Trade Tuesday #03: Skattebo, Irving, Brooks
Chew is bullish on Skattebo, bearish on Irving, and not sleeping on Brooks.
We are almost to the lull of the NFL offseason, with most teams just waiting for mandatory minicamp as the last activity before preseason training camp begins in mid-late July. That gives more time for players to earn a roster spot, climb the depth chart, and, most importantly, get healthy. This week’s trio of players includes running backs whose 2025 seasons were derailed by injury. One has been able to put together a full, productive season (Bucky Irving), another has had half a season of strong production, and a 3rd is simply looking to string together a few healthy games (Jonathon Brooks). Three backs, three injury arcs, three very different trade verdicts. Let’s dive into some trades.
Trades were sourced from the Dynasty Daddy trade database. Trades were based on the following settings:
Quarterbacks: 2 (Superflex)
Scoring Format: 1 (Full PPR)
Tight End Premium: 0-0.5
Team Count: 10-12 (Draft pick range noted below extends to 12-team leagues)
Starter Count: 9-11
Bestball: False
Every player has buy and sell examples, even if I am “Bearish” or “Bullish”.
Cam Skattebo | RB | NYG
📈 Bullish: A gruesome injury in Week 8 cut Skattebo’s promising rookie season short, but he is set to be back to his headbutting ways by Week 1 this year.
Cam Skattebo joined the Giants as a 4th-round selection after an electric collegiate career and a lackluster NFL Combine performance. It did not take long for Skattebo to emerge as the RB-1 of the Giants’ backfield, finishing as the RB-5 in fantasy for Week 3. While Skattebo is a short, thumping back, he offers a real pass-catching skill set. Most importantly, Skattebo is the Giants’ best red zone threat, as he converted 7 total touchdowns on 27 red zone opportunities.
I still haven’t mentioned anything about the team and coaching staff around him that will also boost Skattebo’s fantasy value. Under head coach John Harbaugh, new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will be able to maximize Skattebo’s versatility as a pass catcher alongside fellow bash brother Jaxson Dart. A healthier offensive line, now anchored by 1st-round pick Francis Mauigoa, only furthers the point.
➕ To BUY:
Cam Skattebo ←→ ‘26 1.06
Skattebo would be the RB-2 in this class, and the 1.06 is after the main trio of receivers goes.
Cam Skattebo + Harold Fannin ←→ Colston Loveland + ‘27 4th
This is no shade to Loveland; instead, it is a compliment to the upside of a healthy Skattebo, as well as the stability of Fannin, regardless of his quarterback.
➖ To SELL:
Cam Skattebo ←→ Travis Etienne + ‘27 2nd
Etienne is not an old geezer and is in a position to produce in New Orleans, and the ‘27 2nd is what pushes this over the edge in what is anticipated to be a strong draft class.
Cam Skattebo + ‘27 1st + ‘27 2nd + ‘29 2nd ←→ Jahmyr Gibbs
It will never be cheap to trade for a position player in the top-3 at their position, and this feels like a fair price to pay for Gibbs.
Bucky Irving | RB | TB
📉 Bearish: The 2024 version of Irving didn’t come to fruition in 2025, but will it happen in 2026 with a new offensive coordinator and a priority signing in Kenneth Gainwell? I’m not so sure.
Bucky Irving burst onto the scene in 2024 as a 4th round pick, boasting some impressive stats: 5th in yards created per touch, 3rd in juke rate, and six top-10 fantasy finishes. He did so, splitting touches with Rachaad White, which warranted optimism heading into the 2025 season. However, shoulder and foot injuries limited Irving to just 10 games in 2025. Irving has made it back on the field towards the tail end of OTAs, but one has to wonder what the backfield looks like in 2026.
The Bucs filled the Rachaad White-sized hole with Kenneth Gainwell on a 2-year, $14M deal following the latter’s career year in Pittsburgh. In 2025, Gainwell was 4th in yards created per touch, which is reflective of his dual-threat role. Another offseason wrinkle is that Irving will be learning his 3rd offense in 3 NFL seasons, with the Bucs offense led by Zac Robinson in 2026. I do not expect Irving to be phased out of the offense, but Gainwell is poised to take a frustrating amount of touches. Yes, even those all-too-valuable goal-line touches (yes, Sean Tucker is still on the roster, too). We all want Irving to pick up where he left off, but the Buccaneers paid Gainwell, so their season is not dependent on his resurgence.
➕ To BUY:
Bucky Irving ←→ Marvin Harrison Jr.
I am not always a fan of 1-for-1 trades, but across different positions makes sense. Harrison has been dealing with the shadow of his dad, but his production still has not matched what many expected.
Bucky Irving ←→ Romeo Doubs + ‘27 2nd
I think this is undervaluing Irving, with A.J. Brown watering down Doubs’ value in New England.
➖ To SELL:
Bucky Irving ←→ Ladd McConkey
Another 1-for-1 trade. And McConkey should thrive in the Mike McDaniel offense.
Bucky Irving ←→ A.J. Brown + ‘27 2nd
I know age is a factor in dynasty, but I’m firmly on the Brown side of this one. My confidence in Brown for the next year or two outweighs the uncertainty surrounding Irving.
Jonathon Brooks | RB | CAR
💤 Sleeper: Brooks was the first running back taken in the 2024 draft and proceeded to tear the same knee’s ACL twice in 13 months. The talent is still there, and so is the opportunity.
The Panthers used their 2nd round pick in 2024 on Jonathon Brooks, making him the first running back taken that year. Brooks was rehabbing a college ACL tear, but that didn’t stunt the Panthers’ belief in the Texas Longhorn as a three-down back. As fate would have it, Brooks tore the same ACL three games into his rookie year, missed all of 2025, and with it, his dynasty value continued to plummet. The Panthers let 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle walk to Pittsburgh in free agency and added only AJ Dillon as veteran depth, which is a vote of confidence for Brooks and Chuba Hubbard.
Reports out of OTAs and mandatory minicamp have been glowing, while Brooks said he “feels close to 100 percent.” Hubbard is still the 1A heading into camp, but a down year in 2025, leading to Dowdle getting more work, suggests the 1B role for Brooks is meaningful. There is reason for concern with a running back bouncing back from multiple knee injuries to the same knee. But Brooks is still very young, and I am old enough to remember a former Panther who bounced back from three knee injuries to have a successful career (Thomas Davis). The dynasty community has been warming up to a resurgence for Brooks, but there is still value to be had for the first running back taken in the 2024 draft.
➕ To BUY:
Jonathon Brooks ←→ Tory Horton + ‘27 4th
I like Horton, and he should elevate his role in year 2, but Brooks’ upside is simply higher.
Jonathon Brooks ←→ ‘26 2.05
The 2026 draft takes a dip towards the end of the 1st round, and Brooks is worth the 2nd rounder here.
➖ To SELL:
Jonathon Brooks + Bhayshul Tuten + ‘26 2.04 ←→ James Cook
No offense to Brooks and Tuten, but Cook is a step above and is tied to a top offense and quarterback.
Jonathon Brooks + Oronde Gadsden + Matthew Golden + ‘27 3rd ←→ Harold Fannin + ‘27 2nd
There is a lot here, but I continue to be out on Golden, and acknowledge Gadsden’s value has taken a hit. Fannin is among the next generation of top tight ends, and this is good value.
So you made it this far, and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow fantasy football degenerates, I would greatly appreciate it!
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