As most leagues are now halfway through the season, team owners who are outside of the playoff picture need to make sure that they’re starting the best available options on their teams every week. With the trade deadline now near in most fantasy leagues, fantasy owners need to know who to sell high and buy low. The following are my buy/sell suggestions for the trade deadline.
This article assumes the following:
- Full Point Per Reception (PPR) Scoring.
- Rankings via the ESPN Fantasy App
Buy Low
Running Back (Position Rank: 29th) Javonte Williams: At the beginning of the season, Williams was not performing well as he was still recovering from his ACL tear last season. Williams averaged 12 carries per game and never compiled more than 9.7 points in a game for the early part of this season. Since sustaining a hip injury in Week 4 and sitting out against the New York Jets, Williams has been running hard like he did before the ACL tear last year. Williams recently scored 7.2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, 12.6 against the Green Bay Packers, and 18.8 against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. Williams, who is no longer on a snap count, has averaged 17 carries a game since his return in Week 6. Many fantasy owners are worried about Williams’ injury history and Williams’ lower point totals before Week 6. Owners looking to trade away Williams for these reasons are likely going to be willing to accept trade proposals for lesser players – allowing other owners to obtain a strong RB2 or flex option moving forward in Javonte Williams.
Wide Receiver (Position Rank: 27th) Chris Olave: Since Olave’s 1.4-point game against the Buccaneers, fantasy owners have been struggling to trust him and have been looking to trade him. It isn’t all Olave’s fault that he is performing so badly. Since quarterback Derek Carr came to New Orleans, Chris Olave has seen reduced targets and involvement in the offense, averaging 9 targets and 5 receptions per game. As the top wide receiver on the Saints, Olave should be targeted much more aggressively than Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed. Although Olave is facing a difficult situation at quarterback, he has not had less than 9.2 points since his game against the Buccaneers and is one of the league leaders in unrealized air yards (which means Carr is throwing deeper routs to Olave but just not connecting). It’s only time until Carr and Olave connect on the field and produce increased fantasy points. Fantasy owners should also try to trade for Olave as the Saints face mediocre pass defenses as the season moves forward, playing teams such as the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Carolina Panthers.
Sell High
Running Back (Position Rank 3rd) Raheem Mostert: Mostert is an overrated back who is susceptible to injuries. Although averaging 19.5 points per game over the season so far, he has had a decline in carries and snap percentage due to the return of Jeff Wilson Jr. and more involvement from Salvon Ahmed in the running game. Since Wilson’s return, Mostert has averaged 8 points per game, which is not what a top-ranked running back should be averaging in an offense as explosive as the Dolphins. Now that De’Von Achane is set to return soon as well (a rookie running back who also shined earlier this season for the Dolphins with big games), it is likely that Mostert’s value will decline even more quickly. Sell him high before his value drops.
Wide Receiver (Position Rank 8th) Adam Thielen: Thielen has shocked the football world, becoming a top-10 wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers after an injury-filled season with the Vikings last year. Although Thielen has had an impressive season so far, he has struggling rookie quarterback Bryce Young throwing to him. The Panthers are playing the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts in the coming weeks, a few of the toughest teams in the league. Thielen’s average of 20.2 points per game will almost certainly decrease, so sell him high before his yards, receptions, and overall play begin to decline.
