How should we handle injured stars in dynasty fantasy football?
Last year, I wrote about how to handle an injured CeeDee Lamb if you were a contending team looking to win a championship. I discussed trade options and targets and even made a few moves myself — in one league, I moved Lamb for Jahmyr Gibbs and Jerry Jeudy.
It never feels right to move a premium asset, especially at the wide receiver position in dynasty. For some, it’s almost sacrilege even to ponder moving a player like Malik Nabers in only his second NFL season — even after a season-ending injury. But dynasty leagues aren’t played in theoretical situations. We’re not trying to build the most beautiful roster; we’re trying to win championships.
In higher-stakes dynasty leagues, simply winning your league can pay for several years of entry fees. Winning titles matters — and injured assets don’t help you get there.
There has to be context. If my team were in fifth place and eking out wins, and I lost a player of Nabers’ caliber, my goals for the 2025 season might shift from “going for it” to a soft rebuild. I’d take my lumps, plan for a higher-than-expected rookie pick, and anticipate Nabers’ return in 2026.
But for many of you who roster Nabers on contending teams, you entered the season competing for a title and may have win-now assets surrounding that Nabers share. For those teams, I’m absolutely exploring a trade. I know — it feels gross to even think about moving a player of Nabers’ caliber. But I’m doing exactly that on one contending single-QB FFPC team with tons of depth and quality at tight end (in a TE-premium format), Josh Allen at QB, and George Pickens, Kenneth Walker, and Kyren Williams at RB.
I lost not only Nabers but Tyreek Hill this week. In this league, I made inquiries to teams in potential rebuild situations to gauge their interest in acquiring Nabers. I had a few interested parties, but ultimately settled on a trade sending Nabers for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and two 2026 second-round picks.
This is the type of return a player like Nabers can still fetch in dynasty. I have JSN as my WR7 in my Fantasy Points rankings. He’s also a premium asset who lacks some of the explosive ceiling Nabers has flashed, but still profiles as a surefire WR1.
There’s no single “right” or “wrong” answer to the question of what to do with your Malik Nabers shares right now. Team context and goals have to factor into any decision. However, moving him is an option — championship windows can close quickly, and when we have the firepower to win titles, moving an injured asset must be part of our decision-making.
The only “rule” I would stress is getting back a premium piece if you move an elite piece. You cannot Billy Beane it with a Moneyball approach, adding multiple OK players and winning in the aggregate in fantasy football. A player like Smith-Njigba - or an Amon-Ra St.Brown type is the sort of target you should be aiming for here.
Dynasty fantasy football isn’t a theoretical exercise. It’s about winning money, winning championships, and striking while your window is open. Another lesson from 2025 so far: depth matters in this game of attrition. This season has been a bumpy ride for many of us dealing with injuries left and right, but we’re going to roll with the punches and keep improving our dynasty rosters week in and week out.
Once you reach the fantasy playoffs, it’s you and five other managers. Injuries are setbacks to your dynasty team — but not necessarily season-enders.
Stock Up
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
I get it — the 2025 Bears are not the 1985 Bears — but this game was a huge sigh of relief for Ashton Jeanty’s fantasy managers, and a glimpse of what’s to come. This was the first true “I’m him” game of Jeanty’s career. He finished with a season highs of 21 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, and added two receptions — both going for scores. Even a three-TD performance wasn’t enough as the Raiders fell 25-24, but it was exactly what fantasy managers (and Raiders fans alike) envisioned when Las Vegas selected Jeanty sixth overall in the NFL Draft.
I currently have Jeanty ranked as the dynasty RB3 behind Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, but outings like this make you want to push him even higher. This week’s volume increase signals a philosophical commitment to feeding Jeanty a high volume of touches moving forward. With Brock Bowers still banged up, Jeanty is easily Vegas’ offensive focal point.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne was left for dead by many as a dynasty asset, and I was highly critical of him on multiple occasions last season in this column. But I’m ready to take the L. Under Liam Coen (who has been the RB whisperer in consecutive seasons with Bucky Irving ascending in Tampa Bay in 2024), Etienne is thriving. He’s the offensive focal point for a 3-1 Jacksonville Jaguars team and has a chance to gain even more momentum this week against Kansas City on Monday Night Football.
Through four games, Etienne has rushed for at least 70 yards three times, including 124 yards in Week 3’s win over San Francisco. His lowest weekly RB finish is RB21. Etienne isn’t just Jacksonville’s best and most consistent weapon — he has a real chance to post his highest PPG total yet. We haven’t seen him used heavily in the passing game, a trend that should normalize as the season progresses. Consider sending a trade offer if the Etienne manager doesn’t realize they’re holding a borderline RB1.
Long term, Etienne will still be only 27 heading into the 2026 season. His dynasty value has been rejuvenated, and he’ll be an appealing piece for many teams next offseason — including Jacksonville.
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Maye has now posted three straight top-8 QB weekly finishes, powered by his arm with two passing touchdowns in every game of this stretch. He’s also added two rushing scores, but it still feels like there’s plenty of gas left in the tank for a true smash week on the ground. Maye has yet to rush for 50 yards in a game — a mark he cleared twice last season under much tougher circumstances.
