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
Terry McLaurin
Football Team – Wide Receiver
Scary Terry has been on the field for the second-highest percentage of plays for any receiver in the league. He’s the clear-cut WR1 in Washington and has performed as the WR 14 this year without gaining a ton of recognition. Last week, he managed 7 receptions for 74 yards against one of his toughest matchups he’ll see this year in James Bradberry. McLaurin still gets to play Dallas twice this season, with the first matchup coming this week. I’d look to try to get him before his stock takes an immediate jump, as is the trend with anybody playing the Cowboys.
Dallas Goedert
Eagles – Tight End
I feel like I’m constantly chasing Tight Ends unless I have Kelce on my roster, and when Goedert went down in Week 2, I immediately told you to run out and buy Zach Ertz, which definitely wasn’t the best advice. Well now that Ertz has followed suit, I feel much more confident about buying Goedert for the short and long term. Tight End has become a wasteland beyond the top-tier once again, and there aren’t a lot of options out there for consistency. Goedert had more targets than Ertz in both Week 1 and 2, and now that he is undeniably the TE1 for the Eagles, we may see a complete change of the guard. Ertz could very well be on his way out of Philadelphia this offseason, meaning Goedert could have as much upside in dynasty as Jonnu Smith, if not more, because of his consistent role in the offense. Buy now in redraft and dynasty.
Justin Herbert
Chargers – Quarterback
If you’re reading this article for dynasty purposes, sorry; the buy-low window has passed on Herbert. However, you may have a chance to take on the rookie at a low expense in redraft. For the rest of the season, Herbert has a soft schedule for quarterbacks (the Chargers don’t face a single team ranked in the top 10 for fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks). Look even closer at the schedule and you’ll see great matchups in weeks 14 and 15, the first two weeks of the fantasy playoffs. In week 14, Herbert gets the Falcons who are allowing the most points to quarterbacks this season, and in week 15 he gets the Raiders who are giving up the 5th most. I know it’s early, but look at the matchups for the quarterbacks on your roster and make a move if you see tough sledding when it matters most.
Fantasy Football Sell Candidates
Kenyan Drake
Cardinals – Running Back
It finally happened — the moment that Drake owners have been waiting for all season! Drake capped off a strong performance with a 69-yard touchdown to push many of his owners over the top on Monday night. Let’s get real though, this was against a decimated Dallas team that everyone has taken advantage of this year, and now is the time to sell. There’s plenty to offer up as a bargaining tool as this past performance vaulted him up to RB20 on the season, with 105 carries (5th in the NFL) and 478 rushing yards (4th in the NFL). However, his complete lack of a presence in the passing game (only 8 targets on the season) and Chase Edmonds bearing down on him gives plenty of reason to move him on for players with high upside. Someone in your league is desperate; act now, before all of the frustration you’ve felt this season returns.
Julio Jones
Falcons – Wide Reciever
Many were ready to write off Julio Jones as done, but last week his 8 receptions for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns reminded us all that Jones is one of the best to ever play the game. However, I’m not sure he’s someone you want to depend on. Consistency is what you need to win big in fantasy and Jones has been far from it. He’s posted two WR1 games this year, two duds, and missed two games. In redraft, it may be hard to get the value that you think you deserve, so you may need to hold; but in dynasty, I’d start making offers now. Teams on the cusp will be willing to overpay after this week, so strike before he has a chance to come back down to earth.
Ryan Tannehill
Titans – Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill has proven that last year wasn’t a fluke and that he can lead the Titans by being much more than a game manager. Since becoming the starter last season, he leads the league in passing touchdowns (40) and yards per attempt (8.6). This doesn’t sound like the person you want to sell, but his upcoming schedule is unbearable for fantasy quarterback purposes. Starting in Week 7 and through week 12, every team he will face is in the top 10 for least fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks this year, including Indy twice, who are allowing the least in the entire NFL. The Titans have proven that they aren’t afraid to give King Henry the ball down the stretch, and I’d gladly move Tannehill for someone with a softer schedule like the aforementioned Herbert.