UTH Contributor Katie Flower (@FF_Skyler399) is back dropping dynasty knowledge:
When taking over a dynasty orphan you will inevitably encounter a red-headed stepchild. You may even have selected one in a start-up draft with hopes of selling for a profit in the short-term.
You don’t want to keep them long-term because even you don’t believe in their value, or they are not part of your team building strategy. I was talking with a friend of mine and he asked how do you trade these types of players?
What is a red-headed stepchild in fantasy football and what is the best way to get rid of them? First, let’s discuss the different types of groups these players can be categorized in.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
A player in this category is someone who had high expectations during the rookie draft and/or was hyped early in their career because of situation. They may have had some good games, a good season or more, but they burned enough people when their value plunged.
Mark Ingram, Doug Martin, Michael Floyd, Keenan Allen, Bishop Sankey, and Tavon Austin are several examples.
Not “Elite”
These guys are productive grinders with solid floors but possibly their ceiling is limited by factors outside their control. They are a bit snubbed because they don’t have the name cachet or were undrafted free agents so they have to prove it time and again.
Which WR would you rather own:
WR A
- 30 years old
- 2014 71 receptions, 128 targets, 1077 yds, 8 TDS, 155.7 fantasy points
- 2015 12 receptions, 21 targets, 122 yds, 1 TD, 30.2 fantasy points
WR B
- 29 years old
- 2014 92 receptions, 134 targets, 972 yds, 4 TDS, 222.6 fantasy points
- 2015 21 receptions, 31 targets, 194 yds, 2 TD, 55.5 fantasy points
Wide receiver B is more heavily targeted, more productive, and younger than wide receiver A, yet the majority of people in the dynasty community would give at least a Round 1 pick if not more to obtain player A: Calvin Johnson.
Player B is Julian Edelman and he is a red-headed stepchild. I tried selling him for what should be a mid to late 1st the other day and was rejected quite quickly, and this was to a team in need of WR production. I’d rather hang onto him than sell him for less than he is worth.
Martellus Bennett, Eric Decker, Ben Roethlisberger, and Emmanuel Sanders are other examples of this type.
High Risk
Similar to the once bitten twice shy category, owners are skittish around high risk players. They can be high risk because of their off field activities or because they are labeled injury prone. In either case, these guys may be the hardest of all types to pin a value on.
Josh Gordon, Kyle Rudolph, Jordan Cameron, and Jonathan Stewart are examples of high risk players.
The Art of the Deal
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