Dynasty Fantasy Football: Buy Low / Stash Transactions

Approaching Week 15 in your Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues, you either were gearing up for the Fantasy Football Playoffs or on the outside eyeing next season. The fun part about Dynasty at the end of the day, is that it never stops. Even when your “season is over,” it is never really over.

Some Dynasty Leagues have trade deadlines, some do not. Some Dynasty Leagues have deep rosters while others are not as deep and have players more widely available on the waiver wire. Dynasty Leagues are extremely diverse in the league personnel, roster sizes, roster limits, league format, scoring, etc. So moving forward in this specific article, it is important to understand that when I reference players possibly available on waivers, that they may just not be in your league. If I reference “buying low”, you may or may not be able to do that in your league. I will try to make as many suggestions that could be possible in your Dynasty League.

Looking at Dynasty Leagues from the lens of you who have now pivoted (or have continuously had) the focus of rebuilding your rosters for the future, below are some suggestions that can give you a future edge in your league.

• “Buying low” will refer to trading for a player whose cost in your league is lower than the possible future cost when production rises
• “Stashing” will refer to picking up a player who is possibly on your waivers whose value can increase over time

These moves are all about capitalizing on current player values, which I believe can rise over time. Making these moves now will benefit you later. Always remember for Dynasty values, today’s cost does not always equal yesterday’s or tomorrow’s. The below transactions can bolster your squad for the future and give you an edge in your league.

Dynasty Stashes and Buy-Lows

• STASH – Greg Dortch (WR, Cardinals): Greg Dortch has had FLEX-worthy weeks the last two seasons when given the opportunity. In the two games Dortch played 75% of the snaps this year, he finished with 13.6 and 11.7 Fantasy Points. In Week 11 he caught six passes for 76 yards and then followed that performance the next week with a receiving touchdown. Last season, Dortch opened up the season with three consecutive weeks of 13.3, 15.5, and 17 Fantasy Points, and added scores of 19.3 and 22.3 points later on. In 2022 Dortch had games of 80, 103, and 98 receiving yards with five weeks of nine or more targets. The big reason I am plugging Dortch is because he is going to be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024, which could mean landing in a new home where his role is more important to his offense and more consistent. We have seen historically players like Zay Jones flash in one place, then get an opportunity in another and become more consistent for Fantasy Football. That could be Dortch.
• BUY LOW – Michael Wilson (WR, Cardinals): Michael Wilson was selected in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft by the Cardinals and has not necessarily taken off but we have seen some underlying signs for better days in the future to come. Wilson had a big Fantasy Football Week 4 against the 49ers this season, catching all seven targets for 76 yards and two touchdowns for 26.6 Fantasy Points. Wilson has displayed some potential receiving yard upside this year with five weeks ranging from 14.5 – 43 yards per reception, with five weeks of 56+ receiving yards on limited opportunities. Wilson has missed time this with some injuries, which include all of Week 9 then 11-13. In Week 15, Wilson returned to the lineup to score a goose egg for Fantasy but did earn three targets and play 88% of the snaps. With the flashes this season, I do believe there is a path for Wilson to become Kyler Murray’s WR2 on the team, which could mean FLEX potential in the future. Marquise Brown is also set to be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024, so even the WR1 role could be up for grabs.
• STASH – Michael Carter (RB, Cardinals): The best thing for Michael Carter this year was a move from the New York Jets to the Arizona Cardinals. Falling behind both Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook on the Jets’ depth chart was destroying his value. Landing in Arizona to become the RB2 behind James Conner, is a bump in value many people have not noted enough. James Conner has dealt with a longer list of injuries throughout his NFL career, which makes his handcuff a value. Conner will also be on his last contract year at age 28 next season, which could mean a role opening up in the future as the RB1 for the Cardinals. Carter has had plenty of NFL touches through his three seasons and rushed for 639 yards back in his 2021 rookie season. 55 then 54 targets for 36 and 41 receptions across Carter’s first two years shows the potential to have a pass-catching role in the future which fits his profile. I am not sure Carter will ever be a workhorse, but I do see the potential to have that RB2 role where he is the pass-catching back in the future which could boost his Fantasy stock beyond strictly handcuff territory in the future.
