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Fantasy football trade targets: Week 4 buy low, sell high candidates for 2025. Jorden's trade analyzer article looking at overvalued and undervalued players.
We are now three weeks into the 2025 regular season, and the NFL feels just as unpredictable as it did heading into Week 1. Players are exploding out of nowhere (and vanishing just as quickly), fantasy defenses are putting up 30-point performances, and injuries are finally taking a toll on starting lineups. Also, the Eagles can pass the ball, and the flea-flicker is so back.
Despite the erratic nature of professional football, we still have more information to work with than we did a few weeks ago and can therefore make better start/sit decisions and trades. Last week, I suggested trading for Drake London and TreVeyon Henderson. London paced Atlanta in receiving, but it didn't mean much for fantasy purposes as Michael Penix Jr. struggled mightily. Although Henderson totaled just 47 yards, he saw the most opportunities in New England's backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson putting the ball on the ground repeatedly. It wouldn't be shocking to see Henderson operate as the team's RB1 next week. I recommended trading away Travis Etienne Jr. and Tyreek Hill, both of whom found the end zone in Week 3. Hill, however, did not have a particularly strong showing otherwise, and Etienne was limited to fewer than four yards per carry for the first time this season while being silenced in the passing game.
Overall, I can't say last week was my best, but I think it's possible I was simply a week early on at least two of the names I mentioned. Regardless, I'm looking to improve my advice and your fantasy team in Week 4. Let's do just that, first by talking about two underperforming players to target in deals.
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Players to Target in Trades for Fantasy Football
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
This season has not been kind to rookie running backs. Omarion Hampton finally broke through for fantasy this past week, and Quinshon Judkins and Cam Skattebo showed flashes of potential stardom, but sixth overall NFL Draft pick Ashton Jeanty is yet to finish as a top-20 back.
His best outing so far was the season opener, in which he turned in a modest 40 total yards on 21 touches but found the end zone. Jeanty hasn't scored since and has been held to fewer than seven half-PPR fantasy points in back-to-back games.
But it's important to note that Jeanty was not gifted an easy schedule to begin his career. To this point, he has faced the Patriots, Chargers, and Commanders.
Respectively, Los Angeles and Washington have surrendered the fourth-fewest and third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this year. Meanwhile, New England is allowing just 2.63 yards per carry, the second fewest in the league.
Still, Jeanty himself has looked good. His offensive line has prevented his play from translating to the box score.
#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of his 17 rushes vs. Washington.
Jeanty has now been hit at or behind the line on 57% (27 of 47) of his rush attempts this season.
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) September 21, 2025
This begs the question: can this offensive line improve? It's a tricky one to answer. Jackson Powers-Johnson, a second-round NFL Draft pick in 2024, did not start last week against Washington as he worked his way back from a concussion. He should be back in Week 4, though he will play at right guard and not center, where he primarily lined up as a rookie.
Head coach Pete Carroll is aware that the line has been a problem. What's not clear is whether he or his son Brennan, whom he hired to be the Raiders offensive line coach, knows how to fix it. There are reports of Las Vegas exploring free agency for O-line help, so maybe that's a start.
Either way, better days are coming for Jeanty. Over the next three weeks, he will take on the Bears, Colts, and Titans. All three are allowing opposing backs to rush for over 4.6 yards per tote, and Chicago and Tennessee are among the five softest matchups for fantasy running backs so far this season.
Jeanty isn't going to return value on the first-round or early second-round fantasy draft capital invested in him, but he doesn't need to if you're able to acquire him at a relative discount.
If you could somehow flip David Montgomery, fresh off his massive MNF showcase, for Jeanty, you shouldn't hesitate. A few other names I would offer include Kenneth Walker III, Alvin Kamara, and Travis Etienne Jr.
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers made a bold move when they drafted Matthew Golden 23rd overall in April's draft. Despite questions regarding his ability to become a WR1 at the NFL level, Golden became the first receiver drafted in the first round by Green Bay since Javon Walker in 2002.
Aaron Rodgers was never given this luxury that was afforded to Jordan Love in just his third year as a starter. And throughout training camp, it seemed as though those questions surrounding Golden would dissipate quickly. The University of Texas product was said to have looked the part and was even labeled a "stud" by his quarterback.
Through his first three weeks in the NFL, the hype hasn't materialized. However, there are reasons to be encouraged.
The Packers have been spreading the ball around in the Love era, and we have seen numerous wideouts and tight ends contribute to their passing attack in the past few years, most of whom are still on the roster and active. So, it wasn't surprising to see Golden start a bit slow.
He still put his speed and separation ability on display in Week 2. Unfortunately, Love missed him on two deep shots, both of which could have resulted in touchdowns had he hit Golden in stride.
In Week 3, Green Bay had a hampered Tucker Kraft and was without Jayden Reed, who is on IR with a broken collarbone. The 2-0 Packers shockingly lost to the Cleveland Browns, and it wasn't because Cleveland had a random offensive explosion.
The Browns won 13-10 because of their suffocating home defense. Yet, Golden impressed.
