RADIO
Scott Engel identifies players to target and buy-low as well as those to sell now heading into Week 4 of the 2019 fantasy football season.
As the bye weeks roll in and the injuries mount, the fantasy football trade market is getting very busy. There are perceived voids at running back that is prompting many discussions in a lot of leagues, and the impact of some QB issues are still being felt.
At RB, Le’Veon Bell owners feel needy because of a Jets bye and the loss of Sam Darnold impacting the offense. Those who roster James Conner and Joe Mixon are dealing with very frustrating starts from their early running back draft picks. Chris Carson is worrying owners with his fumbling issues. Worst of all, Saquon Barkley is now out with an ankle injury.
Some who drafted Drew Brees as their starter are still searching for the ideal replacement (we mentioned Philip Rivers last week and you should still target him). Those who boldly drafted Baker Mayfield as their starter are now scrambling for someone more dependable. Aaron Rodgers seems to be less of a throwing threat these days in a more run-centric Green Bay offense. We have another quality QB trade target for you this week. No matter your perceived weaknesses, we help you fill the holes on your roster heading into Week 4.
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Buy ‘Em
Kerryon Johnson, RB, DET: He has not rushed for 50 yards in a game yet. Johnson has just one outing with more than 65 total yards from scrimmage. But he has scored in each of the last two games and this could be the week when he busts out against Kansas City. The Lions ideally want him to be the focal point of their offense. It just has not happened yet.
Sony Michel, RB, NE: He rushed for 11 yards in the season opener and 14 last week. He has scored in each of the last two games, though, and will be a regular scoring finisher for a top offense. Before you say he is starting to look like an AFC version of Jeffery Wilson, don’t forget he is the same guy who blazed through the NFL playoffs last season with 336 rushing yards in three games. His value may be at his lowest before it rises again.
Josh Jacobs, RB, OAK: He is coming off a tough week filled with injuries, illness and not being an impact performer in a one-sided loss. He doesn’t have a reception in the last two games. Look for him to bounce back against Indianapolis this week and show off the same potential he flashed in the first two games. The Raiders will likely look to get him more involved as a receiver as well. The talent is there.
Marquise Brown, WR, BAL: Brown has seen his stats decline every week since an explosive opening-week performance, but he is still the most dangerous pass-catcher in a quickly improving Baltimore offense. Trade for him today before a possibly impressive outing against an injury-riddled Browns secondary.
Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN: Someone asked me if he was droppable this week. Diggs only has 101 receiving yards and one TD so far this year. He is also approaching a very tough matchup with the Bears. The Vikings passing game has been limp and it’s easy to pry Diggs away on the verge of the meeting with Chicago. You know his history and you may be able to get him at a very low price before he bounces back soon. His outlook should rise after Week 4.
Calvin Ridley, WR, ATL: He had only one target last week after scoring in each of the first two games. The Falcons are not playing well in real life and that seems to be creeping into Fantasy perceptions, as many owners are concerned about their Atlanta players. Find an anxious Ridley owner and wrest him away. He scored 10 times in his rookie year and is headed for more success in terms of receptions and yardage.
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL: One owner asked me if he should start Daniel Jones over Ryan this week. That is how negative the inferences have become about the Falcons right now. Those who are rostering Ryan are watching the Red Zone channel and seeing Atlanta not looking competitive as an NFL team when the outcome of the game is still undecided. But Ryan has three 300-yard games and eight TD passes. If the Falcons win games, Ryan will flourish. If they play from behind, he will pad his totals. Get him if his current owner is not feeling good about the Atlanta QB.
George Kittle, TE, SF: He is on a bye and has not met expectations so far this season. Kittle has not surpassed 60 receiving yards in any game yet and does not have a TD reception. It’s an ideal time to swoop in when a guy is underperforming and does not have a scheduled game for the upcoming week.
Sell ‘Em
Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL: There are a lot of Fantasy players hungry for RB help, and I have received several trade questions regarding Freeman, as many people think they should possibly buy low on him. Freeman’s days as a quality Fantasy RB2 may be over now, and if you can find someone willing to believe they are indeed buying low, take advantage of the desperation and move him.
LeSean McCoy, RB, KC: He plays in the NFL’s best offense and scored twice last week. Those are prime selling points if you have surplus at RB and can move McCoy to fill another need. He is a timeshare flex type who may bring back a good return because of the perceived situation he is in.
Brandin Cooks, WR, LAR: He is coming off a 100-yard game and there has been a long-lasting perception that he is a high-end fantasy WR2. But consistency is an issue and he simply does not score often enough. The final numbers will look better than the week to week production. Cooks doesn’t stink, but he is slightly overrated.
Josh Gordon, WR, NE: There remains an allure about his upside that the production has not yet matched this year. Another owner may think you are making a mistake sending him away, as the best could be yet to come. But the best may indeed be behind him and there are many other WR3 types that can match or exceed his production now.
Jameis Winston, QB, TB: He is coming off a monster outing against the Giants. Time to sell it as the breakthrough game on his way to the year we have all been waiting for. The reality is Winston can easily follow the Week 3 performance up with another of his custom erratic stinkers.
Will Dissly, TE SEA: Some of you have found yourself in a situation where you have two quality TEs because you drafted a good one and were fortunate to land another guy like Mark Andrews or Dissly late or in free agency. Most Dissly owners scooped him up off waivers. Many of them now have a unique situation of surplus at a very thin position. If you have Delanie Walker and Dissly, for example, you are in a great position to make a deal. We’re not saying sell high on Dissly here, as he seems to have arrived as a key target for Russell Wilson on important downs and in the end zone. But you should definitely move one of your two top-10 TEs if you landed Dissly as a free agent and now have a pair of viable starters.
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