Veterans to Target Now as a Dynasty Contender
Whether you’re the defending champion, last year’s runner-up, or an up and comer ready to chase the crown there’s always room for more talent on a contender. Veteran players are an ideal target for contending teams looking to upgrade at a position or bolster depth. Rebuilding or middle-of-the-road teams should be very willing to trade veteran players for rookie picks or youth.
As a contender, which playmakers you can realistically trade for depends on the pieces you have to trade with. If somehow you’re flush with resources, then you should be targeting stars like Derrick Henry, Travis Kelce, Keenan Allen, Deandre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, and Aaron Rodgers. For many contenders, however, that may not be the case. In those scenarios, you will have to search for impactful players you can trade for at a reasonable price. To help you out, I present veterans at each position you can target on a budget.
Wide Receiver
Robert Woods – Los Angeles Rams
Embed from Getty ImagesIf my team is a contender this season, I am trying to trade for Robert Woods. The Los Angeles Rams star receiver is the perfect combination of guaranteed production at a price you can afford. Ever since arriving in Los Angeles and Sean McVay’s offense Woods has excelled. Over the past three years, Woods has averaged 125 targets, 88 receptions, 1096 yards, and six touchdowns. Those numbers were good for 16th, 12th, and 19th in average fantasy points per game during that span.
In 2021, enter Matthew Stafford at quarterback. While Woods was great with Jared Goff under center, particularly in 2018 and 2019, the 2020 season saw Woods’s numbers dip as Goff’s play declined. Woods yards per reception, yards per route run, and depth of target numbers all slipped. With Stafford, the downfield passing game should open up more and I see Wood’s production returning to 2018 and 2019 levels. Overall, Woods is a lock in the PPR format and his target and reception numbers provide him an excellent fantasy point floor. He is an ideal add for any contender looking for a week in and week out starter at wide receiver.
Trade Examples:
Adam Thielen – Minnesota Vikings
Embed from Getty ImagesSimply put, Adam Thielen can still produce for your fantasy team. The 31-year-old, was a top 12 receiver last season and averaged nearly 17 points per game, good for 11th overall. He remains Kirk Cousins’s favorite red-zone target. In fact, he led the league in end zone targets last year with 20 leading to 13 of his 14 touchdowns. The 14 touchdowns were good for third among wide receivers. Furthermore, Thielen remains a downfield target threat with top twenty numbers for completed air yards and deep targets.
In 2020, rookie Justin Jefferson broke rookie receiving records and cemented himself as the future of the Vikings wide receiving core. Even if the torch has been passed to Jefferson, Thielen should still receive a healthy dose of targets in 2021. He had over 106 last year in only 15 games. I would expect the touchdown opportunities to remain fruitful as well keeping Thielen firmly in the wide receiver two discussions.
Trade Examples:
Marvin Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars
Embed from Getty ImagesSuprise, Marvin Jones isn’t on the Detroit Lions anymore. Jones enters his first season for Jacksonville as the forgotten man in the Jaguar’s wide receiver group. I’ll forgive you if this news somehow slipped your mind. Just make sure you recall how good Jones has been as a fantasy asset the last several years. He has been a mainstay in the top 30 wide receivers, and in 2020 was 21st in average fantasy points per game. Furthermore, from Week 7 on last season, Jones was ninth overall with an impressive average of 17.5 points.
As the veteran pass-catcher on the youthful Jaguars, I expect Jones to carve out a role as a reliable option for rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. I also expect the Jaguar’s offensive attack to be far better than last season under Lawrence and new coach Urban Meyer. Jones represents an inexpensive trade target that could return wide receiver-three production this year.
Trade Examples:
Antonio Brown – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years removed from his time of number one wide receiver dominance, Antonio Brown somehow enters the 2021 season as a great value. After signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in 2020, Brown was quietly wide receiver 23 in average points per game at 14.6. In the final four regular-season games, counting week 17, Brown was wide receiver four, averaging over 21 points per game. Not much has changed for the Buccanneers heading into 2021. Tom Brady remains the quarterback and Brown should see plenty of targets as the third receiving option. Contenders can pick up Brown for almost nothing on the trade market. Given his potential production and cost, a trade for Brown is a no-brainer for any contender looking for depth at wide receiver.
