The final week of August is upon us; our rosters are (mostly) set, and dynasty managers are staring at those open deals in their DMs. This week’s Grade the Trade brings a hot RB flipped for future 1sts, Quinshon Judkins weighed against the hype of a late-round riser, and Amon-Ra St. Brown dangled for a couple of emerging players. Three trades, three verdicts, and plenty of lessons you can use to sharpen your own roster decisions.
Grade the Trade | Fantasy Advice
Grade Ratings:
A – Great Trade for Both Parties
B – Leans One Side, But Fair
C – Questionable, But Defensible
D – Lopsided Deal
F – Borderline Collusion Deal
Trade #1 | B
2026 1st and 2027 1st for Travis Etienne, Bucky Irving, and Bhayshul Tuten.
Slurpie is curious, “which side?”
When the window to contend cracks open, you shove your chips into the middle. Draft picks are the cleanest currency in dynasty and the easiest way to close a deal. Team B is dangling a young, exciting RB along with a pair of high-variance Jaguar teammates.
The real questions: When is the right time to cash out on a young, hyped RB? And as a contender, is moving your future 1sts for a bundle of running backs the path to glory, or to regret?
TEAM A | 26 1st and 27 1st
PROs
- First-round draft capital is always increasing in value.
CONs
- With those picks projected late, a contender just landed an RB1 and a pair of smart lottery tickets.
TEAM B | Travis Etienne, Bucky Irving, and Bhayshul Tuten
PRO
- A freshly loaded RB room primed for a 2025 championship run.
CON
- Two years out can be challenging to predict, and there is a chance that the picks are better than anticipated.
VERDICT: Team B buys themselves wins in 2025 with this move.
One last move before kickoff. Team A is trying to flip its RBs for picks before the injury bug bites, while Team B wants to bulk up the backfield for a title push. Two future 1sts is a fair contender’s price, and when they end up late, Team A could be staring at a couple of coin-flip prospects.
Bucky Irving is trending toward a lion’s share in a high-powered offense, and holding could net more value down the line. But for a rebuilding squad, this deal is a clean win-win as it sheds points and puts future capital in your pocket.
If you’re contending, take the value today over the dice roll tomorrow. If you’re rebuilding? Sell the RBs unless they are in that elite tier.
Dynasty Value | Trade Calculator
Trade #2 | C-
Quinshon Judkins, 26 2nd, 26 4th for Jacory Croskey-Merritt and a 26 1st
Silver-Worry-2439 is wondering how do you feel about a “JCM/Judkins Swap?”
These two players entered the draft process worlds apart, and now they’re about to pass each other on the dynasty escalator. One is climbing on offseason hype and offensive fit despite his 7th Round pedigree, while the other, Quinshon Judkins, came in highly drafted and dripping with talent, yet suddenly feels like a difficult future to evaluate.
The question is simple but sharp: Is the buzz around a late-round riser really worth flipping Judkins plus picks… or are we chasing smoke at the expense of blue-chip talent?
TEAM A | Quinshon Judkins, 26 2nd and 26 4th
PROs
- The 3rd RB off the board in a loaded class. Quinshon Judkins was a highly sought-after prospect.
- The 2nd round pick is anticipated to be early.
CONs
TEAM B | Jacory Croskey-Merritt and 26 1st
PROs
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt, or “Bill” as the community refers to him, is on fire after the release of Brian Robinson and a clear path to significant touches.
- The 1st is the proper value added to make this enticing.
CONs
- Silver-Worry-2439 suggests the 1st is expected to be late, while the 2nd is earlier. This minimal gap may make the pick swap less beneficial.
Verdict: Team A takes advantage of hype to make a calculated upgrade.
I’m not knocking Bill; he looks ready to carve out a fantasy-relevant season. But here’s the truth: finding a serviceable RB isn’t difficult; finding a game-changer is. Team A is wisely capitalizing on the moment, flipping what started as a late rookie pick or FAAB flyer into a definitive 1st rounder.
If those 1st and 2nd rounders end up only a few slots apart, this becomes an easy gamble on the upside Judkins offers. Sure, Croskey-Merritt could outproduce him, but that’s the low-probability outcome. In dynasty, you bet on the talent and the long game.
Dynasty Value | Trade Calculator
Trade #3 | A-
TreVeyon Henderson & Ladd McConkey for Tyrone Tracy & Amon-Ra St. Brown
Illbill18 wants to know the communities’ “Thoughts on this trade.”
Team B is starry-eyed for Amon-Ra St. Brown and is dangling a package of sophomore heartthrob Ladd McConkey and rookie rocket TreVeyon Henderson to seal the deal. St. Brown has been brilliant since his late rookie season breakout, stacking back-to-back WR3 overall finishes.
But here’s the twist: with Ben Johnson out of town, is regression looming? So, does this become the perfect time to sell high for a pair of shiny new toys, or is chasing the “new hotness” just dynasty FOMO in disguise?
TEAM A | TreVeyon Henderson and Ladd McConkey
PROs
- TreVeyon took his first touch in preseason 100 yards to the house, and now he has become nearly untouchable in trades.
- McConkey developed into Herbert’s favorite target, and he looks to improve that connection in year 2.
CONs
- St. Brown has been as bankable as any WR in the league; losing him won’t just sting, it will leave a noticeable void in any lineup.
- Keenan Allen signed back with the Chargers, giving McConkey another set of hands to compete against for targets.
TEAM B | Tyrone Tracy and Amon-Ra St. Brown
PROs
- Locked down a true WR1 with premium volume in a high-octane offense.
- Tyrone Tracy should lead the NYG backfield out of the gates.
CONs.
- You paid up, and rightfully so, St. Brown shares don’t come at a discount.
- Cam Skattebo’s involvement is the ticking clock on Tracy’s value.
VERDICT: Value leans to Team A, two players who can swing matchups are better than one.
Every Amon-Ra St. Brown manager knows the joy of locking in those weekly points. The safe move is to keep riding that security blanket, but the championship move is flipping him for a potential RB1 with pass-catching juice, even if it means stepping down a tier at WR.
These aren’t easy decisions and carry real risk. But titles don’t come from playing it safe; they come from bold, informed swings that tilt the ceiling in your favor. This deal isn’t about fear of regression. This is about chasing opportunity, and in dynasty, staying ahead of the curve means taking the shot before the rest of the league catches on.
Dynasty Trade Value
Contender Trade Value
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