His dangerous two-way ability is on full display, spearheading a New England offensive resurgence. The Patriots are averaging 25.5 PPG (10th in the NFL), a massive leap from their 17 PPG mark (30th overall) in 2024. This week, Maye brings his “Josh Allen-lite” profile into Buffalo for a showdown with the real Josh Allen and the Bills. A win here — and another big fantasy outing — could vault Maye into the early “league-winner at QB” discussion.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There’s been plenty of discourse on X about Egbuka’s ability to separate. And while I don’t expect him to rank among Fantasy Points Data’s ASS leaders (currently -0.008), it hasn’t mattered at all so far. Tampa Bay is featuring Egbuka heavily, and he’s producing at an elite rate. In the Bucs’ first game without Mike Evans, he drew a season-high 10 targets. He’s now averaging 17.8 PPG — tied for 8th among all wideouts with Jaxon Smith-Njigba — and has 4 touchdown catches (tied for 3rd at the position). His trade equity is through the roof, making him a legitimate bartering chip for acquiring a player like Nabers. I moved him into my Top-10 dynasty WR rankings this week — ahead of fellow rookie Tetairoa McMillan. The offensive ecosystem in Tampa Bay is extremely strong, and Egbuka is thriving as Baker Mayfield’s top target.
George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
I highlighted Pickens heading into the season as a player to watch — someone who could help shape the dynasty landscape. Many Pickens managers were hopeful that 2025 would finally bring a significant return on investment for an uber-talented player who had been mired in tough circumstances throughout his time in Pittsburgh. With a revamped offensive ecosystem and the opportunity to catch passes from Dak Prescott in an up-tempo, pass-happy offense, the optimism was warranted.
In Weeks 2 and 3, Pickens flashed with back-to-back 17.8-point performances. CeeDee Lamb’s injury opened the door for even more in Week 4, and Pickens delivered a performance for the ages in a thrilling 40-40 tie with Green Bay. He racked up 8 catches on 11 targets for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing with 33.4 fantasy points. He’s playing out of his mind and looks capable of finishing as a WR1.
An impending free agent, Pickens is on track to become one of the league’s highest-paid wideouts. This week, Jerry Jones even hinted that Dallas could be preparing an offer for a Pickens extension. Everything is coming together, and Pickens is steaming up the dynasty WR rankings. He’s in store for a career season.
Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
This week on the School of Scott podcast, Scott Barrett and I were discussing the tight end position from a redraft perspective, and the conversation naturally shifted to dynasty. In what seemed like a throwaway line, Scott mentioned that he has Warren ranked as his TE2 ahead of Trey McBride in dynasty formats. It wasn’t the focus of the show, but it was a significant nugget.
I currently have McBride as my TE2 ahead of Warren, but Scott made a compelling case. Warren is on a fast-track trajectory and, once again, we have a rookie pushing for the overall TE1 crown in fantasy. Honestly, I could talk about Warren every week. In Week 4 we got the full Warren experience: a rushing touchdown plus five receptions for 70 yards (his third time hitting that mark this season) and 18.3 PPR points. He’s now 5th among all TEs in scoring and trending upward.
Could you trade McBride for Warren and a first-rounder right now? In some leagues, that deal is there for the taking — and the gap in value is shrinking by the week.
Stock Down
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
I moved Nabers down to WR6 in my positional rankings at Fantasy Points — lower than all of my colleagues. Maybe I am being too punitive when it comes to injuries, but the reality is that Nabers will have played 19 games in two seasons as a pro. There is also a chance that his 2026 season could start slowly as he recovers from a serious injury. He is an elite talent, but one that is not doing anything to help managers win this season, and from a game theory perspective, he is not going to gain any value this season.
On the other hand, if I were a rebuilding team, I would certainly try to acquire Nabers. Without diving too deep into the 2026 rookie outlook, Nabers will be more valuable than Jordyn Tyson or Jeremiyah Love — my top two skill position players in this year’s upcoming crop of rookies.
Watch List
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets
Mason Taylor had a breakout performance in New York’s loss to Miami. Taylor caught 5 of his 7 targets, finishing with 65 receiving yards. The 2025 2nd Round pick has an opportunity to see more and more gams like this due to the Jets' lack of pass-catching weapons outside of Garrett Wilson.
Sean Tucker, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sean Tucker is almost a fantasy football urban legend at this point after his out-of-nowhere 34.2 point outburst last season in Week 6. With Bucky Irving set to miss this week — and possibly more — Tucker will have another chance to put up fantasy numbers. The Bucs offense has been less explosive this season on the ground, and if Tucker can rip off a few long runs, he has a chance of outproducing Rachaad White.
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants
Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson will see increased opportunities with Nabers out, but from a dynasty lens, Johnson is the most intriguing pass catcher on the roster. One of the most athletic players at his position (he had one of the best RAS scores ever recorded), Johnson could put up high-end TE2 numbers or better moving forward.
Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
Malik Washington was a mega producer in 2023 at UVA. He set a single-season ACC record with 110 catches and a UVA record 1426 receiving yards to go along with 9 TD grabs. A usage monster, Washington accounted for 44% of UVA’s receiving yards and 47% of their receptions. Washington fell to day three of the NFL draft due to injury concerns. He now has a golden opportunity to gain significant dynasty value as Hill’s replacement for the rest of the season. He will also see increased opportunities on manufactured rush attempts.
Isaiah Bond, WR, Cleveland Browns
Cedric Tillman has been placed on IR with a hamstring injury, opening the door for Bond to step in as the Browns’ WR2 opposite Jerry Jeudy. Bond was once a highly touted prospect with elite speed but went undrafted due to off-field concerns. He boasts an impressive pedigree — producing early at Alabama before transferring to Texas — and could prove to be a major steal for a Browns team embracing a youth movement with Judkins, Fannin, and now Dylan Gabriel at quarterback.
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
Keep an eye on Miller and try to stash him in a few leagues. He scored on an impressive TD run in New Orleans’ loss to Buffalo, finishing with 11 carries for 65 yards. Miller was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was a highly touted prospect out of TCU. After two tumultuous and injury-plagued seasons, Miller finally has a coaching staff that is using him. He is also only 23 years old. There is an outside chance (don’t count on it) that Alvin Kamara could be traded near the deadline.
