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By: Jay Pounds (@JayPoundsNFL)
We have three pre-season games in the books and many more to come. As we go through the pre-season, I will use the introduction of my articles to let you know the major happenings around the league. As of now, things are quiet but Carson Wentz seems to be on track to start Week 1 which is good news all around for the Colts offense. Amari Cooper has finally been taken off the PUP list and should be a go for the regular season, while his teammate Dak Prescott is set to undergo an M.R.I. but should be ready for Week 1 as well. Rookie Rashod Bateman is having surgery on his groin and will return “sometime in September”. Finally, Zack Moss missed practice because of a hamstring injury. None of this news seems troubling to me, but Zack Moss is one to keep an eye on as he has had injury issues dating back to college.
As I have in the past articles of this series, I will be placing players into 3 separate categories called Buy, Sell, and Hold. The players in this week’s article will be from one of the best divisions in football, the NFC West. In this article all players will be looked at through a rebuilding owner’s eyes. The players placed in the Buy category are always going to be young players with a ton of upside, along with great draft capital, and a clear path to the field. The players in the Sell category are going to be older players, players who are expensive, and players who fit better on contending rosters. The players in the Hold category will be players who have solid veterans blocking their path to the field, due a new contract soon, or a player whose trade value is down. If you have a differing opinion, please feel free to let me know on Twitter.
Miss from last week!
Amon-Ra St. Brown (4 years, $1,066,313)
I am still in shock I left one of my favorite rookies off last week’s article. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of my favorite buys heading into the 2021 season. St. Brown does not have the glamorous 1st round draft capital like some do but he does have a massive opportunity in front of him and could very well lead the Detroit Lions receiving room in targets this coming season. St. Brown should come cheap and should be on your rebuilding roster.
BUY
Seattle Seahawks
- DK Metcalf (2 years, $1,146,513)
The track star DK Metcalf is one of my favorite young receivers in all of football. As a rebuilding owner Metcalf is exactly the type of player you want on your roster. He is young, talented, cheap, and tied to a great quarterback. What more could you ask for!
- D’Wayne Eskridge (4 years, $1,488,376)
Eskridge was one of my favorite late round picks in Dynasty Owner rookie drafts and a lot of it has to do with Russell Wilson. If Eskridge finds a way to fit into this offense, we could finally see the Seattle Seahawks we have all been begging for the last few years.
- Cade Johnson (3 years, $808,333)
Cade Johnson is someone not many are high on and quite frankly, he may not even make the Seahawks roster. If you have room for a talented player who does not have the best shot at making a roster, Cade Johnson is an excellent target.
- Gerald Everett (1 year, $6,000,000)
Placing Gerald Everett as a Buy may be questionable to some, but I am excited to see his role in the Seattle offense. Everett was a 2nd round draft pick for the Rams and underwhelmed during his time with the team. Everett should come cheap, and you should have no issue moving him for more than you paid later in the season when he is balling out with Russ.
Los Angeles Rams
- Cam Akers (3 years, $1,543,258)
I know I say to be cautious buying running backs early in a rebuild but Akers is the perfect candidate. After the injury Akers should be significantly cheaper to acquire and will not score you any points this year, helping you in your goal towards the Number 1 pick.
- Van Jefferson (3 years, $1,402,784)
Van Jefferson is a tricky player to project. He is in a very good offense and has 2nd round draft capital but the two studs in front of him on the depth chart (Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp) are both locked into deals for the foreseeable future, but I still like the talent.
- Tutu Atwell (4 years, $1,477,175)
As I just said with Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell is in the same exact scenario just a little worse. Atwell not only has Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods in front of him, but he also has Van Jefferson to deal with. I am buying Atwell right now but only because he is extremely cheap and has 2nd round draft capital.
San Francisco 49ers
- Trey Lance (4 years, $8,526,319)
I am placing all these young rookie signal callers in the Buy bracket because they are a tremendous value to rebuilding owners. The problem with buying these types of players are that you are going to have to significantly mortgage your future just to have them on your roster. If you have visions of selling, I will not blame you at all.
- Elijah Mitchell (4 years, $915,892)
Elijah Mitchell is a great dart throw and an excellent Buy for any rebuilding roster. Mitchell is buried on the 49ers depth chart at the moment, but he has the talent to find a role in this offense. The 49ers breed productive running backs and Mitchell could be the next one in line.
- Brandon Aiyuk (3 years, $3,132,835)
Brandon Aiyuk is one of my favorite players heading into 2021 and feel he will double in value after the season he is about to have. If Trey Lance is what we expect him to be (we love semi-quoting Dennis Green around here) then I feel Aiyuk is going to be a future star at the receiver position.
