Through the first five weeks of the season, you should have an idea of what kind of fantasy team you have. If you’re at the top of the standings, you’re gearing up for a playoff run. If you’re not, well, it’s time to start unloading. Luckily, FantasyPros has you covered. Not only is there the ‘Who Should I Trade?’ tool where you can get instant feedback but every week in this space, we’ll dig even deeper into players that should be moved. There will be the classic one-for-one deals but also deals where multiple pieces would equate to one piece which will be indicated with a ‘-plus’ next to the player’s name. Without further ado, below are some possible trades to offer as we ramble on with the 2023 season.
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Fantasy Football Trade Advice (Week 7)
The Trade: Brock Purdy (QB – SF) for C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU)
The Reasoning: It’s a battle of young, efficient quarterbacks for our first trade. In one corner, Brock Purdy has skyrocketed from Mr. Irrelevant to elite status in just one-and-a-half seasons. People were skeptical that his rookie season, when he led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game, was a fluke but he’s more than extinguished those concerns. Through the 49ers’ first five games of 2023, he’s averaging over 250 passing yards per game and has a 9/0 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s also completing 72.1% of his passes and averaging 8.6 yards per attempt.
In the other corner is rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. The former Buckeye has been blazing hot out of the gates, averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game with a 7/0 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s only averaging 61% of his passes but averaging 7.9 yards-per-attempt on those passes.
So why choose one over the other? In short, it’s about the volume. Both Purdy and Stroud have made good decisions on the field this year, as evidenced by neither throwing an interception yet. While Purdy is averaging more than a half-yard more per attempt, he’s also throwing 10 fewer attempts each game. San Francisco and Purdy ranked dead last in attempts with 27.4. They haven’t needed to pass it as much with each successive dominating performance and this is a run-first team and always will be under Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. Meanwhile, Houston is ranked seventh in pass attempts at 37.4 per game and should continue that trend all season. While the Texans are much improved over last season, they will still be battling in most games and relying on Stroud and his receivers to move the ball. Yes, he might end up with his share of interceptions but he’s also going to be throwing the ball a ton.
The Trade: Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT) for Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN)
The Reasoning: In the cases of both Jaylen Warren and Jaleel McLaughlin, you’re investing in the long term. Both Warren and McLaughlin began behind the starters but both have also outplayed them to the point where they could see starter’s snaps soon.
For Warren, this trend started more than a year ago. Playing behind current starter Najee Harris last season, Warren has looked more capable of big plays, averaging a full yard more than Harris on yards-per-carry (4.9 to 3.8). Yet the trend this year is still for Pittsburgh to favor Harris, with Harris outcarrying Warren (63 to 34). Luckily, Pittsburgh does trust Warren more in the passing game, with Warren seeing 25 targets to Harris’ eight. Logically, it would seem to be only a matter of time before Warren sees more attention.
McLaughlin’s rise to starter-dom was much less expected. Starting the season as an undrafted free agent, McLaughlin was penciled in as the third running back behind the still-recovering Javonte Williams and veteran Samaje Perine. However, after an injury to Williams allowed McLaughlin to show what we could do, it’s McLaughlin who looks like the starter. On just 22 carries, McLaughlin is already at 160 yards – an Achane-lite 7.3 yards-per-carry – while also turning seven receptions into 46 yards.
Both Warren and McLaughlin are far from guaranteed to be the starter on their respective teams. Warren has been ticketed for starter snaps for much longer than McLaughlin but the Pittsburgh coaching staff can also be stubborn to a fault and not give way to him. Meanwhile, McLaughlin is healthy and the Denver offense has, by all accounts, looked better with him rather than Williams. Sean Payton is also more likely to roll with the hot hand, unlike Steelers coach Mike Tomlin who has been dug in for Harris.
The Trade: K.J. Osborn (WR – MIN) for Marvin Mims, Jr. (DEN – WR)
The Reasoning: K.J. Osborn’s managers drafted him precisely for this moment. With Justin Jefferson hitting the IR this week, Osborn is the de facto WR1 in Minnesota for at least the next four weeks. Hopefully, it will mean more targets than he’s getting now. Despite playing just as many snaps as Jefferson, Osborn is a paltry fourth on the team in targets. He’s currently behind Jefferson, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and rookie receiver Jordan Addison and is just trying to stay ahead of running back Alexander Mattison. He’ll look to boost his total being the (potential) top target on the most pass-heavy team in the league. Currently, Minnesota is averaging nearly 41 pass attempts per game and doesn’t appear to be changing that philosophy.
So why move him for a player like Mims? For a league mate who’s in the thick of the playoff race right now, they may need all the immediate help they can get especially if they’re a current Jefferson manager. And Mims, while currently buried on the depth chart, might not be there for long. There are rumblings that Denver could have a fire sale of veterans if they don’t stop losing which could include receivers like Courtland Sutton and/or Jerry Jeudy.
Mims has already shown he can play, totaling 246 yards and a score on just 10 receptions, with six of those 10 receptions going for first downs. So, if/when the Broncos start unloading veterans, Mims stands to gain the most which would be a welcome sign for fantasy teams down the stretch.
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