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The Green Bay Packers wide receiver corps has long had fantasy value. Richard King takes a look at two young WRs currently on the roster to determine their value in dynasty leagues for the 2019 fantasy football season. Should you buy or sell as long-term prospects?
When it comes to dynasty football leagues, you know there is no offseason. Without the in-season worries of setting lineups and waiver wire claims, dynasty league enthusiasts can focus their efforts on making trades to improve their teams and preparing for rookie drafts. Offseason narratives can be difficult to navigate, but we are here to help!
Today's column will take a look at the young duo of wide receivers in Green Bay Marquez Valdes-Scantling & Equanimeous St. Brown. We will start off with an overview of the duo and then take a look at analyzing their value in dynasty leagues. Then, to finish it off, we will propose some possible trades involving the two of them to give you some ideas for either buying or selling him.
For all discussions regarding their dynasty value, let's assume you are playing in a 12-team, one-quarterback dynasty league with 0.5 PPR scoring. As always, player values can shift quickly in dynasty leagues so be sure to stay on top of the NFL news cycle when proposing trades.
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Overview
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Team: Green Bay Packers
College: South Florida
Height/Weight: 6'4", 206 pounds
2018 NFL Draft: Round 5, Pick 174 overall
Equanimeous St. Brown
Team: Green Bay Packers
College: Notre Dame
Height/Weight: 6'5", 206 pounds
2018 NFL Draft: Round 6, Pick 214 overall
This young duo of long-named receivers were both added to the Green Bay Packers roster last season, and both had flashes to show that they are talented receivers. Having a future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing them the ball will mean that despite their late-round selections they are still able to return fantasy value. The Packers have a clear need for a wide receiver to step up across the field from Davante Adams, especially with Randall Cobb leaving in free agency, which gives a receiver (or two) the chance to make a splash. Geronimo Allison certainly looked to have one of those spots sewn up early in the season, but injury took away his chance to stamp one position as his own.
Valdes-Scantling finished the season with 38 receptions for 581 yards and two touchdowns, while St. Brown finished the season with 21 receptions for 328 yards. While that would make you think that Valdes-Scantling is the front-runner St. Brown wasn't able to get on the field as often, owing to being injured himself. The receivers finished with similar statistics on average- with similar target shares of around 10% and yards per reception of 15 yards.
Dynasty Value
Both players have one thing on their side- youth. While the Packers investment in them (owing to where they were selected) means the team could easily move away from them, the need for at least one of these players to push on from their rookie season means that they have some value.
Trying to determine either's value over the other is difficult, given that they both have positives and negatives in their respective games. According to their ADPs on Fantasy Football Calculator Valdes-Scantling is the first player off the board in the 10th round, while St.Brown is picked up in the 14th round. Recently, rumors have come out that Rodgers opted to stay away from MVS just to spite Mike McCarthy's play-calling. That issue shouldn't linger over the team this year with a new head coach, but it's still unclear whether either receiver has Rodgers' trust.
Possible Trades
Given the question marks that are over both players, I don't think that I would be attempting to move on either player- as I'm not going to be getting much back. Even in a trade where they are not the main part I am likely going to effectively give them away.
The opportunity here is to try and buy low on these players, who could have fantasy value in select weeks at a minimum, and who could become effective receivers for your lineup if they take the chance they have this season. I think that I would attempt to move them for a late-round draft pick, or an aging receiver who I didn't need. The potential upside is greater than anything you're likely to receive in return.
Both players have upside in a Green Bay offense with Rodgers throwing the ball, while I wouldn't be looking to sell them due to the uncertainty over getting a valuable piece back I would be happy to try and obtain them for a late-round draft pick and see what I could get from them this season.
