Attention fantasy football managers: NFL bye weeks are underway! This crucial time in the season marks the point where we can discard preconceived ideas about what this year will bring, as we now have enough data to identify significant trends.
Considering the current landscape of the league, let’s examine some players who are increasing and decreasing in value, could be traded for at a lower price, and could be traded away at a higher price in dynasty leagues. Given the constantly evolving market in 2023, the prospects for these players might change drastically, even within a week. We aim to strike a balance between judicious and maximizing returns on impulsive decisions.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
Dynasty Risers After Week 6
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
If it’s at all possible to move Travis Etienne further up your running back dynasty rankings, do it. Our Consensus Rankings have Etienne as RB7, and I’d argue he should be at least RB5. Coming off a massive week where he finished as RB2 in PPR leagues, Etienne has everything needed to be an elite producer for the next few years.
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Etienne lacks an elite run-blocking offensive line, but he’s getting a ton of volume, even if he produces only 55 rushing yards a week. He carried the ball 18 times and caught three passes. He’s also kept Tank Bigsby out of the rotation, earning more red-zone snaps than we anticipated before the year.
He’s not a perfect player, but he is in a strong situation to continue putting him RB1 number for a few years. Etienne’s youth (24 years old) and relative health compared to Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor are favorable, even if he’s a lesser individual talent.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
There’s no reason to go overboard and suddenly see Jameson Williams as an impending superstar in fantasy. However, he is undoubtedly a riser this week. Catching two passes for 53 yards and a touchdown, Williams finally provided the spark Detroit drafted him for. He hauled a 45-yard touchdown to break the game open against Tampa Bay.
Williams has a long way to go before he’s a consistent starting option. Last week, he caught two passes for only two yards. But Detroit’s offense needs Williams to emerge quickly, or else they’ll have to dedicate more resources to the position next offseason.
That pressure might be creating a diamond. In this system, and with Jared Goff willing to heave him bombs, Williams is someone to buy now if he fulfills his outstanding potential.
Dynasty Fallers After Week 6
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
There’s much to like about Barkley in dynasty leagues, even acknowledging his injury history. The dude is incredibly talented and is capable of producing 30-touch games. But his efficiency this season has been bad as a rusher and receiver, and the Giants are primed to let him walk next offseason.
Barkley’s name value can only go so far. Having paid off only once in the last four years for fantasy managers and being stuck in a situation with bad quarterback and mediocre offensive line play, Barkley is a volume-dependent back. There’s value in that, but he’s far from an untouchable value in dynasty leagues.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
He’s human!
After a historic start to his career, Puka Nacua finally showed mortality in Week 6, producing only four receptions for 26 yards. He was targeted seven times and saw a season-low 3.7 yards per target.
As feared, the Rams couldn’t sustain feeding both Cooper Kupp and Nacua at a high level each week. Few offenses can carry two high-end receivers, and the Rams can still occasionally achieve it. But this was a tough end to Nacua’s hot streak.
Nacua also saw the Rams feed Kyren Williams 20 times. It’s not time to overreact to this one game. If the Rams fade Nacua into the unit’s third option behind Kupp (a given) and Williams, we’ll have to re-evaluate his ceiling when Kupp is on the field.
Dynasty Buy-Low Trade Targets
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are starting to see why Baker Mayfield has been made available for next to nothing in recent years. He’s not very good, and his inability to throw deep passes has considerably restricted the team’s offense. However, we still want to bet on the talent around him.
Mike Evans has posted two straight games with less than 50 yards, plummeting his value after scoring a touchdown in the season’s first three contests. With his pending free agency looming over the franchise and expectations still low around the team despite their solid start, some managers may be willing to move Evans for less than he should go for.
Evans may not be a WR1 on your team, but he fits well as a Flex or WR2 option, where you need a higher ceiling. His ability to score touchdowns is a massive X factor somewhat unique to him.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
No one will beat down the doors for Javonte Williams right now, as he’s stuck in a struggling Broncos offense while averaging four yards a carry. Williams, off a torn ACL, has yet to break 52 rushing yards in a game. However, that means his stock might be at an all-time low.
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Denver might embrace the tank sooner rather than later as the losses pile up. While head coach Sean Payton has no loyalty to Williams in the future, the idea of pairing a fully recovered, explosive Williams with a young, playmaking quarterback is enough to keep Williams on my radar to buy low.
Dynasty Sell-High Trade Targets
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Rostered on about 85% of redraft teams, Jakobi Meyers is far from a fantasy star. He might be buried on a team with a handful of better options until the bye week. Unless you’re competing for a league title this year, I’d be looking to see if Meyers fetches any value for teams needing an injury replacement or depth.
Meyers has produced relatively well, considering Jimmy Garoppolo’s injuries and Vegas’ overall chaos. He’s coming off a WR12 finish, catching five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Vegas doesn’t have an explosive offense, but Meyers continues to be the possession threat we’d hoped for and has a solid floor most weeks he plays.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Seeing Rhamondre Stevenson back in the top six backs is a refreshing throwback to when he was a regular contributor to every fantasy roster last year. Unfortunately, Stevenson’s consistency is impossible to predict as the Patriots’ offense flounders.
With only 46 rushing yards and 24 receiving yards last week, Stevenson’s value is best tied to his volume. Some rosters will need that, but if yours doesn’t, then moving off Stevenson now will get ahead of any further dip he could see if Mac Jones is benched.