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:
Jarvis Landry
The Browns passing game is cleared out for Landry to continue his high market share (only Antonio Callaway has even HALF of Landry's 47 targets through four games). With Baker Mayfield a substantial franchise-changing upgrade at quarterback, Landry's future is stable. Here are a few recent trades as examples of Landry's value as a buy:
- Landry for Josh Gordon, 2nd, 2nd
- Landry, Tom Brady for Jared Goff (start-1QB)
- Landry, Nyheim Hines, 19 1st for Juju Smith-Schuster, Aaron Jones (2QB)
Sammy Watkins
Watkins, unfortunately, missed most of Week 4 with a hamstring, which could linger and impact the next couple of weeks. However, invest in the elite offenses and quarterbacks in this new era of NFL passing production and Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are in the top tier. Watkins is the best value among the skill positions in Kansas City (Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Kareem Hunt):
- Watkins, David Johnson for Derrius Guice, Calvin Ridley
- Watkins, George Kittle, 2nd for Corey Davis, Tyrell Williams
- Watkins for Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Willie Snead (start-1QB)
- Watkins for DeVante Parker, 1st
Courtland Sutton
Sutton has been one of the under-the-radar strong starts among the rookies. Demaryius Thomas is eroding quickly on the physical side and Sutton is already up to the 70-80% snap range weekly. While a late 1st in rookie drafts initially and a promising start, Sutton is still affordable:
- Sutton, Will Fuller for A.J. Green, Larry Fitzgerald
- Sutton for Trey Burton
- Sutton for David Njoku, 3rd
John Brown
Brown has revived the deep passing game of Joe Flacco as Baltimore is one of the bounce-back passing games in the NFL. While performing like a WR2 in fantasy, Brown is probably on the flex and WR3-4 spectrum for contending team lineup decisions.
- Brown, Joe Flacco for Emmanuel Sanders, 3rd (2QB)
- Brown for Marquise Goodwin
- Brown for Tyler Lockett
- Brown, James White for Tyler Boyd, Robby Anderson
Odell Beckham
Beckham is outside the top-20 fantasy receivers and the Giants offensive environment is concerning. The offensive line is struggling (again) and there are questions about Eli Manning without a future option behind him as the team drafted Saquon Barkley at 1.02 instead. However, the recent trades involving Beckham point to a rare buying opportunity for a stud wide receiver in his mid-20s due to the month of lower production:
- Beckham for Mason Rudolph, Giovani Bernard, 1st
- Beckham, Eric Ebron or Will Fuller, Marvin Jones, Austin Hooper, 1st
- Beckham for Adam Thielen, Chris Hogan, Jared Cook
- Odell Beckham for Amari Cooper, Sterling Shepard, Dwayne Haskins (devy)
Keelan Cole
Cole is living off a big Week 2 performance (24 PPR points) but is in a Jacksonville wide receiver committee where Cole, Donte Moncrief, Dede Westbrook are all seeing solid snaps and all have 20+ snaps (as does T.J. Yeldon). Cole has minimal pedigree and could be viewed as the No.1 receiver or No.3 receiver depending on the fantasy owner on his own NFL depth chart. Here are some recent trades where Cole's value is a clear sell in the market:
- Cole, 2nd for Trey Burton
- Cole for James White
- Cole, Tom Brady for Jared Goff
- Cole for Carlos Hyde
John Ross
Former second-round pick Tyler Boyd is enjoying a breakout season and John Ross is still miring through inconsistency and injuries. Ross can still return something of value in the market to reset the clock or provide more production:
- Ross, 2nd for Austin Ekeler
- Ross, 1st, 1st for Antonio Brown
- Ross, 1st for LeVeon Bell
DeVante Parker
Parker continues down his bust track and with a solid Miami depth chart, his odds of emerging this year even if healthy is stunted. Parker is another asset where a quality return is still possible despite the long run of waiting for something to occur with a breakout:
- Parker for George Kittle, 3rd
- Parker, 1st for Sammy Watkins
- Parker, Derrick Henry, 2nd for Nick Chubb, C.J. Anderson
- Parker, Jordan Wilkins for Nick Chubb
Chris Hogan
Josh Gordon has been added and now Julian Edelman returns and this is after Hogan was a relative shadow in the Patriots passing game for four games. Hogan is turning back into a pumpkin and a roster clogger:
- Hogan, T.J. Yeldon for Mike Williams
- Hogan for 2nd
- Hogan for Matt Breida