Dynasty fantasy football is all about thinking ahead, but sometimes the best way to build a long-term contender is by capitalizing on short-term market inefficiencies. Whether it’s a young player coming off a disappointing season, a veteran undervalued due to age concerns, or a player who may have already peaked, savvy managers know that timing the trade market can define a dynasty roster for years.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets Experts Love
Players to Buy
Which player are you buying now in dynasty leagues and why? Also, what are you willing to give up to get him?
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
“Jonathon Brooks. The Panthers RB has barely played since being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he is finally healthy entering his third season. We’ve already seen Chuba Hubbard lose his job once. Panthers HC Dave Canales already said Brooks will have a chance to compete for the starting job. Both Canales and GM Dan Morgan have praised Brooks (s/o @Coachspeakindex). The RB is only 22 years old (23 in July), but he is valued outside the top-50 RBs in the FP Dynasty Value Chart. Send Jacory Croskey-Merritt or a late 2nd/early 3rd 2026 rookie pick for Brooks.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Kaleb Johnson (RB – PIT)
“Kaleb Johnson (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) The departures of Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith open up the door for this offense to improve and players to get second chances. Also, Kenneth Gainwell will likely be one of the hotter names in free agency, and with GM Ohmar Kahn sticking around, I think they’ll let him walk. Johsnon is just over a year removed from leading the Big Ten in rushing yards (1500+) and TDs (21). He got upended early in the season when Pittsburgh lost the game against the Seahawks on his errant kickoff return and never got back in favor. He’s still only 22 and comes at a discount. I’d trade an early third-round rookie pick in superflex formats or other disappointing 2025 rookies like Jacory Crosky-Merritt, Kyle Williams, or Isaac TeSlaa for him.”
– Seth Woolcock (FantasyPros)
Tory Horton (WR – SEA)
“Despite playing only eight games, Tory Horton finished with five receiving touchdowns, with only AJ Barner (6) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (10) having more. Among the rookie wide receiver class, only four players scored more than Horton’s five, and all four of those players featured in 17 games. Whether the Seahawks bring back Shaheed or not should tell us plenty about how hopeful they are for Horton coming off his return from a shin injury. Packaging two-thirds for Horton should be enough to get a deal done.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)
Trey Benson (RB – ARI)
“Trey Benson is a target of mine this offseason, ranked as my dynasty RB24 in comparison to his expert consensus ranking (ECR) of RB35. With James Conner likely out the door, there’s nobody left to compete with Benson for touches. Maybe they bring in a veteran or draft a rookie to challenge him, but this Arizona team has so many holes to fill that it wouldn’t make sense to invest heavily in another running back. Given his durability concerns, you can likely acquire Benson for an early-second-round rookie pick. If you’re looking to get younger at the position, I’d be fine with flipping D’Andre Swift or Derrick Henry straight up for Benson.”
– Jim Moorman (Dynasty Football Factory)
Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
“Chasing 30-year-old wide receivers generally isn’t good policy in dynasty, but in leagues where I fancy my team a 2026 title contender, I’m sending out offers for Terry McLaurin. Before an injury-plagued 2025 season in which he played only 10 games, McLaurin had rattled off five straight 1,000-yard seasons, averaging 80 catches, 1,092 receiving yards, and 6.2 touchdowns over that span. McLaurin is healthy now, and so is exciting young Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, who also had his 2025 season derailed by injury. In Daniels’ splashy 2024 rookie season, McLaurin had a career-high 13 touchdowns. McLaurin isn’t likely to have stiff target competition from other Washington WRs, and with only two draft picks in the first four rounds and major defensive needs, the Commanders aren’t likely to draft a receiver at No. 7. With free agent Zach Ertz not expected to re-sign, the Commanders have no proven pass catchers at TE. McLaurin is positioned for a big season, and you might be able to get him for a second-round rookie pick. I’d also be willing to deal RBs such as Jaylen Warren or Tyler Allgeier for Warren.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
“The easy answer is Ricky Pearsall. With George Kittle coming off an Achilles injury, Brandon Aiyuk headed out of town, and Jauan Jennings possibly not back as a free agent, Pearsall is walking into 2026 as the 49ers’ clear WR1. That could easily change by the time Week 1 rolls around, but right now the path is clear for a 2026 breakout season for Pearsall if he can stay healthy (I know it’s a big if). I’d ship a 2026 or 2027 second-round pick for Pearsall.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Players to Sell
Which player are you selling now in dynasty leagues and why? Also, what kind of return are you looking for?
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS)
“Jacory Croskey-Merritt. I fully expect the Commanders to add to their backfield during the 2025 offseason. Bill is a former 7th-round draft pick (although the coaching staff has expressed confidence in him) after an up-and-down rookie season with flashes. Chris Rodriguez is a restricted free agent, but he’s likely to return (the team loves him). I don’t want to be caught holding the bag with JCM in the off chance his value evaporates with a Jeremiah Love-Commanders selection in this year’s draft. He will also turn 25 years old in April. Flip him for more upside in Jonathon Brooks.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG)
“I hate to say it, but I’m worried about Cam Skattebo going forward. His rookie season obviously showed promise, but we’re still talking about a fourth-round pick with only five career starts coming off a brutal injury. There was also a recent insider report that the Giants are considering adding a big name to their backfield this offseason. That’s not a good sign for what they think of the sophomore RB (and/or his health). If you can reroll him into an average first-round Rookie pick, that’s probably worth doing on most teams.”