- Deebo Samuel (2 years, $1,811,869)
While I do not see Deebo Samuel in the same conversation as his teammate Brandon Aiyuk, I do think he will be a solid fantasy starter for many years if he can stay healthy. Aiyuk will be the star, but Samuel will be the cheaper wide out for the 49ers and may even end up with a better yearly Dynasty Dollars per Point (DD/PT) value.
- George Kittle (5 years, $15,000,000)
The tight end position can give you the biggest advantage in all of fantasy football and is one of the hardest to fill. I know George Kittle is expensive and will be putting up big numbers this year, but as young as he is I recommend buying Kittle and forgetting about the tight end position for many years to come.
Arizona Cardinals
- Eno Benjamin (3 years, $849,428)
If you believe in either Chase Edmonds, or James Conner becoming a workhorse, Eno Benjamin may not be the Buy for you. If you do not believe in either of those guys becoming a work horse running back, I highly suggest putting Eno Benjamin on your Dynasty Owner roster. Eno Benjamin may very well be the most talented back on the Cardinals roster.
- Kyler Murray (2 years, $8,914,504)
If Kyler Murray can stay healthy throughout his career, he may end up as one of the best, most consistent fantasy quarterbacks of all time. If you can get your hands on Murray, you need to immediately plan for his future contract and start building around him.
- Christian Kirk (1 year, $1,473,717)
I am not all that big of a fan of Christian Kirk, but he is a talented NFL player. The Cardinals seem to be content moving off him after bringing in someone like A.J. Green and drafting Rondale Moore, but Kirk only has one year left in the desert and may get a fresh start elsewhere come 2022.
- Rondale Moore (4 years, $1,731,060)
Introducing the Christian Kirk killer, Rondale Moore. Moore is an extremely talented kid out of Purdue and has great draft capital after being taken in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL draft. Moore may not step into a significant role right away but come mid-season I expect him to start seeing significant playing time. Buy Moore now before it is too late.
- Maxx Williams (1 year, $3,500,000)
I remember Maxx Williams coming out of Minnesota and doing very well in the pre-draft process, looking like an athletic freak. Fast-forward a few years and he has been stuck behind Mark Andrews, not getting a shot at actual playing time. All of that is in the past and Williams will finally get a chance to become a NFL starter. I am buying Williams before he breaks out with a big game and the asking price doubles.
SELL
Seattle Seahawks
- Russell Wilson (3 years, $35,000,000)
As a fan, I want Russell Wilson on my team solely because he is so much fun to watch, but as a rebuilding owner I feel completely opposite. While keeping, or acquiring Wilson could be understandable in regular dynasty, this is Dynasty Owner where Wilson’s salary matters. I am trading Wilson before he is a year older and a year closer to being extended.
- Chris Carson (2 years, $5,212,500)
I have mentioned numerous times over the past few weeks that the landscape of the running back position is downright ugly. If you are a rebuilding owner with a running back like Chris Carson on your roster, you need to move him immediately. Carson’s salary is cheap compared to others at his position, making him tradeable to almost any owner.
- Tyler Lockett (1 year, $10,250,000)
If I am being honest Tyler Lockett is one of my favorite players in football and has been since he was playing at Kansas State. If Lockett were a little younger and cheaper, I would have him as a Buy. The hype around Lockett is fantastic right now, rebuilding owners should take advantage.
Los Angeles Rams
- Matthew Stafford (2 years, $27,000,000)
I like Matthew Stafford at this salary a ton, but do not feel he is someone rebuilding owners should be targeting. At this point in the off-season, there is rightfully a lot of hype around Stafford and the Rams offense, which is exactly what I love taking advantage of when rebuilding.
- Darrell Henderson (2 years, $1,053,001)
If you are rebuilding and you have Darrell Henderson, you need to be shopping him immediately. I cannot find the exact stat, but Henderson has never seen north of a 70% snap share in any game in his entire career, including the games Cam Akers was not playing in. Take advantage of the Henderson hype now or you will come to regret the decision.
- Xavier Jones (2 years, $764,667)
After reading the Darrell Henderson piece, I do not think you need to hear much on Xavier Jones. Jones is a talented kid, but he and Henderson are just keeping the seat warm until Cam Akers returns next season. Sell the Jones hype.
- DeSean Jackson (1 year, $4,500,000)
I am not sure any owner in their right mind would give up much for DeSean Jackson but if you find someone willing, it is time to move on from the speedster.
- Cooper Kupp (3 years, $15,750,000)
I will continue to say this, sell the hype. The Rams offense is getting nothing but praise at the moment and rebuilding owners need to take advantage. I am selling someone like Kupp for one of the young promising receivers if I can.
- Robert Woods (5 years, $16,250,000)
As I just mentioned with Cooper Kupp, I will echo with Robert Woods. He is getting older, and your team needs to get younger. Sell Woods to a contending owner for one of his talented young guys.
