Fantasy: 5 buy-low targets in dynasty

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The success of your dynasty team is directly linked to how early you can accurately assess talent.

Identifying an aging player who still has plenty left in the tank can be just as valuable as acquiring a young star before their breakout. The same can be said for knowing the right time to cut ties with a prospect who isn't going to reach their originally anticipated apex or a veteran star who's approaching their decline.

Before free agency and the draft shake up the fantasy landscape, let's look at five players who can help give your dynasty team an edge if you buy low now.

Joe Mixon

Mixon might not be the first player who comes to mind as a buy-low option since his value is still quite high, but so was Dalvin Cook's when we included him on last year's list. The goal of any trade is to find a player whose value will increase once you've acquired them, and, as Cook did in 2019, Mixon is about to take his production to the next level.

Playing on a team destined for failure, Mixon overcame a struggling offensive line, the loss of A.J. Green, and a brief stint with an underqualified rookie starting quarterback to finish as a top-15 fantasy back for the second straight season.

Though his efficiency took a hit, the 23-year-old displayed why he's one of the best young runners in the league by evading more tackles than anyone, according to Player Profiler. Mixon averaged nine more touches per game over his final eight contests and, in true Derrick Henry fashion, cranked out over 135 rushing yards in three of his last four appearances.

That volume should have fantasy managers excited, especially if the arrival of projected top pick Joe Burrow sparks the Cincinnati Bengals' attack. Cincinnati has been in the bottom tier in first downs per game in each of the past three seasons. Burrow's ability to sustain drives will mean more opportunities for Mixon behind a line that should be enhanced by 2019 first-round selection Jonah Williams.

Mixon has the talent to challenge for the fantasy running back crown and just needs better pieces around him. He won't come cheap in a trade but the best is yet to come as he heads into his fourth campaign.

Curtis Samuel

It's a smart time to invest in the Carolina Panthers' skill position players now that the offensive-minded Matt Rhule has been hired as their new head coach and Joe Brady signed on as the coordinator after guiding LSU's passing attack to a historic season.

With Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore likely deemed untouchable by fantasy managers, Samuel becomes the one to target in Carolina.

With his blazing 4.3-second 40-yard time and natural playmaking ability, the 23-year-old's career was scheduled for takeoff in his third NFL campaign, as he finally was given a full complement of snaps. Yet, despite seeing 105 targets, Samuel was held to 54 receptions, 627 yards, and six touchdowns in 2019.

Undermined by backup quarterbacks who were thrust into a starting role when Cam Newton went down early in the season, Samuel had just one reception longer than 40 yards on the year. Of the 26 receivers who were thrown to at least 100 times this season, Samuel received the lowest rate of catchable balls, something PFF noted when it named the young Panthers wideout a breakout candidate for 2020.

Moore has established himself as the No. 1 option in Carolina's receiving corps, but the gap between him and Samuel isn't as large as it appears. An upgrade at quarterback is all but guaranteed regardless of whether Newton returns, which provides hope that this is the last time Samuel is left outside the top-35 fantasy receivers.

Sam Darnold

Darnold's sophomore year couldn't have gone much worse, which has led some to question whether he's actually the answer at quarterback for the New York Jets.

Dynasty owners know to look a little deeper after a season that was derailed by mononucleosis during the opening month and later plagued by a torn ligament in his non-throwing thumb, which required surgery in January.

Darnold still managed the 13th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks over the last seven weeks - a feat he accomplished during the final month of his rookie campaign, too.

You can also highlight the offensive line and receiver depth charts as two units that will need serious remodeling if Darnold is going to become the franchise cornerstone New York thought it was getting with the third overall pick. Both Robby Anderson and Demaryius Thomas are free agents, so the search for a bonafide top target on the outside should already be underway.

Making a move for Darnold in dynasty requires a bigger leap of faith than is needed for the other names on this list. Trading for him puts you in a position to roster a 22-year-old with QB1 potential, but that will require a step forward in his development combined with several quality additions by the front office.

Marvin Jones

Jones occupied a spot on this list a year ago and continues to be an intriguing buy-low candidate as injuries have left him undervalued in the fantasy community.

Prior to being placed on injured reserve after Week 14, Jones was a top-15 fantasy wideout.

He suffered a similar fate in 2018 when he was the WR27 at the time of his season-ending injury in Week 10, with 50 yards and/or a touchdown in eight of his nine outings.

Jones last played a full 16-game schedule in 2017 and finished as a top-12 option in all formats.

His route-running ability and ball skills are undeniable, especially around the red zone. He's scored nine touchdowns in two of the last three seasons and was on pace to hit that mark in 2018 before the injury.

Jones turns 30 in March, which makes him the perfect trade target for dynasty teams currently in contention. With Matthew Stafford back healthy, there's no reason to think he can't turn in another top-30 result.

Blake Jarwin

There are multiple tight ends who possess major upside but are trapped either behind or in timeshares with aging veterans. We could see a lot of turnover at the position in 2020, whether it's Jarwin and Jason Witten, Ian Thomas and Greg Olsen, Jonnu Smith and Delanie Walker, or Irv Smith Jr. and Kyle Rudolph.

The soon-to-be 38-year-old Witten isn't under contract once the league year ends and was undecided on his future after the regular season. There have also been reports that he could join former Dallas Cowboys head coach and current New York Giants coordinator Jason Garrett.

We saw Jarwin put up impressive numbers in the final month of 2018 with stat lines of 7-56-0, 4-45-0, and a monster 7-119-3 performance in Week 17. Witten blocked his path this season and limited him to just over one-third of the Cowboys' snaps, but Jarwin still posted 50 yards or a touchdown in eight of his 16 appearances.

If Witten doesn't return then Jarwin's value gets a massive boost into borderline TE1 territory.