August means it is time for training camp hype and preseason highlights. As a result, how do you separate the hype sells from the real buys? Here are five training camp trade targets I believe you should make moves for today.
Brandin Cooks – WR, Dallas Cowboys
Dynasty Nerds’ Average Draft Position — 142 overall, WR51
Camp Hype Article — Cowboys training camp: Dak Prescott hits Brandin Cooks on a deep ball for six – Blogging The Boys
Outside of his most recent season in Houston, Cooks has historically been a consistent performer in fantasy football. He has showcased his ability to put up solid numbers year after year, making him a reliable option for fantasy contenders. In fact, Cooks is well-known for being heavily targeted by his quarterbacks over the years, which is essential for piling up fantasy points.
Cooks now finds himself in Dallas with a better team situation and a more competent quarterback. As the WR2 in Dallas, Cooks should earn increased production. To compare, Cooks’ ADP currently sits beside Michael Thomas and Josh Downs. Therefore, you could likely pry away Cooks in your league with an offer of a second-round rookie pick. Cooks is one of my top five training camp trade targets for contenders going into the 2023 season.
Hunter Henry – TE, New England Patriots
Dynasty Nerds’ Average Draft Position — undrafted in 224 picks, later than TE33
Camp Hype Article – Patriots extra points: Potential cause for Hunter Henry’s training camp breakout – Boston Herald
Just when the signing of Mike Gesicki screams for you to be out, the news out of camp at Foxborough pulls you back in. Here is why Hunter Henry is one of my five training camp trade targets.
At a challenging position for fantasy managers to get correct, Hunter Henry has consistently demonstrated talent as a pass-catching tight end and has been utilized effectively in the red zone by his teams. He was a TE1 as recently as 2021, and we can all agree that there’s a good argument to throw out the performance of the entire offense for the 2022 New England Patriots, right?
Injuries have been a concern for Henry in the past, but he hasn’t missed a game in two seasons. If he manages to stay healthy and showcase his abilities consistently, he could become a reliable fantasy option in a tight-end-friendly offense under new OC Bill O’Brien.
Henry continues to be a total afterthought in drafts this offseason, so it is likely you could send the equivalent of a third-round rookie pick and get Henry in return. Especially in tight-end premium leagues, Henry’s cheap cost, coupled with his potential fantasy production, makes him an intriguing trade target for 2023.
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell – WR, Houston Texans
Dynasty Nerds’ Average Draft Position — 186 overall, WR72
Camp Hype Article – Why Tank Dell has been a Houston Texans training camp standout (torotimes.com)
In his 2023 Rookie Profile, our Dan Toomey described everyone’s biggest concern about Tank Dell:
The most apparent knock on ‘Tank’ Dell’s profile has to be his frame. At 5’8″ and 165 pounds, he will easily be one of the smallest players on the field. The list of wide receivers who have succeeded with a similar frame is almost non-existent. By drafting Dell, his NFL team will be banking on the fact that he will be the one outlier amongst a track record of not-so-great players.
So, why do I have Dell listed as one of my top five training camp trade targets? Opportunity and cost. The depth chart of the Texans is wide open, and with a rookie quarterback under center, having a consistent target is crucial. Dell is elusive and has shown chemistry with C.J. Stroud throughout the offseason. Stroud comes from the Ohio State offense, where receivers are entrusted to run fluid, evolving routes, and the separation Dell gets on the defense should remind his quarterback of his days in Columbus.
With this in mind, need more convincing? Our Jared Wackerly has Dell ranked as his WR6 in this rookie class. Dell’s Nerd Score is 73.63, good enough for fourth best in the 2023 class.
As the only rookie on this list, it may be difficult to trade something of equal value for Dell to a manager who just drafted him. Using the DynastyGM, here are some recent trades involving Tank Dell:
Sample Trades from the Dynasty Nerds’ Dynasty GM
- Tank Dell for a 2024 2nd
- Tank Dell for Jake Ferguson and 2024 4th
- Tank Dell for Jeff Wilson and 2025 4th
- Tank Dell and 2024 3rd for a 2024 2nd
If you can get him cheaply enough, I think Dell warrants a place on my list of the top five training camp trade targets, even if only to flip him later for a player of more value.
Parris Campbell – WR, New York Giants
Dynasty Nerds’ Average Draft Position — undrafted in 224 picks, later than WR84
Camp Hype Article – New York Giants: Day 8 training camp standouts (empiresportsmedia.com)
Ah, Parris Campbell. One of dynasty’s white whales over these past few years. Always a case of what might have been. Is this the year we finally — finally! — see Campbell put things together?
By all means, the talent has always been there. In his final season with the Buckeyes, Campbell caught 90 passes for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns. The speedy Campbell ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine, which led to his second-round selection by the Colts. If you are a long-time listener to our podcast, you know Rich, Matt, and Garrett have always had a soft spot for Campbell.
The NFL story with Campbell, of course, has always been the injuries. He played in just 15 total games in his first three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. However, last season, Campbell stay healthy and played in all 17 games to the tune of 63 receptions for 623 yards and three touchdowns in an anemic Colts’ offense.
He now finds himself in New York with Brian Daboll and Daniel Jones. Campbell is a perfect fit in that offense, and the depth chart is wide open for his taking. All reports this offseason have been glowing for Campbell, but dynasty managers clearly still feel burned, given his continued low ADP. I again used the DynastyGM to track a few recent trades for Campbell, and here is what I came up with:
Sample Trades from the Dynasty Nerds’ Dynasty GM
- Campbell for Hunter Renfrow
- Campbell and 2024 3rd for Nico Collins
- Campbell and 2024 3rd for Jerick McKinnon and a 2024 2nd
- Campbell and Romeo Doubs for a 2025 2nd
- Campbell for two 2024 3rds
Given the cost and potential production in New York, Campbell is one of my top five training camp trade targets. After all, if that offense can make Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins dynasty relevant, imagine what it can do with someone of Campbell’s speed and talent.
James Cook – RB, Buffalo Bills
Dynasty Nerds’ Average Draft Position — 106 overall, RB30
Camp Hype Article – James Cook continues to impress at Buffalo Bills training camp (buffalowdown.com)
An interesting stat to begin – a year ago at this time, Devin Singletary’s dynasty ADP was 105th overall at RB36, nearly identical to where James Cook finds himself on draft boards. Yet, we knew who Devin Singletary was and what he was capable of. Et tu, James Cook?
Without a doubt, Cook is one of the cheapest, youngest starting running backs to acquire in dynasty fantasy football. Consequently, at only 23 years old, Cook presents a unique mix of youth, value, and production. Why wouldn’t we want the starting running back on one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL?
Cook is the value play over more costly players like De’Andre Swift and Rachaad White. Notably, in his rookie season, in the two games where Cook had 12 or more touches, he scored 16.5 and 17.8 points. A concern I have frequently heard about Cook in 2023 is Josh Allen or Damien Harris vulturing touchdowns. However, Cook only scored once in those two games I noted above. It is important to realize where he will be getting his points. To emphasize, it may not be through touchdowns, and that’s okay!
To conclude, Cook is the most expensive of my top five training camp trade targets. A quick glance at recent trades in the Dynasty GM shows that Cook’s value is essentially a future first-round draft pick. Would you pay that for nearly 12 points per game and an RB22 finish? That’s where Singletary finished last year, and I think Cook is more talented than Singletary. As Rich often says, what sounds like an overpay today may be an underpay tomorrow.
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