Dynasty Trade Targets Before the Week 1

As we approach the precipice of another NFL season, it’s time to start putting our takes into action. It’s time for us to put our proverbial money where our proverbial mouths are. So here are the dynasty trade targets that I’m trying to acquire before my personal FOMO sets in once things start getting real.

Keep in mind that any “news” that happens until Opening Night will be and should be taken with a grain of salt. Anything that happens after that is real, tangible, and actionable. There is nothing worse as a fantasy player than “knowing you were right” but not doing anything about it.  Some are players I think are going to pop off this year and spike their dynasty value. Some are players I think the market is underestimating. All are players I want to get now before their price goes up when our takes turn into results.

Dynasty Trade Targets Part I: The Quarterbacks

Derek Carr

I’m significantly higher on the Saints offense, and specifically their passing game, than the consensus. I think their offensive line issues will affect the running game more than their passing game, and the upgrade at OC from Pete Carmichael to Klint Kubiak cannot be overstated. Plus, Carr wasn’t bad last year. He had a 25-8 TD to INT ratio and almost 3900 yards passing. Not bad for a guy who injured his shoulder in Week 3 and tried to play through it the next week. Toss in a soft schedule and defense-optional division, and I’m all in on Carr being a startable Superflex QB2.

Consummated trades:

• Derek Carr for 2025 2nd (12-team, SF, start-10) – Carr’s a buffer QB for me here, but getting (almost) any guaranteed starting QB for a 2nd in a perceived weak class is always a good idea in a Superflex league.
• Derek Carr for 2024 2.10, 2024 3.10,  & 2025 3rd (12-team, SF, start-10) – This is a QB-needy team, so I’m willing to spend a little (very little) more to acquire an additional starter.

Daniel Jones

See Carr, Derek. Malik Nabers gives Danny Dimes his first legitimate WR weapon. Brian Daboll’s taking back the playcalling duties (you know, the thing that got him the HC job in New York…). The Giants’ offensive line upgrades aren’t sexy, but they should be enough to take them from the outhouse to the servant’s quarters, at least. Plenty of reasons to say Daniel Jones is out of excuses. If he doesn’t perform this year, he’s looking at backup duties next year. That’s an admittedly good life for a regular human, but these guys are competitors. He’s got all the motivation and all the opportunity to succeed this year.

Offered trade

• Daniel Jones and Wan’Dale Robinson for Will Levis (12-team, 2 QB, start-11) – The settings in this league add some wrinkle to this trade, but I still think the offer is applicable to most situations. Levis may be younger, but he’s in just as much a make-or-break situation as DJ is. If I can make a (perceived) tier-down for some additional value, I’m all for it. The fact that this league is start-11 conveys fringe-starter status upon Wan’Dale. For the record, I don’t care about stacking in dynasty. I do look to leverage the perception that I do in trade negotiations, though.

Trevor Lawrence

Last year at this time, Trevor Lawrence was a gimme top-10 QB. Now he’s slumming outside QB1 territory behind not one but two rookie QBs. It’s not the most precipitous fall ever, but it is significant. The last time he was this disrespected (following his Urban Meyer-poisoned rookie year), he bounced back (up?) to have his best season and earn that top-10 ranking. If you’re going to buy the Brian Thomas, Jr. hype (and you should), you should be buying TLaw, as well.

Consummated trade

• Trevor Lawrence, Kyle Pitts, 2024 3.01 (Jaylen Wright), and 2024 4.01 (Luke McCaffery) for Ja’Marr Chase and Tucker Kraft (12-team, SF, start 10, non-Tight End Premium) – Admittedly, not for the faint of heart, but if Lawrence has a big year, he’ll regain his standing inside the top-10 quarterbacks and be essentially equal to Chase value-wise. If that happens, I got Kyle Pitts for free.

Offered trade

• Trevor Lawrence and Garrett Wilson for CJ Stroud (12-team, SF, start-9) – I’m stacked at QB in this league, so this is a tier-down I can freely offer. Don’t be afraid to leverage your advantages when/where you have them.

J.J. McCarthy

Symbolically pouring one out for the young man. Missing your rookie year to injury is never a good thing, but it does afford us a buying opportunity. Unlike the other players on this list, I’m not trying to acquire McCarthy before he has a break-out season because that’s not happening. I’m trying to acquire him before his manager can replace him. Or before they realize they may not need to.

Consummated trades

• JJ McCarthy for Kirk Cousins and Jacoby Brissett (12-team, SF, start-10) – Another league where my QB-hoard allows me to make an advantageous deal. I most definitely like Cousins for 2024, but his dynasty value is dwindling. In this league, he was clearly my 3rd and potentially my 4th QB, so I’m good flipping him for a younger version with more perceived long-term value.
• JJ McCarthy and a 2025 2nd for DJ Moore and JK Dobbins (12-team, SF, start 10) – This is a QB-light team that was long overdue to pull the trigger on a full rebuild. Moving DJM gets his points off my team, which positions me to get higher in the draft next year, and adding McCarthy allows me to not be locked in on QB, so I can be flexible with those picks.

Tua Tagovailoa

Aah, Tua. Probably the most disrespected QB in fantasy. I’m not sure how being the QB of the best offense in football is an issue for people. If they’re going to overrate “He doesn’t run…”, then run to him, not away from him. To me, disrespect = opportunity. When I look at Tua (virtually, of course), I see a bright, flashing “TIER DOWN FOR ME!” sign.

Offered trade

• Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix, Jr. for Justin Herbert (14-team, SF, start-10) – Penix has value to me in this league because I also roster Cousins, but find your own value! If the Tua manager doesn’t value him appropriately, find something of theirs that you can use and let the tiering-down begin!

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