Some of the best fantasy players right now include Raheem Mostert (age 31), Derrick Henry (age 29), Alvin Kamara (age 28), Austin Ekeler (age 28), Tyreek Hill (age 29), Stefon Diggs (age 29), Keenan Allen (age 31), Adam Thielen (age 33), Mike Evans (age 30), Davante Adams (age 30), and Travis Kelce (age 34). What they all have in common is that they could help you win a championship and they are possibly near the end of their careers. If you’re competing, you probably want these guys. And if you’re rebuilding, you probably want to sell these guys. So you may be wondering how to value ageing studs in dynasty leagues.

Age Cliffs

Top RBs often hit age cliffs in their late 20s, top WRs hit theirs around 30, and top TEs fall off around their early 30s. The eleven guys I mentioned are all at or past those age cliffs. So what should you do with them?

The Risk

The risk with having these guys on your team is that a major injury like an ACL tear could cause their value to plummet, significantly hurting your team. For example, Nick Chubb may have been able to get you a mid-to-late 1st before his injury. Now he might not even get you a 2nd.

The Reward

This part is simple. They could help you win a championship. There’s also the unlikely possibility they buck the trend and dominate for a few more years.

Hedge Your Bet

Try to get some sort of insurance when you’re trading something like a 2024 1st or a solid underperforming young prospect (like Drake London or Kyle Pitts) for an ageing stud. This could be later picks (like maybe a 2025 2nd or some 2024 3rds), young unproven prospects (like Tank Bigsby or Jonathan Mingo), or another unwanted ageing vet who could start in a pinch if you need depth (such as Michael Thomas or Kareem Hunt).

Wrap-Up

If you are a rebuilding team, you definitely want to try to get what you can for these older players. Don’t sell low, but it’s better to sell too early than too late. If you’re contending, make sure you’re really contending before giving up a valuable long-term asset for an expiring one. I hope this gives you an idea of how to value ageing studs.

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