Players to Buy & Sell

As we approach the fantasy football trade deadline, we wanted to give you some names of players who you should be buying or selling. Some leagues have their trade deadlines this week while others pushed it back to next week with the extra game this season. However your league does it, it is a good time to look to trade to help you down the stretch.

If you are in the middle of the pack and need a little change to help you get in to the playoffs, these players should be able to help. Even if you are a top team, you should also look to sell some players high before it is too late. Trade deadline time is crazy and we want to make sure you have all the info you need when making the right moves. We have a guest writing with us this week; Dickie LaFlamme from the Cowboys Butts Drive Me Nuts podcast!

Players to Buy

Donovan Peoples-Jones – (WR-DEN)

Peoples-Jones is someone I have been talking about for a few weeks, and he made an appearance in my Players to Pick Up Now article for Week 10. He has had a quiet, productive season so far and has not seen lower than 8 fantasy points since Week 6 (Half PPR). Since then, his best game was 12.40 which was in Week 10 against Miami. He has not blown up for you to date, but he has been a safe flex play for most of the season. Deshaun Watson comes back in Week 13, and when that happens we should see Peoples-Jones as a league winner in fantasy football. Even without Watson, Peoples-Jones leads the team in receiving yards since Week 4, but has yet to score this season. His strength of schedule going forward seems tough, but that is mainly because he faces the Bills in Week 11. It is not a great matchup for him with Brissett, so you may be able to get him for even cheaper because of that. Of course, I want Amari Cooper as well going forward, but Peoples-Jones is cheaper to get at this point in the season. He has a very favorable fantasy playoff schedule when he gets Deshaun Watson back. (Scott Miln-TSF)

-Trade Packages: Brian Robinson; Raheem Mostert; Allen Robinson

-Remaining Games: BUF, TB, HOU, CIN, BAL, NO, WAS

Ja’Marr Chase – (WR-CIN)

Ja’Marr Chase is a known commodity. He is known top talent in the NFL. And he is hurt, making him a target for all the top teams in your fantasy leagues. He is currently projecting to return for Week 12, so if you can stomach a loss in your league and not lose any spots in your future playoff seeding or lose ground in the all-important total points scored race, then trading away a couple pieces for Chase could be the difference between winning and losing your league. The Bengals offense has started to click, and it will go into high gear as soon as Ja’Marr is back on the field at full strength. Personally, I just moved Allen Lazard, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon for Dalvin Cook, Mattison, and Ja’Marr Chase, and if all goes according to plan, I think that should end up being a move I look back on with a smile. There’s obviously some inherent risk in trading for an injured player, but it’s a risk I am willing to take. (Cory Dows-TSF)

-Trade Packages: An RB1 you don’t trust will stay there + A WR2 + A WR4

-Remaining Games: PIT, TEN, KC, CLE, TB, NE, BUF

James Robinson – (RB-NYJ)

James Robinson is this enigma of a player that doesn’t quit. That’s what I love about him. A UDFA who climbed the fantasy ranks in JAX, busted his Achilles, and is now back performing after many said he wouldn’t. He’s not back to his RB1 pace from his rookie year, but personally I think it’s because he hasn’t been given the same opportunity since. A-la-NYJ. The Jets saw what a solid RB can do for their run game, then tasted that sweetness (RIP Breece) and they knew they had to have it. They traded for Robinson and he started his first game with them, performing well, but clearly new to the team. Week 9, he out snapped Carter and delivered a solid 12pt play for your flex position. Now past his bye, and presumably more knowledgeable of the playbook… I only see his usage and value growing. This man doesn’t quit, and you shouldn’t quit on him either. Go buy this player as the Jets are committed to their run game and his talents will continue to show. (Dickie LaFlamme-Guest)

-Trade Packages: Allen Robinson (1:1); Chase Claypool & D. Harris (2:1)

-Remaining Games: PHI, Bye, LAC, KC, DET, CIN, LV, LAC

Players to Sell

Leonard Fournette – (RB-TB)

Leonard Fournette is the RB10 on the season in half PPR scoring and has 6 total TDs in 10 weeks so far. I have been saying it the last few weeks; if Lenny does not score, he really does nothing for you as your starting RB. The thing is, he is getting TDs, and everything counts in the end, but if those goal line TDs are not there for him every week, it’s scary. It may be harder to sell him high right now since he did get banged up in Week 10 and Rachaad White had a strong performance once Lenny left the game. Fournette has a hard strength of schedule going forward and I do believe White is better for the offense down the stretch. If you can sell him based off his name and his RB10 spot on the season so far, do it before the trade deadline is over. (Scott Miln-TSF)

-Trade Packages: Courtland Sutton; Low WR2/High WR3; Dameon Pierce

-Remaining Games: Bye, CLE, NO, SF, CIN, ARI, CAR

Michael Pittman – (WR-IND)

Pittman has not performed to the level many (myself included) expected to see him at this year. Instead, he seems to have taken a step back, and whether that’s the offense as a whole, the playcalling, his rapport with his QBs, defenses adjusting to him, or some combination of everything I just listed…ultimately it doesn’t matter. What we’re seeing is not enough out of a guy to continue rostering him in redraft leagues. He is still ranked as WR23 in Half PPR formats, and I would try to sell him as a WR2 while you still can. It looks like the Colts have remembered they have JT on their team and they are going to use him more going forward, so Pittman may see a decrease in targets as a result. I think you are running out of time to sell him, but based on his name and the upside he still offers you could move him for another piece that positions you better to win a league title. One other important note to mention… the Colts are on bye in Week 14, when you may be scrapping for a playoff berth. Go see who you play in Week 14 in your league and offer them a deal for Pittman for a couple of their players who will actually be available and secure your victory. (Cory Dows-TSF)

-Trade Packages: Higher WR2 (Aiyuk maybe); or go the other way and target DeVonta Smith/Jakobi Meyers and a smaller RB piece

-Remaining Games: PHI, PIT, DAL, BYE, MIN, LAC, NYG, HOU

David Montgomery – (RB-CHI)

This is a sell, because I think you can get some value out of Monty for that playoff push. While I think that Monty is a great RB, I believe we still haven’t seen the full effect of how Fields affects that run game. Stats point to diminished RB performance, (well everywhere else) when you have a mobile QB. Fields has been given the keys and it’s fun to watch, but I don’t believe in Monty’s bell-cow back value now that Herbert is on IR for the next 4 games. Sell this man as high as you can. (Dickie LaFlamme-Guest)

-Trade Packages: Amari Cooper (1:1); Brian Robinson & Devonta smith (2:1)

-Remaining Games: ATL, NYJ, GB, Bye, PHI, BUF, DET