Dynasty Gameplan Week 14: Buys, Sells, And Stash
Whether you’re in the thick of a championship run, in full-blown rebuild mode, or somewhere in between, you need a gameplan for your dynasty roster. I’m here to help you navigate the tricky world of dynasty team building no matter your situation. Every week through the end of the season, I will provide buys and sells for both contenders and rebuild teams plus my stash of the week.
START/SIT ASSIST | TRADE CALCULATOR
Buy For A Contender: Joe Mixon
Joe Mixon could be just the piece you need to push your dynasty team over the hump. He’s seeing significant volume on the ground, averaging 26 carries per game over the last three weeks and has found the end zone in nine-straight games. He’s seen moderate production through the air, though inconsistent. Mixon is top-5 among running backs in fantasy points per game and is the workhorse in one of the league’s most explosive offenses. However, as a fifth year running back, any dynasty manager that is out of contention is likely very willing to part ways for future assets which makes him easily attainable. It’s not a buy-low situation, of course, but for a top-5 back the return is much greater than the cost. Go get him and ride him to a title.
Buy For A Rebuild: Chase Claypool
I begged you all season to sell Chase Claypool in redraft leagues. At the same time, though, I’ve implored you to go acquire him in dynasty. Why the difference? Because of his quarterback situation. Ben Roethlisberger just doesn’t have the arm to consistently get the ball down the field and outside the numbers to a big-bodied deep threat like Claypool. It’s why we are seeing so much of the target volume going to Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris, and Pat Freiermuth. If it wasn’t obvious already, reports came out last week that Roethlisberger has been telling people in Pittsburgh that this will be his last season. Any quarterback who comes in next year will be an upgrade for what Claypool needs to be a productive fantasy receiver. Add to that, the likely departure of Juju Smith-Schuster in free agency and things are really looking up for Claypool in 2022. We saw what he did last year and he’s flashed it at times this season as well. A trade for Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson or the addition of a fresh-armed rookie will allow the Johnson-Claypool duo to be one of the more dominant combinations in the league.
Sell: Mike Williams
Mike Williams got off to one of the hottest starts to the season of any wide receiver. He dropped off in the middle but has scored at least 16 fantasy points in two of the last three weeks. That includes a 110-yard performance in Week 13. While that’s exciting, it was also the first time he reached a target share of 20-percent since Week 5. This is your chance to sell. This is a fifth-year wide receiver who has never produced at a high level for an extended period of time. If you have a league mate who believes Williams will continue to be a top-20 wide receiver moving forward, sell.
Sell: Noah Fant
Noah Fant was one of the best tight end prospects to come into the league in the last five years. He’s been productive and has shown us why we liked him so much coming out. But Fant is in an offense that is absolutely loaded with talent (outside of quarterback) and it doesn’t look like that will be any different in 2022. While Fant is good and one of the more talented players at his position, it’s really hard to expect consistent production from a guy who is competing with so many other high-end players. Courtland Sutton just signed a big extension so he’s going nowhere. Either is the WR3 Tim Patrick who also just signed a new deal. Jerry Jeudy still has multiple years left on his rookie contract and Denver has a second young, ultra-talented tight end in Albert Okwuegbunam. Then we get to the stud rookie running back Javonte Williams who is not only an excellent runner but is a weapon in the passing game as well. Fant is talented and would be a top-5 or six dynasty tight end on any other roster. Situations change, I know, but it’s hard to see a path to top-5 fantasy production in the next two years.
Stash of the Week: Adam Trautman
Adam Trautman was one of my favorite breakout tight end candidates coming into the season. It didn’t quite play out as I expected but he was coming on strong just before he went out for the season. Over his last four games, Trautman had target shares of 15%, 16%, 17%, and 20%. His snaps had gone up and he went from averaging 10.4 routes per game to 26.0 in the next five. It all culminated in a TE4 performance in Week 11. He caught five of his eight targets for 58 yards and a score. Trautman had arrived. Unfortunately a knee injury knocked him out for at least the next month, effectively ending his fantasy season. Even in five fewer games, Trautman more than doubled his targets from his rookie season. He’s an excellent candidate to build on his late-season momentum and truly breakout in 2022. He has all the tools to do it. Trautman stands at 6-5, 255-pounds with 95th-percentile agility (PlayerProfiler). He is best comparable to Dallas Goedert on PlayerProfiler.com. He shouldn’t cost you much as a throw-in in a deal late this season or in the offseason.
