Trading for Alshon Jeffery while he’s out should benefit you come fantasy playoff time

The first three weeks of the NFL season have provided plenty of surprises and disappointments for fantasy owners. You may have made all the right draft picks and now need that one final piece to cement your fantasy dominance. Or maybe things have gone poorly, and you’re on the verge of blowing your entire roster up. Either way, here are some buy low/sell high candidates to shake up your roster.

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Buy Low

Alshon Jeffery (WR Bears)
Jeffery could return as early as this week, and when on the field he is a clear cut WR1. The Bears are looking like a complete disaster, and Jeffery hasn’t played since Week 1. Therefore, this is a the time to pounce and get him before he’s back on the field and reminds everyone just how good he is. With Jay Cutler also potentially returning in a week or two, Jeffery should return to top form in time for a playoff push. You may need to wait a week or two to receive the benefits of a trade for Jeffery, but having him on the roster at the end of the season will be worth the wait.

Melvin Gordon (RB Chargers)
He’s shown a few flashes of why he was a first-round draft pick. However, Gordon’s playmaking abilities have been held under wraps as he’s been held to an average of 15 carries per game. While Danny Woodhead is a good passing option, Gordon is the superior player, and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks out with a big game. The upcoming schedule provides more favorable matchups, including one this week at home against the Cleveland Browns, who are surrendering over 150 yards per game to their opponents. Week 4 has the feel of a breakout game for Gordon, so swing a deal while the price is right.

Justin Forsett (RB Ravens)
The Baltimore Ravens have struggled running the ball, and Forsett has been a big disappointment for fantasy owners. He has yet to break 70 yards rushing in a game and finished with just 13 yards on Sunday as Baltimore abandoned the run early on when they fell behind. The usage of Forsett is puzzling considering the lack of skill position players other than the ageless Steve Smith. All that being said, there is some hope of a return to 2014 form. It begins with a return of the rushing attack to try and correct the 0-3 start to the Ravens’ season. The schedule ahead provides some opportunities to get back on track for Forsett as well, making now the time to get him cheap with the potential for big upside.

Sell High

Peyton Manning (QB Broncos)
Sure, Manning had a nice statistical performance on Sunday night, throwing for over 300 yards and two TDs. But he rarely threw deep, and when he did, they were balls that the receivers made great plays on, as he easily could have had three INTs as a result of those throws. There’s no denying his mental game, but despite perfect throwing conditions, his arm scared absolutely no one last night. What happens when the weather turns? Instead of just hoping for one more magical season, try and take advantage of the Ben Roethlisberger owner or any other owner looking for a QB.

Devonta Freeman (RB Falcons)
On Sunday, Freeman had a career game including three TDs. While he had a strong showing, it was due to the soft Dallas Cowboy defense leaving open lanes for him to run through. It was a great performance by the offensive line, and the 30 carries were an impressive feat for Freeman. The performance likely doesn’t change the RB situation for the Falcons, who will continue their committee approach when Coleman is healthy.   Capitalizing on that performance with a trade to improve your team seems like the smart play when dealing with owners hoping that Freeman ends up as the bell cow in Atlanta.

Larry Fitzgerald (WR Cardinals)
Fitzgerald has been dominant early on this season, seemingly turning back the clock. But with St. Louis looming ahead on the schedule and with the other quality options surrounding Carson Palmer, it’s hard to see Fitzgerald continuing at a level near this rate. Also, prior to this resurgence he had scored single-digit fantasy points in 14 of his last 18 games. Trying to predict fantasy production in a Bruce Arians offense can be maddening, so relying on continued production from Fitzgerald is a major gamble. Capitalize on his fast start and sell high on Fitzgerald.

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Micah Cedergen is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Micah, check out his archive and follow him @mcffinsights.