It’s time to hedge your bets and sell early before free agency hits. Let’s talk about players to sell now and capitalize on at their current value.
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Dynasty Players to Trade Before Free Agency
Trade these players now before the start of NFL free agency.
David Montgomery (RB – CHI)
Don’t get me wrong – I love David Montgomery and have enjoyed rostering him as an RB2. He’s a true three-down back, and when given the opportunity at full health, he’s thrived. But there is just no good scenario ahead for Montgomery. Chicago is likely moving on from Montgomery with two young backs on the roster, Khalil Herbert and Trestan Ebner. Once franchise tags and extensions shake out, Montgomery will likely be one of the top 5 backs on the market. The problem is that very few teams will look to give Montgomery a three-down back role, and the 2023 draft class is deep at running back. Montgomery could get lost in a committee with limited upside.
Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL)
The best-case scenario for Dalton Schultz is that he remains in Dallas. Looking at his 2022 stats when Dak Prescott returned from injury, Schultz was TE6 in average points per game in PPR, averaging 11.6 fantasy points. That is solid production in an ideal situation. However, Dallas cannot move forward with the same game plan. The Cowboys need a strong WR2 opposite of CeeDee Lamb to compete with teams like Philadelphia that roster two elite receivers. If the Cowboys make the proper investments, Schultz would likely see a reduction in target share. There’s no huge cause for concern. But it’s enough to say Schultz is a sell-high candidate. There’s also the possibility he signs with another team and has a decline in production, similar to a player like Austin Hooper. Sell now at top value.
Josh Jacobs (RB – LV)
Josh Jacobs has flashed top-five back potential in the past but took his game to a new level in 2022. It’s possible the Raiders franchise tag Jacobs, and he remains in Josh McDaniel’s offense. But whether he is with the Raiders or the lead back on another team, this is likely the peak value for Jacobs. Jacobs had a whopping 340 rushing attempts last year – second to only Derrick Henry and a career-high. Free agency is almost guaranteed to bring change to the Raiders. The Raiders will likely sign or trade for a new quarterback. And if the new quarterback can improve upon Derek Carr‘s performance, it’ll be tough for Jacobs to retain that level of production. On the other side, if Jacobs exits in free agency, he could see a reduced workload on a more pass-happy team. There are multiple shaky scenarios for Jacobs, and it’s safer to deal him before free agency.
Jamaal Williams (RB – DET)
There are technically a few Detroit Lions that could fall on this list, but Jamaal Williams is the top trade candidate. Full disclosure – like most of America, I’m a huge Jamaal Williams fan, and I believe the Lions will extend him purely for the marketing opportunities. That said, jump on selling Williams before free agency. Not many running backs have a career year at age 27. Williams eclipsed his career high in carries by more than 100 attempts, nearly doubled rushing yardage, and had 13 more rushing touchdowns than his previous high. Despite a split backfield, Williams was top 10 in attempts and led the league in rushing touchdowns. It was magical and well-deserved, but D’Andre Swift spent most of the season battling injuries. And while I don’t necessarily trust Swift, if both backs are healthy, Williams’ upside is significantly limited. In 2023, you’ll likely be looking at a 28-year-old running back that gets you about 10 points per game in PPR. And that is the best-case scenario. If Williams signs with another team, it will be tough to match that production. Detroit was one of the top-scoring offensives in the league. Williams would see his goal-line touches slashed significantly on most other teams. Package Williams and get decent value early.
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