We are now through six weeks of the NFL season, and we can finally start getting a clearer picture of what exactly our rosters need. With bye weeks here, depth will become essential, and with the string of injuries we have seen this year, you’ll need to make moves down the stretch. Being as active as possible in your leagues this season is pivotal if you want to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, there aren’t any game-changing waiver wire adds out there. Instead, you’ll need to make trades.
For this weekly column, I hope to provide you with actionable takeaways on players. Making the right moves in the season can give you a chance to win your league and help you have a better long-term outlook in dynasty leagues. Moreover, making moves is essential for your rosters. So let’s dive into some buys, sells, and holds so far this season.
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Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)
Tua Tagovailoa has had a tough start to his career. His injuries are well documented, and he has to be one of the most ridiculed young players in the league. But to me, Tua is still a buy-in dynasty based on his current market value. Against the Jaguars, Tua played relatively well. He threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns and scored 22.4 fantasy points. The Dolphins are bad, and game scripts should go his way the rest of the season after their Week 7 bye. I also don’t buy into the notion that Tua isn’t a good quarterback. He’s a solid QB2 in Superflex leagues, and with the quarterback landscape in the NFL, Tua is safe to be a starter. So I’m not worried about him losing his job or losing a starter role at any point.
The Dolphins also need time to create chemistry with one another on offense. Myles Gaskin has been inconsistent. DeVante Parker and Will Fuller have both missed games this season. The Dolphins WR1 Jaylen Waddle is a rookie and still trying to develop as a receiver too. Once this offense all plays together, that’s when we can start making our conclusions about Tua. Until then, I’m still betting on Tua’s talent and potential. The most recent trade he was involved in was Mac Jones and Brandon Bolden in a dynasty league. If that’s where his value is right now, he’s a smash buy for me.
Verdict – Buy
Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR)
McCaffrey is the type of move people should make if they are contending. Although McCaffrey has only played in two complete games this season is still RB30 on the year. In his first two games, he put up just under 20 fantasy points and had 15 targets. He’s still an RB1 in fantasy when he’s healthy. The critical question is if he can stay healthy. There have been rumblings that CMC’s days as a consistent fantasy option are numbered in the dynasty community. I’m not buying that just yet. I think that Chuba Hubbard‘s emergence as a reliable option will eat into his workload a bit, but it won’t matter.
A healthy CMC is still an RB1. You should be using the narrative around CMC to buy him in leagues where you are contending. In a recent deal in a TE premium league, he went for Trey Sermon, Diontae Johnson, and George Kittle. In that scenario, give me CMC. Although I’m almost sure you can acquire him for cheaper now that he found himself on the IR. CMC is that player that can be a league winner for you in 2021.
Verdict – Buy
Russell Wilson (QB – SEA)
Wilson injured himself against the LA Rams during their week five game. Wilson sustained two injuries to the finger: an extensor tendon rupture (mallet finger) and a comminuted fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. He had successful surgery to repair the finger, and it looks like he should be available to play week ten against Green Bay at the earliest. Before being injured, Russ was the QB10 in fantasy.
He’s still going to be a QB1 in fantasy the next two to three seasons, and he could realistically be playing in a new city next year. There was already friction among Wilson and the front office last year. If Seattle doesn’t make the playoffs, we could be looking at a whole new regime. Imagine what Russell Wilson could do in an offense that opens it up for him. Imagine him being the starting quarterback on the Saints or in Denver. His value would skyrocket even at his age. Wilson was traded for Nyheim Hines/2022 1st, Tom Brady/Daniel Jones, and Aaron Rodgers in recent deals. All those deals make sense if your team is in the middle of the pack and you’re trying to reload at the QB position. Wilson is a clear buy right now.
Verdict – Buy
Leonard Fournette (RB – TB)
“Playoff” Lenny is here to stay. Fournette is the overall RB11 in PPR formats this year and has proven to be one of the best fantasy steals of the year. He has proven to be the best RB in that Tampa Bay backfield and will continue to get the usage. He may lose some passing-down work to Giovanni Bernard, but Fournette has made Ronald Jones completely irrelevant. He also has a tremendous schedule down the stretch. Fournette should be on many championship rosters at the end of the season.
As for what you are doing with him in dynasty right now, he’s a hold no matter your record. With RB injuries piling up, his value will only increase. If you are not a contender, don’t sell yet. He’s still only going for 2022 2nds, but in a few weeks, when contenders start to go for it, I could see his value rising to a 2022 1st, and that’s when you should pounce. I see no real scenario where you should trade Lenny if you are a contender. Just enjoy the ride down the stretch and win some money.
Verdict -Hold
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Kevin Coleman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Kevin, check out his archive and follow him @Daboys_22.
