Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Week 2

Welcome to the Week 2 buy-low/sell-high fantasy football trade target article.

There are always overreactions after Week 1 of the NFL season. People are willing to cut some of their favorite middle-round targets after just 60 minutes of football. There were a lot of struggling quarterbacks, running backs and offenses in Week 1. Let’s keep in mind there are a lot of new head coaches and offensive coordinators across the league. A lot of teams rested their offenses during the preseason. Teams we expect to be good on offense (Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals) just weren’t.

All of this has created a buy-low window in fantasy football. People will panic and drop players they really shouldn’t. Below you’ll see a list of buy-low and sell-high candidates, players who have seen their stock rise and fall, dynasty buys, players to pick up and stash, as well as players I have concerns about but am willing to hold. For example, I’m very concerned about Drake London and Kyle Pitts. If I had shares, I’d hold because it’s a very bad time to sell. I wouldn’t start London this week, but I’d wait to see if he had a good game before selling.

Be sure to check out our Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart. It’s important to know the value of the players you’re considering for a trade. You can simply add up their total value and compare it to what you’d get in return. If you have any questions, reach out at @ChrisMeaney.

We had plenty of discussions about buying and selling on Thursday’s episode of Mean Streets.

Let’s get after it!

Buy-Low Candidates

Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

I don’t think he’s available, but it’s always worth checking in, especially after Week 1. Josh Jacobs only had 48 rushing yards in the Raiders’ 17-16 win in Denver. In Mile High against that defensive front in Denver isn’t an easy matchup for anyone. The positive here is that Jacobs played 80% of the snaps and dominated the running back touches, as he finished with 19 carries and two catches on three targets. Ameer Abdullah and Zamir White combined for 12 of the 59 snaps on offense. Last year’s leading rusher in the NFL is a top-10, rock-solid running back in fantasy football.

Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns

Amari Cooper was limited to 62% of the snaps in Week 1, behind Elijah Moore (69%) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (89%). It’s all anybody can seem to talk about, but Cooper left with an injury, and although he hasn’t been practicing this week (rest), I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. That game was out of hand early, and he could have returned if it wasn’t. Cooper started slow in Week 1 last season, before back-to-back 100 yard games. He finished as a top-10 wideout after racking up his sixth 1,000-yard season. In his first season in Cleveland, he had 2.06 yards per route run, compared to 1.65 in his last season with Dallas. He was targeted down the field more and finished third in end-zone targets. He also had a career-high nine touchdowns and 132 targets. Let’s not overreact to one game against a division rival in poor weather. The Browns have some great matchups coming up with the Titans, Colts and Cardinals, and they play Chicago Week 15 and Houston Week 16, should you be so lucky to get to the dance! Deshaun Watson also didn’t look completely awful, which wasn’t the case last season.

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

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Believe me, I’m bummed about my Garrett Wilson shares after seeing Aaron Rodgers lost for the season. I know a lot of Wilson owners probably feel the same way. I’ve seen a few texts in groups from people saying, “there goes my Wilson shares, anybody want him?” When you hear things like that, it creates a buying window. Do I like Zach Wilson? No, I don’t. Having said that, Wilson is QB proof. He showed us that last season and showed it again in Week 1. I still think he’s a top-15 wide receiver the rest of the way, so consider selling high on Jakobi Meyers, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell or even Brandon Aiyuk. It may take two players to get Wilson, but if you’re getting him as your WR3, that’s a win.

Check in on

Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG
Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, DET
James Cook, RB, BUF
Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL
Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA
Travis Kelce, TE, KC
Mark Andrews, TE, BAL

Sell-High Candidates

David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions

David Montgomery was one of my favorite zero-RB targets this draft season, as I expected him to be the lead runner for Detroit as well as the goal-line back. Jamaal Williams played that role extremely well for the Lions last season. In fact, he turned out to be a league-winner. I’m not surprised with how Week 1 turned out, but it’s hard to ignore how much better Jahmyr Gibbs looked than Montgomery. I think Montgomery will be a pain for Gibbs’ owners all season long, but Gibbs will continue to get more work, he’ll improve in pass protection and talent may just take over. Montgomery didn’t get any work in the passing game, and that’s something Gibbs did very well in his first game. If Montgomery is your RB2, you might not do better, but if he’s your third or fourth running back, you now have an opportunity to upgrade at either RB or at another position in a package deal. I wouldn’t give up too much for Gibbs, but he may be available and has a higher ceiling than Montgomery, especially in PPR leagues.

Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Sell, sell, sell! You can’t trust this backfield. With J.K. Dobbins lost for the season again, this backfield is about to turn into a bloody mess. Justice Hill had two rushing touchdowns but only finished with nine yards on eight carries. Gus Edwards had 32 yards on eight carries and picked up a successful two-point conversion. I would expect Edwards to be the goal-line back and think he’ll get more early-down looks than Hill, but Edwards won’t be involved through the air. You also have Lamar Jackson, who led Baltimore with 38 rushing yards in Week 1. Pick up Edwards and Hill because running back depth is important, but flip these players to RB-needy teams. Look for Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, Dobbins and Najee Harris owners. Don’t be shocked if Melvin Gordon is the hot pickup next week or that Keaton Mitchell (good stash) gets some run in a few weeks.

I’m team Kenneth Gainwell, and although I liked what I saw from him in Week 1, he’s hurt and inactive for Week 2. I think the Eagles backfield will be a mess all season long, but don’t drop D’Andre Swift or Rashaad Penny. It’s a good offense behind a good offensive line. Whoever is the last man standing might be a difference-maker. I think Daniel Jones and Geno Smith rebound this week.

Concerned

Cam Akers, RB, LAR
Rachaad White, RB, TB
Khalil Herbert, RB, CHI
Drake London, WR, ATL
Christian Kirk, WR, JAC
DJ Moore, WR, CHI
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF
Marquise Brown, WR, ARI
Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL

Drop

Deon Jackson, RB, IND
Damien Harris, RB, BUF
Marvin Mims Jr., WR, DEN
Van Jefferson, WR, LAR
Brandin Cooks, WR, DAL
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, NE
Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ
Rondale Moore, WR, ATI
Michael Gallup, WR, DAL
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, TEN
Dalton Schultz, TE, HOU

I have a hard time dropping running back depth, but if you’re in need of touches right away, cutting players like Damien Harris, Elijah Mitchell, Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylen Warren makes sense, especially in shallower leagues. Those four backs are all decent handcuffs, but you’ll never feel great about starting them. I’d wait it out another week with Cam Akers and Rachaad White to see if they can turn it around. The efficiency wasn’t there, but the touches were and that’s important. We preached patience with Roschon Johnson, Tank Bigsby, Rashaad Penny and Zach Charbonnett. Hold if you can.

Hold

Najee Harris, RB, PIT
Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC
Rachaad White, RB, TB
Cam Akers, RB, LAR
Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS
Zay Flowers, WR, BAL
Puka Nacua, WR, LAR
Nico Collins, WR, HOU
Kendrick Bourne, WR, NE
Christian Watson, WR, GB
Mike Williams, WR, LAC
Skyy Moore, WR, KC
Treylon Burks, WR, TEN
Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC
Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI

Isiah Pacheco wasn’t efficient, but it was his first game taking hits since suffering a shoulder injury. He also was involved through the air just like he was down the stretch last season, and that’s a great sign. I’m slightly concerned about Najee Harris, but I wouldn’t sell right now. I was always team Brian Robinson, because he’s the lead and will get goal-line work. Antonio Gibson will be game-script dependent and will have his moments. Now is a bad time to sell, and I’d hold in PPR leagues. Washington won’t be touchdown favorites again. Mike Williams is in a bounce-back spot this week, Quentin Johnston should be held onto because Williams left at times in Week 1 due to an injury. He and Keenan Allen haven’t been able to avoid injuries over the course of their career. I’d be more concerned about Kadarius Toney than Skyy Moore. It was Moore who led all KC wideouts in snaps and would have had 50+ yards if not for two bad throws by Patrick Mahomes. We didn’t draft Moore in the middle rounds to cut him after Week 1. I don’t trust DeAndre Hopkins, so hang onto Treylon Burks if you can. Some of the other names had great games in Week 1 and I wouldn’t sell high.

Add

Brock Purdy, QB, SF
Joshua Kelley, RB, LAC
Kyren Williams, RB, LAR
Zack Moss, RB, IND
Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR
Melvin Gordon, RB, BAL
Puka Nacua, WR, LAR
Kendrick Bourne, WR, NE
Josh Reynolds, WR, DET
Allen Robinson, WR, PIT
Hunter Henry, TE, NE

I’d consider selling every player listed above. Always float the hot waiver-wire pickups to your league. I’d like to keep Nacua, but Cooper Kupp will return at some point. However, Nacua was one of our favorite late-round targets, so let’s play this thing out. If you can package him for Garrett Wilson or Tee Higgins, I’d say get it done.