Welcome to Would You Rather: Dynasty Edition, a series from DLF based on the popular board game. Each week we post a poll on Twitter asking fans who they prefer between a player or a certain pick. However, during DLF's 'Dynasty Trade Month', we analyzed a trade that was shared with us. The values used here are via the DLF Trade Analyzer. We will cover the results and discuss both sides of the poll in depth. Let’s get right to it!
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Brandon Aiyuk
Last week, we covered a trade involving Josh Jacobs versus a random 2023 first-round pick. For the final poll conducted during Dynasty Trade Month, we are going back to a player versus a player.
With all of the hype on Twitter surrounding rookie Detroit Lions wideout St. Brown, we thought this poll would be a little closer to even. Voters preferred the veteran Aiyuk by a decent margin.
Which do you prefer?
For the first time since we started this series, the voters and the trade analyzer were not aligned with each other.
This isn’t even close for me. It’s St. Brown. We need to remember that he was a rookie last year so getting off to a slow start, especially with Goff at QB, is not that surprising. But once he got the chance, he exploded. By the end of the season you would think that defenses would have had no problem stopping him given that he was the only real weapon the Lions had. But they couldn’t. St. Brown has established himself as a legit NFL receiver and will flourish even more with Hockenson, Swith and Chark on the field.
You say, got his chance. He was also the only target on the field when he went off. Did he perform? Yes. Will Chark, Hockenson, and Swift take away from his target share? Also, yes. It will definitely be interesting to see what he does in 2022.
I’m team Aiyuk. Yes, a Shanahan offence has trouble accommodating two WRs consistently but I believe they need to involve Aiyuk much more as he’s very dynamic after the catch (hence his 1sd rd capital). If St Brown does it again I’ll change my tune but I have my doubts.
Seems odd to me that the trade analyzer would suggest bell/willis/pick 3.02-3.04 are all approx equal in value.
Both bell and Willis are ranked as early to mid 2nd round rookie choices, which carries a value more then tripple the worth of an early 3rd pick (per the calculator)
Could we see a draft calculator mock rookie draft.
Thanks for the article, Jeff.
I find it interesting how many folks write off St. Brown’s emergence due to targets and circumstances. The guy stepped up when called on and continued to get stronger. He even dominated with Tim Boyle throwing the ball and no other solid weapons to shelter him from top coverage. I understand people are scared by his 4th round draft spot and the idea he cannot replicate his dominance in 2022 due to target competition, but I feel he will continue to get his targets while others on the offense do not. Also, he had a historically excellent rookie season at the position, and really in 6 games. Imagine what he could do at even 80% the volume over an entire season. Let’s look at a few of the other rookies since 2001 who have had 200+ point PPR fantasy seasons:
JaMarr Chase, Odell Beckham, Anquan Boldin, Justin Jefferson, Michael Thomas, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Evans, Michael Clayton, Keenan Allen, AJ Green, AJ Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Julio Jones, Marques Colston, Tyreek Hill.
I will eat my words if he falters next year, but I would rather have St. Brown, especially long term. He has the confidence of the coaching staff, an offense less skewed to the run game, and a QB who loves to throw to a crisp route runner in the short to mid passing game and who cannot throw deep.
Im wondering what your thoughts about Aiyuk’s production from wk8 on. His playing time and role in the offense increased greatly from that point on. He was probably still a borderline WR2/3, but I’m just curious if you think its something to hang your hat on or much adieu about nothing.
Great read, really enjoying my DLF sub and all the input and content I get to devour.
That being said I’m also team St. Brown. I think Aiyuk is great and have tried acquiring him, but I was able to acquire Amon Ra for Tyler Boyd and Bryan Edwards from an owner who is exceptionally low on the Amon Ra hype, so to me that felt like an easy investment that even if it doesn’t pan out I didn’t lose much.
But the slow development of Aiyuk, the lack of trust from the coaching staff he came into his season with, the competition of Deebo and Kittle, the rookie growing pains of Lance once he starts. And with ASRB, his target share will absolutely go down, but I think we disprespect him a little, as he caught no less than 8 of his 10-12 targets for 6 weeks straight while drawing top coverage as the only weapon catching balls from Goff who everyone loves to hate.
As some other guy said here, I’ll happily eat my words if I’m wrong but I like the upside of Amon Ra.
