Trades

Grade the Trade | Reviewing Reddit Submissions | July Week 2

Reddit users submitted trades on /r/DynastyNerds, and our John Hammersmith goes trade by trade to give them an overall grade and what dynasty ramifications they have.

Time to fire up Grade the Trade. This batch features a Minnesota WR upgrade and some heavyweight RB/WR swaps with real title implications. We’re talking big names, and a few GMs who aren’t afraid to push their chips in. Let’s see how all sides fared.

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 | C | Grade the Trade

Justin Jefferson for Jordan Addison, 1.05, 26 1st & 2nd

Dynasty Rankings
Contender, Player Value, Fantasy Football, Trades, Value, breakdown, targets, strategy, trade calculator, trade for, away, Grade the Trade, Reddit, buy, sell, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, 2025 rookie draft picks, 2026 rookie draft picks

ResearchSad9719 wanted to discuss the haul he gave up for Jefferson

Tiering up to Justin Jefferson is no easy task. The price tag is usually steep enough that you end up sacrificing too much depth, so your roster gets worse. The cleanest path to a true upgrade is often through draft picks. You strengthen your starting lineup without cutting the legs from your championship run.

TEAM A | Justin Jefferson

PROs

Alpha WR1 in his prime. 1st round startup dynasty player.
Paying future capital for upgrades will keep the team intact.
Below-market value for Jefferson is always a good investment.

CONs.

A premium 25 pick and the 2026 draft class were surrendered.

TEAM B | Jordan Addison, 25 1.05, & 26 1st/2nd

PROs

Get a premium rookie to pair with Addison for immediate value.
Future 26 1st and 2nd will continue to appreciate

CONs

An empty hangar space where your luxury JJETTAS used to be parked.

VERDICT: Team A is a definitive winner.

This is a strong buy for Jefferson, a true dynasty cornerstone on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory. While it may feel like a haul, it’s a below-market deal for one of the game’s elites. I get the angle—if you believe J.J. McCarthy thrives and elevates the entire offense—it’s possible Addison narrows the gap in production, in addition to the draft picks.

Dynasty Value | Trade Calculator

Trade #2 | A- | Grade the Trade

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Terrance Ferguson for Chase Brown and early-mid 26 1st

WaterproofCrocs knows “Guy wants my Chase Brown.”

There’s roughly a 1.5-round ADP gap between Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chase Brown, but the uncertainty around the pick’s value helps even things out—in a vacuum.

TEAM A | Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Terrance Ferguson

PROs

Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke out, and the hype is surging as he rises to the top of the depth chart this offseason.
Ferguson is an intriguing flyer, but that’s all he is for now.

CONs

A new(ish) QB in Sam Darnold, now on his fifth NFL team in eight seasons, takes the reins of a run-heavy offense.

TEAM B | Chase Brown and early-mid 26 1st

PROs

Chase Brown just cleared the NFL Draft gauntlet, and his stock is at an all-time high
2026 1st round pick has the potential to be high.

CONs

Brown’s value could crumble just as quickly as it rose—the reality of life as a Day 3 RB.

VERDICT: Team B wins this deal slightly.

WaterproofCrocs included a screenshot of his team for context, and it matters. If that 2026 1st ends up late, this becomes an appealing move for the Chase Brown manager looking to upgrade. But when you assess the roster, this team is already struggling to field a consistent weekly lineup. That challenge will only grow as the season unfolds. I like Terrance Ferguson as a stash, but not if that pick has a realistic shot at landing in the top six next year. Selling high on Chase Brown makes sense, but giving up control of your rookie draft destiny is tough to swallow.

Dynasty Trade Value

On paper, Jaxon Smith-Njigba wins this trade pretty easily. But the higher that draft pick ends up, the faster this deal shifts into a loss. Holding onto WaterproofCrocs own pick helps insulate against downside. Using Chase Brown to acquire a 1st-plus is a more risk-averse move than leveraging his own pick to try and upgrade him in my opinion.

Trade #3 | A- | Grade the Trade

Puka Nacua and Bryce Young for Ashton Jeanty and 26 2nd

TEAM A | Puka Nacua & Bryce Young

PROs

Puka Nacua has erased any concerns about his draft capital with elite on-field production—he’s now a solid 2nd round pick in dynasty startups.
Bryce Young sparked real hope down the stretch, posting top-10 numbers from Week 12 onward.

CONs

Nacua’s path just got a little bumpier. Davante Adams enters the picture, and Stafford’s clock is ticking loudly.
They’re betting on Bryce Young to build on his late-2024 surge and take the next step.

TEAM B | Ashton Jeanty & 26 2nd

PROs

Ashton Jeanty is RB3 in dynasty. Instant value today and tomorrow.

CONs

There aren’t many reasons to sell Ashton Jeanty, unless he goes full Trent Richardson, or the return is substantial.

VERDICT: Team A wins by securing a starting QB for a 2nd—an efficient use of draft capital

Ashton Jeanty holds a slight edge over Puka Nacua in both ADP and trade value heading into 2025. The swing factor here is your belief in Bryce Young. If you’re in, he’s worth well more than the 2nd. But trading Jeanty could leave your RB room thin. By acquiring Bryce Young for under market value, Medic3693 earns instant equity in the QB room, without losing any points or value today.

Grade The Trade

Made a trade you’re proud of—or one you’re not so sure about? Post it in the Dynasty Nerds subreddit and get it graded. We’re always on the lookout for deals to feature in future articles. Big moves or small adjustments, John is here to break it down.