It’s hard to believe that we’re already looking at Week 7 in the 2020 NFL season. If you’re reading this, you’re a dynasty football fan and by now you have a pretty good idea of whether or not you’re competing this year. If you are, there are some players you can buy to help your team win this year. If it’s looking like you’re out of contention, it might be time to start looking ahead at the 2021 season and acquiring some future picks or younger players. Either way, once again we’re looking at players to buy, sell, and hold on your dynasty football squads.
Be sure to check out our dynasty and keeper league rankings here.
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Waiver Wire advice 
The Rookie Running Backs
To start it off, I’m going to go with the rookie running backs in general. This talented 2020 class has been off to a slow start for the most part, but the wide receivers on the other hand have been producing right away. I’m going to touch briefly on a few different rookie running backs.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the future lead running back for the Chiefs and with the recent signing of Le’Veon Bell, now is a good time to potentially make a move for Edwards-Helaire. While Bell may very well be used this year and have some games where he gets a decent amount of work, I see him moving towards a LeSean McCoy type of role where he is never really featured but has a few games of relevancy. Edwards-Helaire is good and is going to be involved, and this signing makes a nice little potential buy window for him. In short, the Bell signing does absolutely nothing to the dynasty outlook for Edwards-Helaire. Buy him.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has shown flashes and is still behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. The Colts have struggled this year, but Taylor is still the future of this backfield. Prior to the Monday Night Football games, Taylor is the RB14 in PPR. He isn’t going to be cheap by any means, but he’s worth looking to potentially make a move for.
D’Andre Swift may be tough to buy low right now after his game against the Jaguars where he put up 116 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Swift is the RB24 in PPR and is an extremely talented and versatile back.
JK Dobbins hasn’t been utilized a ton this year, but when you watch this backfield, he’s clearly the most talented runner. He’s currently the RB39 in PPR scoring and with an ankle injury to Mark Ingram, this might be the last week you can get your hands on Dobbins before his value jumps.
Cam Akers is the last rookie running back to consider buying and might be the cheapest of these guys. We’ve heard that the Rams want to get him more involved, then they didn’t give him a single carry this week.
It’s going to be tough to buy these running backs, but now just might be the cheapest they’ll all be for a long time. They aren’t necessarily guys to buy “low” on, but this class is very talented and these running backs are still a big part of that.
Verdict – Buy/Hold
Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI)
Next up is one of my personal favorite tight ends to own and that’s Dallas Goedert of the Eagles. In 2019 we saw Goedert finish as the TE10 in both PPR and standard-scoring leagues, despite Zach Ertz finishing as the TE4 in PPR scoring. Despite getting the volume this year with 45 targets already, which is good for third in the NFL for tight ends behind just Darren Waller and Travis Kelce, Ertz has simply been not good.
This Eagles offense has been desperate for pass-catchers and Ertz is now expected to miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain. There was some uncertainty around Ertz heading into the 2020 season for dynasty purposes, as he’s 29 years old and the Eagles salary cap situation isn’t looking pretty for Ertz with a potential out in 2021.
Goedert has certainly looked the part and as he remains on the IR, I’d use this time to buy low on him. This might be the cheapest you’ll be able to grab him for and there is definitely some nice upside for him if Ertz happens to leave Philadelphia after this year.
Verdict – Buy
Darrell Henderson (RB – LAR)
Next up is the second year running back out of Memphis, Darrell Henderson. Henderson has been involved a lot this year with four of his six games totaling 12 or more carries along with games where he racked up 81, 88, and 114 yards. On top of that, he ran for three touchdowns and caught a receiving touchdown in Week 5. He’s had three games where he has been very efficient, but three other games where he was averaging around 2.5 YPC. In Week 6 he saw the field the most he has all season after he saw 52% of the offensive snaps. Either way, I don’t believe Henderson is the long-term answer for this backfield and still like the skillset that rookie Cam Akers brings more. Best case scenario, Henderson and Akers split this backfield.
The Rams used their second-round draft pick this year on Akers and he’s another rookie running back worth buying right now. If you can find an owner who is a fan of Henderson or believes he’s the future of this backfield, I’d sell high. Between Henderson, Malcolm Brown, and Akers I expect this backfield will be split three ways with Akers eventually taking over.
Verdict: Sell High
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – PIT)
All of the hype right now in Pittsburgh is surrounding rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool. From a long-term perspective, he may be a nice option for the Steelers, but the guy I’m looking at acquiring for cheap is JuJu Smith-Schuster. While the hype is surrounding Claypool and Diontae Johnson, take this time as an opportunity to buy low on Smith-Schuster if you can. He’s also a free agent after this year and could end up somewhere else in 2021.
Verdict: Buy Low
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – CLE)
Right now, many fantasy owners are considering Odell Beckham a bust and have been a bit frustrated with his production. Despite the frustration, Beckham is currently the WR10 in standard-scoring leagues and the WR17 in PPR leagues. This is largely thanks to his huge three-touchdown game in Week 4 against the Cowboys. His 43 targets this year puts him at 16th in the NFL in targets for wide receivers.
Baker Mayfield has been pretty disappointing this year and left the game late against the Steelers and many people freaked out over him leaving for Case Keenum. This was due to the Browns getting blown out and Mayfield dealing with sore ribs. Beckham has all the talent in the world and that has not changed.
Whether his future remains in Cleveland or he ends up going elsewhere, he’s still one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL and is going to put up fantasy numbers wherever he plays. For the time being, he will have up and down games in Cleveland, but overall, he’s getting disrespected in the fantasy community.
I’ve seen multiple trades involving Beckham and he’s being sold for much cheaper than he’s worth. He’s still just 27 years old and has plenty of football ahead of him. He’s not necessarily cheap, but depending on who the owner is, you might be able to grab him for a nice value.
Verdict: Buy
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Lineup & Trade advice
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Aaron Schillinger is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Aaron, check out his profile and follow him @aaron_schill.
