Buy Low, Sell High - Week 3 Fantasy Football Trade Values and Avoids

September 20, 2025

Fantasy football buy sell trade advice for Week 3 of 2025. Nathan's buy low, sell high Week 3 fantasy trade targets include Brian Thomas Jr., Quentin Johnston, and more.

We got our second look at the landscape of the NFL, and while storylines are starting to take shape, there are opportunities that fantasy managers can take advantage of.

The overreactions are still in play, which leaves the door open to trading busts and buy breakouts before it’s too late.

Here are three players to buy and three players to sell in fantasy before Week 3. Be sure to also bookmark our free fantasy football trade analyzer tool and make some winning moves.

Buy-Low Trade Targets for Fantasy Football

QB: Justin Fields – New York Jets

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields followed up his explosive Week 1 debut with arguably the worst performance of his career in Week 2. Fields completed just 3-of-11 passes for 27 yards before exiting early with a concussion in a 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Jets were overwhelmed in every phase of the game, including losing the turnover battle, giving up four sacks, and getting utterly dominated in time of possession.

The poor outing has fantasy managers panicking, but this is a prime buy-low opportunity. Fields has a history of slow starts; through the first three weeks of both 2022 and 2023, he averaged just over 10 fantasy points per game. From Week 4 onward, he averaged more than 22 fantasy points per game, including 73 rushing yards per contest.

Justin Fields is still Justin Fields. If he’s a starting QB ANYWHERE, he’s a fantasy football QB1! This is largely in part because of his elite rushing upside, which is on display here. He gets to be a starter this season. Buy! pic.twitter.com/j6HPbxu168

— Joshua Cho (@jbchoknows) August 10, 2025

The schedule also works in his favor. According to Fantasy Points, Fields has the easiest remaining strength of schedule among quarterbacks. His next three matchups are as favorable as it gets: the Buccaneers (fifth-most points allowed to QBs in 2024), the Dolphins (second most this season), and the Cowboys (most in 2024).

Fields is currently in the concussion protocol and has been ruled out for Week 3, but should still be a guy fantasy managers trade for. Drafted as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, Fields has elite rushing upside and a soft schedule ahead. If frustrated managers are willing to sell, this is your chance to secure a potential league-winning quarterback at a discount.

RB: Cam Skattebo – New York Giants

The Cam Skattebo era has officially arrived in the Big Apple. The rookie running back logged 11 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown, while adding two receptions for 14 yards in the Giants’ 40-37 loss to Dallas.

Most importantly, the fourth-round pick outsnapped 2024 starter Tyrone Tracy Jr. (33 to 27) and dominated touches, with 11 carries to Tracy’s five. When the game tightened in the second half and overtime, the Giants leaned on Skattebo, who outcarried Tracy six to one in the second half.

Giants RB Cam Skattebo led the team’s running backs in snaps on Sunday vs. Cowboys, positioning himself as RB1 in New York📈

RB snap counts in Week 2:
🔷Cam Skattebo: 33
🔷Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 27
🔷Devin Singletary: 4 pic.twitter.com/OWk2ATZ3OC

— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) September 15, 2025

The offense itself looked revitalized, posting its second 35+ point outing since 2022. With LT Andrew Thomas close to returning, the run game should only improve. Russell Wilson looked sharp, and even if Wilson starts to struggle again, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart will take over.

Skattebo isn’t just a grinder; he’s a true dual threat. He led all running backs in college football in receptions and receiving yards in 2024, and he’s already handling short-yardage, receiving, and high-leverage touches. If this trend continues, he will take full control of the Giants backfield.

WR: Brian Thomas Jr. – Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. turned in the worst game of his young career in Week 2, finishing with four catches on 12 targets for 49 yards in a 31-27 loss to the Bengals. Thomas missed multiple touchdown opportunities, stopped short on a route that led to an interception, and dropped a fourth-down pass that sealed the game for Cincinnati.

Despite the rough outing, the volume is extremely encouraging. Thomas owns a 26% target share through two weeks and has a route rate of 94%, which is among the best WRs in the NFL. With rookie Travis Hunter now expected to play more snaps on defense due to mounting injuries in the Jaguars secondary, Thomas’ role on offense should remain secure.

The Jaguars offense under new head coach Liam Coen looks explosive, ranking eighth in scoring (26.5 PPG) and fifth in total offense (389.0 YPG) despite committing four turnovers in the first two games. Once Thomas and quarterback Trevor Lawrence clean up timing issues, the production will follow.

Thomas has the talent, with elite size, speed, and red-zone upside, to dominate in fantasy. As long as his wrist injury proves minor, he’s a clear buy-low candidate and a potential difference-maker as the season progresses.

