We are now in the home stretch of the fantasy football season. Fantasy managers should always be looking to improve their rosters, but now with an eye on the playoffs. With that in mind, here are a handful of players to explore trades for, either to buy low on those who are undervalued or sell high on ones overvalued.
Top Trade Targets To Buy in Your League
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Some of my favorite players to buy are those on byes. Fantasy managers have a tendency to kind of forget about them.
Prior to their bye, Jordan Love had a 273-yard scoreless game. It was his second consecutive dud. Love was also playing through a groin injury.
With two weeks to rest, Love should be 100% when he returns to the field in Week 11. Prior to his two games dealing with the groin issue, Love had hit 16.9 fantasy points or more in four straight, including two at 26 and 31. He can probably be acquired for very little.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Negative game script forced the Bucs to lean more on Rachaad White in the second half. However, before then, it sure looked like Bucky Irving had completely taken over this backfield.
Irving ran for 73 yards and a touchdown, while catching all three of his targets for 14 yards. This was against the 49ers.
Bucky Irving gives the @Buccaneers the lead!
📺: #SFvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/4KoGCpjsw8— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024
The Bucs’ remaining schedule is incredibly favorable. From Weeks 13-17, they play four bottom-10 run defenses. They also project to have positive game script in at least five of their last six games of the fantasy season.
Irving could be a legitimate league winner.
DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
It’s been quite a while since DK Metcalf was a reliable option for fantasy managers. Since Week 4, Metcalf has one game over 7.8 fantasy points.
Of course, that wasn’t all poor performances. Metcalf had two duds and then missed two games due to injury. That’s all contributed to a sour taste in the mouths of fantasy managers. That’s your opportunity.
Metcalf is expected back after the team’s bye and should immediately resume his role as the clear WR1. The Seahawks’ remaining schedule is not necessarily favorable, but it isn’t overly difficult. Plus, there are a few potential shootouts with the 49ers, Cardinals, and Vikings.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
It might be too late to buy T.J. Hockenson. Once upon a time, he was a top-five tight end. If fantasy managers are valuing him at that level, then the time to buy has passed. But if they aren’t, it’s time to pounce.
T.J. Hockenson in second game back:
15.2 fantasy points
71% routes
24% targets
20% air yardsThat didn't take long.
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) November 10, 2024
Hockenson was eased in two weeks ago in his first game back. In his second game, he looked back. Hockenson caught eight of nine targets for 72 yards. The Vikings do not have a difficult remaining schedule of pass defenses. Hockenson may already be the second option in the passing game behind Justin Jefferson.
Tight end has been a challenge for fantasy managers all season. Hockenson may be the solution you didn’t know you had.
Top Players To Sell in Your League
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Quietly, Brock Purdy is on a really good four-week run. He’s hit 20 fantasy points in four straight. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Purdy threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns.
The 49ers remain one of the best offenses in the NFL. However, they’ve enjoyed an average-to-good schedule of pass defenses. Their second-half schedule is pretty rough. The 49ers face three top-eight pass defenses in their next four games. We may have seen the best of Purdy this season, making this the ideal time to sell.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s a bit of low-hanging fruit to label Kareem Hunt as a sell. Isiah Pacheco is expected to practice in 2-3 weeks. When he returns, I fully expect him to resume his role as the clear RB1.
The reality is Hunt hasn’t been nearly as good as his fantasy numbers suggest. He is surviving on raw volume. He just put up 17 fantasy points in a game where he ran the ball 14 times for 35 yards and did not score.
In his first five games with the Chiefs, Hunt caught seven passes. Against the Broncos, Hunt caught seven passes. He saw 10 targets. That will probably never happen again.
Kareem Hunt soaked up a career-high 10 targets today.
He had 9 combined in his first five games this season.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) November 10, 2024
The Chiefs do have three easy matchups over the next three weeks. You could use Hunt for a game or two and then move him. Alternatively, you could use the upcoming schedule to sell him to a team that needs wins now, as Hunt is unlikely to help you in the fantasy playoffs.
Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, San Francisco 49ers
Impressively, Deebo Samuel Sr. has scored exactly 12.6 fantasy points in two consecutive games. More importantly, he finally made it through a game healthy. That’s why you sell Samuel.
I’ve lost all hope in Samuel. He plays too violently and too recklessly. He loses fantasy managers matchups with the games he leaves early. There have been three this season.
The 49ers’ remaining schedule is a mixed bag for WRs. But with Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings back and Ricky Pearsall emerging, the team doesn’t need to inundate Samuel with volume.
I’ve seen him get a mid-WR1 rest-of-season valuation. I think he’s more of a low-end WR2. Sell while you still can.
Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
I don’t know if you need to trade Mark Andrews. But if you want to do it, I think now will be the best opportunity you have for the rest of the season.
Andrews is coming off his best game of the season, catching six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. He’s now scored 14.6 fantasy points or more in four of his last five games.
I’m not sure anything has changed in Andrews’ role. He ran more routes on Thursday against the Bengals because Isaiah Likely was out. Likely is not done for the season. When he returns, I expect Andrews to return to splitting routes and blocking more. If you can sell Andrews for Hockenson plus another piece, that’s a great move to make.