5 Fantasy Football Dynasty League Players to Trade Away: Injured Sell Candidates (2025)

Mike's injured fantasy football players to sell in dynasty leagues. His top injured players to trade away and fade in 2025, including Brandon Aiyuk, Tank Dell, Christian Watson and more.

Dynasty leagues are the best form of fantasy football. Not only is it a year-round game, but it also allows fantasy players to feel like NFL general managers.

However, dynasty leagues also have their drawbacks. Sometimes, you end up with a roster full of injured players that it’s best to trade away, despite selling them at a massive loss in fantasy value.

Let’s look at five injured players that fantasy players should sell in dynasty leagues.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns

Watson was once considered one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and in fantasy football. He averaged 20.7 or more fantasy points per game all four years with the Houston Texans, including a career-high 24.1 as a rookie. Unfortunately, injuries, a holdout, and suspension ruined Watson’s career before stepping on the field in Cleveland.

The veteran has played in 19 of 51 possible games in his three years with the Browns, playing in seven or fewer every season. Watson missed the first 11 games in 2022 with an off-the-field suspension. Then, he missed 11 games in 2023 with repeated shoulder issues, including needing season-ending surgery after Week 10.

More importantly, Watson’s time with Cleveland as their starter is likely over. The veteran quarterback suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in Week 7 last year. Unfortunately, he tore the same Achilles again three months later, knocking him out for the 2025 season. Watson will have played only 27.9% of the games in four years with the Browns.

Sources: #Browns QB Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles again, further testing showed, and he had another surgery on Thursday to repair it.

Less than 3 months after the original tear, it happened again. Watson faces a longer road back, and now he could miss all of 2025. pic.twitter.com/DAppF7ykjp

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2025

Unfortunately, fantasy players can’t sell Watson for a third-round rookie pick in dynasty leagues. Meanwhile, fantasy players in shallower leagues might have to cut the veteran from their roster to make space for their rookie class. Cleveland is ready to move on from the quarterback once it financially makes sense. Therefore, fantasy players should do the same.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers

Brooks had an outstanding college career at Texas. He had 238 rushing attempts for 1,479 yards and 16 touchdowns in 23 career games. Furthermore, the former Longhorn was one of the top running backs in his final college season, totaling 187 rushing attempts for 1,169 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 contests.

Unfortunately, Brooks tore his ACL early in the matchup against Iowa State, ending his 2023 season. Yet, he still declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite coming off a torn ACL that kept him from participating in the pre-draft process, Brooks was the first running back selected.

The former Texas star was the only running back selected in the first 65 picks, getting drafted 46th overall by the Panthers. Reportedly, the team felt confident that Brooks would be ready for the start of the regular season. However, he missed the first 11 weeks before making his NFL debut because of the torn ACL.

After playing three games, Brooks tore the same ACL again. Carolina placed the former Texas star on the Physically Unable to Perform list, knocking him out for the 2025 season. Unfortunately, his chances of becoming a fantasy star are mostly gone, especially after the Panthers signed Chuba Hubbard to a massive extension. Fantasy players should cut their losses and take the best offer on the table for Brooks.

Panthers coach Dave Canales says rookie RB Jonathon Brooks suffered torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/60fJbO6TPb

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2024

Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers

Watson had an impressive rookie season catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. The former North Dakota State star had 41 receptions on 66 targets for 611 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games. Furthermore, he added two rushing touchdowns and 80 yards on seven attempts.

Many fantasy players had high hopes for him in 2023 despite the Packers going from Rodgers to Jordan Love. Unfortunately, Watson started struggling with injuries, missing eight games because of multiple hamstring injuries, including a season-ending one in Week 13. Yet, the former North Dakota State star put up better per-game averages than as a rookie.

Last year, Watson struggled despite only missing two games as a rookie, severely tanking his dynasty fantasy value. He averaged only 6.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, scoring two receiving touchdowns, setting career lows in both categories. Furthermore, Green Bay started to feature other wide receivers ahead of him.

Unfortunately, Watson tore his ACL in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears. While the veteran wide receiver could play at some point this season, fantasy players should trade him away as soon as possible. In the first round of the NFL Draft, the Packers added two wide receivers, including Matthew Golden. Watson is heading into the final year of his contract and will likely never become a fantasy star.

Packers WR Christian Watson believed to have torn ACL, will miss rest of season. (via @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/Sbq0B1i2U7

— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Aiyuk had a breakout season in 2023. He finished the year as the WR14, averaging 13.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a career-high. Furthermore, the former Arizona State star was highly efficient, ranking fifth in the NFL with 1,342 receiving yards despite finishing 31st in receptions (75).

Fantasy players were impressed with Aiyuk’s back-to-back years of strong fantasy production, leading to his dynasty value vastly improving. Furthermore, the 49ers showed signs of being ready to move on from Deebo Samuel Sr., which would make Aiyuk the team’s unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver. Unfortunately, contract extension talks threw a wet blanket on his fantasy value.

San Francisco and Aiyuk had rough contract extension talks last offseason. At one point, everyone believed the 49ers would trade the star wide receiver to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After months of negotiations and drama, the two sides agreed to a massive contract extension. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the worst part of Aiyuk’s year.

The veteran suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, ending his season and putting the start to this year in jeopardy. More importantly, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings shined last season, leading to San Francisco exploring trade talks for Aiyuk this offseason. While he isn’t a must-sell candidate, fantasy players should explore trade options for the veteran wide receiver.

Kyle Shanahan has confirmed Brandon Aiyuk has suffered a season-ending ACL and MCL tear.

Prayers up for BA 🙏❤️ #IGYB pic.twitter.com/YlDOFqEQYR

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 21, 2024

Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans

Dell was a popular dynasty rookie pick a few years ago after C.J. Stroud pushed the Texans to draft the explosive wide receiver. The former Houston star had a productive rookie season, ending the year as the WR38, averaging 12.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.

Yet, Dell could have been a bigger fantasy star if he hadn’t missed the final five games with a broken fibula after getting rolled up blocking on at the goal line, ending his season. Despite the significant injury, the young receiver was ready for Week 1 last year. However, he averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game in 2024, seeing his role on offense significantly decline.

Unfortunately, Dell suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 16. He dislocated his kneecap and tore multiple ligaments while pulling in a touchdown. The young receiver tore his ACL, MCL, and LCL while suffering damage to his meniscus. While Houston hasn’t ruled him out for the 2025 season, no one expects Dell to suit up this year.

Texans WR Tank Dell is going to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury after scoring on this play:

pic.twitter.com/4irMJNGOkA

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2024

Fantasy players should take the best trade offer on the table and move on from the young receiver. Dell is a smaller player and has suffered a significant lower-body season-ending injury in back-to-back years. He won’t play until 2026, the final season of his contract. More importantly, the Texans have already written him off, spending two Day 2 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on former Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

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