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Trade Examples: see Marvin Jones examples
Running Back
Chris Carson – Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson is only 26 years old but in the world of fantasy football runnings back that’s grizzled veteran territory. He remains one of the best trade targets for a contender at running back due to the uncertainty of his long-term role. Carson had an interesting offseason where he briefly tested free agency only to sign back with the Seattle Seahawks. That was a welcome outcome for fantasy outlook in 2021 given the success Carson has had there in his first four seasons.
In 2018 and 2019, Carson rushed for 1151 and 1231 yards respectably. Carson even finished as a running back one in fantasy, 12th overall, in 2019. In addition, Carson has become more of a factor in the receiving game, with 37 grabs in the past two seasons. During an injury-plagued 2020, Carson was still effective while on the field, averaging around 4.8 yards per attempt and just over one fantasy point per touch (1.06). Even with Rashaad Penny back in the mix this year, Carson should see a healthy workload. All in all, Carson is a rock-solid option for your running back two in 2021.
Trade Examples:
Mike Davis – Atlanta Falcons
Buying Mike Davis in 2021 is all about the opportunity. After leading the Carolina Panthers backfield in Christian McCaffrey’s absence last season, Davis finds himself atop the Atlanta Falcons depth chart. Davis was productive from a fantasy perspective, while not overly efficient, in 2020. He only averaged 3.8 yards per attempt by racked up 59 receptions, eight total touchdowns, and averaged over 17 touches a game when starting.
Given the choice, I would recommend a trade for Chris Carson over Davis. However, if Carson isn’t available or the price tag is too high then you can do worse than Davis. Although the upside is a bit limited, Davis should see plenty of work, which should translate to a nice floor of fantasy production. For a contender, he would be an ideal third or fourth running back to plug and play when needed.
Trade Examples:
Quarterback
Tom Brady – Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Embed from Getty ImagesTom Brady, turning 44 in August, is still one of the best options at quarterback for a dynasty contender in Superflex. Remarkably age and a shift in teams, to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, could not derail Brady’s 2020 season as he posted over 20 fantasy points per game good for 11th overall. That is correct, still a quarterback-one after all these years. Brady’s situation in 2021 for the Buccaneers is actually better than 2020. The Buccanneers somehow returned all their starters on offense and added a solid receiving running back in Giovanni Bernard. Brady’s wide receiver trio of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown enter 2021 healthy and primed for fantastic seasons.
In the dynasty game, a player at such an advanced age that can still produce is such a fantastic trade target. If you are going for the championship this year, stop what you are doing and go to your league’s roster page. If Tom Brady is rostered by a non-contending team, start making offers today.
Trade Examples:
Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins is one of the more underrated quarterback options in Superflex fantasy football. Cousins boasts finishes of 16th, 18th, and 12th the last three seasons in average fantasy points per game. He is surrounded by a fantastic set of weapons such as Adam Thielen (see above), rookie phenom Justin Jefferson, and star running back Dalvin Cook. Furthermore, Cousins is a very accurate passer ideal if your league uses completion percentage as a part of scoring. Cousins ranked top six in adjusted completion percentage in 2020.
While not the flashiest of options at quarterback Cousins is reliable and consistent. In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings spent a third-round pick on a young quarterback in Kellen Mond. Use this to your advantage when targeting Cousins in a trade. If a rebuilding team looks at this news and doesn’t see Cousins as their future fantasy starter down the road, then you could benefit with a more reasonable trade. Either way, I fully recommend adding Cousins, if you can, for consistent quarterback-two play for your Superflex lineup.
Trade Examples: see Tom Brady examples
Tight End
Logan Thomas – Washington Football Team
Embed from Getty ImagesAt the tight end position, Logan Thomas is one of the best options for a contender for two reasons. First, his price tag via trade should not break the bank. The top options of Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and George Kittle are out of reach unless you have significant draft capital. The next tier of tight ends also represents a conundrum. Players like T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Dallas Goedert carry significant price tags, but, to this point in their careers, have not had consistent top-end fantasy production. Thomas will enter 2021 at age 30 and I would expect any rebuilding team should be willing to move him.
Second, Thomas proved in 2020 that he can produce at a high level. He was the third tight end overall in fantasy points and fifth in average points per game. This breakout was certainly a surprise and was fueled in part by the conservative play of Alex Smith. However, even if Thomas’s statistics regress a bit, I still expect him to be a top 12 tight end in 2021. If you currently roster Robert Tonyan and are worried about the Aaron Rodgers situation then check out the possibility of a Thomas trade. I believe Thomas is a solid addition for any contender in need of a tight end starter, or depth at the position.
Trade Examples:
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