We all find those players who tug at the heartstrings when it comes to fantasy football. Maybe they helped you win a championship, maybe they were your first every pick in fantasy football, or maybe you just love the player outside fantasy. But every good relationship must end some time! Especially in fantasy football. I have built a list of dynasty players who we should be looking to move on from in the fantasy world.
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Matt Ryan (QB) Atlanta Falcons
Matty Ice has been a staple for us in the fantasy community for many years. He has won some of us leagues and also lost us leagues. However, the time has come to move on from Matt Ryan as he still holds decent value in super-flex leagues. There is a slight hype for the Flacons this year with the new coaching staff and the addition of Kyle Pitts. This hype can help us on the open market as we try to move on from an over-the-hump star. Although he may have a few serviceable years left I am looking to move him for a player with much more upside. Using our SGPN value chart we can see who we can target!
I would rather have a player like Jalen Hurts, Zach Wilson, or Tua Tagovailoa. All of these guys have untapped talent and higher ceilings than Ryan at this point in their careers. This move could easily be a lateral move for a team and help you as a manager get younger and still compete for the title. With that, if I am a team that has no hopes this year of winning that title look to move Ryan for picks and build your “bank account” for draft day. Picks are king once the dynasty offseason comes. Don’t forget he has lost the security blanket that he has had for many years in Julio Jones this year. I know it will be hard to let go but it’s time to find other dynasty players!
Kareem Hunt (RB) Cleveland Browns
Kareem Hunt had a stellar year this past year in a Stefanski-led offense. The timer is ticking on how much value Hunt will carry, last season Hunt saw 5 weeks of action without Nick Chubb. This added volume and work is what pushed Hunt so high up the year’s total charts. In games after Chubb’s return in week 10 Hunt averaged 12.7 PPR points per week which were good enough for RB24. This was also inflated by a huge week 14 in which he saw a season-high in targets at seven. Chubb is the lead back for the Browns and Hunt is a great compliment but he will never be more than a mid to low-end RB2 in this offense. While carrying a high handcuff value, as he was RB12 in the 5 weeks Chubb was out with injury.
As a result of his huge season, the value is still there on Hunt, using the SGPN value chart we can see some players and picks you can get in return hold much better future value. Moving Hunt for a player like Javonte Williams, Zack Moss or Damien Harris seems like a solid move to me. All of these players have a high ceiling and many more years of production left. I would even like a move to Michael Carter, Trey Sermon, or Chuba Hubbard plus an asset type of trade. Hunt may still have a solid year in 2021 but the sands of time are working against him and it’s time to cut the cord!
Adam Thielen (WR) Minnesota Vikings
Adam Thielen had a stellar year last season finishing as a WR1, this is great for his managers as they can cash in on peak value. Most people are expecting regression from Thielen in 2021 as he was very touchdown-dependent. He set a career-high of 14 touchdowns accounting for 98 of his 244 points in PPR leagues. Add on top of this the ascension of Justin Jefferson and Thielen seems primed for a dip. Even with all of this he holds value to some managers, he is a solid piece for a true contender. If you are a middle of the pack or rebuild time the time is now to move on.
Using the SGPN trade value chart we can see Theilen is holding a value close to guys like Tyler Boyd, Jalen Reagor, Michael Gallup, and Michael Pittman Jr. All of these guys are better dynasty assets than Theilen at his current stage. All of them have higher ceilings starting even this season. As a result, I am looking to move Theilen for any one of these guys or even a package of high upside players and picks. It may be hard to move on from Thielen, but there are better and younger dynasty players out there.
Evan Engram (TE) New York Giants
Evan Engram has not been the same since his stellar rookie season in which he finished TE4 with 173 PPR points. The following year Engram missed six games and finished TE16, he then missed 8 games and finished TE18. However last season he did play in 15 games and posted a TE14 finish, enough to start reeling people back in. The Giants however have shown signs that they want to supplement him by bringing in vet Kyle Rudolph this offseason. Engram has struggled with drops and being able to be a constant factor in the passing game. In 2020 he had a career-low in PPR point per game at 9.8. The signs are there for us that it is time to move on he may never return to TE4 form again.
Engram is being valued around guys like Noah Fant, Cole Kmet, and Dallas Goedert. I would rather have all three of these guys over Engram personally. Engram’s ceiling is capped due to the offense and all the added weapons this season. The influx of talent pushing Engram down the pecking order in the passing game. These factors are all bad news for a struggling tight end. If there are still believers in your league it is time to make a move. Move on from Engram for an up-and-coming tight end dynasty-prospect plus another combo of picks and players and don’t look back.
Ben Roethlisberger (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Depending on the state of your dynasty franchise now is the best time to move Big Ben. Ben Roethlisberger posted solid numbers last season squeaking into the QB12 spot. However, he looked like a shell of himself late in the year. Time is not on his side and I can’t see him producing many more QB1 seasons. He threw for a career-low in 3803 yards last season and tied his second-highest attempts with 608. The lack of stretching the field is worrisome if I am a Steelers fan. Add that in with the horrid offensive line play which ranked in the lower third of the league, and you have to be concerned!
Even with the weapons around him in Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, J.J. Smith-Schuster, and Eric Ebron, Ben is not the same. I expect him to fall into the lower QB2 possible QB3 range this season. The addition of Najee Harris and the coaches preaching that they want to run more tells me that the passing attempts should go down for Ben. An improved run game will shorten games and hopefully allow them to have more positive game scripts. With all of this, I am looking to move Ben for a young asset or pick to help my team build for the future. It will be hard but it is time to move on to younger and better dynasty players.
