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Dynasty Contender's Digest: One Buy, One Sell, One Deep Sleeper
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| By Dustin Ludke | 7/5/26 | Follow @theDunit13 |
| While fantasy football is meant to be a fun activity that builds community and provides extra excitement while watching games, there is something special about winning. Not everyone is in a position to compete for a championship every year, but if you're a contender, we're here to help. Here are one player to buy, one to sell, and one deep sleeper who could help push your team over the hump and have you holding the trophy at season's end. BuyWR Zay
Flowers, BAL What do I need to do to convince you to draft a receiver who posted 1,211 receiving yards last season? He's the leading receiver for a two-time MVP quarterback on a perennial Super Bowl contender. Not to mention he finished as the WR7 last season and is still just under 26 years old heading into his fourth NFL season. That's exactly what you're getting with Zay Flowers. Every year, it seems people count out Flowers. He's currently priced around WR24. For reference, that's just one spot higher than his 2024 finish and only seven spots higher than where he finished as a rookie. One of the keys to winning in dynasty -- especially as a contender -- is buying players before the breakout or before the market fully catches up. Flowers is a perfect example. The biggest knock on Flowers is his lack of touchdowns and red-zone usage. He has scored just five, four, and five touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons. We know touchdowns are one of the least "sticky" stats in fantasy football, meaning they don't consistently carry over from year to year. Flowers saw 11 red-zone targets last season. While that number seems low, it was only three fewer than players like Tetairoa McMillan and Puka Nacua. We saw a similar career arc from D.J. Moore during his first few seasons, yet Moore's ADP climbed into the WR17 range as everyone anticipated the breakout. Buying Flowers now gives you a player whose dynasty value could skyrocket if his touchdown totals finally match his yardage production. The fact that Baltimore didn't bring in another receiver to challenge Flowers for targets -- even with a coaching change -- shows the organization remains committed to him. All signs point to Flowers outperforming his current dynasty value both this season and beyond. SellWR Michael Pittman Jr., PITI've always been a fan of Michael Pittman Jr., but I fear the end is near. After spending his first six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, he's now in Pittsburgh on a team that finds itself in transition. After decades under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are now led by Mike McCarthy, and they brought back 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers to play quarterback. At 28 years old, Pittman is the perfect sell for a contending dynasty roster. While Pittman remains a quality receiver, his production has become increasingly concerning. He enjoyed a spike in touchdowns in 2025 with seven scores after totaling just three or four in each of the previous three seasons. His target volume has also declined, posting 111 targets in each of the last two years after seeing 156, 141, and 129 during his prime years with Indianapolis. And those numbers came while he was clearly the No. 1 receiver. Now he'll have to share that role with DK Metcalf, who already has experience playing alongside Rodgers. We know chemistry matters with Rodgers, so Pittman has work to do. McCarthy's offense also appears likely to lean heavily on the running game after adding Rico Dowdle to pair with Jaylen Warren. Rodgers will likely favor intermediate and underneath throws, which does fit Pittman's skill set better than Metcalf's, but the overall passing volume could still be limited. That's why now is the time to sell Pittman. You can turn him into similar production while gaining youth, future value, or both. I'd happily trade Pittman for Mike Evans, which most dynasty trade calculators view as a fair swap. You could also move him for Jaylen Warren, who appears positioned to lead Pittsburgh's backfield for the foreseeable future, or target Chig Okonkwo plus a draft pick to strengthen both your lineup and long-term outlook. Pittman's value is trending downward, and his new situation is unlikely to reverse that. Cash out before the market catches up. Deep SleeperRB Devin Neal, NO The Saints have gone from one of the laughingstocks of the dynasty community to an offense loaded with intriguing young talent. They appear to have hit on quarterback Tyler Shough in last year's draft and are hoping to do the same with Jordyn Tyson and Oscar Delp this year. Add free-agent acquisition Travis Etienne and Chris Olave to the mix, and this offense could be on the rise for years to come. Hidden behind those bigger names is a player few dynasty managers are talking about: Devin Neal. Neal has a legitimate opportunity to carve out a role behind Etienne. The rest of the backfield includes 30-year-old Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller -- who has played just 21 games in three seasons -- Ty Chandler on a one-year contract, and Audric Estime, who was released by Denver after only one season. Neal is entering his second NFL season at just 22 years old and could emerge as the Saints' change-of-pace or passing-down back. He'll probably need an injury ahead of him to become a weekly flex option, but for a player who can often be acquired for free, the upside is worth the investment. Neal saw only 19 targets as a rookie, but one game showcased his receiving ability when he caught five passes for 43 yards on seven targets. He was also a capable receiver in college, averaging 23 receptions per season. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but for comparison, Travis Etienne caught 37 passes as a junior and 48 as a senior at Clemson. Neal now gets to learn from both Kamara and Etienne, two of the better pass-catching backs in the league. He also shares a similar build to Etienne and could easily step into that complementary role when called upon. On the ground, Neal averaged 3.61 yards per carry in limited action last season, not far behind Etienne's averages of 3.78 and 3.72 over the previous two years. Handcuff running backs are always valuable because injuries are inevitable at the position. Neal gives you a chance to roster the next man up in an ascending Saints offense for virtually no cost. If he doesn't develop, you've lost very little since he's likely available on waivers -- or will be as managers make room for this year's rookie class. |
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