Stash or Trash: Five Dynasty Players You Need to Make a Decision on for 2021

WR Tre’Quan Smith (NO)

In the midst of his third straight sub-par season, one in which he was the No. 1 wide receiver at times with Michael Thomas and Emanuel Sanders out for various reasons, Smith finds himself firmly on the chopping block in dynasty leagues. When deciding to stash or trash a player, I like to look at their future potential and ask myself, “Can their situation improve next year?”

First, let’s look at his current situation. He has played with a Hall of Fame QB all three of his seasons, he is in one of the league’s most potent offenses, and plays across from one of the best wide receivers in all of football. The answer to my question, “Can their situation improve next year?”, is a resounding, “No.”

He is also under contract for another season with the Saints, meaning unless they cut him, he will find himself in — at best — the same situation he is in currently that has yet to produce results. As much as it pains me to say this, as I loved Smith coming out, but it’s time to let go. Verdict: Trash

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WR Mecole Hardman (KC)

After a promising rookie season, many expected Hardman to eventually take over the No. 2 WR spot opposite of Tyreek Hill. Unfortunately, Sammy Watkins has held that spot down for most of the year, and even when he was hurt, Demarcus Robinson was the receiver filling in for Watkins. When Hardman was drafted in 2019, there was a lot of question as to whether Tyreek Hill was going to play at all that season with a potential suspension looming. It’s looking like Hardman was drafted as Hill insurance and not a Sammy Watkins replacement.

Hardman has shown flashes at times, but overall, when given the chance to shine, he has disappointed. He is nothing more than a Tyreek Hill handcuff at this point, and I don’t see that changing in 2021. Yes, Sammy Watkins will be a free agent in 2021, but the Chiefs have not shown that they want to start Hardman and Hill together. With that said, he has shown enough flashes that he is worth holding on to at least one more year. Verdict: Stash

WR N’Keal Harry (NE)

This one hurts me to put here. Anyone that follows me, or watches my live show on Wednesday night, know that I was high on Harry coming into the season. I saw him as a more athletic Kelvin Benjamin/Devin Funchess type receiver that Cam Newton has had success with in the past.

Unfortunately, it has not panned out like that. Instead, he has had games when he wasn’t even targeted and has dealt with injuries as well. The things I saw him do well in college have not transpired to the NFL. A player that was well known for his run-after-catch ability has not been able to shake free of NFL defenders as he did in college.

His body control and ability to win 50-50 balls is another thing that has not shown up in the Pros for Harry, and separation on his routes has always been an issue for him. With all that said, once upon a time it took wide receivers three years to breakout, so I’m willing to give him that third year. Verdict: Stash

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RB Sony Michel (NE)

Unlike all the players I’ve written up so far, Michel is the only one that has flat out lost his job. He was drafted to be the starter, and after missing the beginning of his rookie season, he looked primed to breakout. Unfortunately, his second year did not go as planned. Yes, he had more carries and touchdowns in Year 2, but his yards per carry went from 4.5 his rookie season to 3.7 in 2019.

During that season, he was involved in a frustrating time-share with James White and left fantasy owners wanting more. Coming in to 2020, he was once again expected to be the lead back for 1st and 2nd down, but an injury opened the door for second-year running back Damien Harris.

Harris took the No. 1 job and has not relinquished it thus far in 2020 — despite a full bill of health for Michel. Unlike wide receivers, running backs don’t typically “breakout” in year four. Michel’s knee isn’t going to get any better, it’s something he will likely deal with his entire career and I’m ready to give up on him. Verdict: Trash

QB Dwayne Haskins (WAS)

I’ll look at Haskins from a Super-Flex point-of-view. If you own Haskins, the best thing you can ask for is that he isn’t in Washington next year. That bridge looks to be on fire already. Unless something happens over the last few weeks with him potentially starting for an injured Alex Smith, Haskins will not be the starter for Washington in 2021.

Saying Haskins has not been good in his first two years in Washington is an understatement. He has only one more TD than he does INTs in his short career. Mix that in with some bad mechanics, sub-60 completion percent and 168 yards per game, and Haskins does not look like the franchise QB the Football Team thought they were drafting in 2019.

The only thing we care about, is he worth holding onto? In a vacuum, no. However, there are some scenarios in deep Super-Flex leagues where I could see giving him another year, but on a whole, I just can’t envision a scenario in which he becomes a relevant week-to-week starter. Verdict: Trash

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