Melvin Gordon (RB) Denver Broncos
May seem like an obvious answer as the Broncos moved up to grab Javonte Williams in the second round of the entry draft. However, it is becoming even more apparent with the recent news out of mini camps that Williams may end up as the week one starter. Only time will tell us the real answer however, this is also to your advantage if you roster Melvin Gordon in dynasty. Gordon is coming off a solid year where he finished RB18 in PPR scoring. He produced 177.4 points while only missing two games, as a result, he averaged 12.7 per game. Gordon has had issues staying healthy throughout his career, only playing a single full season.
Last season from week 7-16 he only carried a 52.9 snap percentage, still leading the backfield but not a full workload. Gordon is still capable of performing, however, the Broncos brought in Williams to replace him. The sooner you can move Gordon to a contender or the Williams owner the better. Best case scenario Gordon plays most of the year and you can cash out mid-season. Worst case Williams takes over week one and Gordon’s value plunges, never to be recovered again. Using the trade value chart we can see his value is around players like David Montgomery, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, or Miles Sanders. Try and add one of those younger players or picks and cut your dynasty losses sooner than later and move on from Gordon.
DeVante Parker (WR) Miami Dolphins
Although DeVante Parker gave us hope in 2019 that maybe he had finally broken out and established himself as a viable fantasy option. As fast as that came in went in 2020. In 2019 he set career highs in yards, yards per reception, touchdowns, targets, and receptions. As a result, the hope was there for him to repeat in 2020 with Tua under center. This was not the case as he returned closer to career averages in yards per reception, yards, and touchdowns. The Dolphins’ off-season moves also don’t bode well for Parker’s future.
The additions of Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle really hurt any hopes of Parker seeing anywhere near the 100 targets he has seen the past two years. The Dolphins use a ground-heavy approach to their offense and hardly air it out. Last season when the time came to air it out Mike Gesicki saw a decent share as well as the running backs. Parker may be serviceable on a weekly fill-in basis or as a flex option when the matchup allows for it. However, the day has come for us to finally throw the towel in on Parker and move on. Try and send him over for a young wide receiver like Darnell Mooney, Gabriel Davis, or Michael Pittman. Parker will have more value than a lot of players on this list, but in dynasty, you could get some solid assets back if you move on from him.
Austin Hooper (TE) Cleveland Browns
The former top5 fantasy tight end really fell off last year in his first season in Cleveland. Playing in 13 games he only saw 70 targets and turned that into 46 receptions, 435 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Was this the fluke year or the forecast for the rest of Austin Hooper‘s career? Sadly I believe it’s the forecast, Hooper is the fourth or fifth-best option on this offense that doesn’t score a ton of points. They ranked 14th in the NFL in points scored, however, most of their points were scored on the ground as they ranked 5th with 21 rushing touchdowns. This compared to their 27 passing touchdowns which ranked 13th in the NFL. The worst part of this was the Browns were missing their top receiver in Beckham for most of the season.
Now going into his second season he has David Njoku and Harrison Bryant behind him who all have shown the ability to be just as effective in Hooper’s absence. Added to Beckham and Chubb returning healthy, all things point down for Hooper. The target volume or touchdown share will not be there for him in this offense to be a sustainable fantasy option. It’s time to see if you can move him for a pick or in a package to upgrade a different position. According to the SGPN trade value chart Hooper is valued around guys like Cole Kmet, Dallas Goedert, and Irv Smith Jr. These are all tight ends I would rather have a share of so move on from Hooper and find some better long-term dynasty players.
Mike Davis (RB) Atlanta Falcons
Mike Davis had a career year filling in for an injured Christian McCaffrey in Carolina, as he finished RB11 in PPR scoring. As a result, he landed in Atlanta in free agency and is in line for the led role for the Falcons. Davis saw a career-high in carries and receptions in 2020, however only rushing for 642 yards he did not tear it up. He also only scored 6 touchdowns on the ground. Davis made up for the lack of excitement on the ground with 59 receptions for 373 yards and 2 touchdowns. As the season progressed Davis seemed to fizzle out some. Now a year older and in a new system yet again the hopes are extremely high for Davis.
This is exactly why you need to move on. Yes, he seems like the only back on paper, however, they added a few UDFAs in Caleb Huntley and Javian Hawkins. They also still roster Qadree Ollison, so there are guys fighting for playing time. Davis is could be sold to a contending team for picks or a younger high upside back like Michael Carter or Chuba Hubbard. I worry Davis will fizzle out sooner than later and we won’t get the full year out of him. He will be at his highest value now so it would be best to move on before his value falls off quickly. Move on from Davis while you can still get valuable dynasty players in return.
Corey Davis (WR) New York Jets
Corey Davis is coming off a contract year which saw a career year in yardage with 984. Along with a career-high with 5 touchdowns, equalling out to a WR32 finish. He finally broke out and appeared to be the guy the Titans drafted fifth overall. Why did this happen, for me it’s all about A.J. Brown we helped draw the majority of the defensive coverage. Davis was able to pick about the second corner on many teams. Without A.J. Brown Davis never toped 900 yards receiving. He struggled to produce at elite WR1 levels for his whole career as the lead receiver.
Now in New York as the top options in a rebuilding team is worrisome. He has never shown the ability to be that top option and have success with it. Davis will have the opportunity to be this guy and try and right the ship, I don’t see this happening. However, some people do. Especially based on his productive year last season. This is why we must move on now, his value has never been higher. Currently being valued around guys like Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Marquise Brown, and Michael Pittman. I would rather own than Davis. If you can find that believer in your league move on now before this Jet is grounded and you miss out on talented dynasty players.
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