In part 3 of this case study, I will be talking about my strategy going into the 2020 season including my trades and waiver claims. I will talk about 2 waiver claims and 9 trades I made during the season. If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out PART 1 over the start-up draft and PART 2 over the first rookie draft.
Superflex Dynasty Regular Season: August-December 2020
Waiver Claim- Logan Thomas
I added Logan Thomas in all but one of my leagues because he was looking like he would end up as a starting TE for the Washington Football Team. I am going to talk more below about why he was a must add, and how to find the next top waiver add.
Why was Logan Thomas a must add?
Logan Thomas first had good news in the middle of July with a report about how he had a “good chance at the starting job”. He also signed a two-year contract back during free agency, which would have made him a must-add based on him being the highest-paid TE on the roster. Also, Thomas had the workout metrics to be a top-end TE. So here are 3 things you should look for when trying to find waiver stashes:
1- Look at ALL free agency signings and see what players are getting multiyear deals and if they are the highest-paid player at the position, stash them asap!
2- Look for all good news about players with upside and stash them immediately. The best thing is all these players are FREE, and if they are already on a team then move on and find someone else.
3- To finalize the profile, look at the workout metrics and past stats to see the potential upside of this player.
Traded Kenny Golladay & Logan Thomas FOR Michael Gallup & 2021 1st
During the 2020 season, this trade was a solid move for a retooling team. I was able to move off of my stashed player and Kenny Golladay for a young up-and-coming WR like Gallup and a 2021 1st. The 2021 1st was the prize of this trade!
Traded Stefon Diggs FOR Justin Jefferson & 2021 2nd
THIS TRADE IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME! This has been the best trade of my dynasty career because I was able to get a now dynasty superstar AND a pick. One thing to note is this trade worked out because Diggs was going off and Jefferson was struggling. Always be aggressive in trades!
Traded Le’Veon Bell & Odell Beckham FOR Austin Ekeler & Diontae Johnson
This one is a close 2nd to the trade above even though the dynasty value was much much higher in this trade. During this time, Odell Beckham’s dynasty value was very high, but Bell was falling. Also, Melvin Gordon was still a Charger and Juju was the bee’s knees for the Steelers, so I found the PERFECT time to make a move for both players. This trade according to dynastytradecalculator.com increased my team’s value 8 times from the 2020 season to now.
Waiver ADD: Cordarrelle Patterson
Back in week 6 of 2019, I listed Cordarelle Patterson as a waiver add because he looked to be filling the Tarik Cohen roll for the Bears with 7.5 PPR points. Patterson has turned into an absolute baller, and I am glad that I held him over the offseason. Patterson is a great example of a very athletic player that is worth holding onto in deeper leagues (roster 25+) especially in 14 team leagues.
Traded Giovani Bernard FOR 2021 3rd
I mentioned this in the last series, but I am all for drafting handcuff RBs later in drafts and moving them for picks wherever you can. This trade happened because Mixon was injured in 2019 and Bernards value wet from nothing to something.
Traded Eric Ebron FOR Chris Herndon & 2021 3rd
This is a boring trade now, but the reason I made it is because I saw Herndon and Ebron as even in value going into the 2021 season, and adding a 2021 3rd on top was worth it. Looking back, I needed to go for a 2021 2nd especially in a 14 team league.
Traded Kalen Ballage FOR 2022 3rd
Same reason as the Bernard trade above!
Traded Marvin Jones FOR Deejay Dallas
I feel unsure about how the value of this trade ended up, but I made this trade because I saw Dallas’s value potentially skyrocketing if he became the starter of the Seahawks even though that didn’t happen. Overall, shooting for upside is why I would recommend making a move like this!
Traded Austin Ekeler & 2021 3rd FOR Antonio Gibson
I do not like this trade. It was a lateral move at the running back position when I should have moved for a QB, WR, or picks because I did not know if I would be competing going into 2021. Just by looking at value, I did like the Gibson add, but for process, I do not like it.
Traded David Montgomery FOR Joe Mixon
This is another lateral move that I do not love. I liked Mixon’s value more than Montgomery going into 2021, but yet again I should have gone for a QB, WR, or picks. Picks would have been the best move. I also moved Mixon in the offseason in yet another lateral move.
FINAL THOUGHTS
- Be aggressive in moves and gaining picks when you know you can not compete. When a player has a value increase, immediately go to move them!
- If you are in a retool, always be on the lookout for waiver wire picks because you can either hold onto them if they are young high upside plays, or you can trade them for picks/ other young upside plays.
- DO NOT TRADE RBs for other RBs especially if you do not know if you are competing.
In part 4, I will talk about the trades and draft picks I made in the 2021 offseason to set myself up for the 2021 season.
