To celebrate the NFL’s looming trade deadline, we look at some players that need to be moved this week. Owners with playoff hopes need to be trading the following:
Buy
DJ Chark
LSU product D.J. Chark entered the 2019 with a bang. A monster week 1 performance against the Chiefs and 3 touchdowns in the first 3 games placed Chark on many early sell high lists.
Owner’s initial worries over a Minshew led offence now seem laughable and Chark sits proudly as the number 5 Wide Receiver in both standard and PPR.
Chark faces 4 out of the 6 worst secondaries against Wide Receivers the rest of the way. The play-off finals serve Chark 2 of those teams in Oakland and Atlanta.
Clark’s schedule couldn’t be any better and if Minshew can continue feeding the sophomore star, Chark could genuinely bring your franchise a fantasy title.
Chark still hasn’t had his bye week, so emphasise the down weeks and the renaming tough Tennessee matchup to owners. You could may sign yourself a true league winner.
Tyler Lockett
A major beneficiary of Russell Wilson’s MVP campaign, Lockett has been one of the most consistent wideouts this season.
Lockett has only had one game with less than 10 points, sitting 10th in PPR for all Wide Receivers. The Kansas state product is currently averaging an impressive 11.39 yards per target, catching 4 touchdowns.
For all the positives and consistency, Lockett has only had 1 game this year with over 16 points. In addition to the average box-scores, Lockett has already possess 4 games with just 5 targets or less.
As we enter the business end of the season Wilson and the Seahawks will surely look to ramp up the offence as they look to solidify both their position and Wilson’s MVP claim.
The schedule eases up tenfold for Pete Carroll’s men and they face some of the easiest defences against wideouts. Lockett will look to take advantage of matchups against the two worst defences in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.
The cherry top remains a fantasy playoff final against an awful Arizona secondary.
Somehow Lockett still isn’t seen as a big name pass-catcher, so push the low target share, the lack of a consistent run game. Lockett won’t be as cheap as others on this list, but strike the right deal and he could take your team all the way.
Josh Jacobs
While the window to sell high on Jacobs has been and gone, savvy owners looking for a possible league winning Running Back need to look to the Oakland rookie.
Jacobs sits as the 11th Running Back in standard and 15th in PPR. Despite two massive 20+ point weeks, owners will have been left disappointed by the Alabama’s inconsistency typifying a disjointed season for the Raiders.
Those in need of a Running Back need to be aware of the schedule opening up for the former first round pick.
Jacobs will relish facing the 2 worst run defences in Cincinnati and Detroit. While not as exciting, the fantasy a playoff schedule against beatable the Jaguars and Chargers should not alarm anyone.
Jon Gruden’s side are still in the playoff hunt and will look to attack a beatable schedule. Jacobs is a shoe-in for double digit points when given more than 15 carries and all signs point to Jacobs becoming a true workhorse for the second half of the season.
Mix in a growing involvement in the passing game and you have a possible bellcow who has already had his bye week. Trade for now and watch Jacobs take you to the playoffs.
Sell
Latavius Murray
Latavius Murray was an interesting acquisition for the New Orleans Saints this past offseason. After losing Mark Ingram, the Saints needed a powerful, hard-running partner to compliment Alvin Kamara and their successful one-two punch at Running Back.
Forever underrated, Murray would have been looking to prove he could fill the void left by Ingram’s departure. The former Minnesota man has been keeping his owners buoyant of late, averaging just over 30 points over the last two weeks.
Smart owners, however, will be actively shopping Murray this week.
Although the Central Florida product’s bumper fortnight will have given owners a huge boost towards the play-offs, he will be virtually unplayable once you get there.
After a middle of the road matchup in week 15 against Indianapolis, the Saints face Tennessee in the fantasy playoff final. A bout that looks to ruin owners’ chances at silverware.
It’s no coincidence that Murray’s biggest stat-lines have come in the absence of the uber-talented Alvin Kamara. Kamara’s injury sabbatical has left Murray as the lone workhorse in the Saint’s backfield; an opportunity he has relished.
In week 14 Murray faces a 49ers squad boasting the second best defence against the run. Tampa Bay follow after next week’s bye currently ranking third.
Running Back needy teams will see the box scores and pay a premium price for what looks like a Running Back 1. Murray’s price is sky-high and he needs to be dealt before derailing your playoff bid.
Trade for: James Conner, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb
Julian Edelman
Tom Brady’s Patriots have taken full advantage of a generationally easy schedule to remain unbeaten at 8-0. Belichick is proving he is a genius, Sony Michel is finally being utilised and Brady is feeding his pass-catchers bombs.
Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown and Mohamed Sanu may have received the headlines but Edelman has remained Brady’s favoured target. This past week brought owners a delightful 2 touchdown performance against the Browns.
Though New England have a genuine chance to remain unbeaten and finish 16-0, owners with an eye on the fantasy play-offs need to be shopping Edelman as soon as possible.
Edelman faces both Cincinnati and Buffalo in the fantasy playoffs. Although both franchises are admittedly not the scariest of teams on paper, the pair rank in the top 10 against wideouts.
The Kent State man also has a date with the second best defence against in Dallas and tough bouts with mean Baltimore and Dallas defences.
Emphasise the tantalising trip to a Philadelphia side gifting a league worst 45 points per game to Wide Receivers and you may receive a league winner in return for Brady’s ‘ol reliable’.
Trade for: Amari Cooper, Kenny Golladay, T.Y. Hilton
Tyreek Hill
After an explosive return from his shoulder injury obtained in week 1 against the Jaguars, the cheetah has endured 2 quieter weeks against a pair of top 6 defences.
Although Mahomes is due back from injury very soon, having Matt Moore as your Quarterback is undoubtedly going to hurt your fantasy value.
The Chiefs schedule looks awful for wideouts. A visit from the mean Denver defence and trips to Tennessee, New England and a fantasy playoff final at Chicago should worry Hill owners.
Many spent a high pick on a player who has provided just 3 solid fantasy weeks as we enter the second half of the season.
Hill is an explosive talent and only a fool would bet against a Mahomes led offence. That being said, the schedule should strike fear into the most ardent owner. When name value could net you a true league winner, you would be stupid not to cash in and trade away.
Trade for: Steffon Diggs, Julio Jones, Davante Adams.
Until Week 9, Keep Rushing.
-Dre @lil_carat
