Week 9 is in the books which means that trade deadlines are quickly approaching. Who are the best players to target to help you make your playoff push? Look no further. Here are some players that saw their values rise or fall after this week that can either be trade targets or players to move away from as you make your team the best it can be.

With just a few weeks until most fantasy football trade deadlines, now is the best time to check out Trade Central to make finding and executing trades dead simple. See your league-mates’ top positional needs, and find trades that are the most likely to get accepted.

Week 10 Value Risers

Geno Smith (QB – SEA)

I wanted to have Justin Fields on this list for the second week in a row but felt like that was cheating in a sense. Instead, I’ll go with someone at the opposite end of their career who I selected after Week 6: Geno Smith. Smith has looked every bit of the real deal in Seattle this season. He finished as QB5 on the week, ahead of expected studs like Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, and Kyler Murray. If you are starting Smith in fantasy, you either drafted him way later than those guys, or you picked him up off of waivers to stream and stuck with him.

All that aside, what on earth is Smith’s trade value right now? There are some, like me, that think he’s the real deal, but I’d rather not pay top-five QB prices to acquire him. There are others who think he’s fool’s gold but won’t send him away for peanuts in case he’s actually the real deal. I’d love to send a player like Tua Tagovailoa for Smith and a bench RB for use down the stretch, but I genuinely can’t tell if that’s too much or too little anymore. Not sure if any of this makes sense, but I’m trying to acquire Smith where I can, as long as it doesn’t break the bank.

Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)

There he is! Mr. Mixon is back, baby! All it took was 5 touchdowns and a very likely week-winning performance. However, now that his value is high again, it’s time to sell. The odds of Mixon doing this again are slim to none. His RB1 finish in Week 9 was great, he almost doubled the output of RB2 Kenneth Walker, but get off this ride before it crashes. Mixon is the prime example of a “sell-high player.” I’d gladly send Mixon away for someone like Austin Ekeler and a WR, especially in PPR leagues. Mixon’s floor is brutally low, and if you’ve rostered him all year you know exactly what I mean. Get out while the getting’s good, and thank me later.

Christian Kirk (WR – JAX)

Finishing as WR5 in PPR scoring this week was Jaguars WR1 Christian Kirk. I know, I couldn’t believe it either. He caught eight of his nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown – a solid performance. The reason he makes this list is that I think a lot of fantasy managers that don’t roster him value him as a WR2/3 due to his WR21 ranking through nine weeks. Instead, I think he should be looked at as a WR1/2 option going forward. If he’s on your roster, you’re probably not moving him, but if someone out there is willing to pay WR1/2 prices for him, I’m taking that in a heartbeat. Kirk will have up and down weeks and I’d prefer a more stable asset, myself. If you can flip him for a Tee Higgins or DK Metcalf type without adding much on top, I’d absolutely take that.

Cole Kmet (TE – CHI)

It’s hard to put anyone as a tight end riser given how fluky the position is for fantasy, but Kmet feels like the best bet this week. Justin Fields is finally coming into his own, much to the chagrin of many fantasy analysts earlier this year. The addition of Chase Claypool helps as well. In general, I think Kmet has the potential to finish as a top-10 tight end every week going forward, which is more than I can say for most streaming TE options. His cost went up so I’d be fine buying high, as they say. Maybe you can send Darren Waller for Kmet and a bench WR. I’d do that. See if you can add Kmet for depth on a team where you need some and make a push for the playoffs by living on the wild side at tight end. Could be fun!

Week 10 Value Fallers

Matt Stafford (QB – LAR)

Where do I even begin with Stafford? He came into the season as the Super Bowl-winning QB with a new weapon in Allen Robinson. Cooper Kupp was still on the team and Cam Akers looked solid at RB. But nope, none of that ended up being true and Stafford has looked lost. He finished as QB22 in Week 9 and is not someone I enjoy starting any longer. During byes, sure, but otherwise he’s riding the pine. I’d be happy to send him away though if someone else is more optimistic. Maybe you can package him and a stud WR to go for someone like Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts in your 1QB league who have already had their byes and won’t give you heartburn every week. That’s where I’d start.

Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)

Ah, Kamara, I thought I knew you. The Saints faced a brutal Ravens defense on Monday night and Kamara finished as RB23. Woof. That being said, I think Kamara is in for brighter days as New Orleans’ schedule lightens up a bit. They play the hapless Steelers in Week 10, followed by the lifeless Rams before they head to San Francisco to face a fairly solid defense there. If the Kamara manager is over it, see if you can send a couple of bench players for him to start the trade talks. See what that team’s weakness is and try to exploit it. As we approach the trade deadline, do what you can to consolidate without losing starters in the process. Kamara is a perfect candidate for this kind of move right now.

Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)/Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN)

It’s hard to single out one over the other here so I’m just going to go with both. Higgins and Boyd are both struggling for fantasy purposes without Ja’Marr Chase on the field. It’s as clear as day. In Week 10, the Bengals get their bye and maybe Chase comes back in Week 11. If not, Higgins and Boyd could both be in for another rough week. That being said, I’m fine trying to acquire them on teams where I don’t have bye issues this week and can stash them for a playoff run. Once Chase does return, which should happen sooner rather than later, the Bengals should be back in business. If I can get Higgins for Deon Jackson or Gus Edwards I’m smashing that. I might even take Boyd for one of them if my roster can handle it. Heck, you might find Boyd on waivers after they run this week. You never know.

Mike Evans (WR – TB)

Last but not least on my list is Mike Evans. Where do we start with him? His Week 9 finish as WR33 is concerning to me, but what’s more concerning is that the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers look clueless right now. Evans saw 11 targets but only caught five of them for 40 yards. Not all of those misses were on him, but if we can’t trust Brady to get the ball to his receivers, then what’s the point of starting them? I’m holding Evans if I have him, and I’m probably starting him too, but I’m not sure he’s someone I’m willing to trade for at this point. I just don’t know what to expect from him and the team at large, so I want no part of it unless I’m already invested at this point.

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