Perhaps the most important part of dynasty fantasy football is trading. After all, once your startup draft is complete, trades are often the only way to acquire veteran players!
Green Bay Packers players Aaron Jones, Christian Watson, and Luke Musgrave are all very different fantasy assets. How should fantasy managers treat these players going forward?
Should You Trade Aaron Jones in Dynasty?
The most difficult players to evaluate in dynasty are the veterans who are still clearly good at football. At age 29, Jones may be nearing the end of his prolific career, but in 2023, he didn’t show any signs of decline.
After a dominant Wild Card Round performance, Aaron Jones’ dynasty stock is pointing up.
Are you buying/holding/selling going into 2024? pic.twitter.com/A8dcpVpQr6
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy)
Of course, it could happen quickly. However, Jones has never really been a high-volume runner, which could prolong his shelf life.
The concern for me is not Jones’ on-field ability. Rather, it’s his ability to stay on the field.
This is what initially doomed players like Philadelphia Eagles WR Julio Jones and New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas. They’re both merely role players now. But two years ago, they still had the physical talent to play at a high level; they just couldn’t stay healthy.
This past season, Jones struggled to shake a Week 1 hamstring strain for nearly the entire year. During the regular season, he wasn’t a full participant in practice a single time. Not once.
I don’t believe we can predict injury. But there’s no denying older players are more susceptible to recurring soft tissue injuries than younger guys. They also, generally, take longer to recover — that’s my fear with Jones.
At the same time, given his age, Jones is of no use to any dynasty team other than a contender. He could be a cheap acquisition for a team looking to win now. But for anyone else, it’s probably time to move on.
Final Verdict: Sell
Should You Trade Christian Watson in Dynasty?
I struggled with how to project Watson after his rookie season. He crested the 500-yard threshold, but not by much, totaling 611 receiving yards. He displayed excellent efficiency numbers, but we knew his seven touchdowns on 41 receptions were unsustainable.
With that said, New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers was not great in Green Bay last season. There was reason to believe Watson could improve with better quarterback play, and that Jordan Love was capable of providing it.
Plus, sophomore wide receivers coming off efficient rookie years are historically good investments. Ultimately, I decided he was more worth it than not. I got it wrong.
MORE: Pittsburgh Steelers Dynasty Trade Advice
Watson had a similar sequel from a points-per-game standpoint. He averaged 11.7 points per game as a rookie. That only fell by 0.4 points in his second season.
The real issue is Watson’s recurring hamstring strains. He dealt with one as a rookie and three in his sophomore year. As if the injuries themselves aren’t bad enough, Watson at age 24 is recovering from these strains like he’s 34. It’s not a good sign.
The Packers also drafted two very talented targets: Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. Both of them showed that they were able to play at a high level in the NFL during their rookie campaigns. Add in Romeo Doubs, who just keeps on finding ways to produce, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Watson was Green Bay’s WR4 in 2024.
Final Verdict: Sell
Should You Trade Luke Musgrave in Dynasty?
At multiple points during the past season, I had Musgrave as a priority waiver wire pickup.
He looked good! Musgrave was seeing downfield targets and was dynamic after the catch. He seemed poised to capture the Packers’ TE1 job for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, he missed several weeks with a lacerated kidney. That forced fellow rookie TE Tucker Kraft to step up.
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It’s great for the Packers that Kraft proved to be just as good, if not better than Musgrave. However, it’s not great for fantasy managers who just want one of these tight ends to have the job.
This is likely going to be an annoying situation for fantasy. With both tight ends having already proven themselves, it’s possible we could be looking at a committee situation. Given that Musgrave is unlikely to garner much in a deal, the best course of action is to wait and see how it plays out.
Final Verdict: Hold
