Identifying the right buy-low and sell-high trade candidates is crucial to staying ahead of your league. In this article, we dive into the top trade targets for Week 9, with insights and recommendations from Featured Pros analysts. Whether you’re looking to capitalize on a player’s early-season breakout or snag a struggling star, these tips will help you maximize your team’s potential moving forward.
Week 9 Trade Candidates: Buy Low
Who is your favorite buy-low trade candidate at this point in the season, and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?
Nico Collins (WR – HOU)
“Nico Collins was leading the NFL in receiving yards and was injured by scoring a big touchdown. Stefon Diggs suffered a knee injury and is out for the year. I would be looking to trade one of these hot players, like Cedric Tillman or Ladd McConkey, to a win-now team. Nico Collins is a league winner that you should go grab right now.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)
“Go get Tony Pollard. Over the last two weeks, Pollard hasn’t seen a decrease in opportunities. However, his production has suffered due to a lack of touchdowns. While this Tennessee Titans offense will miss DeAndre Hopkins, their defense is still good enough to keep them in games. Couple this with a favorable schedule in most weeks – but especially in weeks 14 through 17 (Cincy, Indy, and Jacksonville twice) – and Pollard will eat if he remains healthy. I’m moving over performing WRs like Josh Downs or teammate Calvin Ridley, or the equivalent of a mid-2nd round pick in dynasty for Pollard this week.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Diontae Johnson (WR – BAL)
“Taking a gamble on Diontae Johnson in any iteration of a PPR league could be the way to go. Any situation might be better for his fantasy prospects than Carolina, and any fantasy manager looking to trade for Johnson has to know that. Trading a flex-level player or two, such as Tyrone Tracy, Romeo Doubs, or Tank Dell, could be enough to land Diontae Johnson, but it is a gamble.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)
“Call us crazy, but Patrick Mahomes. He has been underwhelming in fantasy football this year, to say the least, but there might be greener pastures ahead. Mahomes has a sexy schedule to end the year, and we totally can see him becoming a league winner and fantasy football playoff MVP. If you can package Sam Darnold or even Baker Mayfield in a deal for the GOAT, do it!”
– Fantasy Football Goonz (Fantasy Football Goonz)
Tyreek Hill (WR – MIA) | Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
“The easy answer here is the two Dolphins’ receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Tua Tagovailoa is back, and while his health is at risk, I am willing to take that risk. I expect the Dolphins to open up more after Tua’s first game back and with basically nothing to lose. I might try to flip recent breakouts like Cedric Tillman or Ladd McConkey for Waddle or Hill, respectively.”
– Michael Tomlin (Fantasy Six Pack)
“Tyreek Hill is my favorite buy-low trade candidate now that Tua Tagovailoa is back from concussion protocol. Hill had a sub-par game in week 8 with 72 receiving yards, but this should increase as he and Tua reconnect. I’m willing to trade Tyreek Hill for any WR2 or Flex player. ”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
Drake London (WR – ATL)
“Drake London is currently WR5 on the season, and it’s gone largely unnoticed due to an abysmal Week 1 performance. Many managers were skeptical of London’s ability to break out this season and quickly cut bait when the Falcons struggled early on. Since that early-season struggle, London has scored more than 17 points in four of his last six games and is a prime buy-low target until managers realize he has quietly become a fantasy stud. I would give up AJ Brown, Deebo Samuel, and Marvin Harrison Jr.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)
Aaron Jones (RB – MIN)
“Aaron Jones has totally taken over the Vikings backfield, with Ty Chandler receiving just two snaps last week. Jones was unfortunate not to do more with his opportunities, but the buy-low opportunity ends here. Jones faces the Colts and Jaguars over the next fortnight and will have a massive jump in value.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Jayden Reed (WR – GB)
“Despite his recent struggles, I’m still buying Jayden Reed. His usage numbers will never make him a conventional buy-low candidate (high volume and poor efficiency, with the expectation their luck will improve to maximize the strong volume). Instead, the thesis for Reed is just his talent. When Love is healthy, he is highly efficient (3rd among qualified WRs in EPA/play when targeted), and I believe he’s such an explosive playmaker that I’d be willing to give nearly any WR2, such as either Jets receiver, to go get him for your fantasy playoff runs.”
– Benjamin Klotz (Touchdown Squad)
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
“The Pittsburgh Steelers hit their BYE at 6-2, and Najee Harris has been the clear lead back over Jaylen Warren. Najee is a durable, high-floor RB2 option the rest of the way and is more valuable to your championship pursuit than the typical boom-bust WRs built on swag. In redraft, it makes sense to trade someone like Tank Dell for Najee (and more) to stabilize your contending roster.”
– Brad Beatson (Bandit Fantasy Football)
Week 9 Trade Candidates: Sell High
Who is your favorite sell-high candidate at this point in the season and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN)
“Calvin Ridley had a monster week, and he has name value. Sell the narrative about DeAndre Hopkins leaving and the 15 targets. This was a weird game, and the Titans had Mason Rudolph throwing the ball 38 times. We could see a change at quarterback, and this offense is just bad. I would use Ridley to package to move up and get someone like Jayden Reed or Nico Collins.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
“I’d be selling Calvin Ridley as fast as I could. His 15 targets last week might make him appear as if he is returning to form, but in reality, we’ve seen him score 0 points on eight targets this year, so I really don’t care about anyone in this offense besides Tony Pollard. If league mates are willing to see DeAndre Hopkins‘ departure as an opportunity, any flex-viable player like Javonte Williams, Josh Downs, or Tucker Kraft would be a worthwhile return for someone I see as nearly droppable.”