• BUY LOW – Kyle Pitts (TE, Falcons): For those who roster Kyle Pitts, he likely has been on your bench for most of the season. With 11 games scoring under 10 Fantasy Points, you likely would have been better just streaming a tight end for Fantasy Football this year. The biggest issue has been the passing volume along with quarterback play in 2023. The Falcons through 14 games have passed the ball the sixth least, have the second least passing completions, and are in the bottom 10 for total passing yards. Desmond Ridder has played in 12 of those games, has completed 63.3% of his passes, and is tied for the fifth-worst quarterback rating (QBR) with 38.2. Pitts flashed in Week 5, catching seven passes for 87 yards and scoring 15.7 Fantasy Points. Week 6 Pitts caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown for 14.3 Fantasy Points. Week 14 Pitts caught three passes for 57 yards and a touchdown for 14.7 Fantasy Points. Averaging Fantasy points per game (PPG) outside the top 20 for two seasons in a row, was not the progress we wanted after averaging the 11th most his rookie season, in a year he finished with 1,110 receiving yards. 43 receptions for 770 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games in Pitts’ final season at Florida back in 2021, led to fourth overall draft capital by the Falcons in that year’s draft with a “generational talent” tag. A 6’6 tight end with massive athletic tools and wide receiver skillsets make it hard to just be out on Pitts in Dynasty at 23 years old, especially after a rookie season of over 1,000 receiving yards. Addressing the quarterback is going to be in Atlanta’s future and more volume should follow. Now is the best possible time to buy Kyle Pitts, who still could be a major difference-maker for the position in Fantasy Football.
• BUY LOW – Rashod Bateman (WR, Ravens): Through three seasons, we have been disappointed by Rashod Bateman’s Fantasy Football production this far. Bateman was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Ravens, regarded by many that year as the second-best wide receiver in the draft class behind Ja’Marr Chase. Bateman finished with 1,219 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns back in 2019 for Minnesota. Bateman has missed time in all three seasons played, and has averaged under nine Fantasy Points in every season. Maybe this is more of a dart throw here with not the best signs so far due to some boxes checked. 1.) Once regarded as a great talent, and drew the first-round draft capital. 2.) Tied to a great offense in Baltimore. 3.) Potential WR2 role behind Zay Flowers in the future, with Odell Beckham Jr. on a one-year deal with the Ravens. 4.) The potential to just stay healthy. A lot of “if’s” and “maybe’s” here, but at the end of the day if we can buy low on players with the potential to be FLEX plays for us in the future, we can either later use them in our lineups or flip them for a higher cost later on.
• STASH – Khalil Shakir (WR, Bills): There have been flashes this season for sophomore Khalil Shakir that gave us a lot of hope for some potential consistency this season, but Shakir has faded the last two weeks in opportunity and production. Just two targets in the last two games combined, and a trend of playing 61% then 49% of the snaps in these games. Positive signs began though in Week 8 with Shakir catching all six targets for 92 yards and 15.2 Fantasy Points. Shakir scored 20.5 Fantasy Points in Week 11 guided by 115 receiving yards and a touchdown. Four weeks playing above 70% of the snaps was another positive sign this year for the sophomore. Gabriel Davis has operated as the Bills’ WR2 this season but has been highly inconsistent in his usage. Davis will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024 as well, which could mean the WR2 role for target share opening up in Buffalo. Josh Allen has also historically had a connection with his slot wide receiver (where Shakir plays) if we look at Cole Beasley’s three seasons above 100 targets in Buffalo. Maybe rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid is the “new slot wide receiver”, or maybe that is a role Shakir can someday grow into. With the potential to become the WR2 in the future or simply grow in the slot role attached to Josh Allen, Shakir has promise for the future at just 23 years old.
• BUY LOW – Roschon Johnson (RB, Bears): The Bears backfield has been some sort of three-headed committee throughout this season. At times it has looked like it could be D’Onta Foreman’s job, other times Khalil Herbert’s job, and then others rookie Roschon Johnson’s job. Odd stretch of games for Roschon, with him leading the backfield in Week 12 playing 74% of the snaps and finishing with 15 touches for the week. The Bears then hit their Week 13 BYE, and Roschon regressed to playing 28% of the snaps in Week 14 with just one touch. Week 15 rolls around, and in a tight game Johnson paced the backfield with 49% of the snaps played and nine touches. This is certainly a learning year for the first-year running back, but a lot of positive signs could point in the direction of Johnson becoming the true Bears RB1 in the future. Foreman for one is set to hit Free Agency in 2024, and Herbert will be on his final contract year next season. Another positive sign is some rushing efficiency, with Johnson finishing seven games at four or more yards per carry. Another positive sign is the four weeks of four or more receptions this season, showing the dual-threat running back potential. Operating as the lead back in Week 15 is a sign for better days to come this season, which makes him scoring just 10 Fantasy Points a potential sign you can still “buy low” but the timing is ASAP.
