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Scott Engel lists his top dynasty league trade targets and undervalued buy-low candidates for 2019. These players could be hidden gems for fantasy football owners.
It is very quiet on the NFL and fantasy football fronts right now. The biggest waves of free agency have passed, and we are inching closer to the NFL Draft window.
Now is a good time to shake things up in a dynasty league. Some other owners may not be actively thinking about deals, and you can wake them out of their “waiting for the NFL Draft” induced slumber to swoop in and make a lower-level deal. At least it will appear that way on the surface.
A lot of the players mentioned here do not come across as significant acquisitions, yet they have the promise to exceed current expectations in 2019. Now is the best time to acquire them, while you may not have to give up too much to get it done. Of course, keep these guys in mind going forward as value picks in any seasonal or Best Ball drafts you are planning for.
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Offseason Dynasty Trade Targets and Value Picks for 2019
Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Arizona: Kyler Murray can use a big target on key downs and near the goal line. RSJ was a big disappointment last season, but with the dynamic Murray possibly at the helm of the Arizona offense, he will get more chances to make important catches and opportunities to score.
Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore: He showed some promise working with Lamar Jackson late in the season, catching six passes for 137 yards and a TD in the final two regular season games. The Ravens look thin at receiver and Andrews could end up being one of Lamar Jackson’s top targets. Andrews has the potential to be the featured pass-catcher for Jackson.
Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago: He caught seven TD passes as a rookie, and if Mitchell Trubisky continues to improve next season, Miller could emerge as his prime playmaker in the passing game. Don’t be surprised if he surpasses Allen Robinson as the team’s best wide receiver.
Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas: The Cowboys acquired Randall Cobb, and some may believe he will slide in as Dallas’ No. 2 WR. I say when the season opens, he will be more of a luxury for Dallas as a third wideout. Gallup is going to become a more frequent playmaker and Cobb was signed for depth and insurance. The Cowboys landed their true starters last year when they drafted Gallup and acquired Amari Cooper. Cobb merely rounds out a solid trio.
Kenyan Drake, RB, Miami: He was simply not utilized correctly by Adam Gase. Miami’s best offensive players are their running backs, and Drake has superb pass-catching abilities and can score from anywhere on the field. Kalen Ballage will have his role, but a busy and sometimes explosive Drake is what we should expect to see in 2019.
David Moore, WR, Seattle: Late last season at a press conference, Pete Carroll told me the Seahawks were very high on Moore internally. He’s a downfield threat who needs to become more consistent. With the uncertain status of Doug Baldwin, someone will have to take on a larger role in the passing game even if the Seahawks draft a WR. Moore may get a much longer look in training camp this year and an increased role during the regular season.
Ronald Jones II, RB, Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers did not acquire anyone of note to improve their RB situation, and under a new regime, he may get a fresh start. With Jones’ potential and above-average talents still mostly untapped, it may not be much longer before a pedestrian guy like Peyton Barber gives way to him.
Trey Quinn, WR, Washington: Whether it’s Case Keenum or a rookie starting at QB for Washington, there is a significant need for a reliable pass-catching target. Neither Josh Doctson or Paul Richardson have been consistently dependable in the past. Quinn will likely slide into Jamison Crowder’s old slot role and could be a quality PPR depth acquisition. He has already been openly endorsed by Jay Gruden this offseason.
Will Wilson and Murray Change Destinations?
Speculation continues to run rampant that the Seahawks could possibly trade Russell Wilson, with the latest rumor featuring a three-team trade involving the Cardinals, Giants, and Seahawks. In such a scenario, Wilson would end up on the Giants, the Seahawks would get the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to take Kyler Murray, and the Cardinals would receive the Giants’ two first-round picks, at the sixth and 17th slots.
Wilson has given the Seahawks an April 15 deadline to work out a new contract with him, and while a franchise QB like him would be hard to replace, gaining the gateway to Murray could ease the transition. The Giants would gain a proven winning successor to Eli Manning, and the Cardinals could conceivably still pick a QB in the first round and net even more draft capital by dealing Josh Rosen.
From fantasy perspectives, the appeal of Wilson can improve slightly in such a deal, as he will gain a top receiving back, Saquon Barkley, and he will be reunited with Golden Tate as part of a deep and respectable passing crew. Sterling Shepard would be a quality WR2 for him and Evan Engram could turn out to be the best TE he has ever played with.
Many reports have Murray heading to Arizona, but if he landed in Seattle, he would have better deep threats than he can have with the Cardinals. Tyler Lockett is an established big-play guy and the Cardinals just don’t have that type of pass-catcher. David Moore is another downfield threat. But with the future of Doug Baldwin looking murky, he won’t have as much of a dependable crew as he would in Arizona, where he also would benefit from playing with David Johnson. Seattle does have two quality RBs, as Chris Carson has already shown what he can do when healthy, and Rashaad Penny’s best days are likely ahead of him.
Murray, like Wilson, is an effective play-action and deep passer. But he obviously lacks Wilson’s experience and having a rookie QB in charge of the offense could lead to more ups and downs. The scope of the Seahawks offense might also change with a dynamic dual-threat such as Murray in the mix. The Seahawks could be prompted to establish a better balance between pass and run. Of course, they may want to do that even if Wilson stays.
We are only a few days away from Wilson’s imposed deadline to work out a new deal. No matter where he plays in 2019, he will remain a Top-5 Fantasy QB. Murray has the look of an instant fantasy contributor, but the possible supporting cast seems to be more solid in Arizona at this time.
Murray could also prove to be a better fantasy QB than Wilson if he goes to Arizona. The Seahawks may still lean a lot on the running game, even if it is not as pronounced as last year. Ideally, the Seahawks would like Wilson to be efficient and make the most of every throw. Murray could be more of the type that carries an offense on his shoulders more frequently.
This could all be nothing more than conjecture and water cooler talk, though. Wilson is an icon in Seattle and has long been a comfortable complement to Pete Carroll in their QB/coach relationship. Trading Wilson would be shedding one of the franchise’s last ties to their most successful era and would put them on uncertain ground at the most visible and sought-after position in the game. Murray could still bust, whereas Wilson is a proven winner.
Soon we will also find out about the Giants’ situation, of course. I believe they acquired Tate as a safe WR for an incoming QB, likely a rookie. If they don’t deal for Wilson, whatever QB they draft will come into a situation where everything around him is set up for success. That will make a possible rookie QB from New York a very high pick in fantasy rookie drafts.
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