Week 8 has concluded, and the dynasty fantasy football season is just about halfway over. Of course, the regular season only goes to week 14 in most leagues. But if you include the playoffs, there are only 9 weeks remaining of fantasy scoring goodness for even the best squads.
So it’s the perfect time to capitalize on the fluctuating value of dynasty assets. Some players are elevating themselves to elite status while others are falling off a cliff. It’s the nature of the game but, then again, so is trading.
If you haven’t done so already, take a hard look at your record, Points For (PF), and Max PF columns in your league’s Standings. If you are near the top in two or all three of these categories, chances are you have what it takes to contend. It’s time to buy.
If, however, you are lagging behind half or more of your league mates, it may be time to pack it in. Selling assets ahead of time to contending teams is the way to go.
Wherever you stand, at least we can agree on the best rising and falling assets from Week 8. And, if we can’t, well, we’ll always have Arthur Smith to help the entire community come together in mutual distaste.
On to this week’s buys and sells…
Buy Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is the QB16 on the season in standard QB scoring leagues. He’s 23rd in the league in passes attempted. Prescott is 18th in yards, and has thrown just 10 touchdowns in 7 games. And, still, Dak is a buy for me in dynasty fantasy football.
To begin the year, it seems that Prescott has been acclimating to life without Kellan Moore. The former Dallas Offensive Coordinator took his productive and familiar scheme to Los Angeles this offseason, and Prescott has appeared lost at times.
But all that changed last week, when Dak threw for over 300 yards for the first time this season. He completed 25 of 31 passes and threw 4 touchdowns. It was a phenomenal effort that built up his last game where he was the QB1 on the week, due to another efficient day through the air and success on the ground.
But it’s that efficiency that has been his saving grace this season:
Prescott’s performances have been solid, but largely middle-of-the-road for the season’s first five weeks. But just before and just after the bye, he’s put it together, finishing as the QB1 and QB3 in back-to-back games.
What’s been most encouraging outside of his efficiency has been his willingness to run, moreso than he has in recent years. He’s on pace to achieve 2019 levels of rushing production, where he finished as the overall QB2.
Dak also has the easiest remaining schedule for any QB according to Fantasy Pros, and he plays the Eagles this week. Philly has been terrible against the pass this season.
I’m offering up what I can to secure Dak this week in hopes that he takes advantage of that cupcake schedule. Especially with Philly, Buffalo and Miami in weeks 14-16, Prescott has the chance to be a league winning asset who you can add now for cheaper than he should be.
Go get Dak for a backend contender first rounder and enjoy the backend QB1 production to come. He’s an excellent replacement for a guy like Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford in superflex leagues.
Sell Gus Edwards
Much like Dak, Gus Edwards did little over the first month and a half of the season. Then, much like Dak, he’s exploded over his last two contests. The Gus Bus has finished as the RB6 and RB1 in back-to-back weeks. And now it’s time to sell.
Much like Dak, Edwards is an aging asset. However, the difference is that QBs have the most longevity of any position in the game. The least amount of relevant seasons, quite obviously, belong to workhorse RBs. And, right now, the 28 year-old Edwards is on pace for over 220 touches. The most of his career.
Edwards has looked fast this past week and his numbers reflect his exceptional play. But an 80 yard catch and run inflated his Week 7 numbers. An anomalous 3 TD game ballooned his numbers in Week 8. But Seattle and newly-acquired Leonard Williams are up this week. The Browns come to town to face Baltimore in Week 10. A rude awakening is coming for Edwards managers.
Gus is not a threat in the passing game and he’s hardly ever going to rip off big gains. He’s a volume play hunting for touchdowns who has had a lucky streak in that regard.
I’m looking to move off of Edwards on both rebuilding and contending squads immediately. To do so, I’d take the equivalent of any second round pick from any year or a younger player. A wideout like Marvin Mims or running back Roschon Johnson could be had from teams stacked at those positions.
Given his age, you’ll likely need to add a little more to move him. But it’ll be well worth it to get out before the bottom falls out of Edwards’ value.
Buy Demario Douglas
With Kendrick Bourne now on the shelf for the rest of the season, it’s the perfect time to buy Demario Douglas. Weeks 2 through 5 were terrible for the Patriots, who faced some of the better pass rushing fronts in the league over the span. That meant terrible weeks for most of the Pats pass catchers. But since Week 7, things have been better.
Against a depleted Buffalo D and facing Miami for the second time this season, Douglas earned 13 targets, catching 9 of them for 79 yards. Yet the fact that he hasn’t found the end zone will keep his value depleted.
With Bourne now out and DaVante Parker in the concussion protocol, it could be Douglas’s time to shine. Next up is a Washington defense who just jettisoned their two best pass rushers at the trade deadline. And Week 10 features an Indy D that can be beat through the air. Things are lining up for “Pop” to pop.
Douglas is already one of the most popular waiver adds of the week. In dynasty fantasy football, I’m throwing my eggs into this Patriots basket of offensive mediocrity and moving for Demario.
I’m confident a second round pick will get it done. I’d also try to move an RB like Pierre Strong, Kareem Hunt or Devin Singletary to secure Pop. Even adding a little extra on top should be enough to get a deal done.
Sell AJ Dillon
AJ Dillon volumed his way into two RB2 finishes in Weeks 5 and 7, with the Packers bye week in Week 6. All that was encouraging. Then, in week 8, Green Bay let Aaron Jones back on the field for 50% of snaps. While he didn’t look great, it’s a sign that he’s trending in the right direction to resume his 1A backfield duties.
But in Week 8, Dillon looked better than the less-than-100% Jones while also catching 5 balls for 41 yards. For context, the five catches is a feat AJD has accomplished just three other times in his career. The last time was Week 1 of the 2022 season. In other words, his 2023 receiving usage has likely peaked.
He’s also dealing with a hip pointer, suffered in the second half of last week’s game:
Still, you may have some RB-needy managers looking for a steady RB2. Dillon isn’t that, but if you can sell him as one, then I’m making that move.
I’d take an early third-round pick, but I’ll shoot for a late second. If picks aren’t available for Dillon’s services, I’d try to invest in a young wideout – like the aforementioned Douglas. You might also try for teammates Jayden Reed or Romeo Doubs.
Those are my best buys and sells ahead of week 9. As always, I’ll be back next week with two more buys and sells to help you construct the best dynasty fantasy football squad possible.
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.