Tiering Down Without Tearing Up with Mike "NerdBoi" Lamoureux

JSN, Trey McBride, and De'Von Achane are locked in as first-round dynasty assets, so why would you trade them away now? Dynasty Degens' Mike "NerdBoi" Lamoureux joins the show to discuss tiering down: a repeatable framework for selling higher-tier producers for younger or rising assets plus draft capital, or better yet "plus plus." NerdBoi walks through how insulated trades work, how contract timelines signal when a player's value has peaked, and why this strategy fits perennial contenders just as well as rebuilders. Then Jeff and NerdBoi dig into specific tier-down targets at wide receiver, running back, tight end and quarterback. 🔑 Key Takeaways Tiering down means trading a top-tier producer for a slightly lower-tier asset plus extra value. These draft picks or additional players on top of a lateral swap "insulate" the trade, reducing the risk that it doesn't work out. Selling a player right after his best season feels like giving up value, but that fear fades once you focus on what you're getting back rather than what you're giving up. Contract timelines are a key signal, since a player's second contract can mark the start of a decline in tradeable value. Wide receiver is the easiest position to tier down from, since production is more linear than at running back. A tiering-down strategy fits perennial contenders looking to extend their window, not just rebuilders trying to start over. Timing matters more than the asset itself, since waiting too long to sell can cost more value than the framework can recover. Specific 2026 targets span every position, from Emeka Egbuka and Zay Flowers at receiver to Tyler Warren and Kenyon Sadiq at tight end. ⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 02:03 – What Is Tiering Down? 09:13 – Positional vs. Cross-Positional Trades 13:47 – Overcoming the Fear of Selling High 18:26 – Reading the Contract Clock 22:50 – A Strategy for Contenders, Not Just Rebuilders 29:55 – Timing Your Window and Learning From Misses 35:30 – Wide Receiver Targets 41:48 – Running Back Targets 48:52 – Tight End Targets 54:13 – Quarterback Targets 58:06 – Final Advice and Where to Find Mike 🔗 Links Mentioned Follow Mike on X/Twitter: https://x.com/NerdBoiTakes Dynasty Degens on X/Twitter: https://x.com/DynastyDegens Dynasty Rewind YouTube:    / @dynastyrewind   Jeff's Dynasty Rankings: https://www.footballguys.com/rankings... Follow Jeff on Twitter/X: https://x.com/jeffblaylock Footballguys: https://www.footballguys.com Dynasty Compass website: https://www.dynastycompass.com 📺 Related Episodes Episode 44 — Identifying Breakouts Before They Break Out with JJ Zachariason (directly referenced on air):    • Identifying Breakouts Before They Break Ou...   Episode 40 — Buy, Sell, or Hold? Navigating the Dynasty Trade Market with Theo Gremminger:    • Buy, Sell, or Hold? Navigating the Dynasty...   Episode 29 – Pre-Draft Dynasty Trade Strategy with Alan Seslowsky:    • Pre-draft Dynasty Trade Strategy with Alan...   Episode 7 - Trade Winds, Part 1:    • Dynasty Compass | Trade Winds, Part I   Episode 8 – Trade Winds, Part 2:    • Dynasty Compass | Trade Winds, Part II