Do we have a low-end arms race going on in the NFC North? The Detroit Lions acquired Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline after the Minnesota Vikings dealt for Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals.
Neither piece is an All-Pro, but both can make an impact that matters for fantasy football leagues. Kyle Yates covered you on the fantasy impact of the Joshua Dobbs trade, and I have you covered on what the trade for DPJ means to the Lions in the second half of the season.
Fantasy Impact of Donovan Peoples-Jones Trade
Does Jared Goff’s Stock Change?
With the Lions on bye this week, Jared Goff has an extended period of time to get on the same page with his new weapon. The outdoor/indoor splits are no secret when it comes to Goff’s profile since the beginning of last season, and it stands to reason that a player whose value is built around his athleticism would perform better in a controlled weather environment.
Guess what?
If you look at the Lions’ schedule the rest of the way, there is one game that could be impacted by weather. ONE.
MORE: Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart Week 9
The top eight quarterbacks are locked into place for my rest of season rankings, but the case can be made for Goff to be as good as any of the remaining options. At worst, Goff is a top-12 QB moving forward.
I have him penciled in as QB10. That ranking didn’t change as a result of this trade, but my confidence in ranking him that high did increase.
What Does This Trade Mean for Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Fantasy Ranking?
The Sun God has a 31.5% target share (34.3% receiving yardage share) this season and has cleared 100 yards in back-to-back-to-back games. By definition, bringing in a receiver increases the target competition — I have zero concerns.
NFL TRADE DEADLINE UPDATES!@caplannfl shares some insight into the Donovan Peoples-Jones trade and what it might mean for fantasy football.
Additionally, Cedric Tillman 👀
Right here⤵️⤵️https://t.co/vy8XZoca0d
— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) October 31, 2023
DPJ is a downfield specialist, and while Amon-Ra St. Brown is capable of the chunk play, he doesn’t need it (held without a 30-yard grab in five of seven games this season).
Detroit’s top receiver does not need to be adjusted in your season-long rankings and should continue to be viewed as an elite option that is capable of getting your team to the winners’ circle.
What Does This Mean for Jameson Williams’ Fantasy Ranking?
Through 50 career games, Peoples-Jones averages 15.7 yards per catch and has a similar physical makeup as Jameson Williams. The style in which they make big plays is slightly different (Williams: 4.4-speed, Peoples-Jones: 44.5″ vertical leap), but both are big-play threats that have yet to show the ability to consistently earn targets.
In Week 8, a fully healthy Williams ran a route on just 36.8% of Goff dropbacks. Is the splash-play potential there for every one of those routes? Of course, but with that rate more likely to decline as a result of this deal, Williams doesn’t need to be rostered in standard-sized leagues.
Play him on occasion in DFS if you want exposure — you don’t need to take this level of risk in your season-long leagues.
What Does This Mean for the Cleveland Browns?
Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and David Njoku are the three Browns in the passing game that are of interest to fantasy managers, and they all fill very specific roles.
2023, aDOT
- Cooper: 15.21
- Moore: 8.48
- Njoku: 3.82
DPJ is a bonafide field stretcher, and with those deep targets now in Detroit, the projectable shot plays to Cooper increase by a touch. The impact is minimal, but this move raises Cooper’s ceiling. That could prove impactful in Weeks 15-16 when the Browns get the Bears and Texans.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!