The 2023 fantasy football season is firmly underway. Early in the season, values are constantly changing as we figure out the ever-changing fantasy landscape. As always, fantasy managers should be looking to improve their rosters. Here are a handful of players to explore trades for and buy low or sell high on.
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Fantasy Football Week 6 Buy-Low Trade Targets
Here are a few players fantasy managers should be looking to acquire at a low price, if possible.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
I’ve seen enough from Trevor Lawrence to know he’s just fine. Lawrence looked very good against a tough Buffalo Bills defense. Yet, he threw for over 300 yards.
The main problem with Lawrence’s fantasy production has been a lack of touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown for multiple touchdowns since Week 1. That is bound to regress.
Travis Etienne Jr. won’t be taking all of the touchdowns every week. The spike weeks are coming. If Lawrence’s manager is frustrated at the underwhelming production, try and explore a trade if you need a QB.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Admittedly, it may not be possible to buy low on Jonathan Taylor. His managers likely know that the Indianapolis Colts were intentionally easing him in. But what if they don’t?
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We saw what Zack Moss just did and what he’s been doing in this offense. Imagine what a fully unleashed Taylor could do?
As great as Moss has been, it’s only a matter of time before the vastly more talented Taylor takes over. He should be a top-five fantasy back over the second half. If you can buy him for anything less, it’s worth it.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Another week, another good-not-great performance from Bijan Robinson. It’s going to be tough to pry him away from his manager, but perhaps the excessive use of Tyler Allgeier and lack of spike weeks have lowered his value.
The boom weeks are coming. Robinson is too talented for them not to. If there is any way to acquire him via trade, do it.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
This may be tough because touchdowns always skew perception, and Chris Olave finally found the end zone this week. However, Olave now has a total of three catches for 16 yards in his past two games.
After seeing double-digit targets the first three weeks, he’s seen 11 total in his last two games. That is not going to hold. Olave is too talented, and I still believe he will be a high WR2 when it’s all said and done. If you can buy low, now is the time.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
It was against the Arizona Cardinals, but the Cincinnati Bengals looked as good as they have all season on Sunday. Ja’Marr Chase completely dominated in the game of his career with Tee Higgins out of the lineup. But the real story is Joe Burrow looking more like Joe Burrow again.
Higgins is going to return, likely within a week or two. When he does, this version of Burrow looks fully capable of supporting both of them.
It’s been a disappointing start to the season for Higgins. He’s flopped all but one week, and now he’s injured. But he’s coming back. When he does, he is fully capable of being a WR2 for the rest of the season. If you can buy him at a WR3 price, I would do it.
Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Evan Engram may not be a buy-low candidate in the traditional sense of the term, but he’s still a buy. There are very few reliable tight ends this season. Engram hasn’t really had any big games, but he’s seen eight targets in four straight games. He’s the definition of reliable.
Engram caught four passes for 28 yards against the Bills. He’s yet to score a touchdown. He is worth buying as a solid, floor-based TE1.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Sell-High Trade Options
Here are a few players fantasy managers should be looking to sell at a high price, if possible.
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields has now thrown for four touchdowns in consecutive games. Last Thursday, he also tossed in some rushing, specifically 57 yards on 11 carries.
I’m not saying you must sell Fields. But he’s been the best quarterback in fantasy football over the past two weeks. He looks like 2022 Fields, except he’s doing it mostly through the air.
If you can sell Fields as a top-three fantasy QB, it’s worth doing. However, Fields isn’t strictly a sell-at-all-costs guy anymore. I’ve seen enough to believe what he’s doing is somewhat sustainable.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
It goes without saying that there is no selling “high” on Rhamondre Stevenson. This is undoubtedly a sell-low. I don’t care. Get rid of Stevenson at all costs.
The New England Patriots are the worst offense in football. Mac Jones will probably get benched, but I don’t think Bailey Zappe is any sort of savior.
Stevenson is a talented player, but he has nowhere to run. The Patriots can’t score any points, so Stevenson has no touchdown upside. There just isn’t any way for him to score points. It is not going to get better.
Stevenson is barely a rest-of-season RB3. If you can get anything resembling RB2 value, get rid of him.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
It’s probably a stretch to call Dameon Pierce a sell-high option. But if you look at his performance, the peripherals are very good. He carried the ball 20 times, caught a pass, and is on a surprisingly competent offense with C.J. Stroud playing excellent football.
The problem is it’s been five weeks, and Pierce has yet to even hit 15 fantasy points in a game. The Houston Texans’ offensive line can’t generate any push, resulting in inefficient days on the ground. Since Pierce doesn’t catch passes, he’s very touchdown-dependent.
In a different situation, Pierce could be Nick Chubb lite. In Houston, he’s a random RB3. If you can sell him as an RB2 or package him with another player for an upgrade, it’s a great move.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
For the first four weeks, DeAndre Hopkins was a floor WR3, at best. This week, he went off for 8-140 on 11 targets.
Hopkins is a big name. It’s possible that someone in your league thinks this is a sign of him returning to being the elite WR1 he’s been for the majority of the past decade. The thing is, every WR1 smashes against the Colts. This may very well end up being Hopkins’ best game of the season.
By no means should you sell low on him. If you can’t get plus value, just hang onto him. But if you can get good value for DHop in a trade, it’s worth exploring.
Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills
I keep calling for Gabe Davis’ touchdown spree to slow down. It continues to persist. He’s now scored in four consecutive games.
Davis isn’t a screaming sell. He’s still the WR2 in a Josh Allen offense. There will always be upside for him. This is more if someone is valuing him as the WR2 he’s been performing as, especially in the wake of his 6-100-1 game in London.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
I’m including Kyle Pitts here for a second consecutive week for two reasons: 1) There really isn’t any tight end that’s truly a sell high, and 2) Pitts just had his best game of the season, catching seven of 11 targets for 87 yards.
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There’s no reason to think this is the start of a trend. The Falcons remain a run-heavy team, and Desmond Ridder remains one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league.
Last week, we were talking about Pitts as a drop candidate. But the hype on him has been so great that it’s possible someone in your league sees this performance and buys right back in. If that manager is out there, sell.