Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Week 9

Welcome to the Week 9 buy-low/sell-high fantasy football trade target article.

With six teams on bye in Week 9, this is the best time of the year to take advantage of your league mates. People in a tough spot will drop players they probably shouldn’t, and they will take trades they probably shouldn’t. If you’re 2-6 you can’t afford to take another loss so it’s time to be aggressive.

2-6 managers may be looking to get healthy and active bodies in their lineup this week. They may be willing to trade away Alvin Kamara or DeAndre Hopkins because they have a bye in Week 13 or 14. You should be scanning all the teams that are at the bottom of the standings.

The goal here is to highlight a few players who have seen their stock rise or fall, which ultimately leads to buy-low and sell-high trade targets in fantasy football. If you’re looking for Week 9 waiver-wire pickups, check out the latest episode of Mean Streets.

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

Keep in mind that some of the buy-low and sell-high candidates mentioned below don’t need to be moved. These are merely suggestions. 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. Remember, you want to sell high and buy low, not sell low and buy high.

Buy-Low Candidates

Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

It was another dud game on the ground from Joe Mixon in Week 8, as he only had 27 yards on eight carries. He’s only topped 61 rushing yards once since Week 1 and has a career-worst 3.3 YPC this season. So why buy? Well, he has a lot of value in PPR leagues. Mixon caught seven of the nine balls thrown his way from Joe Burrow in their first game without Ja’Marr Chase. It was the second time this season where Mixon had seven catches and he’s had at least three in all eight of his games.

The Bengals’ back is averaging a career-high 26.8 receiving yards, his 34 grabs are seven shy from his career high, and he’s just 10 targets away from 55, which is the most he’s ever had in a season. He’d make for a nice RB2 or flex play down the stretch in PPR formats. Keep in mind he has a bye on Week 10, which I think makes it easier to acquire him. If the manager has a losing record, they won’t be able to afford his bye week.

Michael Carter/James Robinson, RB, New York Jets

Michael Carter Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets

I think both players will be cheaper after this week as they’re in a tough spot against the Buffalo Bills and the Jets are on bye in Week 10. I believe James Robinson will come out of the bye as the lead back, potentially this week, and I think he’ll have the goal-line role. There’s value in that role, especially in half-point or standard leagues. Robinson only had two fewer carries than Michael Carter last week, and it was his first game with the Jets.

Carter had four grabs on seven targets last week, and he started off the season with 12 grabs on 14 targets in his first two games before Breece Hall took over. I think Carter will be the pass-catching back in his offense, and there’s value in that role in PPR leagues. The Jets play Detroit, Jacksonville and Seattle in Weeks 15-17, and all three teams are currently inside the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to backs.

Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

This is a perfect time to buy as Davante Adams is coming off a game where he scored 0.8 half-PPR points. He was battling the flu (and still is, according to reports). Adams has a healthy 30% target share and 40% of the Raiders’ air yards. Las Vegas has one of the worst defenses in the league, so the targets will continue to pile up for Adams.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

I’ve read a lot of Ja’Marr Chase proposals over the last week, so I thought I’d bring him up. Acquiring him is a big risk, but it could pay off in a significant way. On the flip side, if you’re near the bottom of the standings you may have to cut ties with him, especially if you can’t afford to wait until he returns. If that’s the case, make him available to people atop the standings. Chase is considered week-to-week, but he wasn’t placed on IR so he could return as early as Week 11 after the Bengals’ bye. I’m looking to see where every Chase owner is in the standings and if I’m near the top and thin as WR, I’m asking about his availability. Think about adding Chase to your squad come playoff time.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton only has six catches for 50 yards over his last three games, and now he’s headed for a bye. His roster percentage has dropped, so I know he’s available to be had. The Broncos have a really good schedule for wideouts after the bye. I know Russell Wilson hasn’t looked good, but there were positive signs last week.

Check In On

Dak Prescott — DAL
Tom Brady — TB
Saquon Barkley — NYG
Josh Jacobs — LV
Rhamondre Stevenson — NE
Khalil Herbert — CHI
Cooper Kupp — LAR
Gabe Davis — BUF
DeVonta Smith — PHI
Christian Kirk — JAX
George Pickens — PIT
Dalton Schultz — DAL

Sell-High Candidates

Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

How quickly things can change in the NFL, as Tony Pollard was a buy-low candidate last week. He went off and now the Cowboys head into their bye week. Ezekiel Elliott should be good to go out of the bye, and he’s not going to go away. We all see who the better back is, but Zeke has been a great pass blocker and he’s a strong option inside the red zone. There’s no better time than to sell Pollard in redraft leagues. I’m not into buying but fantasy football is a lot like the stock market. Sell before Zeke starts getting in Pollard’s way again and buy in dynasty formats.

Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills

Devin Singletary Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets

Devin Singletary is a good back, but the Bills finally have themselves a pass-catching running back they can trust in Nyheim Hines. Buffalo tried to sign J.D. McKissic in the offseason, and they drafted James Cook in the second round, but he only has five catches (four came in one game). Buy low on Cook in dynasty leagues, but move on from him in and Singletary in redraft leagues. Singletary will still be the lead, but he may not catch as many passes, and he still doesn’t have a rushing touchdown this season. The schedule is so nice moving forward, we may see a full-on committee when you include garbage time.

Kadarius Toney, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

This may sound confusing because I’ve been talking about buying, holding and stashing Kadarius Toney all season long. I love the long term and dynasty outlook for Toney in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. It’s hard not to get excited about what he could do in the offense. However, his value is very high right now and he hasn’t played a snap since Week 2. He’s also heading to a team where he has to compete for targets with Travis Kelce, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marques Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman.

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

I’m into holding Kyle Pitts where I have him, but I’d sell high if I rostered Dalton Schultz, Evan Engram or Greg Dulcich. I’d be comfortable rolling out those three tight ends over Pitts, believe it or not. The Falcons have a bye the week before fantasy football players, and this is still a run first team.