It’s crunch time. Dynasty fantasy football trade deadlines have already passed in some leagues, but in most, you still might have a week or two left to wheel and deal. Really take a hard look at your squad and decide if you have a chance to make a run. If you can’t, it’s time to face the truth and shift your focus to 2026.
In one of my leagues, I was the highest scoring team going into Week 11 … while sitting at 4-6. Naturally, I also led the league in points against. I needed a win last week, and guys like Justin Herbert and Khalil Shakir just completely crapped the bed, causing me to lose by less than three points. Even with Sean Tucker‘s monster performance, I couldn’t squeak out a W.
So now I’m 4-7, with the second-most points scored. I finally decided to wave the white flag and accepted it’s time to start a soft-rebuild. I dealt A.J. Brown to the top-ranked manager to get back my 2026 second-round pick, along with Brandon Aiyuk and Terrance Ferguson. Seemed like a win-win for us both: He loads up for a title run, and I position myself for next season since I won’t be winning that league … yet.
If you’re looking for an edge or some guidance on the best dynasty fantasy football trade to make before the majority of Week 12 kicks off, I’ve got you covered. I’ve highlighted some players I think you should buy, sell, or hold in Week 12, depending on your roster build. Check them out below — and go make some deals.
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Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Advice Week 12
Buy: WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
It took a while for head coach Ben Johnson to come to his senses and see what everyone in the fantasy community could see all along, but he finally did it — he played rookie Luther Burden III more snaps than Olamide Zaccheaus. Look, nothing against Zaccheaus. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but on the field, he wasn’t helping Chicago’s offense. He turned 50 targets into a measly 248 yards going into Week 11.
Last week, Johnson finally saw the light. Zaccheaus barely saw the field and didn’t earn a single target against Minnesota. Instead, it was Burden III taking over, playing 32 snaps and running a route on a season-high 61% of Caleb Williams‘ dropbacks. Burden III is simply a far more explosive option. It makes more sense to get your second-round playmaker integrated into the offense than continuing to feed snaps to a veteran with no ceiling.
Luther Burden III‘s Advanced Metrics
Unfortunately, the production didn’t match the usage — Burden III had just 27 yards on three receptions — but his five targets were a season-high. The runway is finally clearing for Burden III; better days are ahead.
Now for the fun stats. Even without heavy volume, Burden III has been insanely effective. Minimum 100 snaps, he currently ranks:
- WR2 in PlayerProfiler’s Explosive Rating (139.4)
- WR3 in yards per route run (2.85)
- WR6 in fantasy points per route run (0.57)
All the advanced metrics are pointing to a future fantasy stud. He just needs to get the ball more, and perhaps last week was the start of making that happen.
I think Burden III is on the “worth a late first-rounder” trajectory, but he hasn’t reached that tier yet. Now is your chance to try and get him while his value is still suppressed. He’s currently worth an early second-round pick, though I’m not sure a savvy owner will move him straight-up for that. You may need to sweeten the offer a little more to get him, but as long as you don’t go overboard, I still think it’s an underpay today based on where Burden III’s value is headed.
Sell: QB Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
It’s time for the Falcons and dynasty managers to start preparing for life after Michael Penix Jr. Now, I’m sure there are some managers who are thinking, “But Wolf, he didn’t look bad this year, and he’s only 25 still.” To that, I say: Get out now before the bottom fully drops out.
Penix Jr. took a sack in the third quarter of last week’s loss to the Panthers that knocked him out for the game. The hit aggravated a bone bruise and sprain in his left knee that already cost him a game earlier in the season. Even worse, there’s confirmed damage to his ACL. He’s out for the rest of this season and needs reconstructive surgery, putting the start of the 2026 season in jeopardy.
Michael Penix Jr.‘s Advanced Metrics
Look at Penix Jr.’s injury history — it’s longer than a CVS receipt:
- 2018 – Right ACL tear
- 2019 – Fractured collarbone
- 2020 – Right ACL tear
- 2021 – Left A/C joint separation
- 2025 – Left knee bruise, sprain, and damage to ACL
This is a player who’s taken more beatings than a bass drum. Even setting aside the injuries, Penix Jr. just hasn’t been a needle-mover — in real life or fantasy. This season, he’s been the QB28 on average, putting up a meager 13.7 fantasy PPG. We were all promised a rocket-armed gunslinger. Instead, what we got is a QB with 12 passing TDs in 12 career starts, with subpar efficiency and no rushing upside to buoy his floor.
Here are some of his accuracy metrics this season:
Michael Penix Jr.‘s 2025 Advanced Accuracy Metrics
As you can see, it isn’t pretty. Going forward, I don’t see many scenarios where Penix Jr. takes a leap coming off a third ACL repair.
If you’re a rebuilder and want to hold him in hopes of a rebound, I get it. Everyone else should be looking to jump ship, though. A dip in value has already happened, but his stock is about to plummet. Immobile pocket passers don’t maintain much value, even when they are crushing it. What do you think is going to happen with Penix Jr. coming off his fifth season-ending injury since college?
I mentioned Burden III above. He and Penix Jr. are close in value right now. If you can flip Penix Jr. for the ascending rookie wideout, go for it. Otherwise, see if someone would be willing to give a second-rounder and a player like Shedeur Sanders or Tyler Shough if you want a QB in return in Superflex formats. Your best bet, though, is trying to package Penix Jr. in a dynasty fantasy football trade to upgrade one of your skill-position spots before his value sinks any further.
Hold: RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
This isn’t what fantasy managers signed up for when they selected Ashton Jeanty at 1.01 in rookie drafts. After all, this kid was just a few yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders‘ NCAA rushing record last season. How bad has it been? Last Monday night against the Cowboys, Jeanty ripped off an 11-yard gain on his second attempt. He somehow finished with just seven rushing yards on six total carries.
The Raiders are doing Jeanty no favors, dialing up entirely too many pass plays with a struggling Geno Smith while giving their first-round pick barely any work on the ground. And the offensive line? It’s offensive. An abomination – no running back has had more stuffed runs (45) this season than Jeanty.
Ashton Jeanty‘s Advanced Metrics
Still, there are reasons to be optimistic about Jeanty going forward. Despite averaging just 3.7 YPC, he’s flashing some of the traits that made him a blue-chip prospect:
- RB9 in evaded tackles (48)
- RB10 in juke rate (27%)
- RB9 in yards created (649)
- RB13 in yards created per touch (3.65)
The game-breaking ability didn’t disappear; it’s just being smothered by horrendous line play and perplexing play-calling. Jeanty sits at RB16 in PPR scoring, averaging 14.1 PPG. It’s not what you expected, but it’s also not killing your lineups.
This is a clear hold situation. You don’t want to go panic-selling a young bellcow who was just selected sixth overall. Unless you’re getting someone in his value range — De’Von Achane, Rashee Rice, Tetairoa McMillan, Tyler Warren, or Caleb Williams — sit tight and hope the Raiders address their o-line issues in the offseason.
He has the draft capital. He has the talent. The issues around him are fixable. Don’t bail on Jeanty too soon just because of some rookie-year growing pains.
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Wolf Trelles-Heard is a fantasy football contributor for PlayerProfiler. Find him on X at @DynastyFFWolf.