• BUY LOW – Chase Brown (RB, Bengals): Another rookie running back suggestion who may have a path to becoming the lead running back on his team is Chase Brown. Brown’s role has steadily been increasing in the last three weeks, with a lot of that due to him being productive with what he is getting. Nine rushing attempts for 6 yards in Week 13. 11 touches with three receptions going for 80 yards and a touchdown in Week 14. Trailing Joe Mixon by just three touches in Week 15 in a tight three-point win. Mixon has one more contract year next season for the Bengals which could mean the Bengals eyeing their next RB1 following that year. Brown’s usage, production, and potential path to a lead role make him an easy buy candidate if the current Fantasy manager in your league is either competing and focusing there or just not paying attention here.
• BUY LOW – Tyler Boyd (WR, Bengals): To make yourself more competitive in the future, does not always have to mean buying young players. Jumping on a veteran for a low cost who could be useful for your team next season could definitely give you a good bump. Tyler Boyd will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024, which could mean landing in a home where he fits in as the new WR2 there. Boyd has had his share of FLEX-worthy weeks even operating with both of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but having those two wide receivers in front of him was always going to be a ceiling impact for Fantasy Football. Boyd has three seasons over 100 targets, two seasons over 1,000 receiving yards, and two seasons as a top 30 wide receiver in Fantasy PPG under his belt. If an opportunity elsewhere presents itself to where Boyd can earn a WR2 role, his value will increase.
• BUY LOW – Jerry Jeudy (WR, Broncos): In all honesty, this might be a post where we are hoping that a player gets traded and has a fresh start. I feel as though Jeudy is a player in desperate need of this. I was all in Jerry Jeudy heading into this season, due to being high on his talent and also due to his 2022 string of hot games. In 2022, Jeudy was on fire in his last seven games playing 50%+ of the snaps averaging 19.37 Fantasy PPG. Jeudy had a solid combination of rankings for the position last season, finishing #12 in deep targets, #22 in receiving yards, #16 in yards after the catch and #9 in yards per target. So my priors on his talent as a prospect (former first-round selection out of Alabama) along with what happened in 2022 meant ranking Jeudy high for 2023. That was a miss. Jeudy’s season high in Fantasy Points this year is 13.1, and he has scored double-digit Fantasy Points six times on the year. Very frustrating season to say the least. What I do not think is a fluke is his productive profile out of Alabama, with 159 receptions for 2,742 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons. I do not think his draft capital is a fluke. I do not think the diversity in how Jeudy has been utilized in the NFL is a fluke. I do not think the 2022 production is a fluke. There were previous rumors of Denver moving on from Jeudy, and maybe that is simply what is needed for him to come back to life for Fantasy Football. I like to buy talent for Dynasty, and I still believe in the Jeudy talent.
• BUY LOW – Jameson Williams (WR, Lions): Another player who has had a disappointing start to his career, but was once highly regarded in talent is Jameson Williams. Between being injured, being suspended and simply not producing the ride for Jamo has been super bumpy and a lot of people have thrown in the towel already. This was a guy who in 2021 at Alabama finished with 79 receptions for 1,572 receiving yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 15 games prior to being selected in the first round by Detroit. Williams’ profile was one of explosive playmaking with elite speed that many thought would have translated well for Fantasy Football. We have seen some flashes this year, just not consistently and under low volume. Two catches for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 6. Two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in Week 11. Two catches for 51 yards in Week 12. Fur catches for 47 yards in Week 15. The yards per catch numbers show the receiving yards / big-play upside that is attached to his profile. The issue has been earning volume. Week 15 may be an indicator of bigger days to come for Williams, with him earning a season-high seven targets from Jared Goff. With so many people writing off the 22 year-old wide receiver, the time to buy in Dynasty is now before he has a big week.
