Moves to Make Now in Dynasty Fantasy Football (3/26)

When the last article from this series dropped, we were mere hours into the new league year. Now, a couple weeks removed from the heart of the free agency frenzy, we have a more settled landscape to work with (pending the chaos of the NFL draft, of course).

A few more moves worth making have materialized over the course of those weeks, so we’re here again with some key late-March Buys and Sells across the dynasty landscape. There will be more to come — especially after the draft in a month — but here are a few trades to consider heading into April.

Dynasty Moves to Make: Buys

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, Washington Commanders

In Jay Felicio’s late-February iteration of this column, Terry McLaurin was highlighted as a sell, and in my list earlier this month, Brian Robinson Jr. made the same list. But with Jayden Daniels at the helm, I think most of us can agree this offense is still ascending. So, what gives? Quite possibly, Deebo Samuel Sr. gives … you a reason to buy in dynasty. Samuel was traded from San Francisco to Washington at the start of the month and agreed to a renegotiated contract with the Commanders about a week ago. He’s coming off arguably the least efficient season of his career and an abysmal WR44 finish … but we already know he’s got the “bounceback” gene. After an injury-shortened 2020 in which he was WR46 in points per game, Samuel was an All-Pro revelation and finished as the WR2 overall in 2021. After another downswing in 2022 — to WR37 — he topped 1,100 scrimmage yards and scored 12 touchdowns (again) to finish as the WR12 in 2023.

Now, he’s upgrading from Brock Purdy to Jayden Daniels and swapping from one of the more crowded pass-catching corps in the league — Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings — to a Washington group with McLaurin and little else of note. Plus, the Kliff Kingsbury offense feels like a great fit for Samuel’s skill set: Per FTN StatsHub, Daniels threw the sixth-most screen passes per game last year and posted the second-highest completion percentage on quick throws in the league (behind Patrick Mahomes). If he can stay healthy, Samuel could have the opportunity to top 100 touches for just the second time in his career and see a big rebound in efficiency. And the price is tantalizing: He’s currently valued right around WR50, in a tier with names like Xavier Legette and Jakobi Meyers. You could snag a sneaky WR2 season (or two or three) for a dart throw and a bag of chips.

Assets I’d trade for Samuel: Late-Round 2 rookie pick, Xavier Legette, James Conner

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

Do you feel lucky, punk? (Glares in Clint Eastwood.) If you do, let’s take a trip down No-Risk-It-No-Biscuit Lane and send out feelers for Marvin Harrison Jr. For the entirety of the 2024 offseason, the “can’t miss” prospect out of Ohio State was sitting at WR5 in dynasty rankings. He peaked a spot or two above that after scoring four touchdowns in a three-game stretch in September. Then, he and Kyler Murray imploded, any shred of chemistry seemed to disappear, and Harrison proceeded to average single-digit fantasy points per game for the rest of the season. Now he’s sitting at WR10, one spot behind Drake London.

But let’s check the history books. Just three rookie wideouts drafted top-five overall — including Harrison — have averaged 14-plus yards per reception and 0.5 touchdowns per game in the common draft era. The others were Ja’Marr Chase and A.J. Green. Eyebrows raise. Among 65 first-round wide receivers drafted since 2009 (when target data began), Harrison’s 42.9% team air yards share ranks … number one. Above Malik Nabers, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, among many others. Eyebrows raise further. So where’s the problem? Well, among that same list of first-round receivers, Harrison’s 53.4% catch rate ranks 45th and his catchable ball rate of 69% ranked 61st among qualified wideouts last year. He and Kyler were simply not on the same page for most of his rookie season and it hurt.

With a full offseason to figure things out — which they absolutely must do, considering Arizona’s investments in both players — things should get better in 2025. Harrison is still the unquestioned number one wide receiver on the depth chart and — unless he trends towards “bust of the century” territory — should improve in his sophomore season. I’d rather have him than anyone in the 2025 rookie crop not named Ashton Jeanty and would ship off a running back like Saquon Barkley or a package involving a Garrett Wilson or Tee Higgins to acquire him.

Assets I’d trade for Harrison: Any rookie pick after 1.01, Saquon Barkley, WR2 plus a sweetener