Dynasty managers constantly evaluate their rosters throughout the season, determining what players to buy and who to trade or cut loose. With this, it’s time for the reaction to Week 14 of buy-and-sell within Dynasty. I’ll be analyzing veteran and rookie profiles to project future values, which is the key to building a successful Dynasty Fantasy Football team.
My buy candidates throughout the year will range from immediate help to long-term upside that could deliver consistent production for the future. Also, knowing when to trade away players at or near their peak is valuable to infusing your roster with up-and-coming talent. Let’s dive right in, and let me help you by suggesting the players that you’d be wise to buy and sell in Dynasty this week.
* Within this article, the statistics were pulled from Sports Reference, KeepTradeCut (KTC), and Sleeper.
Buy
Rome Odunze
In this past year’s Dynasty rookie draft, Rome Odunze was among the most sought-after wide receivers behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers. The first-round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft from the University of Washington got off to a slow start in his professional career, but he’s starting to produce now and show off his talent. On the season, he’s WR44, presenting a great buy-low player, especially for rebuilding managers because he’s ultra-talented. Odunze is a special playmaker who projects to be a star at his position. He knows how to come down with the ball in traffic and is great with yards after the catch. Odunze projects to be a future “X” receiver and has the talent to be a WR1-B next to D.J. Moore for the foreseeable future. He’s currently third on the depth chart behind D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, which has limited his fantasy production this year. However, with his metrics and recent production, he’s proving to be one of the best-buy candidates who figures to break out next season. A large part of this figures to be Keenan Allen, who will be a free agent, and he could look elsewhere in free agency.
Once Odunze has a larger role and slides in as the Bears’ second wide receiver of the future, I fully expect him to break out as most second-year players typically do. The Bears’ offense has undergone some growing pains and changes with the coaching staff but they figure to attract one of the top head coaching candidates this offseason. Additionally, one can also expect fellow rookie Caleb Williams to leap in his second season, making Odunze a prime breakout candidate next season. Since Week 8, Odunze has been one of the heaviest targeted wide receivers in the NFL, and this past Sunday’s game, he showed off what he can do against a solid 49ers defense. However, his best fantasy game came back in Week 3 when he finished as the WR 7 (Full-PPR) with six catches on 11 targets for 112 yards and one touchdown. But in Week 14 against the 49ers, he finished as the WR12 (Full-PPR) with four catches on five targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Odunze is beginning to flash what he can do as a rookie in the first year of his four-year contract. Additionally, Odunze being paired with Caleb Williams for the long term makes him a very good buy candidate. He’s currently WR44 (Full-PPR) on the season, and on KeepTradeCut (KTC), he’s valued as the WR18. This makes it a time to try to acquire a talented player who’s expected to increase his role and become a focal point of a young, talented offense. The window to buy Odunze is now so get him before it’s too late. He has the potential to help carry many managers to championships in future years as he’s starting to find his stride with the Bears.
Michael Mayer
Does anyone remember Michael Mayer? He seems to have fallen off everyone’s Dynasty Fantasy Football radar this season, but the former second-round pick (35th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft from the University of Notre Dame is a great buy low tight end. After the Raiders surprisingly selected Brock Bowers in the first round this past year, Mayer was pushed down the depth chart. Additionally, after Week 3, Mayer stepped away from the team due to a personal issue before returning in Week 11. Now, with Mayer back, he made his impact known on the field even as the second tight, which was highlighted by this past Sunday’s game. In Week 14, he finished as the TE8 with 10.30 fantasy points (Full-PPR), and he had a season-high of seven catches on nine targets for 68 yards. It was great to see Mayer back and showing how talented he is.
As Mayer has been held back in the Raiders’ offense with the draft selection of Bowers, he’s primed to be an offseason trade candidate to be moved to a team where he can instantly be inserted as their top tight end. These rumors surrounding Mayer make him a great Dynasty Fantasy Football buy-low candidate as his price is low, and he’s currently in the second year of a rookie deal that has two additional years. Mayer is currently TE57 (Full-PPR) on the season, and on KeepTradeCut (KTC), he’s valued as the TE29. Now is the time to try to acquire a talented player who’s expected in the future to see his role increased by a rumored trade. It’s evident that with Mayer’s time in the league, he’s shown that he’s a starting-caliber NFL tight end and he was also one of the most productive collegiate players as well. Bet on his talent and future opportunity to acquire Mayer now, as in Dynasty Fantasy Football, he’ll never be cheaper than he is currently. Mayer can be a great buy-low piece to help solve your tight end position and be a building block for your contending Dynasty Fantasy Football team next season.
