Dynasty Fantasy Football Moves to Make Heading Into Week 5

Every week, I will break down a few moves to make to help you build the ultimate dynasty fantasy football roster and rule your leagues.

With Week 4 behind us, the key to finding long-term success is not to overreact. Too many dynasty managers sell the farm after a disappointing start to the season on just bandage moves – especially if you just lost a top-tier running back to injury. That leads to a cascading event for future seasons. That said, some players are worth making a move to acquire, no matter the state of your roster.

Rebuilding Moves 

Even amid a rebuild, there are in-season moves that can help you set yourself up for success. They don’t have to be massive trades either — the key to rebuilding is obtaining assets. Little has changed in the landscape when it comes to dynasty this week, so remember it’s never a bad idea to accumulate young assets and draft picks. 

Look to Get Younger 

Don’t take this too literally — many managers tend to do so and ruin their roster and then find themselves in a neverending rebuild. Even in dynasty, we are trying to win every year and if you strip it down too far you will likely struggle to become relevant within the next few years. This three-year window should be the benchmark you should use, especially when evaluating players and their outlook. If you are currently 1-3 or 0-4 and have one of the lowest points totals, it might be time to start making some moves to get a bit younger and look toward 2023. That means to start moving players nearing their positions’ age cliffs, but look to add an already established younger player before you settle on rookie picks. Picks are wonderful assets, but unless you are OK to trade them on draft day for proven assets, they are extremely risky. A significant portion of picks do not pan out, so giving up a high-end asset for a dice role may not be the best practice. Look to cash in on underperforming quality players or players who may have suffered an injury that has ended their season prematurely – resulting in a lower value. This practice could pay off big time but remember it doesn’t have to be a fire sale, do not move quality pieces just to move them, make sure the deal helps make your team better as my colleague Jeff Ratcliffe preaches and I endorse. 

Target DJ Moore Via Trade 

In only four short weeks, it feels like a majority of the dynasty community is ready to turn on former darling DJ Moore. He entered the season coming off three consecutive 1,100-yard, 4-touchdown seasons. In each, he finished as a top-30 WR in PPR scoring, averaging 14.99 PPR points per game. He had cemented himself as one of the premier wide receivers in the league even with questionable quarterback play. But so far this season, with arguably even more questionable quarterback play, Moore is significantly underperforming, averaging a measly 9 PPR points per game. But despite the poor numbers he is averaging 7.2 targets a game, though it’s only resulting in 3.25 receptions and 35.5 yards per game. It is pretty clear that Baker Mayfield is not going to be the Panthers’ long-term option, and with the team at 1-3, they are on a crash course for a top 10 pick this year. At only 25 years old, Moore is a great addition to a rebuilding team, especially with a possible quarterback and coaching change coming in 2023. 

Contending Rosters

As a contender, we know by now that the name of the game is “What can you do for me now?” This is the mindset you should have as we head into Week 5, especially, if your roster can handle a deep run. The waiver wire can be your best friend, but a rebuilding roster could be your soul mate.

Test the Waters on Either of the Packers’ WRs 

The biggest question in Green Bay this offseason was which Packers wide receiver would be the guy for Aaron Rodgers with Davante Adams in Las Vegas. Through three weeks of the season, it appears two players have separated themselves from the pack. Romeo Doubs has appeared in every game, which has allowed him to lead the Packers in targets (25), receptions (19) and yards (184), and he has scored once. That’s one fewer than Allen Lazard, whose two touchdowns are currently 50% of the team’s receiving touchdowns this season. Lazard only trails Doubs by 10 receiving yards while playing in one fewer game. This week, both Doubs and Lazard played 96% of the team’s offensive snaps; the next-closest receiver was Randall Cobb at 34%. In other words, Lazard and Doubs are basically cemented as the top two guys going forward. The best part about this is with them splitting targets, both are acquirable for a reasonable value. Both players are going to be great upside WR3s for contending rosters, but also both still have value past this season. 

It May Be Miles Sanders Season — Go Get Him 

After being vocal this offseason that you should not draft him in fantasy, Miles Sanders has defied that by exploding onto the scene in the first few weeks. This week he finished as the RB3 in PPR scoring with 29.6 points. He led the backfield with 29 touches (27 carries, 2 receptions), taking that for 156 scrimmage yards and 2 touchdowns. His 29 touches were almost five times as many as the next-closest Eagles running back (Kenneth Gainwell, with 6), cementing the fact that Sanders is the guy moving forward. Sanders is the PPR RB9 through four weeks. He might be a roller coaster at times, given Jalen Hurts’ propensity to run the ball as well, but as a flex option on a contending roster, he’s a great addition.