Fantasy Football Buy/Sell & Trade Candidates For Week 11

With many fantasy league trade deadlines approaching this week and next, it’s important that you make the right decisions when it comes to adjusting your fantasy roster. The object, of course, is to buy low and sell high, but that shouldn't get in the way of you making the moves you need to make your team better.

I would probably try to sell Giovani Bernard and his troubling hip injury, as well as veteran Antonio Gates who might wear down as the season progresses, as high as possible. On the buy side, I am sure there are some disgruntled LeSean McCoy and Eddie Lacy owners who would be willing to trade away these first-round picks at a discount. The moves you make within the next couple of weeks will make or break your chances at making the playoffs, so don’t make any rash decisions.

Make calculated trades and manage the waiver wire wisely. In order to help you with your personnel decisions, I’ve dug up four fantasy football players who can help your team for this week and beyond, and as usual, I’ve included two guys whom you should jettison from your team before they wreck your season and your playoff chances. I’ve included a couple of buy-low candidates, as well as one player whom you should be able to sell fairly high.

Good luck in Week 11! Reach out to me on Twitter @joegallina. Let me know what you think about this article, or hit me up with any lineup questions.

 

Week 11 Fantasy Football Buys

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

Owned in 71% of Fleaflicker leagues

It’s time! If Josh Gordon is available on your league’s waiver wire and you are contending for the playoffs in your fantasy league, you need to stop reading and pick him up. In Week 12, Gordon has a date with destiny and an Atlanta defense that has given up a ton of points to opposing wide receivers. Unlike Adrian Peterson, Gordon has had access to the Browns training facilities, which is a big plus. We all know what he is capable of based on his overall 18.9 yards per catch and 7.4 yards after the catch from 2013, and he will instantly become QB Brian Hoyer’s number one target.

If you are still worried about what kind of production you can expect from Gordon after his long layoff, take a look at his stats from Week 3 in 2013, his first game back from a two-game suspension. He punished the Vikings, to the tune of 10 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. If Gordon is already owned, try to acquire him via trade.  Seek out the Gordon owner who is trying to figure out a last-minute plan to field a complete fantasy lineup in a week when four teams are on a bye, and you just might boost your chances of winning your league championship.

 

Anquan Boldin, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Owned in 86% of Fleaflicker leagues

With Vernon Davis's disappearance from the 49ers offense, someone needs to catch the ball in San Francisco, and Anquan Boldin has certainly been one of QB Colin Kaepernick’s most reliable receivers. In PPR leagues, Boldin has managed double-digit fantasy scoring in seven of the nine games he has played. He's on pace to secure close to 90 catches and well over 1000 receiving yards-- not too shabby for a 34-year-old wide receiver that you picked up in the latter rounds of your draft.

After failing to score a touchdown in the first five games of the season, Boldin has become a legitimate red zone threat, with three scores in his last four games. With much of the focus in San Francisco on the vaunted 49ers defense, you kind of forget about what a good year Boldin is having. He is a good buy-low candidate who can be used as a solid WR2 or every-week FLEX play.

 

A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Owned in 76% of Fleaflicker leagues

A.J. Green was a top-five wide receiver last season; I'm convinced that if he had been healthy, he'd be among the top five receivers again this year, and Bengals fans wouldn't be calling for Andy Dalton's head. Toe injuries to wide receivers can linger for a long time, but the good news is that Green seems to be 100% healthy going forward. The Bengals also have a few good matchups coming up, including this Sunday against the Saints and Week 13 against the Bucs, and I'm sure that the Bengals have circled Week 15 on their calendars as they look to exact revenge in Cleveland after the beating they took in Week 10 against the Browns.

For those owners worried about the quarterback that will be throwing the ball to A.J. Green, remember that Tom Brady went on his recent tear only after he had hit rock bottom. Now, Andy Dalton is no Tom Brady, but if he has any pride at all, he should be champing at the bit and waiting for his opportunity to show the football world what he is made of. On the heels of an embarrassing Week 10 performance, consider A.J. Green a good buy-low candidate.

 

Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Owned in 58% of Fleaflicker leagues

I know, I know; I’m really going out on a limb here telling you to buy the top fantasy waiver wire pickup of the week, but a columnist has to do what a columnist has to do. With Brandin Cooks, Mike Evans, Martavis Bryant, etc., all having great success this season, no one can deny that it has been the year of the rookie wide receiver. Jordan Matthews was a name mentioned as a sleeper pick in preseason drafts, largely for how well he performed with Mark Sanchez feeding him the ball. Other than Week 3 when he broke out against the Redskins with a line of 8-59-2, Matthews has been having a pretty quiet year, despite consistent targets.

He didn’t score another TD until Week 9 when the Sanchize took over at QB for the injured Nick Foles. It got even better for Matthews in Week 10 when Sanchez connected with him for another two scores. Jeremy Maclin will still be the number one wide receiver in Philadelphia, but when WR2 Riley Cooper gets four targets compared to nine for Matthews in a game where Mark Sanchez passes for 332 yards, you need to take notice. If you play in a dynasty format, you absolutely need to find a way to get Matthews on your team.

 

Week 11 Fantasy Football Sells

Mark Sanchez, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Owned in 45% of Fleaflicker leagues

Yaaayyy!!!! Mark Sanchez looked great on Monday night. Yaaayyy!!!! Mark Sanchez threw for 332 yards against the Panthers in Week 10. Now pat yourself on the back, and go trade him right now... Did put him on the block yet? Why not? You're never going to get as much value for Mark Sanchez as you will before his next start. Oh, did you fail to check out the upcoming schedule? Well, Sanchez travels to Green Bay to play a very good Packer team in Week 11, and by the way the high temperature for that game will be 28 degrees.

The schedule makers then have the Eagles playing the Seahawks in Week 14, sandwiched in between matchups with the division rival Dallas Cowboys. That is a pretty tough schedule, and it comes at a time when your fantasy team needs to keep winning in order to clinch a playoff spot. With quarterbacks like RGIII, Kyle Orton, Jay Cutler, Alex Smith and Eli Manning available off of the waiver wire in many leagues these days, don’t be too surprised if your fellow owners don’t value Sanchez as highly as you do. If you can’t find any takers for him, keep him on your bench and remember… at least you had Carolina!

 

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints

Owned in 65% of Fleaflicker leagues

Marques Colston has recorded at least 70 receptions in each of his previous eight seasons. The one exception was 2008, in which Colston appeared in 11 games. This season, Colston is on pace to record just 53 receptions. This has not been a typical season for the New Orleans Saints. They are 4-5, and this past Sunday they lost their first home game since December 30th 2012. Drew Brees has been inconsistent, and it seems as if the offense is at a crossroads. This hasn’t been a typical year for Marques Colston, either.

He has been just as inconsistent as his team's offense, and in some respects, Colston seems to have been replaced by rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks as Brees’s go-to receiver. Colston is losing targets and playing more of a supporting role in the Saints offense. With just one TD so far this season, he is no longer the red zone threat who averaged over eight touchdowns per season from 2009 to 2012. Phase him out of your fantasy football team’s lineup in the same manner that the Saints have been phasing him out of their offensive scheme.