RADIO
Another week, another missing star for the rest of the 2017 season as all-world quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone and is slated to be out for the season. In redraft leagues this typically spells the end for any value that Rodgers would have for the season, however in dynasty formats, he certainly still has a ton of value.
Depending on an owner’s situation, they can use Rodgers as a trading chip for a missing piece to potential fantasy championship this season, or a savvy owner could see this as a buying opportunity to add Rodgers to a roster potentially at a discounted price. Chances are in deeper dynasty leagues, the quarterbacks on the waiver wire will range from garbage to an abomination, preying on the owner that just lost one of their stars is a sound strategy.
This week we will take a look at some questions from the dynasty community regarding a variety of topics including valuing a pair of upcoming free agent tight ends to trading for Joe Mixon and Dak Prescott. If you would like to be included in next week’s mailbag, please email dynasty@rotoballer.com. Let’s get to the questions.
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Dynasty Mailbag Questions
Which pending free agent tight end is best in PPR, Eric Ebron or Tyler Eifert?
There are certainly a couple of ways to look at this question, the first of which is in regards to which player has a better chance of actually suiting up for meaningful snaps in 2018. There is little doubt that when healthy, Tyler Eifert has been a TE1, scoring 18 touchdowns in his last 21 games played. He simply just cannot stay on the field. Eifert was recently placed on IR as he opted for surgery to fix his ailing back. If he is able to either return to the Bengals or find a new home in 2018 without a steady option he could return value. Ebron on the other hand, has seen his role decrease over the last three weeks, losing the snap battle to journeyman Darren Fells. The good news is that he’s actually improved as a run blocker this season grading out at a 73.4 according to Pro Football Focus, but has dropped far too many passes to be considered a reliable option going forward. He will get a chance next season, but it probably won’t be in Detroit or as a starter. If you are looking for one of these options, even if PPR formats, its Eifert once he’s back on the field in 2018.
I’m being offered Ty Montgomery and a 2018 1st rounder (high pick) for Joe Mixon. Pull the trigger?
The allure of the unknown can be very, very tempting especially for a player this has disappointed so far this season in Mixon. The top of the 2018 draft class will be full of running backs like Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice and Nick Chubb to bolster your roster with, but if the pick you get back isn’t the first pick in rookie drafts, chances are you won’t be getting Barkley.
You then have to factor what we know about each of the other assets in the deal. We know Ty Montgomery will be at least splitting time for the foreseeable future with Aaron Jones in the Green Bay backfield, if not losing his job. Mixon is slated to split time with Giovani Bernard going forward, but Mixon has led the Bengals in snap count in three straight games and appears to have a stranglehold on the starting job in Cincinnati. If you believe in the talent of Mixon overall, then you keep him even with a strong pick coming back.
Have a potential trade being offered: Carlos Hyde, Adam Thielen and a mid to high 2nd round rookie pick for Jarvis Landry and a top half 1st round rookie pick in a 10-team .5 PPR dynasty? What do I do?
Not sure if this makes a bit of difference if this is full PPR or .5 PPR, but if you are the fantasy owner on receiving Hyde and Thielen click the “ACCEPT” button right away. Hyde has been involved in the passing game consistently from Week 1 of 2017 with six targets in four of the 49ers six games so far. He will be able to return the value of a first round rookie pick in most weeks over the next few seasons. Adam Thielen has developed into the go-to number two option in Minnesota and if the quarterback situation can be settled between the combination of Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater, Thielen should continue to flourish for the next few seasons. Thielen also currently sits tied for sixth in the NFL in targets with 59, so there would be little to no drop off between him and Landry in 2017.
Even though the loss of a first round rookie pick can give dynasty owners cold sweats at night, unloading Landry while he has some value left can also be appealing. The upcoming free agent certain will have a few suitors in 2018’s free agent period, but we as fantasy owners certainly do not know his potential role on his new team. He is almost destined to remain a slot receiver, meaning his weekly and yearly ceiling will be capped even in PPR formats.
Just traded Andrew Luck and a 2018 4th rounder for Dak Prescott. Thoughts?
Last year and even three months ago this would have been thought of as insane. Now with Luck’s setback during recovery from shoulder surgery earlier this week, it makes a lot of sense. Why risk holding onto a potentially useless asset in Luck if he never fully recovers. The fantasy football universe expects him to recover fully at some point, but that just may never happen.
Dak Prescott has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers in 2017 accounting for at least two touchdowns and 36 passing attempts in four of his last five regular season games. His passing volume has increased as the Cowboys defensive holes have been exploited and the running game not as effective in 2017. Looking forward, Dak should continue to progress as a passer and with a compliment of younger playmakers like Brice Butler and Ryan Switzer to go along with Dez Bryant, should have the weapons in order to be a QB1 for the next half decade or longer. The fact that the owner was also able to get a 4th round rookie pick in the deal is a small bonus on top of receiving a solid fantasy asset for years to come.
To be featured in a future mailbag article, email dynasty@rotoballer.com or reach out to me on Twitter @TheRealHalupka using #dynastyadvice or #dynastytrades.
