RADIO
Who should fantasy football owners be targeting as a buy or sell candidate entering Week 13 of the 2018 season? Martin Konstantinov examines players whose fantasy value are rising or falling.
One of the toughest parts of fantasy football to navigate is trading with league-mates. As a result of the unique characteristics of every person in a fantasy football league, it is often difficult to find a strategy for trading players that works for everyone in any situation.
Nevertheless, highlighting the performances of certain players helps to create a starting point for fantasy owners. By knowing who to trade or trade for, fantasy owners can have a starting point for any trade negotiations that they have.
Each week, the trade values of certain players rise and fall according to their performances on the field. Let's take a look at some players that fantasy owners may want to consider offloading or trading for after Week 12 of the NFL season.
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Buy Low
David Johnson (RB, ARI)
Although the trade deadline is fast approaching for most fantasy leagues, there are still some good options to buy low on for those who play in leagues without a deadline or are not in redraft formats (that don't use a trade deadline). One of those options is David Johnson, the Cardinals running back who has been largely disappointing this season. With the state of the Cardinals offense, it has been difficult to get Johnson going this season. However, he is their clear-cut best offensive option, making him valuable no matter the format.
Although he has had some good performances in recent weeks, Week 12 was largely disappointing for the veteran back, as he was only able to accumulate 63 yards on the ground and 16 yards through the air. Now is the time to go get Johnson, as he has some enticing matchups to end the season and is one of the better running backs in the league talent-wise. Opportunity will always trump ability, but getting a solid running back with RB1 weekly upside is difficult to do at a reasonable price - Johnson may be the only option who fits that description left.
Alshon Jeffery (WR, PHI)
Alshon Jeffery has a terrific red-zone rapport with Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, but that has largely been missing for the last few weeks. Although Jeffery has failed to accumulate more than 48 yards in his last four weeks, that has been more a product of game-script than anything else. It's true that the team's passing game runs through tight end Zach Ertz, but Jeffery is a good receiver on a team that desperately needs wins. With a few weeks having gone by since Jeffery has scored, there should be a reversion to the mean (this also applies to his yardage totals). If you favor taking a punt on a receiver who is on an offense that has shown that it can produce, now is the time to go get Alshon and hope that he returns to his early season form.
Sell High
Sony Michel (RB, NE)
With 133 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well as 12 yards through the air, Patriots running back Sony Michel had a great day by all standards. In fact, when Michel has been the clear workhorse, he has thrived in the Patriots offense and has accumulated at least 98 yards on the ground (in the four games where Michel was fully healthy). However, with the return of fellow running back Rex Burkhead from injured reserve, Michel's days as the only goal-line back on the Patriots roster are numbered.
Although Michel will still be a good option for fantasy owners, moving him on for a top option at another position is a good idea for fantasy owners who have some running back depth and want to consolidate their starting options at other positions for the fantasy playoffs. Michel is still a good player on a great option, but he has likely peaked in value at this point in the season.
Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN)
Tyler Boyd has had a terrific season so far, eclipsing all previous yardage and touchdown numbers in his young career. On pace for 1,000 yards, Boyd has proven that he is a very good option at the position. However, with the return of wide receiver A.J. Green from injury, Boyd will not have the same dominant market share that he has had for the last few weeks. Even though Boyd still performed well while Green was in the team's lineup, his floor was a bit lower due to a lower weekly target volume.
Additionally, quarterback Andy Dalton has been placed on injured reserve; even though Boyd is still a top passing option for the team, there will definitely be some expected regression for the offense as a whole. With the Bengals expected to lean on running back Joe Mixon and pepper A.J. Green with targets, it may be difficult for Boyd to be the same great weekly option as he has been. Now may be the time to deal him away for a wide receiver or running back with a higher expected floor on a more dynamic offense.
