With four games complete for dynasty teams, the sample size is growing enough to establish whether contending or building type dynasty trades are optimal. Here are ideal players and dynasty trade strategies heading into Week 5 involving wide receivers:
Sterling Shepard
Why: Shepard is a sell recommendation as he has benefitted from an anemic collection of ancillary wide receivers for the Giants over the first month to the tune of 25 targets. Golden Tate returns from suspension starting this week and Evan Engram is already the clear No.1 target for the Giants' passing game. Shepard is a functional WR2 in the NFL or an outstanding WR3, but miscast as a WR1. Despite the lack of receiver competition to start 2019, Shepard is on pace for a modest 80-872-4 stat line and a WR3/4 level fantasy season. Shepard returns a quality haul in the dynasty trade marketplace, pointing to an optimal moment to cash out for higher impact short-term options or more stable long-term assets.
Recent completed dynasty trades to offer ideas:
- Shepard, 20 2nd for Evan Engram
- Shepard, Duke Johnson Jr for Baker Mayfield
- Shepard for Mark Ingram
- Shepard, Paul Richardson Jr for 20 1st
John Brown
Why: Brown and Cole Beasley have dominated targets for the Bills to the tune of 34 and 36 respectively. Brown has three games of at least eight targets and the biggest roadblock in his career has been health. Brown has a robust 315 yards in the opening month and the market share of the passing game looks to have no signs of slowing down with Zay Jones disappointing through his 18 targets (7-69-0) and the rest of the depth chart insignificant. Brown offers a dynasty discount due to nearing 30 years old and not being a household name.
Recent completed dynasty trades to offer ideas:
- Brown for Jared Cook
- Brown for Matt Breida
- Brown for Chris Herndon
Stefon Diggs
Why: Trade winds are swirling around Diggs at the time of publication as the Vikings have taken the air out of the football on offense and Diggs has collected a mere 19 targets and Adam Thielen a tepid 22. After 102 catches a year ago, Diggs is on a quality historical track through four seasons (302 receptions). Diggs is only the 16th player since the merger to log 300+ receptions in his first four seasons. Other active receivers include Jarvis Landry, Michael Thomas, Larry Fitzgerald, A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham, and Mike Evans. Good company.
Recent completed dynasty trades to offer ideas:
- Diggs, 20 1st for Kenny Golladay
- Diggs, Chris Carson for Kareem Hunt, Curtis Samuel
- Diggs for Allen Robinson, Demarcus Robinson
- Diggs for Deshaun Watson, Chris Herndon
Corey Davis
Why: Davis is miring, along with the entire Tennessee passing game through low volume and shake (at best) quarterback play. Davis has a meager 18 targets through four games with a high mark of six and there have been only two games where a Titans player has seen more than six targets this season (Delanie Walker, Adam Humphries once each). A.J. Brown has flashed with two big games (on minimal volume as well) and the entire infrastructure for Tennessee spells low-ceiling for all involved outside of Delanie Walker as a decent tight end start. Davis broke out to a tepid degree in 2018 but his elite metric prospect profile (plus top-five NFL Draft pedigree) points to a mid-WR1 or better fantasy ceiling in the coming seasons, even if not in 2019. If Davis does not improve on his 2018 season in the future for multiple more fantasy starter seasons, Davis would qualify as one of the bigger metric disappointments at the position in recent memory.
Recent completed dynasty trades to offer ideas:
- Davis for Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Davis for Delanie Walker, 20 2nd, 20 3rd
- Davis for 20 2nd, 20 2nd
- Davis, Parris Campbell, 20 1st for Josh Gordon, Alshon Jeffery, Will Dissly
- Davis for Chris Conley, Deebo Samuel, 20 2nd
- Davis, Dallas Goedert, Michael Gallup, 20 1st, 20 3rd for Keenan Allen
D.J. MOORE
Why: Moore, like Davis, is an elite metric prospect and on the fast-track to strong fantasy production. Moore has already reduced his bust risk to nil with nearly 800 yards as a 21-year-old rookie. Combined with his metric profile and Round 1 pedigree, Moore is a strong bet for WR1 production in the near future. Moore is on pace for 124 targets this season but quarterback questions keep Moore's stat line likely tempered, for now. Also, Curtis Samuel has equaled Moore in targets (as well Christian McCaffrey) with Greg Olsen a close fourth on the team as nearly all of the passing activity runs through those four options. Moore is an ideal talent add and more 2020+ bet on the profile than a rising phoenix this season in particular.
Recent completed dynasty trades to offer ideas:
- Moore, Noah Fant for T.J. Hockenson, 20 3rd
- Moore, Miles Sanders, Christian Kirk for David Johnson
- Moore, Kerryon Johnson for Julio Jones
