Welcome to the dynasty trading post, where optimizing strategy, roster construction, format, and player value oscillations are examined weekly in example and completed dynasty trades.
This week, the focus is on dynasty leagues without a trade deadline and moves to make for title-pushing teams and once you fall out of the race.
One assumption from the anti-no-trade-deadline dynasty crowd is that championships will become an arms race among the contenders to buy a championship. From experience and observation in dynasty leagues with no trade deadline, it is a massive benefit to the teams not in the playoffs (or eliminated from the playoffs) to sell producers and contributors and reload for the following season.
*All trades are Superflex unless stated otherwise*
CONTENDING TRADES WITH LONGER-TERM FOCUS
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Cole Kmet for Ja'Marr Chase, Davis Allen
- Quentin Johnston, Dontayvion Wicks for Joe Mixon
- Christian Kirk, 2024 2nd for Cooper Kupp
- 2024 2nd, 2024 2nd, 2025 3rd for Davante Adams
Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams are prime examples of productive profile buys for contenders. In addition to being an auto-start player on >95% of dynasty teams' rosters, both have profiles conducive to 2024 and beyond production. The other incentive of deals like these is not giving up a future 1st for these older wide receivers. Saving 1sts for larger deals like for stud quarterbacks or tight ends (especially in premium formats) or a younger wide receiver is a boon when able to add Kupp or Adams types for ancillary pieces and picks. Joe Mixon is not an overt target considering his age and contract standing for 2024, but Quentin Johnston is a palatable price if light at running back considering Johnston's bust-track start to his career.
Continue reading this content with a ELITE subscription.
An ELITE subscription is required to access content for Dynasty leagues. If this league is not a Dynasty league, you can edit your leagues here.
OUT OF THE RACE WITH 2024 FOCUS
- Zack Moss for Treylon Burks
- Rachaad White for Drake London, 2024 3rd
- T.J. Hockenson for Mark Andrews, Michael Wilson, 2024 2nd (1.75 PPR TE)
- Raheem Mostert for Tyjae Spears
- Amari Cooper, 2024 3rd for Tank Dell
The appeal to these deals are vast and, I would argue, superior to the trades in the section above for contenders. Flipping short-term producers or acquiring injured or relative non-producers when focused on 2024 contention is one of the biggest incentives to not having a dynasty trade deadline. It aids teams who did not win or advance far in the playoffs improve their chances for the following seasons.
Take the T.J. Hockenson for Mark Andrews+ trade. Andrews has been the superior dynasty option during his career and the new Andrews team gets pieces on top of Andrews. On the flip side, the contending team shifts Andrews' zeroes to close the season into an auto-start player. This is a win-win to aid both teams but gives the non-contender a strong avenue to win this trade starting in 2024.
Raheem Mostert is a player who clearly helps contending teams but has minimal appeal at his age for teams out of the playoffs. Swapping Mostert for Tyjae Spears is a boon for a non-contender with Derrick Henry's offseason status and Spears' potential hype as the Tennessee starter next season.
The Zack Moss trade was executed before Week 15 when Moss exited with injury and is included to highlight the fragility of making win-now moves for contending teams if the focus is solely on this season and a small subset of productive (and healthy) weeks. Moss is a risky hold in the offseason, and Treylon Burks, at a minimum, has 2024 breakout probabilities still within his profile.
Check out all of Chad Parsons' content at Footballguys.