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
Derrick Henry (RB – TEN)
If you’re a team that’s in the playoffs already, you should be trading for Derrick Henry. He’s likely going to be a fantasy MVP this year with matchups against the Jaguars, Lions, and Packers in Weeks 14-16. Those might be three of the five best matchups a running back can ask for, and Henry always picks up steam in December.
Allen Robinson (WR – CHI)
We all know the Bears are a pass-happy team and that Robinson is among the league leaders in targets, right? When you take that and add in his playoff schedule, Robinson should be a top-10 receiver for the fantasy playoffs. He’ll go against the Texans, Vikings, and Jaguars in Weeks 14-16. None of those matchups scare you. Instead, they entice you.
David Montgomery (RB – CHI)
If you’re looking to trade for a running back, or add some depth before the trade deadline, making a move for Montgomery would make sense. He’s not someone fantasy managers are excited to roster, as he just doesn’t offer any upside. However, we constantly look at rankings and think, “I really don’t love this player, but given the state of the running back position, he’s ranked as a top-25 option.” Montgomery’s schedule from Week 12-16 is among the best in football, going against the Packers, Lions, Texans, Vikings, and Jaguars in that time. He can be a role player on a fantasy championship team.
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)
If you’re looking like a playoff team, a trade for Jackson makes a ton of sense. From Weeks 11 through 16, he’ll play the Titans, Cowboys, Browns, Jaguars, and Giants. The lone bad matchup in those weeks is against the Steelers in Week 12, which is before the fantasy playoffs begin. Jackson is a prime buy-low quarterback.
Jamaal Williams (RB – GB)
With Aaron Jones is back, you might see Williams hit the waiver wire in some leagues. While that shouldn’t happen, we know it does. Even if he’s on someone’s roster, go and see what it’d take to acquire him. We already know how things would go down in the Packers backfield if Jones were to miss any time, and that amounts to an RB1 in Williams. These are the types of players who win fantasy championships.
Latavius Murray (RB – NO)
When you make a trade for someone like Murray, you’re trading for someone his manager views as a bye-week filler or RB4 option. Now that most bye weeks are out of the way, your goal should be to collect as many league-winners on your bench as possible. If Alvin Kamara were to miss any time, Murray would be an every-week RB1, which is worth much more than Murray’s bye week filler/RB4 pricetag. His schedule isn’t going to allow you to start him right now, but we’re not acquiring him to be a starter right now.
Mike Davis (RB – CAR)
We have word that Christian McCaffrey “might” be available next week but we know that’s far from a guarantee, especially with their bye week looming in Week 13. The Panthers aren’t a contender this year and don’t need to rush back their franchise player. Davis has top-10 upside if McCaffrey misses time.
Allen Lazard (WR – GB)
The Packers had Lazard back at practice the last few weeks, which means he’ll be on the field in Week 11. Rodgers hasn’t had a consistent option outside of Davante Adams, who teams are going to start bracketing and doubling in coverage. This is going to benefit Lazard massively, as his slot-heavy role should be filled with targets. He’s probably available on waiver wires in most leagues, but even trading for him makes sense given the way Rodgers has played through the first half of 2020.
Players to Sell
Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN)
Look, this doesn’t mean sell Cook no matter what, but if you’re able to get a combination of Derrick Henry and a receiver like Tyler Boyd in exchange for Cook, you may want to consider it. The playoff schedule is brutal for Cook, as he’ll have to play the Bucs, Bears, and Saints run defenses in Weeks 14-16. Those are all bottom-five matchups for running backs, so while Cook will still have value, he won’t be the most valuable running back when it matters most.
Todd Gurley (RB – ATL)
He keeps falling into the end zone, which is what’s holding up his fantasy stock, but his inefficiency cannot be ignored. Neither can his schedule, which ranks as the third-toughest in the NFL over the remainder of the season, including two games against the Saints and one against the Bucs, two teams you really don’t want to start running backs against.
Darrell Henderson (RB – LAR)
Remember how we saw Ronald Jones’ fantasy value disappear overnight? The same thing can happen to Henderson, who’s stuck in a three-way timeshare with Malcolm Brown and Cam Akers. On top of that, the Rams have the fifth-hardest remaining schedule in football.
D.J. Chark (WR – JAC)
This is the time of the year where you look to the fantasy playoffs. You aren’t aiming to finish in third place, are you? The Jaguars will be playing against the Ravens in Week 15, and then the Bears in Week 16. Those are two of the worst possible matchups available to wide receivers, and we can’t pretend like Chark has been ultra-consistent anyway.
Deshaun Watson (QB – HOU)
Some may think it’s an opportunity to buy low on Watson after playing in a wind-filled game against the Browns. Well, if you’re looking ahead to the playoffs, you shouldn’t rely on top-six production out of Watson. In Weeks 14 and 15 he’ll play the Bears and the Colts, two of the worst matchups for quarterbacks. Between both teams, they’ve combined to allow just two top-10 quarterback performances all season.
Ronald Jones (RB – TB)
If you can find someone who wants to take on the risk of starting Jones every week, do it. I’d rather have someone like Duke Johnson or Wayne Gallman, who we know have at least two more weeks of workhorse production.
Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN)
You won’t find a bigger Jeudy fan than me, but if you’re looking ahead on his fantasy schedule, there are going to be tough times. Starting in Week 12, he’ll play the Chiefs (4th-worst matchup for wide receivers), Panthers (9th-worst), Bills (7th-worst), and then Chargers (8th-worst).
Ryan Tannehill (QB – TEN)
We’re starting to see a trend develop with Tannehill and it’s not a good one. His starting left tackle Taylor Lewan was hurt in Week 5 and announced as out for the season. Since that time (span of four games), Tannehill has not thrown for more than 233 yards or thrown for more than two touchdowns. To be fair, he’s played against the Steelers, Bears, and Colts during that stretch, but he’s lost his fantasy floor/ceiling he used to have.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – GB)
If you can find someone to buy Valdes-Scantling after a couple big weeks, you should unload him ASAP. Not only was he reliant upon those big plays with limited targets, but the Packers have Allen Lazard coming back next week, which will lower his opportunities at those splash plays. There won’t be a week where we can confidently recommend Valdes-Scantling as a top-40 wide receiver play. He’ll hurt your roster a lot more often than he’ll help it.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.