It's the beginning of the offseason and people are making moves. As people try to make their lineups look pretty for the 2024 season, there is a group that's often devalued. It's the older veteran players who are fantasy studs, but who people are nervous will be washed soon. This makes sense in dynasty, but you also shouldn't sell low on most of these assets. Hold your ageing vets.
I will go through KeepTradeCut rankings to see how people value certain players being ranked at good values. All of these players are currently being valued at a second-round pick or less. Even though we know rookies going in the late first are generally far from solid fantasy prospects.
Names:
Matthew Stafford // QB27 // 36 years old
Health is an issue, but he is generally a QB1 when healthy. There are QBs going ahead of him that could be backups before Matthew Stafford retires. And with now-healthy Kupp and Nacua there, he has the weapons to support his production.
Davante Adams // WR31 // 31.1 years old
He is getting older, but Davante Adams has stayed quite healthy and still puts up WR1 numbers, even if poor situations.
Mike Evans // WR32 // 30.5 years old
He also doesn't miss many games. Mike Evans also just put up one of his best seasons ever. As a free agent, his situation could affect things.
Amari Cooper // WR39 // 29.7 years old
This is another wide receiver who doesn't miss many games. Amari Cooper is force-fed by whoever is the QB in Cleveland and I don't see that changing.
James Conner // RB36 // 28.8 years old
Though he often misses games, James Conner plays most of the games in a season. And over the past few years when he's on the field, he puts up top 13 numbers. He should continue to produce with an improving team in Arizona.
Travis Kelce // TE8 // 34.4 years old
He was once again the top TE in average points this past season. Yet his value plummeted because he didn't destroy the competition by as much. Though he could choose to retire after this season, Travis Kelce still rarely misses games and produces at a high level. If he chooses to continue playing into his late 30s, I think he could be a top fantasy TE in doing so.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 14: Patrick Mahomes #15 and Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs address the crowd during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Wrap-Up
I would pay a late first for all of these players besides James Conner. But James Conner is being valued closer to a late 2nd and I'd pay a mid-2nd for him if I was competing. You likely won't get good value for these guys right now, but you should in the fall so hold your ageing vets.
There is wisdom that needs to be applied to this. For example, if you don't trust your player to stay healthy through the offseason (like in the case of someone like Raheem Mostert), then it can be safer to sell low than to be stuck with nothing. If you also expect your player to hit an age cliff in September (maybe like with someone like Adam Thielen), then it can also make sense to sell low now. But if you aren't able to get more than a 3rd for them, it may be better to hold and hope anyway. But many vets who are being devalued right now will increase in value in the fall closer to the trade deadline when competing teams get desperate to solidify their playoff rosters. Hold your ageing vets.
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