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Fantasy football trade targets - players to buy low and sell high on heading into Week 4 of the NFL season. Dennis Sosic's top trade targets and avoids.
Welcome fantasy friends and foes to the Top Trade Targets and Avoids for Week 4. Were you able to acquire your targets last week? Did you pick up and then trade Cordarrelle Patterson? If you traded for Allen Robinson, you are disappointed in the ugly performance from the Chicago Bears offense. However, please be patient the offense will get on track especially after the Bears fire Matt Nagy.
Saquon Barkley displayed some encouraging aspects including a rushing touchdown and being a contributor in the New York Giants passing game. Barkley caught six of seven targets for 43 yards as the Giants played an uninspired game in their 17-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Sony Michel was the main running back for the Los Angeles Rams with Darrell Henderson (ribs) sidelined. His stats were not that impressive with 20 rushes for 67 yards while catching three passes for 12 yards. The usage was the key and with Henderson due back this week, we will probably see a one-two punch with the Rams.
As usual, I will identify three more players that should be on your trade radar. Find out which players to target and who to trade away as we kick off Week 4.
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Players to Target
Ty'Son Williams, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Ty'Son Williams is the lead back in the Baltimore Ravens backfield rotation but laid an egg for fantasy managers in Week 3. He rushed the ball just five times for 22 yards against the Detroit Lions, who had allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs through the first two weeks this season.
Blame the game plan by Ravens' offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Sometimes coaches try to be too cute instead of staying in their lane and sticking to what they do best. The Ravens run the ball better than any team in the league, but the plan was not to run the ball? Regardless, the team still finished with 116 rushing yards, and even with their dismal play, they came out with a win thanks to Justin Tucker's game-winning NFL record 66-yard field goal.
Make no mistake about it, Williams is the best back in the Ravens backfield. Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman will rotate in. They combined to almost equal the running back snap count with Williams leading the committee with 29 snaps, and Murray(19) and Freeman(9) following behind the lead back.
The Ravens have a Week 4 clash with the Denver Broncos and we should see plenty of Williams in this matchup testing the second-ranked Broncos run defense. However, the Broncos have not faced the likes of the Ravens' run-oriented offense. Their opponents in the first three weeks were not offensive juggernauts: New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Jets.
His fantasy stock took a nosedive after his Week 3 performance. Now is the exact time to buy with the rejuvenated focus on their running game and the two bottom-tier run defenses in the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers next on tap after clashing with the Broncos in Week 4.
Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Maybe Robert Woods should start buying Matthew Stafford coffee and eating breakfast with his new quarterback daily. Hey, it has worked for Cooper Kupp.
Robert Woods is one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL, averaging 132 targets over the past three seasons. He also averages 1,000+ receiving yards in his last three seasons.
Fantasy managers are quite disappointed to see Woods have only 11 receptions on 19 targets for 124 yards and one touchdown. Conversely, Coope Kupp is leading the league in almost receiving start while his bromance with quarterback Matthew Stafford making headlines.
The Los Angeles Rams offense is running hot on all cylinders with Sean McVay's playcalling and Matthew Stafford commanding the offense. Stafford is on his pace to finish the season with 50+ touchdown passes.
Fantasy managers saw Kupp and Woods interchangeable as we were heading into the season. However, Kupp has exploded to take on the WR1 role. It would be unreasonable to believe that Kupp can keep up this level of production. Defenses will start focusing on Kupp which will leave Woods with the WR2 upside that he was projected to perform coming into the season.
Woods' slow start is frustrating for fantasy managers but he is due for positive regression. He will have some big weeks coming up especially with the relatively easy upcoming schedule.
The Rams are a top-five passing attack and who wouldn't want a piece of that? I would rather roster a WR2 on an explosive offense than a WR1 on a weak offense. I'm targeting Robert Woods in all of my leagues.
Players to Trade Away
Kenyan Drake, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Kenyan Drake was signed this past offseason to be a change-of-pace option and pass-catching back for the Las Vegas Raiders. His cemented role was even more evident with the injury to starting running back Josh Jacobs.
With Josh Jacobs (ankle) first sidelined in Week 2, Drake finished with 12 touches and followed that up with 11 touches in their Week 3 win against the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders signed veteran Peyton Barber off the street and inserted him directly into the RB1 role, rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown.
A Jacobs injury didn't propel Drake into more touches or a bigger role in the Raiders offense. His ceiling is capped and he is at a FLEX2 option in deeper leagues. I would rather grab a player with more upside and a higher ceiling. See if another fantasy manager loves the appeal of a PPR primary running back in a high-powered offense. You might be surprised by what you receive in return.
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