• STASH – Brevin Jordan (TE, Texans): There have been signs of promise for the 23-year-old tight end, but sitting behind Dalton Schultz in 2023 was never going to mean any sort of useful Fantasy Football implications. What is an important note here though is that Dalton Schultz is on a one-year deal with Houston, which means he may or may not be a Texan next season. Rookie year in 2021 Jordan finished three weeks above 11 Fantasy Points, scoring three touchdowns on the year. 2022 was a year of injuries and not much to note. In 2023, Jordan’s flashes are in the yards per reception category, with five games over 11 yards per catch. With the rise of CJ Stroud from a Dynasty lens and his elite production as a rookie, stashing the potential TE1 of the future for Stroud could be useful for Fantasy Football down the road.
• BUY LOW – Josh Downs (WR, Colts): Some people may respond to this with a “nobody is selling Josh Downs low”, but you truly never know. No manager, no league is the same. People react emotionally, and people sometimes want to jump ship before the potential crash. Josh Downs has finished under 10 Fantasy Points now for six straight games. Across this six-game span, Downs has earned three or fewer targets in four of them. Nothing looks great. What did look great is Weeks 5-8, when the rookie was balling out. 15.7, 13.1, 23.5 and 14.2 Fantasy Points meant quality FLEX production for Fantasy Football for four straight games. During this span of production, Downs scored two touchdowns and had games of 91, 125, and 72 receiving yards. His knee injury derailed that streak, and he has not bounced back from there. I find it hard to believe that when a rookie finds a way to have a string of games like that, it is a fluke. This is yet another time I am using the term “fluke” when it comes to what a player does, and sometimes there are flukes out there in production. But sometimes, people voice a player’s potential, they go out there and perform, and then it becomes less consistent. I feel that is the case for Downs.
• STASH – KJ Osborn (WR, Vikings): Another case of – “he’s an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024 and can land somewhere with better volume” for KJ Osborn. Minnesota simply will not be a place where volume is going to come consistently for Osborn if all of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson are healthy and available. Osborn has had plenty of Fantasy-relevant weeks when his role was more important and he earned some work. Three weeks of double-digit scoring in 2023 with a season-high 17.9 Fantasy Points in Week 8. Five weeks of 14+ Fantasy Points in 2022 with a season-high 31.7 Fantasy Points that season. Seven weeks of 14+ Fantasy Points in 2021 with a season high 20.1 Fantasy Points in 2021. Osborn has actually scored 17+ Fantasy Points on eight occasions across the last three seasons. With the hope Osborn departs Minnesota and lands somewhere with a more important role, I would not mind holding onto 26-year-old KJ Osborn in Dynasty Leagues.
• BUY LOW – Demario Douglas (WR, Patriots): The sixth-round Patriots rookie has carved out a substantial role this season, which is not talked about enough simply due to him not having explosive weeks for Fantasy scoring. Douglas has earned seven or more targets in 5/11 appearances and nine targets twice this season. Douglas actually ranks second in New England for targets on the year with 60. Douglas has finished three weeks above 50 receiving yards, with his season-high being 84. At the end of the day, targets are earned, even if the receiving options are not super strong. With the chance Douglas develops as a receiver, I would be willing to take the shot on him for the future.
• BUY LOW – Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, Giants): Another suggestion whose price tag will vary from league to league. If I roster Wan’Dale, I am holding. If a random contender rosters him in your league, maybe Wan’Dale is not as important to them on their championship run. I really like Wan’Dale as a prospect out of Kentucky due to the heavy volume profile attached to him. Robinson caught 104 balls for 1,334 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns through 13 games at Kentucky in 2021. Robinson earned second-round draft capital by the Giants in 2022. Just when Robinson was having his breakout game as a rookie last year in a game where he caught nine of 13 targets for 100 yards, he tore his ACL. We knew this would mean a slower sophomore season, but we have seen some flashes in year two that keep me interested. Robinson caught all eight targets for 62 yards in Week 6 for 14.2 Fantasy Points. Robinson caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown in Week 9 for 13.5 Fantasy Points. Then in Week 14 Robinson caught six passes for 79 yards for 17.5 Fantasy Points. Solid weeks, just not super consistent with Robinson finishing eight weeks under seven Fantasy Points. This Giants offense is on their backup quarterback and should have better days ahead in the future through the air. When I look at the current wide receiver room, the target leader of the future to me is Robinson in that slot role. Now is the clear time to try and buy.
