Dynasty Fantasy Football Buy/Sells for Week 7: Contemplating Travis Hunter's Spike Week

No time for a quippy intro this week. With the season a third of the way wrapped, there’s too much at stake for me to get cute about this.

I’ve got three dynasty trades you should consider making this week. Starting with…

Buys & Sells For Dynasty Fantasy Football Week 7

SELL - Travis Hunter | WR/CB | JAX

If you noticed an unusual amount of people running around your neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, don’t worry. Those are just the folks who drafted Travis Hunter in the first round of rookie drafts taking some victory laps.

Social media was chock-full of smug Hunter managers, many of them using all caps. “DID PEOPLE REALLY TRADE AWAY TRAVIS HUNTER THIS OFFSEASON?!?!!”

LOLs and LMFAOs and many other forms of passive-aggressive fake laughter abounded after Hunter posted a modest 4-59-1 stat line.

Yes, you read that right. Hunter hit 15.9 fantasy points in PPR leagues. A feat that’s been accomplished by nearly 60 other wide receivers so far this season, including such fantasy superstars as Cody White, Konata Mumpfield and Kalif Raymond. It was just the second time Hunter reached double-digit fantasy points in his career.

So why all the fuss? Well, to be fair, Hunter looked like a man possessed on the nine offensive snaps that he played. Truly. But again… nine snaps. Although technically a season-high, Hunter was on the field for just over 12% of the offensive plays. And that’s the problem. That’s always been the problem.

Until Jacksonville shows a real commitment to playing Hunter HEAVILY on offense, he’s just not very useful to us in fantasy. Sure, in best ball formats, a couple of spike weeks could be helpful. But in managed leagues, how often will you correctly identify “the Travis Hunter games” vs. the much more common dud weeks?

I don’t think Week 6 was a sign that Hunter is becoming a fantasy stud so much as it was the death knell for Brian Thomas' fantasy relevance. Avoid the tripwire that’s destined to faceplant so many dynasty managers. Get Hunter off your team while you can.

BUY - De’Zhaun Stribling | WR | SF

If you’re a contender and don’t feel like you can afford to add any excess IR weight to your team, then carry on.

But for everyone else, let me just remind you that the best time to trade for a player in dynasty is when no one is thinking about them. Stribling was on the verge of breaking the internet after a dominant preseason. If you wanted to trade for the newest 49ers receiver in early September, it probably would’ve cost you a future first-round pick. Now? A contender might be willing to swap him out for someone like Tre Tucker plus a little extra sweetener.

Stribling was a draft pick that left many prognosticators scratching their heads. But it’s clear the organization loves the guy, and his first-round draft capital insulates his long-term value. And frankly… he just looked smooth out there.

Stribling will be given every opportunity to make an impact once he recovers from his ankle injury. If he can stay healthy for any significant stretch of time, he could be a starting piece on your team for years to come.

SELL - Rome Odunze | WR | CHI

I’ve made excuses for Rome Odunze for two and a half years. But after this past week, in what I perceived to be a smash spot against a Falcons defense that’s given up yards and big plays by the spoonful, with his premier QB back under center, Odunze went out and mustered up a measly 39 yards on three catches.

I can’t do it anymore. I have to put the torch down.

And let me reiterate: Rome’s fantasy value wasn’t destroyed in a day. This has been a long time coming. Sunday was just the last straw.

In 35 career games (not including the playoffs), Odunze has accumulated 1,707 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s registered at least 50 yards in just one-third of those games. He’s been held under 20 yards more times than he’s put up 80-plus.

What’s extra frustrating about Odunze is that his situation should be a dream scenario for fantasy. A first-round talent coming out of college in one of the league’s best offenses with an aggressive play-caller. And yet, his quarterback clearly doesn’t feel comfortable throwing to him, as shown by his sub-15% target share in each of the games Caleb Williams has started this season.

While Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a constant punching bag for frustrated fantasy managers, Odunze has somewhat avoided those criticisms. But you can’t outrun the truth forever. And I think it’s time we admit that Odunze isn’t the guy we thought he’d be.