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Whether you’re buying or selling, here’s a list of players to consider making a move on before it’s too late.
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Players to Buy
Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG)
The concerns that lie with Barkley have been there all along. He’s on a bad team with a mediocre offensive line with a rookie quarterback. The only thing that’s changed is the fact that he hasn’t broken many big plays. Those will come in time when you have a running back who’s locked into 18-plus touches per game. Some of the touchdowns that have been going to Darius Slayton and Golden Tate will start going to last year’s fantasy MVP. He won’t come cheap, but he’ll come cheaper than he should based on his recent performances.
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – CLE)
Three of his next four games will come against the Dolphins, Bengals, and Cardinals. If you’ve paid attention to the NFL this season, you’d know that even the iffiest wide receivers have been able to have success in those matchups. Baker Mayfield has now thrown multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games, while Beckham has seen 22 targets in them. It’s only a matter of time before that explosion happens, and you’ll want him on your fantasy team when it does. Based on his opportunity (targets, air yards, quality of targets), Beckham has scored 26 fewer PPR points than expected, something that typically corrects itself with elite playmakers.
D.J. Chark (WR – JAC)
It may seem odd to buy someone after he has a massive performance, but his owners may not know what they have. You should’ve been hesitant to trust Chark too much with Nick Foles, as we hadn’t seen them play a full game together. After watching him target Chark a season-high 15 times, you need to believe. On top of that, his schedule is amazing. He’ll play the injured Titans, the horrendous Bucs, Chargers, Raiders, and Falcons. The only tough matchup of the bunch is the Chargers, but it’s not one that’s a must-avoid, either.
Phillip Lindsay (RB – DEN)
The Broncos said they were going to use Lindsay more this week, and they stayed true to their word. He totaled 18 touches to Royce Freeman‘s 9 touches. With Brandon Allen under center, the Broncos do not want to throw the ball a whole lot, and their defense keeps them in the game, limiting the number of times they need to pass. Looking ahead at the schedule, there’s really nothing to fear with Lindsay, especially if he’s going to out-touch Freeman two to one.
Sony Michel (RB – NE)
If you’re in it for the long haul and you’ve already made the playoffs, Michel is a prime trade target. The playoff schedule is the Chiefs (30th), Bengals (31st), and Bills (20th), who are all matchups to target with running backs. We also know the Patriots tend to ramp-up thier run-game towards the end of the season in order to keep the pass-catchers healthy for the postseason.
Curtis Samuel (WR – CAR)
Most don’t realize Samuel ranks 21st among wide receivers with 75 targets, as his production (outside the top-30 in fantasy production) hasn’t quite caught up with the volume. What’s even crazier is that he ranks sixth in air yards among receivers. Those ahead of him are Mike Evans, John Brown, Julio Jones, Kenny Golladay, and Keenan Allen. That’s great territory to be in.
Players to Sell
John Brown (WR – BUF)
It may be time to cash in your Brown shares before they lose value. He’s been among the most consistent receivers in all of fantasy, but he has the worst remaining schedule among receivers, and it’s not even close. His schedule consists of the Broncos, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, and Patriots. There’s not a single plus-matchup in those games.
Marlon Mack (RB – IND)
You want to sell Mack due to the fact that he has a brutal schedule when it matters most. During the fantasy playoffs, Mack will play against the Bucs, Saints, and Panthers. The Bucs and Saints are both allowing less than 3.5 yards per carry, and we know that Mack isn’t heavily utilized in the passing game. It’s the reason he’s been a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 for much of the season. His matchup in Week 16 against the Panthers could be league-winning, but you have to get there first.
Devin Singletary (RB – BUF)
This ‘sell’ was written before he even played the Dolphins in Week 11. Why? Because he’s going to struggle when it matters most. If you’re looking forward to the fantasy playoffs and want to win a fantasy championship, he’s not likely going to help you get it. He’s going to play against the Ravens, Steelers, and Patriots in Weeks 14-16. You’re better off removing yourself from the situation.
Carlos Hyde (RB – HOU)
Hyde saved his fantasy day with a late touchdown, but he’s someone you should be willing to move before the fantasy playoffs begin. The upcoming schedule is brutal, as he’ll play the Colts, Patriots, Broncos, Titans, and Bucs to close out the season. Each one of those matchups is below-average for running backs, and they should continue to drive down the value of Hyde, who’s not involved in the passing-game at all.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.