Sell Candidates for Fantasy Football Trades

QB: Jordan Love – Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is off to a hot start in 2025. The Packers are 2-0, Love has yet to throw an interception, and he’s pacing for the highest QBR of his career. Still, there are signs of instability in his production.

Green Bay’s defense, now led by Micah Parsons, has been dominant, ranking fourth in points allowed and third in yards allowed. Even more impressive, those numbers came against the Detroit Lions (the NFL’s highest-scoring team in 2024) and the Washington Commanders (fifth highest).

If that level of defensive play continues and the Packers keep winning, it could actually cap Love’s ceiling. Last season, Love averaged just 26 pass attempts in Green Bay wins (the fewest of any starting quarterback in 2024). Meanwhile, Josh Jacobs averaged over 20 carries in victories, showing the Packers’ preference to lean on the ground game when ahead.

Love has also been boosted by unsustainable efficiency. He’s averaging a career-high 9.1 yards per attempt and a 7.5% touchdown rate (both marks that would have ranked top two in the league last year).

Jordan Love ranks #1 in the NFL through 2 games in Average Depth per Target (12.5 yards)

No other quarterback averages over 10 yards pic.twitter.com/E8vseBFCb7

— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) September 18, 2025

Despite his sharp start, Love sits just 16th in fantasy scoring at 18.4 points per game. With Jayden Reed sidelined indefinitely and tight end Tucker Kraft dealing with a possible injury, regression is likely on the horizon.

RB: Travis Etienne Jr. – Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. has opened his fifth season on fire, ranking second in rushing yards (214) while leading the NFL in yards per carry (7.1). That efficiency, however, looks unsustainable.

Etienne’s production has been inflated by runs of 71 and 30 yards. Without those breakaways, his average falls to just over 4.0 YPC. That lines up more closely with his track record, as he averaged only 3.8 YPC in 2023 and 3.7 in 2024. In other words, his early 2025 efficiency looks like an outlier rather than a new trend.

While Tank Bigsby’s departure seemed to clear the runway, rookie Bhayshul Tuten has quickly emerged as a threat. The fourth-round pick is averaging 4.8 YPC and already has a receiving touchdown under his belt. If Tuten keeps producing, it’s hard to imagine Etienne maintaining a true workhorse role.

There are a million reasons why Bhayshul Tuten will earn a bigger role in the Jaguars backfield. This is one of them. He's a wizard at creating positive runs when he's hit in the backfield. Something Travis Etienne struggles with.

League winning season loading for Tuten. pic.twitter.com/8jFRw6RDMB

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) September 17, 2025

Matchups have also played a big part in the early explosion. Etienne faced Carolina in Week 1, which gave up nearly 500 more rushing yards than any other team in 2024, and Cincinnati in Week 2, a unit with well-documented struggles last year.

Given the “cupcake” schedule to open the year and the looming competition for touches, Etienne’s fantasy value may never be higher. Now is the time to sell high.

WR: Quentin Johnston – Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has started 2025 on fire, with eight catches for 150 yards and a league-leading three touchdowns. As exciting as a breakout would be, the numbers point to a looming regression.

In 2023 and 2024, Johnston averaged just over seven yards per target and 12 yards per reception. This year, he’s suddenly at 10.7 yards per target and 18.8 yards per catch, well above his previous production. After a stellar Week 1, his Week 2 line was saved by a 60-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert, masking an otherwise quiet performance.

Volume is another red flag. With Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen commanding the bulk of the targets, Johnston is currently handling WR3 volume. That role historically produces volatile fantasy results. Since 2013, only one wideout has finished top-30 in fantasy while ranking third on his own team in targets.

The Week 3 matchup also doesn’t help. Johnston draws Patrick Surtain II and the Denver Broncos, a matchup he’s consistently struggled in. In four career games against Denver, he’s topped 30 yards just once and has never had more than three receptions.

Justin Herbert's 60-yard TD pass to Quentin Johnston traveled 51.4 yards in the air, Herbert's longest completion by air distance since Week 7, 2024.

Johnston got behind #36 Kyu Kelly who was responsible for the deep third in Cover 3.#LACvsLV | #BoltUppic.twitter.com/6QmVLkx6j2

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 16, 2025

Johnston’s splash plays will lead to some big weeks, but they’ll be paired with plenty of duds. While the upside is enticing, he should be viewed as a sell-high candidate before the efficiency crash hits.

Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer Tool

Want more fantasy football trade advice? Be sure to also bookmark our free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer tool to assist with your trade offers. The Trade Analyzer tool allows you to add up to three players on each side of a trade and calculate whether it is fair or not for fantasy football. You instantly get a recommendation on which side of the trade is a better deal.

The Trade Analyzer tool will display various information side by side for you to compare the players involved in any trade and help you make better decisions. Compare projections and stats, read the latest fantasy football news, and see upcoming schedules.

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