RADIO
The fantasy football trade deadline is quickly approaching in many leagues, and it should be stirring some extra heat under some owners. Many are making deals to simply get through Week 10, but more successful seasonal fantasy players are trying to complete trades for the future.
If your team has four to five wins after nine weeks, hitting the waiver wire is not enough. Every win is so precious right now and could be the difference between making the playoffs and solely playing DFS from Week 14 on.
If you have to make a splashy deal to avoid starting Kalen Ballage this week, go for it. Don’t buy low, shoot for players who can have an impact right now, even if they are not a superstar.
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If you have three wins, in leagues where there are 13 weeks of regular season play, you likely must win out to make the postseason. Show some heart and do not give up. A four-game win streak is not impossible. Make a significant deal. And when we say significant deal, that means compiling realistic offers as we have often outlined in this space. Offering LeSean McCoy and Greg Olsen for Austin Hooper isn’t going to get to your short-term goal of winning in Week 10.
It’s not unheard of to make the playoffs at 6-7, but your chances will not be good and you may have to lean on tiebreakers. But don’t give up. No one respects a quitter. If you continue to approach your season like you still have a chance to make the playoffs, it could happen. I’ve seen 6-7 teams sneak into the playoffs and win the championship. Postseason fantasy football is all abut finding the right mix of players at the right time of the season.
If your team has seven or eight wins, you may believe you have the ideal roster already, and want to improve a bit to feel more confident as you try to nail down a prime playoff seeding in the next few weeks. Those with six wins may believe they just need to make one more notable move to catch the leaders.
Regardless of where you are in the standings, the times of buying low are just about over, although you can still sell off some guys whose reputations outweigh their production. It’s mostly about winning now or setting yourself up for the postseason push with guys you know you can count on. But if you do believe a player is on the verge of a breakout, go for him now, because there won’t be much time before his value rises and you’ve squandered one of the select buy low opportunities that may still remain.
Buy ‘Em
Josh Jacobs, RB, OAK: He is looking like a Fantasy RB1, although many owners may not regard him as such yet. Jacobs has quickly become the standout RB that Oakland has long been searching for. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in three of his past four games and has a pair of two TD outings in his last four. He can be a very reliable and productive guy now and going forward while not costing you a heavy superstar toll in a trade.
Derrick Henry, RB, TEN: While he only has one 100-yard rushing game, Henry has eight total TDs and is capable of ripping off a big play at any time. If you have a must-win situation this week, consider he faces Kansas City’s 29th-ranked run defense. This is not a target for three-win teams, though, as you have to replace Henry during a Week 11 bye. But for others, he is a solid acquisition to stabilize your RB outlook.
Devin Singletary, RB, BUF: He totaled 130 yards from scrimmage and a rushing score in Week 9 as he came through with what will be considered a breakthrough performance. Now that he is fully past an earlier hamstring injury, Singletary will be an essential performer for a playoff hopeful Bills team. He adds needed playmaking abilities to a Buffalo squad that was lacking them outside of John Brown. The versatile rookie will continue to see a lot of important touches.
D.K. Metcalf, WR, SEA: Some of his current owners may be concerned that the Josh Gordon addition could cut into his production. Pounce on those who roster Metcalf and might be thinking that way. The reality is that he is coming off his best game yet and is not even a finished product. He will likely remain the starter as Gordon slides in as the No. 3 WR in the Seahawks offense. Metcalf is only going to continue to get better, and that makes him a very alluring trade target. If you are comfortably in playoff position, you can also get him off an owner who may be concerned about an upcoming matchup with the 49ers.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SF: The trade to the 49ers has instantly elevated his fantasy appeal. He has scored in each of his first two games with his new team and finished with 112 receiving yards on seven catches vs. Arizona last week. Now he gets a good matchup in a key NFC West matchup vs. a very vulnerable Seattle secondary. Sometimes WRs have trouble adjusting after in-season trades, but that does not seem to be the case with Sanders.
Jamison Crowder, WR, NYJ: He rises above the play of his teammates and has become the one guy in the New York offense who can perform above expectations. Crowder is coming off an eight-catch game and has a very friendly schedule through Week 14 (Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Bengals, Dolphins). Four of his five upcoming opponents do not rank inside the Top 20 in pass defense. Plus he has the ‘Revenge Game” coming against Washington. It isn’t always a surefire theory, but facing a former team is often a extra motivator for players.
Mike Gesicki, TE, MIA: He has been showing real signs of progress recently and is close to blossoming at the NFL level. He delivered his best performance yet in Week 9, with six catches for 95 yards. The ultra-talented second-year man looks like he is about to truly tap more into his considerable potential. This week, he faces the Colts, who allow the AFC's second-most Fantasy Points Per Game to TEs.
Mark Andrews, TE, BAL: He has 50 receiving yards in his past two games and has not scored in his past four. If you are near the top of the standings you can buy low on a TE who should bounce back soon and plays at an obviously very thin fantasy position.
Jameis Winston, QB, TB: He’s an erratic NFL QB, but from fantasy perspectives the volume will continue to be there and he has two great WRs. He has thrown for over 300 yards with at least two TD passes in five of his past six games.
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL: Some of his owners are nervous about this week’s matchup with New Orleans, but the Saints are actually just 16th against the pass. Ryan will continue to gun the ball a lot as the Falcons play from behind regularly.
Sell ‘Em
Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC: He played a season-low 34 percent of the snaps last week, and Melvin Gordon is closer to his better form. Ekeler still totaled 93 yards from scrimmage, so he still should have some trade appeal to someone.
Mark Ingram, BAL: He rushed for 115 yards last week, but failed to hit the 75-yard mark in his previous four games and has not been a significant receiving producer. Lamar Jackson will continue to cut into his production. If you have six wins or more you can sell him to a team that needs a victory badly and will be further moved to take him with a Week 10 matchup against Cincinnati on the schedule.
Mike Williams, WR. LAC: Some fantasy owners are still drawn to Williams, especially after his first 100-yard game of the season in Week 9. Yes, it took until last week to go over 100 yards, yet he still seems to have name value among some owners. That’s a head-scratcher when you consider he has not scored yet.
Sammy Watkins, WR, KC: Maybe the most overrated WR in fantasy football, his name far outweighs his production. Watkins has not topped 70 receiving yards or scored since Week 1. Yet he continues to attract owners because of his periodic explosive outings and the team he plays for. If you have him don’t start him, just deal Watkins to someone who has not bothered to look at his game logs.
Josh Allen, QB, BUF: His dual threat ability gives him appeal on the trade market. He can be part of a package or a lower-level deal for you. He is really only adequate, as Allen has never thrown for 260 yards or more than two TDs in a game. But he does have four rushing scores and can be a decent pickup for a QB needy team in your league.
NOTE: Once again, we are not recommending any true sell candidates at TE, especially with the injury to Evan Engram further depleting the top levels of the position. If you have one top guy at TE there is no reason to shop him. If you have two, we don’t have to tell you to sell one.
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