San Francisco 49ers
- Jimmy Garoppolo (2 years, $27,500,000)
At $27,500,000, you will have a tough time moving Jimmy G. but with quarterbacks in the $40 million range he now looks like somewhat of a value. If you can afford to hold Jimmy G. in hopes the 49ers will trade him, it is not a bad strategy. In most scenarios, you will want to just take what someone will give you and move on.
- Raheem Mostert (1 year, $2,900,000)
Raheem Mostert will be a productive fantasy back this season, but I feel it will be his last productive year. The 49ers drafted his replacement in Trey Sermon and all reports have Sermon as the lead back out of the Bay Area. Get rid of Mostert before the 49ers do and he has little to no value left.
- Trey Sermon (4 years, $1,218,234)
I hate myself for this more than everyone else is going to. Sell Trey Sermon. Sermon’s value is absolutely skyrocketing right now as I just seen him go ahead of Javonte Williams and Travis Etienne in a regular dynasty draft. As much as I love the former Buckeye, the craze has gotten to be too much. Grab as many assets as you can in a trade and do not look back.
Arizona Cardinals
- Chase Edmonds (1 year, $728,090)
As I said with Darrell Henderson, I am going to say about the next two running backs on the list. Sell these guys while there is hype surrounding them. The perception of Chase Edmonds right now is that he is going to be a starter and I do not see him as much more than he has been during his career.
- James Conner (1 year, $1,750,000)
James Conner has showed us one thing over the past couple seasons, he can get hurt. I love the story and what Conner has overcome, but at this point I am selling him to someone who still believes in him.
- DeAndre Hopkins (4 years, $27,250,000)
DeAndre Hopkins is starting to get towards the backend of his career at 29 years old and is much better served on a contending roster. The issue with moving Hopkins is his massive contract. My advice would be to seek out an expensive player who is nowhere near Hopkins’s level, trade Hopkins for the bad, expensive player and demand draft capital in return
HOLD
Seattle Seahawks
- Rashaad Penny (2 years, $2,691,360)
No one knows what Rashaad Penny can be as a NFL player. Penny has been hurt his entire career and has never had any type of opportunity because of it. If you have Penny hold onto him and the second he starts producing, I would sell him. Owning Penny would be way to nerve wracking for me at this point in his career.
- Travis Homer (2 years, $665,704)
Travis Homer is a Hold because of the injury history of Rashaad Penny. If you have Homer hold onto him. If Penny is healthy, you can drop him. If Penny goes down again to injury you can sell Homer to the Chris Carson owner as a cheap handcuff.
- Freddie Swain (4 years, $856,103)
I talk about lottery tickets all the time in my articles and Freddie Swain is a perfect example of just that. I do not honestly see Swain making much of an impact but if Gerald Everett or D’Wayne Eskridge fails to impress, we could see Swain get significant playing time.
Los Angeles Rams
- Tyler Higbee (3 years, $7,250,000)
Tyler Higbee has flashed massive potential at times throughout his short career. The Rams let Gerald Everett walk in free agency and the time is now for Tyler Higbee. As a Higbee owner, I am holding to see if he can live up to his potential.
San Francisco 49ers
- Wayne Gallman (1 year, $990,000)
I love lottery tickets in Kyle Shanahan coached backfields. The running game in San Francisco has been one of the best and most efficient since Shanahan took over in the Bay Area. Gallman looked solid in relief for Saquon Barkley last season and could find himself in a big role with the 49ers if things break the right way. Hold Gallman and see if anything comes to be.
- Richie James (1 year, $634,143)
Do you remember the Richie James game last season? I know I do. The 49ers have the top two receivers on their roster set in stone, but the 3rd spot is up for grabs and that’s where James comes in. The other factor I love about James is that both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have had trouble with injuries in the past.
- Jalen Hurd (2 years, $1,069,920)
Jalen Hurd is an absolute flier at this point but could end up in the 3rd receiver spot I just mentioned with Richie James. The 49ers took Hurd in the 3rd round a few years back and have not given up on him. If Kyle Shanahan believes, I do too.
Arizona Cardinals
- A.J. Green (1 year, $6,000,000)
At this point in his career, it is safe to say A.J. Green is washed up. Green looked pathetic with the Bengals last season. If you still have him on your roster for whatever reason I would either hold onto him or cut him. Who knows, Green blows up early and nets decent value in a trade. It is the NFL where anything can happen.
- Andy Isabella (2 years, $1,157,469)
I was optimistic for Andy Isabella coming out of college and he has let me down royally. If you have Isabella, I will hold him at this point and hope that he remembers how to play football again.
CONCLUSION
As we near the end of this series I can only get more excited, and it is not because the series is almost finished. Each week that passes means another week closer to the NFL season starting. If you are a rebuilding owner who would like to talk about some of the moves you have made, please feel free to contact me on Twitter. The last reminder I have for all of you rebuilding owners out there, is that the time to trade is now! Have a wonderful week and as always good luck on your 2021 Chase for the Ring!