Dynasty Buy Low Sell High Players Headed into Week 5

I have mentioned a few times about patience being the most important attribute of being a good dynasty fantasy football player. Those who stuck by Joe Mixon (I wrote about buying low on him last week) reaped the benefits of that trait (unless you were one of those who benched him). Timing is everything when making trades in any format, especially in dynasty because you are trying to think further than just this year. This week we will talk about said injured player along with a few players who I think are worth buying into for well beyond just this year, and then a few whom you should cut the cord while you can. If you cut cable from your life, why not a few players (shrugs).

Buy low

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RB Cam Akers (LAR) 

Cam Akers is expected back this week (Per Sean McVay), from a rib injury which has kept him out since early Week 2. His role is not expected to be what you would have liked when you drafted him, but given time, his talent will ultimately win out in this backfield. As of right now, this backfield belongs to Malcolm Brown who has seen more than 50% of the offensive snaps, and Darrell Henderson has been a distant second. Akers should easily beat out Henderson for the number 2 job. This is the same player who saw 15 total touches, while seeing the field just 31% of the offensive snaps. Now of course no one is maintaining that type of ratio on any offense, but considering his role was only going to grow in this offense, and the fact that he was the Rams first pick int he 2020 draft, buy low on a player whose role not only will grow during the season but in the years ahead.

TE Hunter Henry (LAC)

TE13 on the season, Hunter Henry has not been as bad as you would think all things considered. Before week 4, he had at least 5 receptions and at least 50 yards every week. Justin Herbert’s presence has not hurt Henry’s targets (8th amongst Tight End’s), Air yards (8th), and 2nd among tight ends in receiving yards with 245 yards. His long term output looks bright and especially considering the fact he sits just outside the TE1 category without a single touchdown yet. The talent, targets, opportunity and age is all on Henry’s side, so buy low on him before he comes a perennial TE1, which is where he should be ranked today. 

RB Nick Chubb (CLE)

Injuries suck, let me just make that very clear. I never wish injuries on any players, but those are also the times to take advantage when it presents itself. With Chubb out for the remainder of the year, ACL injuries are never easy to come back from. Keep in mind, you are not going to be able to get Chubb for cheap, but he wouldn’t cost you the same as if he were healthy, because anyone trading for him will be inheriting some type of risk. What if the player Chubb was before he got hurt isn’t who he comes back to be? I am not trying to bash on Chubb because I love the talent and the player, but let me list for you every category for which he was ranked outside of the top 13

• Opportunity share 36th
• Snap share 34th
• Targets 74th 
• Red Zone touches 21st
• Receiving yards 77th
• Receptions 66th
• Fantasy points per opportunity 39th 

Chubb is not Dalvin Cook, Kamara, Barkley or Zeke, he is a tier below them, and these are all arguments you make on top of the injury he has already sustained to buy him at a “relative” discount. 

WR A.J. Brown (TEN)

Does A.J. Brown still exist? Where is this guy? A bone bruise in your knee would keep the fittest of players out for a while. There are bigger problems the Titans have than A.J. Brown’s health, considering the number of positive COVID cases they are facing and now their game against the Bills has been pushed out to Tuesday (which also holds no guarantee assuming no more Titans test positive leading up to the game). Too much unknown right now with this team. You can probably wait another week to buy low on Brown as he faces shutdown corner Tre’Davious White. Brown may very well likely be on a snap count and the owner is not likely to play him this week. Doesn’t hurt to put a feeler out for him to an owner who may be frustrated or getting impatient with him. 

Sell High

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WR Jamison Crowder (NYJ)

Sam Darnold just can’t stay healthy. One can say Jamison Crowder does not have a clean bill of healthy himself, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Joe Flacco already has been declared the starter, which is terrible news for not only this offense as a whole but for Crowder as well. Crowder is still the only player you want on this offense, but Chris Herndon does become a bit more interesting. Flacco in his Ravens days, fed his tight ends more than any other position, and I cannot imagine that suddenly changes. Crowder may still lead this team in targets, but his ceiling takes a major hit. Now is the time to sell high while his price is still relatively good. The two games Crowder has been on the field he has had at least 17.4 fantasy points and over 100 receiving yards. Get him off your hands while you can in dynasty. If you still think you should hold on to him, just look at this offense and think two years from now, do you really see this offense becoming even league average? Crowder only holds $1 Million in dead cap space if the Jets decide to move on from him after this season. Are we really trusting the Jets to make the right decisions here?

RB Myles Gaskin (MIA)

Currently RB26 hard to convince anyone to sell high on an RB ranked as a high WR3 at the moment because that is exactly what I am proposing to you all here. We all know it is only a matter of time before Tua Tagovailoa is going to eventually start, it is only a matter of time. This offense is far from great, and I do not see a path where Gaskin’s enters the RB2 conversation. He has not seen more than 78.6% of the offensive snaps, nor carried the ball more than 10 times outside of week 3, which was against a Jaguars team which the Dolphins were ahead almost the entire game. His usage in the passing game has kept him relevant in PPR enough to where you can get a 2nd round draft pick out of the right owner. Gaskin’s also makes a great add in piece to a trade offer if you have the depth to do a 2 for 1 trade. This offensive line is ranked 27th in adjusted line yards, 30th in RB Yards, and 27th in stuffed rate, which is when the running back was tackled for a loss or no gain, which is 20% of the time. That is one out of every five touches, ouch!

RB Todd Gurley (ATL)  

Todd Gurley has not been very efficient this year, having never totaled more than 82 total yards, which seeing no fewer than 14 touches in any games this year. He has one RB1 finish which was this past week, which was fueled by 2 touchdowns. Look past the two touchdowns he was averaging under 3 yards a carry. The offensive line is not to blame as they are ranked 13th in the league, and are tied for 5th amongst the lowest in the league in stuffed rate. Gurley is only signed for one year, and will certainly be looking for a bigger contract after this year, but looking at the film it is clear his golden days are behind him. Sell him for what you can get with this two touchdown game in the books. 

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