Dynasty Fantasy Football Strategy: Isaiah Bond and More Players To Acquire
Sam Wallace outlines four players who are worth chasing in the trade market in dynasty fantasy football leagues ahead of Week 6.
Bye weeks are upon us, and it's time to start taking stock of where your team is at. Assuming you've notched at least a few wins, let's get you set to dominate the second half of the season and beyond. Here are several dynasty fantasy football trade targets that you should make now that can help propel your team to fantasy championships.
Isaiah Bond - WR, Browns
It's been a turbulent year for Isaiah Bond and dynasty managers who had their eyes on the talented prospect from Texas. Despite a tantalizing athletic profile (4.43-second 40 speed), off-the-field issues ultimately led to him being undrafted before he was picked up by the Browns.
Bond's gotten on the field and has steadily seen his usage increase since Week 1. However, his biggest opportunity came in Week 5, which saw a change in two important variables:
First, ahead of this past weekend, Joe Flacco was benched in favor of Dillon Gabriel. That move alone bumped up the expectation for all pass-catchers.
Second, fellow wideout Cedric Tillman (hamstring) was placed on IR, which means he'll miss Weeks 5-8 at minimum.
Bond didn't pop in the final box score, but his eight targets led all WRs by a solid margin (Jerry Jeudy had four) and were second only to David Njoku (nine) in team targets. Both of the passing TDs went to the TE position, but it was encouraging for Bond to post a 24% target share in Gabriel's first start.
It can sometimes be tough to separate the off-the-field issues from a player's on-field profile and production. Bond has the making of a solid NFL talent (and fantasy contributor), and he's not going to cost you much to acquire. Gabriel has likely earned himself a few more weeks of the QB1 job after not turning the ball over and keeping Cleveland in the game until the final drive.
Everyone could use some added firepower in the back end of their lineup. Bond offers that upside as he continues to expand his role within this offense.
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Rashee Rice - WR, Chiefs
Now is the time to trade for Rashee Rice. As of Monday night, he'll have served five games of his six-game suspension and will be eligible to return for their matchup against the Raiders in Week 7. Getting in on him two weeks before he's due to return will give you a better opportunity.
So, why trade for a suspended player who hasn't played in a regular season game since Week 4 of last season? There are a few reasons for that; let's dive in.
First, we saw the target-earning ability right away in his rookie season. He tallied 102 targets, 79 receptions, 938 yards, and seven scores in 16 games back in 2023. Then, he got off to an even better start in 2024. Through three weeks last season, here were his averages:
- 9.6 targets
- 8.0 receptions
- 96 receiving yards
- 21.6 PPR
He was entering truly elite territory at the start of last season before an injury cost him the remainder of 2024.
Second, this Chief's offense needs a dynamic playmaker who can carry a heavy offense load. It used to be Travis Kelce who was the engine of this passing attack, but he's just not that type of player anymore. Hollywood Brown is a solid veteran, and Xavier Worthy is a flashy speedster who can flip the field on a single play, but they need a go-to guy who can soak up targets.
The Chiefs have looked better in recent weeks compared to the beginning of the season, but Rice offers someone who can ground them and add more consistency to their offensive production. He's a player who can win you a title this season and for many years to come.
Jameson Williams - WR, Lions
This one is getting harder and harder to believe in, but I still think it will pay off. Fourth-year wideout Jameson Williams is hitting all the underlying metrics we want in a breakout player, but it's just not showing up in the box score … yet.
Heading into Week 5, among receivers with at least 50 routes, he was the WR2 in aDOT (20.5) and the WR6 in air yards share (43%). Those types of numbers should be translating into more big plays, but Williams and Jared Goff just haven't hit on enough of those.
It's not as if the Lions have suddenly stopped putting up points, either. After a tough Week 1 loss to the Packers, where they only scored 13 points, they've scored 52, 38, 34, and 37 points respectively in their four latest games.
Even without Ben Johnson, the Lions can run up the score with the best of them.
That's why I'm still waiting for some of these monster performances to hit for Williams. He's a worthy trade target anyway because his perceived price will be low, especially after his one reception/nine-yard game on Sunday.
Williams may only have one game with more than 45 receiving yards this season, but I'm still buying the dip. You might not get the consistency you want, but a few big games could win you the matchup you need to either get into the playoffs or secure that first-round bye.
As you well know, once you get into the playoffs, it's anyone's game.
Mason Taylor - TE, Jets
We might be a week late to the party on this one, but the fact that the Jets remain winless only helps our cause in this instance.
Rookie TE Mason Taylor has seen his role grow each week without missing a beat. Here's how his targets and receptions have increased from Weeks 1-5:
- Targets - 1, 2, 6, 7, 12
- Receptions - 1, 1, 4, 5, 6
Taylor came in as the TE4 in our Rookie TE Model this year and has been steadily improving each week. He hasn't found the end zone yet, but has topped 65 receiving yards in each of the last two weeks.
Outside of Garrett Wilson, this team has no true secondary option for Justin Fields to consistently target. That looks like it could be changing now.
Go and get a price check on Taylor in your leagues. Snagging a low-end starting option or even a quality bye-week filler could be the difference between making the playoffs or not. Taylor should be a priority trade target for all dynasty managers everywhere.
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