Matthew Golden Week 3
- 69% snaps, 26 routes (both 2nd among GB WRs)
- 4 targets (tied for most among WR and TEs)
- 4 rec (most among WR/TE)
- team-high 52 yardsFeels like this was a step forward that will go under the radar
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 21, 2025
Golden should operate as a top option alongside Romeo Doubs again in Week 4. But instead of playing a good defense, the Packers get the conference-rival Dallas Cowboys, who have surrendered the most fantasy points to receivers this season.
In the last two weeks, three receivers have eclipsed the century mark against Dallas, with six touchdown grabs by receivers in that same stretch. I considered Josh Jacobs as a trade target this week because Green Bay should have no issue putting up points on Sunday night, but the Cowboys have actually been decent against the run.
This is the same pass defense that allowed Giants QB2 Russell Wilson to throw for 450 yards. Golden's potential in this matchup cannot be ignored. After facing Dallas, the Packers will head into a Week 5 bye, allowing them time to further integrate their first-round pick into the offense.
If you lost CeeDee Lamb or Mike Evans in Week 3 and need a replacement starter, Golden should be available for a reasonable price considering he's yet to have a 10-point outing. But this very well could be your last chance to trade for him.
He's probably best targeted as part of a package deal with players at other positions involved, but I'd move on from guys like DJ Moore and Jauan Jennings if it meant adding Golden before the breakout.
Players to Trade Away for Fantasy Football
DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
As a lifelong Steelers fan, I want nothing more than for DK Metcalf to be great. But I have to accept the fact that this offense is going to hold him back.
If you told me in August that Aaron Rodgers would be tied for second in touchdown passes through the first three weeks of the season, with Pittsburgh's defense surrendering nearly 26 points per game, I would have assumed Metcalf was a top-12 fantasy wideout and an absolute steal at his ADP.
Instead, Metcalf is the WR26, five spots below Tyquan Thornton and only four above teammate Calvin Austin III. His 13.5 yards per reception are fine, even if a little low for his standards, but the volume and type of targets he's seeing aren't getting the job done.
The Steelers traded a second-round pick to acquire Metcalf and then immediately paid him like a top-5 receiver in the league, leading many to believe they would utilize him like a true WR1. Instead, they are using him exactly how they used George Pickens.
Been pretty disappointed with the ways the Steelers have deployed DK Metcalf so far this year on tape.
A large portion of his routes run so far this year are streaks or fades down the sideline & I was hoping they'd be trying to get him the ball over the middle with a head of… pic.twitter.com/QqjlxRDeDG
— Jack Sperry (@jack_sperry) September 22, 2025
When Metcalf has been given opportunities to earn yards after the catch, he has succeeded. He's just not getting an ample amount of those chances every game with Rodgers frequently targeting tight ends and checking down to Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.
To make matters worse, Metcalf will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 before a Week 5 bye. The Vikings have been, by far, the toughest matchup for receivers in fantasy this year. They've shut down Ja'Marr Chase and Drake London, and I'd expect Metcalf to be their focus in Ireland on Sunday morning.
Maybe the Steelers figure some things out during their bye, but I don't trust offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to heavily feature Metcalf based on his history as a coach and what we've seen through three weeks.
Fantasy managers would be wise to flip the 27-year-old coming off consecutive games with a touchdown and just before a two-week span in which he's best left out of starting lineups.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
The third rookie highlighted this week, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, quickly became a fan favorite in the preseason and in fantasy drafts. Unlike the two rookies mentioned before him, Croskey-Merritt got off to a hot start with 82 yards and a touchdown in his regular-season debut.
Since then, JCM has disappointed for fantasy purposes. Though he did find the end zone in Week 3, Croskey-Merritt was not unleashed as Washington's RB1 in the team's first game without Austin Ekeler. He instead split carries in a rather disgusting three-way timeshare.
#Commanders Week 3 RB Usage
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 39% snaps, 8 carries, 5 routes, 1 target (31 yds, TD)
- Chris Rodriguez: 39% snaps, 11 carries, 3 routes (39 yds)
- Jeremy McNichols: 26% snaps, 4 carries, 4 routes (78 yds, TD)— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 21, 2025
Although it was Chris Rodriguez Jr. who got the start against the Raiders, he ended up the least productive of the group. He may not be the starter every week, but we should expect him and Jeremy McNichols to remain involved.
Many underlying metrics, including yards after contact per rush, point to Croskey-Merritt as the most talented healthy back on the Commanders roster. Still, it may take some time for him to earn a role significant enough to yield high-end fantasy value, especially as a seventh-round NFL Draft pick.
Over the next two weeks, Croskey-Merritt will meet the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Chargers, both on the road. The Falcons have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, and the Chargers rank even better at fourth-fewest.
Because Croskey-Merritt scored last week and has a notable following, he should hold some value on the trade market. Take advantage of that value ahead of these two extremely difficult matchups in which he will also need to overcome the committee he's currently trapped in. Some under-the-radar players to target are TreVeyon Henderson and Trey Benson.
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