RADIO
Scott Engel identifies fantasy football buy-low candidates, and also players to sell now. Read his buy/sell advice heading into Week 6 of the 2019 NFL season.
There is still time to make impactful deals this weekend before the bulk of the Sunday games start. It’s all about how you approach the deal. In this space, we not only provide trade targets, we supply you with strategies for accomplishing what you want in terms of acquisitions.
Many owners don’t get deals done or have initial offers turned down because they only think about what they want. You are not going to be able to structure a quality offer if you only think about what you want to get out of it. If you want to improve at RB and have good depth at WR, you just cannot decide you want Christian McCaffrey or Nick Chubb and make an offer. Look at what those teams need. If the targeted owner does not really need what you are offering, you may be up against a brick trade wall.
To improve your team, look at the roster grid in your league and find the right matches. Find those teams who have weaknesses you can fill and may be dealing from positions of strength in terms of what you need. Put yourself in the mind of the other owner you are targeting. Would you consider the offer you are making if you were on the other side? Also keep that perspective in mind when structuring your offers. If you are going to go at the other team with a lowball offer, try it. But be prepared for a rejection and have something more fair in mind to get the trade completed when the first offer is turned down.
Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.
Buy ‘Em
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, CLE: He is in this column for the second consecutive week, and now is a higher priority target. He has caught four passes for 47 yards in the past two games and his value may never be lower. Look for him to burn the Seattle secondary in a bounce-back performance this week.
Mike Williams, WR, LAC: He is starting to regain respectable form, as evidenced by his six receptions for 74 yards in Week 5. Williams appears to be getting healthy and there may be a good amount of big plays and TD catches ahead.
Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN: He let his current owners down again last week, but the Minnesota passing game is showing signs of life again and Diggs may get the cliched squeaky wheel treatment a week after Adam Thielen was the first guy to get it. He gets the Eagles this week, too.
Phillip Lindsay, RB, DEN: He is a RB1 by Fantasy scoring measures, as he 12th most productive player at his position after five weeks. But some of his current owners may view him as a part-timer on a bad team and could very willing to part with Lindsay if they have a losing record.
Le'Veon Bell, RB, NYJ: There is a foul stench around all things Jets after five weeks. But hold your nose and see if you can get Bell for a lower take now, before Sam Darnold can stabilize the offense again. Bell has worked really hard for his numbers while Darnold has been out and the outlook should improve soon.
Josh Jacobs, RB, OAK: There was a pair of consecutive disappointing outings before Week 5 that dropped his perceived stock. A Jacobs owner who still does not have full faith in him, has a losing record and cannot play him because of a Week 6 bye is an ideal target.
Philip Rivers, QB, LAC: He is coming off his worst week of the season and many fantasy owners mistakenly view him as a QB2. He will rebound quickly and steady the position for you.
NOTE: We are not recommending to sell any specific TEs this week. The position is too thin to give up a Top Six or Seven guy if you have one, and if you have two of them you can always start one in a flex spot. If you are in the position of having two, you can always move one for sure, just trade the one that brings you back a better return. But there are no true sell-high guys at the position right now.
Sell ‘Em
Matt Breida, RB, SF: He is coming off what may be perceived as a true breakout performance, with 114 rushing yards and two total TDs on Monday. But he is not San Francisco’s preferred goal line option and he tends to get banged up frequently.
Devonta Freeman, ATL: He had 70 yards from scrimmage and a TD last week. The name value is still there to sell him, while in reality he is no better than a fantasy RB3 right now.
Marquise Brown, WR, BAL: He has not topped 50 receiving yards in the past three games and has scored once since the season opener. Some owners still have that big debut at Miami on their minds, so find out who those types are in your league.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN: In two of his past three games, Sanders has failed go above the 10-yard mark in receiving. But he started fast this year and some owners may be unaware of his unreliability when you try to shop him.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB: The name value is still there for you to sell behind, while the reality is that he is QB16 after five weeks and these Packers don’t air it out nearly as much as the McCarthy era teams did.
Jared Cook, TE, NO: He had season highs of four catches and 41 yards last week. Because he also scored, the numbers looked better in terms of fantasy points, and he still has some name appeal lingering from last season.
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