The quest to improve our fantasy football rosters never ends. As Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season winds down, it’s not too soon to look ahead to Week 5. Let’s examine a few players to target and unload as your league trade talks heat up.
Who are some fantasy football buy-low Week 5 trade targets?
Here are three players I’m targeting in my league. That’s right — my league. This isn’t advice in a vacuum. Each of these guys is underperforming compared to likely future production. Snag them now while they’re still affordable.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Two years ago, Prescott enjoyed an impressive 4,902-30-11 campaign. Last year, he was on pace for 5,939-29-13 before getting hurt. Given his offensive weapons, few quarterbacks have as high a floor or ceiling. Yet, he’s only the 12th-highest-scoring fantasy QB and could drop to 14th depending on how well Justin Herbert and Derek Carr perform tonight.
With Amari Cooper potentially slowed by his hamstring and Michael Gallup sidelined, it’s easy to see how Prescott could shift from “great” to “dominating” in the second half of the season. Buy low while you can.
AJ Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
Aside from Alexander Mattison, there is no RB handcuff I pushed more this summer than Dillon. The No. 62 pick in last year’s draft, the Boston College product handled 300+ carries twice in three NCAA seasons, demonstrating a workhorse potential that’s invaluable for fantasy managers. Yesterday, he flashed with 81 yards on 15 carries against the Steelers.
Although starter Aaron Jones has posted some big numbers overall, his 3.7 yards per carry are far below his 5.0 career average. Dillon has looked the part and has nowhere to go but up.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Whose fantasy production has dropped each game since Week 1? Possibly several guys, to be honest. But I’m talking about Lamb, who last year was on pace for 93-1,386-6 through five weeks. That’s insane when you consider the numbers Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott, and the rest of the team were producing during this stretch.
However, he’s been an afterthought in recent weeks, as the running game and recent TE MVP Dalton Schultz have taken over. It won’t always be that way. Lamb is a pre-prime phenom with strong WR1 potential in a potent offense. His relatively slow start is irrelevant. Trade for him if you can.
Which potential trade targets should you sell high on?
The following three players have a perceived value greater than their actual value, making them ideal sell-high candidates.
Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers
In what world is Sam Darnold on pace for 21 rushing touchdowns? Apparently, our world. So what are you going to do about it? Sit by passively and enjoy the ride? Of course not. The No. 5 fantasy QB, Darnold is on pace for 5,053-23-13. Those are top 10-12 numbers, not top six. His unsustainable rushing TD pace skews his value, while his tough fantasy playoff schedule (final four games: Buffalo, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Tampa Bay) makes him a risky starter when you’d need him most. Sell now.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Every year, multiple undraftable players become weekly fantasy starters. This year, Patterson leads the pack. His preseason RB73 ADP suggested he was firmly behind Mike Davis on the depth chart. But the former first-round pick has become arguably the latest late-bloomer in NFL history. Now 30 years old, Patterson is the No. 2 fantasy RB thanks to 18 catches and 5 TDs.
As we know, defenses adjust. And usually, seemingly unstoppable players eventually are stopped — or at least slowed. Averaging only 11 touches per game, Patterson simply cannot sustain this production. Trade him to an RB-needy manager for a worthwhile QB or WR upgrade.
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Selling high requires nuance. Williams is the real deal. Playing for a new contract, he has always possessed the talent to thrive at this level. He finally has the quarterback and the targets to put it all together.
If Williams were the No. 20 fantasy WR, I’d say buy low. But he’s currently the No. 1 fantasy WR in points per game, averaging an astonishing 25.8. For context, Davante Adams had arguably the best per-game fantasy season ever last year by averaging 25.6. While Keenan Allen (#16 WR in points per game) has room to ascend, Williams has plenty of room to regress.