Sell
D.K. Metcalf
Listing D.K. Metcalf here has more to do with the breakout this season of his teammate, but at the age of 27, Metcalf has most likely reached his peak as a Dynasty Fantasy Football asset. The Seahawks wide receiver room belongs to and will continue to belong to second-year breakout star Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Nicknamed “JSN,“ Smith-Njigba didn’t have a “bad“ rookie season, but he had left more to be desired, and it was considered underwhelming for a prospect of his pedigree and draft capital. However, he has officially arrived in year two as the Seahawks’ true WR1. In Week 9, when Metcalf missed the game with an injury, Smith-Njigba went nuclear and had a season-high 33.50 fantasy points (Full-PPR) on seven catches on thirteen targets for 180 yards and two touchdowns. This is bad news for Metcalf Dynasty Fantasy Football managers. Over the Seahawks’ last four games from Weeks 11-14 when both were on the field, Smith-Njigba was averaging 15.1 fantasy points (Full-PPR). Metcalf, on the other hand, only averaged 8.5 fantasy points (Full-PPR) over those four games. Based on this production, it’s clear that Metcalf isn’t the number-one receiver with the Seahawks anymore. Sure, Metcalf can and will post some blowup games, but he’s no longer the clear-cut WR1 for his team.
Dynasty managers need to take advantage of his name-brand value and relative youth while they still can and cash out on him. In Dynasty Fantasy Football, it’s smarter to sell a player a year or two early while they’re still in their prime before it’s too late. This is especially true when you notice clear signs of a shift in offensive-designed plays and production. Additionally, Metcalf signed a three-year extension that only takes his time with the Seahawks through the 2025 season, which adds another layer as he could have an uncertain future. He’s currently WR29 (Full-PPR) on the season, and on KeepTradeCut (KTC), he’s valued as the WR20, so he’s a smart sell high right now as he still has great value. I’d look to sell Metcalf now because he’s still in his prime, and with his teammate Smith-Njigba’s breakout upon us as the Seahawks’ number-one wide receiver, his value will begin going down. You can still trade Metcalf now for a haul, and the return you get can help restock your Dynasty Fantasy Football roster for a future-contending team.
Cooper Kupp
Similarly to Metcalf above, Cooper Kupp is someone that you need to sell before his decline starts. We can already see signs that Puka Nacua is the Rams’ top wide receiver, which Kupp has historically been in recent years. Kupp, at age 31, looks like his decline will begin shortly, and I would trade him before it becomes more evident. The Rams’ current and future “alpha“ wide receiver is Nacua. Last season, out of nowhere, Nacua burst onto the scene, but it was clear Kupp was still the top receiver on the Rams. However, in recent weeks, that narrative has started to flip. Over the Rams’ last five games from Weeks 10-14, when both players were on the field, Nacua is averaging an elite 20.5 fantasy points (Full-PPR). This stretch of games is highlighted by Nacua’s performance in Week 14 when he had 35.8 fantasy points (Full-PPR) and finished the week as the WR2. Nacua had twelve catches on fourteen targets for 162 yards and one touchdown. He also showed off his playmaking ability with sixteen rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground as well this past week. In the meantime, Kupp, during this five-game stretch, was averaging 15.6 fantasy points (Full-PPR). Kupp’s season-high came in Week 11 when he had six catches on ten targets for 106 yards and two touchdowns. While Kupp’s production is still very solid, he’s not at the elite level he once was or that Nacua is currently at.
Kupp is another player that Dynasty Fantasy Football managers need to take advantage of being seen as a top talent because of his name and look to move him. With Kupp’s elite production that he’s had for so many years with the Rams, I’d look to sell him a year early as opposed to a year too late. Kupp is signed for two more years with the Rams, but at this current trade deadline, there was also chatter that the Rams were listening to offers for him. With uncertainty around his future, this could negatively affect his Dynasty Fantasy Football value going forward. It’s best to sell him now before Kupp is potentially traded from the Rams’ elite passing offense. He’s currently WR19 (Full-PPR) on the season, and on KeepTradeCut (KTC), he’s valued as the WR37, so he’s a smart sell high right now as he still has great value. I’d look to sell him to a contending manager now as Kupp’s elite reign as a Dynasty Fantasy Football wide receiver looks to be coming to an end, with Nacua taking over as the Rams’ true number-one wide receiver. You can still trade him now for a nice return, which can help you restock your Dynasty Fantasy Football roster for the future.
Conclusion
As the football season quickly moves along, don’t let your league catch you sleeping, as it’ll cost you in the standings. Buy and sell these players now to build your long-lasting championship-caliber Dynasty Fantasy Football roster.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you gained some valuable information. If you have any questions or you’d like additional insight and analysis, please follow me on Twitter/X at @MonicasHubby. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
