Is a touchdown-driven game a reason to sell a running back?

It's a reason to check the yards. Both Williams and Robinson ran for 62, which is a six-point rushing day on its own, so the other 19 or more points were touchdowns that don't repeat on schedule.

When does a quiet game become a buying chance?

When the usage was fine and the team's script was the problem. Detroit threw 52 times and Seattle 22, and neither star's role changed, so the price is what moved.

How do I know an owner will sell?

You don't, so price it before you ask. Run both sides through the dynasty trade calculator first, so you know the offer is fair before you send it.

Strategy

Buy-Low, Sell-High: After Week 4

Two running backs rode three-touchdown games on 62 rushing yards each, and two stars with bad Sundays are still priced at the top of the Week 5 board.

By Marcus Reyes · October 6, 2026

Two running backs scored three touchdowns on 62 rushing yards apiece, and two stars scored far under their projections while the board barely blinked. That's the whole column.

Sell high: Javonte Williams and Brian Robinson

Javonte Williams scored 28.8 on 19 carries, 62 yards and three touchdowns. Brian Robinson scored 25.2 on 14 carries, 62 yards and three touchdowns, as Atlanta's second back behind Bijan Robinson, who ran 19 times for 145 yards. Eighteen points of each line came from the end zone.

Neither role changed. The Engine projects Javonte for 13.5 and Brian for 10.9 in Week 5, roughly half of what Sunday paid, and Brian is still listed second on his own depth chart. If a leaguemate saw those box scores and wants one of them, let him have it.

What I'd do: take any solid asset offered for either back this week, and expect neither one to match Sunday again soon.

Buy low: Jahmyr Gibbs and Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jahmyr Gibbs scored 15.7 against a projection of 27.7. He ran 15 times for 46 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes, and the Lions threw 52 times in a loss that sent most of those targets to Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown and two other receivers. The Engine trimmed his Week 5 number by six points and still ranks him sixth among everyone at 21.5 against Arizona.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored 10.1 against 20.5 on five catches for 76 yards, in a game where Seattle threw 22 times and won on the ground. His Week 5 number is 18.6 against San Francisco, which held Denver to 14 points, so I'm buying the price and not the matchup.

What I'd do: ask about both this week, because an owner who just watched a bad box score is the one who answers the phone.

Run either side through the dynasty trade calculator before you send the offer. NextDyne is currently in early access — join the waitlist and lock in Founding Franchise status at $2.00/player for life.

Join the founding waitlist

Founding leagues lock in $2.00 per player, forever. Price rises to $3.00 once the founding cohort is full.

Founding leagues also get permanent Founding Franchise status in your Vault history.

Price the deal in the Dynasty Trade Calculator →

FAQ

Is a touchdown-driven game a reason to sell a running back?: It's a reason to check the yards. Both Williams and Robinson ran for 62, which is a six-point rushing day on its own, so the other 19 or more points were touchdowns that don't repeat on schedule.
When does a quiet game become a buying chance?: When the usage was fine and the team's script was the problem. Detroit threw 52 times and Seattle 22, and neither star's role changed, so the price is what moved.
How do I know an owner will sell?: You don't, so price it before you ask. Run both sides through the dynasty trade calculator first, so you know the offer is fair before you send it.

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