• BUY LOW – Treylon Burks (WR, Titans): Another wide receiver who has failed to consistently impress is sophomore Treylon Burks. 2023 has been a season dealing with injuries for Burks and has meant no week scoring 11 Fantasy Points. Burks caught 146 passes for 2,399 yards and scored 18 touchdowns at Arkansas and also added 222 rushing yards as a prospect which drew first-round draft capital from Tennessee back in 2022. In his rookie season, Burks started catching fire in Weeks 11 and 12 where he finished with 111 then 70 receiving yards and scored 18.1 / 17 Fantasy Points before getting banged up the next week. Burks has scored double-digit Fantasy Points in just four weeks in his two NFL seasons. DeAndre Hopkins is the Titans’ WR1 and will be back next season, which can mean a WR2 role for Burks for the rest of this year and next year if he earns it. The potential WR1 role could be something Burks grows into, with Hopkins being 31 and not in the long-term plans. The feel for Burks’ talent is either in or out it feels like from the community, so if the cost is low and the potential is possible I do not mind tossing the dart.
• BUY LOW – Jahan Dotson (WR, Commanders): This is another suggestion where someone may say “Nobody is selling Jahan Dotson low” but again you would be surprised at how a lack of production can decrease prices in Dynasty Leagues. Dotson has been extremely frustrating this season, and I say this personally as someone who was very high on him both as a prospect and heading into 2023. In Dotson’s final season at Penn State, he caught 91 passes for 1,182 receiving yards and scored 12 touchdowns in 2 games. This was an impressive profile tied to volume and production that led to first-round draft capital. I know I personally was trying to get Dotson in as many rookie drafts prior to last year as possible. Last year as a rookie, Dotson missed time but still managed 523 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games played. Dotson scored 13+ Fantasy Points six times, and 16+ Fantasy Points five times as a rookie. The prospect profile and rookie season unfortunately did not translate well to 2023, even with Sam Howell having a great year one. Dotson has 53 fewer receiving yards and three fewer touchdowns in 2023 than he did last year while playing two more games. Dotson is the current WR49 averaging 8.3 PPG. I still believe in the talent, and am hoping the talent leads to earning more consistent volume as we move forward. This is another case of buying the talent with the hope that the situation improves for a player come next season. Young players grow and develop in this league, and not everything clicks the way we want instantly.
• STASH – Hunter Renfrow (WR, Raiders): Hunter Renfrow was apparently close to being dealt this season, which could have improved his Dynasty value since becoming non-important to the Raiders. The additions of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers the last two seasons have meant pushing Renfrow down the target pecking order and being pretty useless for Fantasy Football. Renfrow has scored under four Fantasy Points in 10 games this season, which means he is likely on a lot of waiver wires. Back in 2021, Renfrow finished #16 for the position in Fantasy PPG in a season he earned 128 targets and caught 103 of them for 1,038 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Will he ever get back to that form? Likely not. Could he end up in a new home and have a bump in value? Possibly. Las Vegas is not a fit for the 28-year-old, but another home could utilize the slot wide receiver to bring some FLEX potential back to Fantasy lineups.
• STASH – Isaiah Spiller (RB, Chargers): I do not believe Austin Ekeler, who will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024, will be on the Chargers next season. The writing is on the wall for this with Ekeler’s prior contract frustrations, his age, a dip in production, injuries in 2023, and the running back likely wanting a new home. Isaiah Spiller has been operating as the RB2 for the Chargers when looking at the snap percentage the last two weeks, playing 18% then 37% of the snaps. Spiller just rushed 16 times for 50 yards in Week 15, which likely is going to put him more on the radar moving forward. The Chargers drafted Spiller in 2022 in the fourth round out of Texas A&M. Spiller totaled 3,578 yards and 26 touchdowns as a prospect. If Ekeler is indeed gone next season, the Chargers could make a move via the 2024 Draft or Free Agency to fill their RB1 role. The Chargers could also give Spiller a shot at this specific role. Your league is going to start noticing the role change from Joshua Kelley to Spiller as the Chargers’ RB2, so make the move now to stash.
• STASH – Noah Gray (TE, Chiefs): This one is simple to finish the article on – Travis Kelce is 34 years old and is showing signs of decline. Noah Gray could be in line to be the next TE1 for Patrick Mahomes. Even with Travis Kelce on the field for most of the season, Noah Gray is top 30 in routes run for the position, which means he is getting plenty of reps. 283 and 299 receiving yards for 2023 and 2022 is nothing spectacular, but shows some reps as a 24-year-old tight end. We know the history of Mahomes to Kelce, and Gray may never even sniff half of that production, but should he secure the TE1 in the future it could lead to Fantasy Football implications. This is a suggestion based on how deep your rosters are.