– Ted Chmyz (Fantasy Football Bots)
Travis Hunter (WR, DB – JAC)
“I am selling Travis Hunter, although it is probably too late. He is still ranked as the WR42, right after Michael Wilson, whom I would rather have, and fourteen spots ahead of Parker Washington, from his same team, who is a better option, if not the WR1 on the team! At this point, I would sell Hunter for whatever I could get. In every league, there is an owner willing to gamble on the player who is looking to be a gadget on offense and a full-time cornerback. I have seen him go for 2026 2nd round picks, and maybe you would package him for Romeo Doubs, who is an impending free agent and could land in a better situation that will feature his skillset.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
David Montgomery (RB – HOU)
“At 28 years old, we’re unlikely to get too many more good sell windows for David Montgomery. Yes, the Texans will likely make him their lead back ahead of Woody Marks, but that offensive line in Houston is truly miserable, and Montgomery is unlikely to be as efficient as he was in Detroit when he ran in an excellent scheme with excellent blocking. If you’re not a contender and can sell him for a mid-second round pick, that’s good business.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
“It’s time to move on from Courtland Sutton, and based on his ECR of WR36, you can still get a decent return. Sutton is now 30 years old and may be headed into his final season with Denver if he doesn’t produce at a high level. The Broncos can save a significant amount of money by parting ways with him after the 2026 season. What do you win when you win with Courtland Sutton? You get a very replaceable 12-13 PPR points per game. I’d much rather sell and re-roll before his value drops to zero. See if you can flip Sutton for his teammate, Troy Franklin. I’d also be comfortable selling Sutton for a 2026 mid-second-round rookie pick, or a random 2027 second-round pick.”
– Jim Moorman (Dynasty Football Factory)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)
“It’s not that I’m completely waving the white flag on Marvin Harrison Jr., but while some dynasty enthusiasts think a breakout season is imminent, I’m not as convinced. Cardinals TE Trey McBride is a target hog, and 26-year-old WR Michael Wilson is coming off an eye-opening 1,000-yard season. Plus, the Cardinals are rumored to be front-runners in the pursuit of free-agent QB Malik Willis. While Willis showed growth as a passer last year in a small sample with the Packers, he’s a running QB who’s unlikely to be a high-volume passer. The Cardinals led the NFL in pass attempts (649) last season. There’s bound to be regression in passing volume in Arizona, and the drop-off could be steep if Willis is the Cardinals’ new quarterback. A contending team with a need at RB might consider offering Harrison for either Christian McCaffrey or Kenneth Walker III. And if I had some WR depth and a need for a TE, I’d take Harold Fannin for Harrison straight up.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
“I’m shipping off Jameson Williams everywhere I have him. Even with WR2 production over the last few years from Williams, at this point, he has proven that he’s not a high-end target share earner. The downfield role in one of the best offenses in the NFL is amazing, but you can’t hang your hat on his yearly or even weekly production with the volatility in how he scores his fantasy points. With Sam LaPorta coming back healthy in 2026, Williams could easily see his metrics regress into WR3 territory. If that happens, you’ll be glad you traded him away in dynasty. I’d look to get an early 2026 second-round pick or late 2027 first-round pick for Williams back in a trade.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
The Malik Willis Debate
Occasionally, our experts will disagree on whether a player is a buy or a sell in dynasty leagues. In those cases, we present both arguments and allow you to decide.
Buy
“This obviously depends on your league’s particular market, but I still think Malik Willis is flying under the radar in too many Dynasty formats. The 26-year-old QB is an essential lock to start some games in 2026. His price should rise when that is confirmed, and it might very well rise again once he starts racking up points with his dual-threat skill set. I’d pay any second to acquire him, although it might take an early one to get it done.”
– Ted Chmyz (Fantasy Football Bots)
“Malik Willis is the top quarterback on the free agent market. He is going to land a starting job with some NFL team and be able to start for your team as at least a QB2 (assuming superflex for this trade target). Until he signs, he is still valued in the 2nd round of rookie drafts. As soon as he signs (and realistically, each day that passes at this point), the cost will rise. I would trade a 2nd round pick for him. If wanting to hold picks, package a young receiver from Green Bay (Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, NOT Christian Watson, as he is going to have amazing value this year), with a 3rd round pick.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Sell
“The hype for Malik Willis is getting a bit out of hand. He’s up to QB30 (137 overall) in the FantasyPros’ dynasty ECR superflex rankings. This is for a player who’s attempted just 155 pass attempts in his career. Yes, he had some solid spot starts for the Packers this past season and will get paid during free agency. However, inaccurate mobile quarterbacks are a dime a dozen these days (see Justin Fields) and have proven to have short shelf lives. With a handful of rookie quarterbacks entering the scene, littered with potential veteran free agents, I’d rather cash out of Willis at what appears to be his peak value. I’d be looking to pair Willis with another asset to trade into the first round, or would take straight-up an early-to-mid 2026 second-round rookie pick.”
– Seth Woolcock (FantasyPros)
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