Fantasy Shed)
Mike Evans (WR – TB): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #50
“Evans has had a wonderful career and soldiered through nagging hamstring issues the last few seasons. Last year’s career-high 13 TDs hid the fact he reached 100 yards receiving in a game just four times in 2020. He also had 7 games under 50 yards receiving. Evans is not “done”, but this is probably the peak of his remaining dynasty trade value going forward. If you could package Evans and a 2nd rounder for AJ Brown or bring in say a Jerry Jeudy or Michael Pitman Jr. (plus a pick) for Evans, I would take that deal and move on from him after a season where everything broke right for Tampa Bay.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Leonard Fournette (RB – TB): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #107
“Fournette is back with the Buccaneers after playing a leading role in their Super Bowl run. After totaling 448 yards in four postseason victories, many fantasy players might assume he’ll carry that momentum into the 2021 campaign. If only Bruce Arians ever made things that simple. Ronald Jones, who was dealing with a finger injury last winter, is still in the fold. Ke’Shawn Vaughn will compete for more opportunities in his second season, and Tampa Bay just made the backfield even more crowded by signing Giovani Bernard. Perhaps there’s a window to swap Fournette for a pre-breakout sophomore such as A.J. Dillon or Laviska Shenault Jr. ”
– Andrew Gould (FantasyPros)
David Montgomery (RB – CHI): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #60
Why sell a 23-year-old RB coming off an RB4 finish in PPR? Because, in my opinion, that is Montgomery’s absolute ceiling. He had 68 targets and 54 catches in 2020 because All-Pro 3rd-down back Tarik Cohen missed essentially the entire season. He had 247 carries because there was nowhere else to turn on this talentless roster. I expect the offense to balance out a bit in 2021 and beyond, and Montgomery is not dynamic or explosive enough to remain a high-end RB1 with 20 percent fewer touches.”
– Matt Okada (BallBlast)
Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN): Dynasty Superflex Rank: #18
“I would actually see what I could get for Justin Jefferson. I might be able to get a very nice RB in return. Many dynasty players overrate youth compared to proven performers that are not quite done. He is being drafted ahead of Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams, who are more proven and still have a lot of top-level seasons left. I’m not looking 10 years into the future, as much as I like Jefferson too.”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)
Thank you to the experts for naming their trade candidates. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio