Week 2 has concluded. With it, has come another heap of dynasty fantasy football market fluctuations.
Surprises D’Andre Swift and Puka Nacua proved to be elite options. Week 1 risers Tank Bigsby and Adam Trautman put up donuts. And, sadly, Nick Chubb may be headed to an early retirement after a devastating, season-ending knee injury. Let’s hope that’s not the case…
But such is life in the dynasty streets. For my part, I’m doing what I can to sort through the winds of change so I can either blow up or blow it up in all my leagues.
What this means is that each week, they’ll be clear buys and sells. And, after an action-packed week 2, here’s what I’m lookin at.
Buy Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley was my biggest screaming dynasty fantasy football buy this offseason. I’ve hit on a few guys of my calls, like Tua Tagovailoa and Chris Olave at cost this offseason, but Ridley was my favorite buy low. The reason was simple: his value was depressed due to his suspension, and he was unproven in an ascending offense with an elite offensive-minded head coach and young QB.
In Week 1, that faith paid off as Ridley posted eight receptions for 101 yards and a score. He saw 11 targets, which was extra encouraging right out of the gate. But in Week 2, Ridley only snagged two balls on eight targets for a measly 32 yards. Instead, it was Christian Kirk and Evan Engram who earned the most love from Trevor Lawrence in a game where the Jacksonville Jaguars failed to muster a touchdown.
But it’s important to understand that Ridley still saw eight targets while being blanketed by L’Jarius Snead and Trent McDuffie all day. He also nearly came down with two balls on the sidelines, one of which sent him just out of the back of the end zone for a near score. A touchdown would’ve certainly saved his fantasy day and kept the Jags in the game.
He also did this:
Calvin Ridley is unreal lol. The body control, athleticism, and hands to make this grab 🔥🔥🔥
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) September 17, 2023
While Ridley’s arrow is surely pointing down after failing to convert his chances, he’s also a guy I’m aggressively going after if owners buy into his decline. Kirk is still not playing over Ridley or Zay Jones in sets featuring two wide receivers. He also saw increased usage as Jones sat out for a bit in this game with a minor injury.
With his usage assured and a surprising tough matchup against a seemingly much improved Kansas City Chiefs defense, I’m buying Ridley high right now. And, just in case you’re skeptical, his next two games are at home against the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. He also gets the Indianapolis Colts (his week 1 opponent) again in week 6.
The time to get in on Ridley is now. I’d start by offering a second round pick and a lesser receiver, like Skyy Moore, to see if I can get it done.
Sell Garrett Wilson
This one hurts because I have a ton of Garrett Wilson. And we saw what he is in Week 1. As Aaron Rodgers put it on HBO’s Hard Knocks, the kid is “special”. But with Zach Wilson behind center now that Rodgers is done for the year, that special-ness is, sadly, capped. Thankfully for his dynasty fantasy football stock, Garrett went off last week for 83 yards and a touchdown. He even earned eight targets.
So what’s the problem? He only caught two balls and had to break off a massive play to find the end zone.
In Week 1, Wilson also caught a touchdown. It was an insane adjustment on a bad ball from Wilson. Just have a look at this:
Garrett Wilson with the rare pass defense into a touchdown pic.twitter.com/spHf12Twos
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) September 12, 2023
Wilson continues to be an electric player and a high-end, long-term dynasty asset. But the short term is now subject to Zach’s inconsistent arm. And, as a result, Garrett’s production is likely to be inconsistent as well. We saw it this week. Garrett just happened to save his day with a monster 68-yard catch and run on an admittedly excellent ball from Zach.
If I’m rebuilding, Garrett Wilson stays put on my roster. If I’m contending, I’d like more consistency, so I would look to pivot now if I can. Garrett for Calvin Ridley and a 1st would be a move I’m comfortable with, though it’s possible you can get another piece in that deal.
Buy Justin Fields
It’s been a brutal start to 2023 for Justin Fields, and it’s not totally clear why. Maybe it’s his lack of development or in the pocket. It could be his seemingly poor processing ability when scanning the field. Maybe it’s the lack of designed runs by the coaching staff. It’s just not obvious.
What is obvious is that garbage like this is unacceptable for an NFL quarterback, especially one who possesses the wheels that Fields does:
Gimme Anthony Richardson over Justin Fields in dynasty right now.
— Aaron St Denis (@FFMadScientist) September 18, 2023
But all of this has only depressed Fields’ value to a record low. Now I’m not doing anything foolish like sending Anthony Richardson for Fields in a one-for-one swap. However, I am testing the waters to see how low is too low for Fields.
We know he’s a terror on the ground when given the opportunity to run the ball. We know that the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have good NFL defenses. It should get better for Fields, especially if Luke Getsy and company agree top design some packages to highlight his running ability. After all, that’s why we’re so high on him in fantasy.
Now it doesn’t get better immediately for Fields as he’ll see Kansas City, the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders defenses over the next three weeks. But after that, there are a good amount of friendly matchups.
I’ll send out a single 2nd round pick for Fields as a starter. Alternatively, I’ll see where his value lies by offering a breakout player like Justice Hill straight up. Of course, I’m willing to go higher, but especially in a Superflex leagues, these are bottom of the barrel prices for a difference-making QB if he can overcome his early season struggles.
Sell Gus Edwards
For me, in-season dynasty fantasy football deals are all about sending away your one-year rental RBs for 2nd round picks in return. This is the way in dynasty. Last week, in this very article, I advocated doing the same for Raheem Mostert. Now, that deal can get done with ease for the services of the 31 year-old running back.
This week, you should be looking to get out from under Gus Edwards. Edwards is another back that I have loved in the past, but he looks very slow to me with increased work in Week 2. Just have a look and decide for yourself:
GUS EDWARDS DAGGER! pic.twitter.com/JUx360vU84
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) September 17, 2023
Sure, maybe Edwards was gassed here at the tail end of the game. However, Justice Hill has looked excellent and Melvin Gordon is waiting in the wings if needed. Also, of concern is the fact that Hill is earning all the passing down work, leaving Edwards off the field outside of short-yardage situations.
Now it’s great that Edwards got the touchdown this week. He also ran for 62 yards at a 6.2 yards per carry clip. However, I’m looking to get out on Edwards for a 2nd round pick on rebuilds, and I would consider flipping him for someone like Jaylen Warren, who looked explosive against the Browns elite defense in Week 2.
That’s it for this week’s best buys and sells. Check back weekly to see who is trending, and make the right deals to help you build a killer dynasty fantasy football team.
Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy is an avid football fan from New York who lives in Amsterdam and roots for the Patriots. This walking contradiction has played fantasy football for over than 20 years. He is now a Senior Dynasty Writer at The League Winners. In his spare time, he writes and edits professionally.