Buy Low Sell High Fantasy Football
Waiver wire acquisitions aren’t the only way to transform your team after draft day is over. The art of the trade is knowing when to sell a hot hand about to cool and acquire a player with an upward trajectory. The purpose of this article is to identify players whose value has peaked and possibly trading them for a player with brighter days ahead.
Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with staying put, so always keep value in mind and demand more if you’re the owner of a player who is trending upwards. Timing is everything, especially in fantasy, so use this article as a tool to help your team turn the corner no matter where you stand this year.
Fantasy Football Buy Candidates
Austin Ekeler
Chargers – Running Back
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the value of a highly-drafted running back with twenty touches in his opening game fall so fast. Yes, there are concerns with Joshua Kelley taking red zone snaps this week, and Tyrod Taylor pushing the ball downfield instead of River’s prowess for throwing to running backs, but Ekeler still looked like Ekeler. Many Ekeler owners will be patient with last year’s PPR RB7 and his 84 yards rushing on Sunday, but others are feeling the heat after only receiving one target this past week. He gets the Chiefs in Week 2, and game-script could mean a sizeable increase in targets. Now is the time to make an offer for Ekeler, as it will only take one solid performance for his price tag to return to an elite level.
Tyler Boyd
Bengals – Wide Receiver
I’m not shy when it comes to Tyler Boyd – some may even call me a stan. I’ve made a point to roster him nearly everywhere and I’ll be using his lackluster performance of 4 targets for 33 yards to try to acquire him where I wasn’t able to on draft day. Boyd had possibly his toughest matchup of the year in Week 1 while working against Chris Harris Jr. in the slot. Boyd has finished as WR17 and WR 18 the past two seasons, respectively, and has the most receiving yards out of the slot since 2018 at 1,509. The Bengals take on the Browns in Week 2, who were gashed over the middle of the field by the Ravens, so look for Boyd to rebound quickly. Concerns over a rookie quarterback may be warranted, but Burrow has already shown that he belongs in the league, so look for Boyd to provide consistent numbers as a WR3 throughout the year.
Jamison Crowder
Jets – Wide Receiver
Crowder’s price tag already went up after his Week 1 performance of 7 receptions, 115 yards, and a TD, but he has a rapport with Sam Darnold, which is difficult in itself and will continue to produce moving forward. The Jets offense was tolerable at best, and Crowder’s 69-yard touchdown reception was one of the few bright spots. However, this wasn’t his only serviceable moment, as he soaked up 13 targets (4th in NFL) and a 39% target share (3rd in NFL). Crowder is locked into at least 8 targets weekly. Owners didn’t invest a lot in Crowder on draft day and may be attracted to flashy upside guys. If you need consistency with WR2 upside, then Crowder is your guy going forward.
Fantasy Football Sell Candidates
Aaron Rodgers
Packers – Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers is a man that needs no introduction, so go ahead and dangle him as the prize acquisition in a trade offer as his monstrous Week 1 performance. Rodgers erupted for 364 yards and 4 TDs against Minnesota’s young secondary that also featured a weak pass rush due to Danielle Hunter being on IR. Rodgers was able to produce 5 plays of at least 38 yards while only being hit twice and never being sacked. Week 2 gives Rodgers another favorable matchup against the Lions secondary that didn’t give much resistance to Mitch Trubisky in the fourth quarter. However, this was Rodgers’ best game under LaFleur as he recorded only three 300 yard games last year, and I’d expect the gameplan to trend back to the rushing attack as the season progresses. Rodgers stock may be as high as it gets this season. There are a lot of serviceable quarterbacks – you may be able to use Rodgers to land a big target if you throw him into a trade.
Sammy Watkins
Chiefs – Wide Receiver
Is there anything more predictable than Sammy Watkins in Week 1 looking like the fantasy player we all dreamed he would be? Yes, it’s him coming back to earth for the remainder of the season. Last year in week 1, Watkins went off for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns, then followed up without recording a TD or more than 63 yards in a game for the rest of the regular season. This isn’t even a complete slight to Watkins, who was the Chief’s highest-graded offensive player last Thursday, but a compliment to the greatness of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. The only pass dependent Chiefs I would feel comfortable starting weekly are Kelce and Hill, largely in part to how well the ball is spread in Kansas City. In Week 1, Kelce had a typical night, Demarcus Robinson had nearly two touchdowns, Hardman was an afterthought, and Hill wasn’t much of a factor before his late touchdown. Watkins has posted consecutive solid outings dating back to last year’s playoffs, which may offer even more appeal than last year. Look to deal him before he comes back to earth in Week 2.
Will Fuller V
Texans – Wide Receiver
Will Fuller V was one of the few bright spots from Houston’s revamped passing attack in their season debut. The clear-cut WR1 in Houston had 8 catches on 10 targets for 112 yards showing a different dynamic to his game, as he did not rely heavily on big plays to have an impact. Fuller undeniably has the talent to serve as a WR1 in the NFL, but his inability to stay on the field for a full season remains a concern. Over the past three years, Fuller has missed 21 of a possible 48 games and it seems he is always one play away from rendering himself useless to your squad. It may be too risky to hold him for much longer, as he has already shown that he is the focal point of the offense with a 31% target share. Appeal to others with his upside and role in hopes of a more consistent player in your lineup.