Moves to Make Now in Dynasty Fantasy Football (8/23)

Boy, did we get a bombshell dropped on us. With just under two weeks to go until the start of the season, the Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Eagles for draft picks. Add in quarterback competitions ending, among other training camp tidbits, and fantasy values have been thoroughly jostled for several players. Luckily for you, FTN is offering up a fresh batch of dynasty moves to make. Just like Mom used to make.

As a reminder, buying doesn’t mean getting a player Chigoziem Okonkwo and the board game Crossfire. Selling doesn’t mean you must rid your rosters of said player for 10 cents on the dollar. When players are improperly valued, take advantage.

Dynasty Moves to Make: Sells

Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders

The beauty of trades like Dotson to the Eagles is the resurrection of an adjacent player’s value who was long assumed dead. Zach Ertz had his dominant stretch in the mid-2010s, but he’s a shell of his former self. He’s played in just one full season since 2020, finishing as TE5 his first year in Arizona. But he finished no higher than TE19 in any of the other three seasons and outside the top 30 in two of them. With Washington’s dearth of receiving options after Terry McLaurin and the prominence of tight ends in OC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, Ertz is seen as an option to absorb some of the vacated targets with Dotson’s departure. He could have some productive games, but he’s not the big winner many assume, especially with rookie Ben Sinnott waiting in the wings. Use the bump in value to deal Ertz for a third-round pick, a dart throw running back, literally anything of value.

Players I’d be willing to trade Ertz for 1 for 1: Jonnu Smith, Tyler Conklin, Rondale Moore

Gardner Minshew, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

This is Gardner Minshew’s second appearance in the “Dynasty Moves to Make” series, and now that he’s been named the starter, I’m doubling down.  I won’t rehash all my points from June, but his production as a starting quarterback has been mediocre. Minshew may have been named the starter, but it wasn’t due to performance. Statistically, Aidan O’Connell was better in two preseason games, although neither stood out. I took a quick stroll over to the incredible StatsHub to look at turnover-worthy throws, which Minshew ranked in the top 10 with 4.5% of his passes. AOC tied for 23rd at 3.5% with Patrick Mahomes and Jordan Love.

It’s a matter of time before he’s benched for O’Connell, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened well before their Week 10 bye. Being named starter bumps his value up ever so slightly; take advantage before the bottom falls out. If you need something to put your trade offer over the top, send this video of Minshew working out set to “Higher” by Creed. That’ll do it.