-This past week, in one of Pro Football Network’s dynasty fantasy football leagues, a trade went down that caused quite the controversy. League members and website lead editors, Ryan Gosling and Corey Ashburn, decided to move two young quarterbacks in a 12-team, Superflex, full point PPR league. The trade included a number of pieces but focused around Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz. Was it a fair trade? Can you compare an emphasis on value to the confidence of a team’s offense?
By breaking down the anatomy of the trade, we get a better understanding of the mindset of both owners involved. Can fandom doom a fantasy team? Or is value overrated? These are questions that this trade tries to answer, while we open the discussion to fellow fantasy football enthusiasts. Who won this trade? Well, only time will tell. But let’s break down why both owners are pumping their chests in victory.
The specifications of the PFN Superflex TE dynasty league
Before we can break down the trade, it is important to add context. Merely mentioning the players does not give you, the reader, enough information to decide if this move made sense. In this specific league, our rosters consist of the following:
1QB, 1SF, 2RBs, 2WRs, 1TE, 2Flex with 21 bench spots for a total of a 30-man roster.
Both Ryan and Corey were quite active throughout the draft process, with Ashburn implementing an interesting trade back theory. Ryan traded up to get his guy as a strategy.
Ryan’s team before trade |
Corey’s team before trade |
|
Quarterbacks |
Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Kyle Allen |
Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston, and Jacoby Brissett |
Wide receivers |
Tyler Lockett, Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel, DeDe Westbrook, Zach Pascal, DaeSean Hamilton, Keke Coutee, Calvin Ridley, Hakeem Butler, Damion Willis | Chris Godwin, Keenan Allen, Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, Andy Isabella, Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds, Trent Taylor, Trey Quinn |
Tight ends |
Hunter Henry, Blake Jarwin, Jordan Thomas | Evan Engram, Ian Thomas, Foster Moreau, Drew Sample, Dan Arnold, Jordan Akins |
Running backs |
Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette, Jordan Howard, Darrell Henderson Jr, Lamar Miller, Jordan Wilkins, Nyheim Hines, Ty Johnson, Benny Snell Jr, | Miles Sanders, Raheem Moster, Boston Scott, Phillip Lindsay, Patrick Laird |
2020 Rookie draft picks |
2.04, 2.08, 3.11, 4.11 | 1.04, 1.06, 2.02, 2.04, 2.05 |
Strengths and weaknesses of both teams prior to the trade
Corey’s team weaknesses
I am a bit worried about my QB depth. If Winston doesn’t land a starting spot somewhere this offseason, I could be looking at only two usable QBs this year. I do not like to feel this uncomfortable in a Superflex league.
My running back room is bad. I plan on using my rookie draft capital to correct this, but for now, I’m staring at the worst RB group in the league.
Similar to the RBs, my WR depth is not good enough. I love my top four, but if one of them goes down to injury, I will struggle in my flex position. The 2020 WR class is loaded with depth, and I plan on using some draft capital to help this as well.
Ryan’s team weaknesses
Looking up and down my roster, there isn’t one position that I am worried about. I feel like I have good depth in general, but could use a bonified starting tight end, especially considering this league has a premium at the position.
My wide receiver class is quite young, but they each have a high upside. However, they are all facing some questions marks at the QB position. Will Joe Burrow develop a connection with Boyd, or will he prefer Green? What about Curtis Samuel and his new QB Teddy Bridgewater? Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett are both starting caliber, but behind them, there is a concern.
Also, having traded away my first-round rookie pick in this year’s draft to move up, I don’t have any capital to add to my team. My first selection isn’t until the beginning of the second round, and there could be a lack of starting-caliber rookies at that point. As some in the sports world would say, I cornered myself into a “win now” mode.
Corey’s team strengths
My top two QBs rival any other group in the league. I love Dak’s durability, weapons, and rushing ability. Stafford was having a career year before his back injury last season, and I think he can be a top-10 QB for another three to five years if he stays healthy.
My RB1 and starting WRs are awesome. I am high on Sanders this year and landed his handcuff in Boston Scott, so I feel secure with one starting RB spot. My group of Godwin, Allen, Beckham Jr., and Gallup is the best four-some in the league.
My draft capital is what the kids like to call “fire.” I believe I will be able to land two of the top-three stud RBs in this class at 1.04 and 1.06. Then, I should be able to pick BPA with my three second-round picks.
Ryan’s team strengths
Before the trade, I liked both my quarterback and running back situations. At QB, I have Matt Ryan, who is as solid as they come, and Carson Wentz. Wentz, although very injury prone, could be a top-10 fantasy weapon if the team decides to give him some weapons. Ryan plays on a team with a terrible defense and could have to air it out often. Pairing him with Calvin Ridley set em up for success.
When looking at my RBs, I have two of the remaining workhorse backs in the league. With so many running back by committees in the NFL, securing both Barkley and Fournette pretty much guarantees production.
Behind my starters, I have two other backs who could be starters next season. Jordan Howard currently has very little competition in Miami’s backfield and will likely be paired up with one of the more promising backs coming out of the draft. I still think he has promise and could be a good dump-off option for Fitzpatrick. Henderson is going to be competing for touched with Malcolm Brown in L.A., but I believe he has the talent to become the lead guy.
Continue to the next page to see how the trade process went down.