Fantasy football trade targets

Five weeks of the NFL season are in the books, so it’s time to take a look at the Week 6 fantasy football trade targets. The goal here is to highlight a few players who have seen their stock rise and fall, which ultimately leads to buy-low and sell-high trade targets in fantasy football. If you’re looking for Week 6 waiver wire pickups, check the latest edition of Mean Streets.

I’ve also highlighted a few players whom I’m concerned about, a few whom I would rather hold than trade, and a few players whom I would cut my ties with. You’ll also see the top 10 players traded in CBS Sports fantasy football over the past 24 hours.

Keep in mind that some of the buy-low and sell-high candidates mentioned below don’t need to be moved. They are simply suggestions, as their fantasy stocks have changed despite just one game on their 2021 NFL resume. I’m a big believer in 2-for-1 and 3-for-1 package deals if it means landing the best player in the trade.

Fantasy Football Trade Talk: Who to Buy and Sell After Week 5

Buy-Low Candidates

Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Sanders has under eight fantasy points in four straight games, so he’s definitely available. The price shouldn’t be steep either considering he’s been held under 60 yards in each of those four games and he only has 20 carries in his past two contests. He also has the Bucs this week so shouldn’t get a lot of play on the ground.

The Eagles get the Raiders, Lions and Chargers after Week 6, which are all good matchups. The offensive line still has issues and Jalen Hurts has been among the leaders in dropbacks since Week 3, but Sanders can help if you’re dealing with injuries or bye weeks from Week 7-9. He makes for a good flex play moving forward. Don’t acquire him if you need an RB2.

DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

There’s a pretty good chance DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett owners are pretty bummed that Russell Wilson could be sidelined until Week 10. It was a very small sample size, but Metcalf picked up three grabs and a touchdown with Geno Smith last week. He looked good and he targeted the best player on the field, which is smart. The efficiency on the targets won’t be the same but he could get more looks. The Seahawks aren’t great defensively so they may throw a bit more, especially if Chris Carson can’t get back in the lineup. I think Wilson being out hurts Lockett more, but I’d check in on him too.

Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Shenault’s soft showing in Week 5 mixed with a bye in Week 7 has created a buy-low window. I think he could very well be a sell-high candidate as well because the fantasy community has been hyping him up for months. I’m into buying but there’s one person who likes Shenault more than me in each one of my leagues so you should hear out your leaguemates.

He only had three targets and one catch last week but had 58 yards. His upside was on full display when he had the ball in his hands, but the three targets were disappointing. He was moved out wide, just like he was in Week 4 when D.J. Chark went down so I don’t think we should overreact but there are a couple of things to monitor. Newly acquired Dan Arnold received eight targets and he had two in a limited role in his debut in Week 5. It’s clear the Jaguars like to utilize the TE position so he should stay involved. There’s still plenty of targets to go around and Jacksonville will continue to be forced to throw the football late in games. Indianapolis, Atlanta, Tennessee, Houston and the Jets are all plus matchups for wideouts.

Check in on

Sam Darnold, Trey Lance (superflex), Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley (if 4-1 or 5-0), Aaron Jones, Darrell Henderson, Javonte Williams, Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin, Tyler Lockett, A.J. Brown, Marvin Jones, Tee Higgins, Brandin Cooks, Jaylen Waddle, Darren Waller, T.J. Hockenson

Sell-high candidates

Damien Williams, RB, Chicago Bears

I’m a Williams manager, and I need him, but consider selling him if he’s your third or fourth running back. There are plenty of RB-needy teams in your league to take advantage of. Look to those who have Saquon Barkley or Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Williams looked all right running the football and lucked out with a red-zone touch after a time out that he converted into a touchdown, but Khalil Herbert looked better.

The Bears want to run the ball and limit the pass attempts from Justin Fields so don’t be surprised if Herbert has more snaps than Williams for the second straight week. This has 50/50 written all over it with a slight edge to Williams in PPR leagues.

Myles Gaskin, RB, Miami Dolphins

Gaskin racked up 10 catches, 74 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5, so now is the time to get out. It was definitely one of the more surprising statlines of the week considering his usage through the first four weeks. He only had five carries in the game and he only has seven in his past two contests so he’s still very hard to trust.

I think the bigger takeaway from that Week 5 game is that pass catching running backs get a boost when they play the Bucs as they’re a hard team to run against and you’ll likely be playing from behind. The Dolphins are depleted at WR, so he may get three or four targets a game, but sell your league on the Jacksonville and Atlanta matchups ahead. Hold him in 14-team PPR leagues.

Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants

Toney was atop the waiver wire rankings last week, and this will be your last chance to get him on the wire after his 10-catch, 189-yard game. He had 13 targets in Week 5 and has 22 in his past two games, but it’s important to keep in mind Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton were sidelined for those two games. Slayton may not be a factor for the rest of the season, but Shepard will eat into Toney’s workload when he gets back in the lineup. He could even take his spot back in the slot. Kenny Golladay is also sidelined with a knee injury, so I can see desperate owners holding on, but sell if you’re set at WR because the potential return may never be higher.

Field offers for

Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, Baker Mayfield, James Robinson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Alexander Mattison, James Conner, Marquez Callaway, Courtland Sutton, Mecole Hardman, Antonio Brown