Dynasty Movement: Week 4

Our Dynasty staff took to a theme in this week's Dynasty Movement: players we are trying to trade before situations worsen. As always, the staff worked through multiple quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends who fit this concern. For more Dynasty content, check out the Footballguys Dynasty Football show with Jagger May and myself. We do three episodes weekly, discussing a variety of relevant Dynasty trends. 

Dynasty Movement at Quarterback

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville

Sam Wagman - Is it possible that Trevor Lawrence just isn't that great? Sure, there are plenty of reasons why he's stumbled so far in his career, and this season, the offensive line is horrible, but he just can't seem to get things over the hump. Currently QB15 in consensus rankings, I worry that Lawrence, even though he just signed a massive extension, won't be a rock-solid QB2 going forward. He is one of the league's most-sacked QBs this season, and this offense is quickly spiraling toward "must-sit" territory.

Julia Papworth - I wanted to believe in Trevor Lawrence; I did. He was the generational quarterback coming out of Clemson who would change the position forever. This 90-touchdown passing college quarterback landed in Jacksonville to turn around the culture and the team. 

But now, I am trying to get out of Lawrence like Homer Simpson backing up into the hedge in the front yard.

I was hopeful for Lawrence with the addition of Calvin Ridley last season, whether it was because of Ridley's time off from football, Lawrence's inability, or a combination of both - nothing came of it. Suppose you have Lawrence on a dynasty roster. In that case, you are looking at an almost 25-year-old quarterback the franchise has financially invested in beyond the point of getting out (ahem, Deshaun Watson), who is behind the 28th-ranked OL pass blocking efficiency, according to PFF.

He has the seventh-highest total pressure so far this season, with over 25% of them turning into sacks. I am doing everything I can to move Lawrence for any trade value.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis

Hutchinson Brown - If you can sell high still on Anthony Richardson due to the name he holds, I'd be doing that in Dynasty. He has proven mightily inconsistent as a passer, with almost nearing the league in turnover-worthy plays, six interceptions, and a bottom-six completion percentage in throws that range between zero and twenty air yards. He's missing easy throws and consistently making poor mistakes, just like in college. 

Not only is he not showing growth as a passer, but his rushing production is different from where we want it to be. He is running for under 40 yards a game, and those rushing numbers, along with his struggles as an inconsistent passer, will not lead to consistent fantasy success. If he is unable to fix his inconsistent passing, the Colts may question their future at quarterback down the line as well, which would completely tank Richardson's long-term value.

Jagger May - I'll argue for Anthony Richardson's long-term future and why now is a good time for uncompetitive rosters or folks with extra draft picks to buy.

We knew Anthony Richardson was a boom-or-bust prospect with few games. We just saw the flashes early and didn't have a large enough sample size to see the bad things as we do now. Richardson hasn't played 18 games since college and will need the reps to consistently make what seems like the easy throws or avoid egregious misses. When we look at the growth of former prospects like Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, and Josh Allen, I'm willing to gamble on a player in an extraordinary situation like Indianapolis. Remember that it isn't the player's fault that our expectations got out of hand. The incorrect process was putting so much faith in his season-long value, not chasing his long-term upside.

Bryce Young, Carolina

Julia Papworth - I dreamed a dream that Dave Canales could fix Bryce Young. That dream has died. After benching Young, the organization said he would start again, but it is hard to believe this when Andy Dalton led the team to an impressive three-touchdown performance in a win over Las Vegas. Whatever the case, the sun has almost entirely set on Young's value in Dynasty. The only thing that could revive slightly would be a trade to an organization like the Rams or the Dolphins, where he could benefit under the tutelage of a completely different style of head coach. Even then, he wouldn't be startable. So far in his career in the NFL, Young has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns and has the lowest PFF passer rating of a quarterback with at least ten dropbacks this season. 

Young is currently QB33 in our Footballguys consensus Dynasty Rankings, and if anyone will give you anything in Dynasty for Young, take it.

Caleb Williams, Chicago

Andy Hicks - Caleb Williams has come in for much criticism in his first few games. Most of it is unfair. Why a head coach and organization would throw their number one asset to the Wolves is a key reason why some franchises continue to suck. Leaving Williams to fend for himself behind that line and the lack of threat from the running game forces Williams to throw it over 50 times like he had to against the Colts. To his credit, Williams looks poised and capable of being a great quarterback. Will the Bears mess him up for good or just temporarily? It is hard for these guys to regain confidence when a team goes out of its way to destroy it. Look at Sam Darnold. Hopefully, Williams can avoid that and be the success Chicago envisioned. I am bumping his rating significantly.

Malik Willis, Green Bay

Andy Hicks - It is great to see a young quarterback, written off as a flop in Tennessee, come back and prove he was as good as the evaluators predicted. Sure, he isn't Lamar Jackson, but only one guy is. Willis has proven in his two starts that he can run an offense and be useful in this league. Sure, there are advantages to the system he has in Green Bay, but it still requires execution. Hopefully, his next team of choice isn't just a financial one but one that can put him in a position to succeed. He gets a solid boost.

Justin Fields, Pittsburgh

Andy Hicks - Chicago could have kept Fields, started him, and allowed Caleb Williams precious time to sit and watch. Franchises are far too impatient with their number one assets. The leap from college to the NFL is never easy, and time will benefit almost every young quarterback. Fields is lucky that he landed in a professionally run organization. With the Russell Wilson injury, Pittsburgh was fortunate to have a player of the caliber of Justin Fields to replace him. Maybe even keep the job for the season. Fields earns himself a decent rise in rankings. He is completing many passes and not overusing his running ability. That will give him a long-term future in the NFL.