– Benjamin Klotz (Touchdown Squad)
Kareem Hunt (RB – KC)
“Kareem Hunt has been solid since re-joining the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran has averaged 15.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 12.8 or more in all but one of four contests. However, his yards per rushing attempt average has declined in every game, going from 4.9 in his first contest to 2.8 last week. Unfortunately, Hunt has become a touchdown-or-bust running back, with nearly 40% of his fantasy production coming from finding the end zone. More importantly, Isiah Pacheco is only a few weeks away from returning from a broken fibula he suffered earlier this season. I would explore trading Hunt and a bench player for Rico Dowdle and a WR3.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“While Kareem Hunt has been great for the Chiefs, his time as the lead dog may be coming to an end. Isiah Pacheco could return in Week 10 or 11, and that could turn the backfield into a mess. Hunt has done enough to gather playing time once Pacheco returns, but will the volume be sustainable enough to keep him in the low-end RB2/high-end flex conversation remains to be seen. If fantasy managers could use Hunt to trade up for Rhamondre Stevenson, Chris Olave, or Jaylen Waddle, there should be no hesitation in an effort to get that done.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)
“You need to sell Cedric Tillman right now. The perfect storm of injury and poor secondary play from the Ravens came together to allow Tillman to have a monster Week 8. And while the peripherals all look great, and Jameis is known to sling the rock, this Cleveland Browns squad has issues. Plus, a near-elite D should cap Tillman’s volume weekly. He has likely hit his ceiling this past week. I’m looking to score an injured stud in redraft like Nico Collins or Mike Evans from a struggling squad or go after a good RB who could be great down the stretch like James Conner or Kenneth Walker. A package might be necessary, but aim high when dealing Tillman.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
James Conner (RB – ARI)
“James Conner will miss games this season. His value is likely the highest it will be. We like Josh Jacobs to have a stellar second half and would definitely target him in a trade.”
– Fantasy Football Goonz (Fantasy Football Goonz)
CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL)
“The surprising yet true answer is CeeDee Lamb. Lamb is coming off his first 100-yard game of the season and only second game with more than 17 Half-PPR Fantasy Points. I have serious concerns about the entire Cowboys’ offense and the fact they are dangerously close to packing it in for the season. Even worse, Lamb has only faced a single secondary ranked in the top half of the league in Fantasy Points against while already facing four of the worst seven. If you can flip the Cowboy for another guy seen on the elite tier (Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown), then I would do it in a heartbeat.”
– Michael Tomlin (Fantasy Six Pack)
Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI)
“I’m selling high on Saquon Barkley. He currently sits as RB3 in scoring and RB1 in the rest of season rankings after being excellent to start his time with the Eagles. However, the Ghost of Goal Line Past has reared his ugly head recently in the form of Jalen Hurts. Barkley has five rushing touchdowns on the season, and with the Eagles once again using Hurts as their goal line back it will be tough for Barkley to maintain his current value. I’m trading him away for Kyren Williams, Jahnyr Gibbs, and even Devon Achane.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)
Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)
“Zay Flowers has benefited from a very high target share in a number of close, high-scoring games. He now gets significant target competition in Diontae Johnson and Broncos, Steelers, and Chargers in the next month, with his bye week still to come, too. I’m selling high on the back of three 100-yard outings, as he’s still viewed as a high WR2.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Jauan Jennings (WR – SF)
“Try and flip Ricky Pearsall for Jauan Jennings (and another piece) during the 49ers BYE. Kyle Shanahan’s history of slow-playing rookies was pushed to the brink with all the in-game injuries the 49ers have endured this season. With Christian McCaffrey back in the fold, look for Jennings to lead 49ers wideouts in snaps and get high-value downfield looks that would’ve previously gone to Brandon Aiyuk.”
– Brad Beatson (Bandit Fantasy Football)
The Malik Nabers Debate
Occasionally, two analysts will disagree on whether a player is a buy or sell on the trade market. Here are their arguments for Malik Nabers:
Buy
“Malik Nabers hasn’t been a fantasy superstar since missing time with a concussion, totaling 16.8 half-point PPR fantasy points in the two games back from the injury. However, the rookie wide receiver has 21 targets over the past two weeks after averaging 13 per game before suffering the concussion. More importantly, Nabers was a couple of bad drops and errors away from another massive fantasy performance in Week 8 against a talented Pittsburgh Steelers defense. The former LSU star has several appealing matchups over the next few weeks, including against the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I would flip a wide receiver like Terry McLaurin for Nabers without thinking twice about it.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Sell
“Malik Nabers is my favorite sell-high candidate at this point in the season. He’s a talented wide receiver, and the Giants tend to play from behind in all of their games. But the problem here lies with not being on the same page as quarterback Daniel Jones. It’s Jones’ poor quarterback play that is keeping Malik Nabers from having a great fantasy season. I’m willing to trade Malik Nabers for any WR2 or Flex player.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
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