The 2023 fantasy football season is now in the second half. With player values more firmly established, it becomes increasingly difficult to pull off buy-lows or sell-highs. Nevertheless, 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 8 Buy-Low Trade Targets
Here are a few players fantasy managers should be looking to acquire at a low price, if possible.
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Unfortunately, despite Jared Goff actually being two different players, the fantasy platforms require you to roster both. You can’t just pick one. However, you can choose to only start one.
This week, Road Goff was leading the charge. Road Goff averages about 7.0 fantasy points per game fewer than Home Goff.
The Detroit Lions have their bye in Week 9, but surrounding the bye are three home games in four weeks. That means Home Goff gets to come out and play.
Fantasy managers with Goff likely aren’t scared off by one horrible game, but there’s not much out there this week. Goff is the best buy-low at the QB position.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
I thought the buy-low window slammed shut on Josh Jacobs three weeks ago, but it might just have reopened a bit.
Jacobs has disappointed over the past two weeks, scoring 11.3 and 5.1 fantasy points. Let’s place those two duds in context, though. In Week 6, Jacobs had 25 carries and five targets. In Week 7, Jacobs was dealing with Brian Hoyer at quarterback.
Jimmy Garoppolo is expected back next week. Jacobs’ role in the offense remains elite. Volume is king, and it’s not as if Jacobs is empty volume — he’s legitimately talented. If the door is open to acquire Jacobs, you should do it.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
I guess I need to keep Bijan Robinson here. It was immensely frustrating for the first 3.5 quarters of the Atlanta Falcons’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Robinson was barely playing, and no one knew why. We later found out he wasn’t feeling well.
That’s still frustrating, but at least it wasn’t some random benching. Robinson was sick, and we didn’t know about it. That’s bad luck for everyone who started him. But it’s good to know that he wasn’t benched and wasn’t injured.
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Robinson is still an elite talent. This was his first game without double-digit fantasy points. He should be back in his usual role next week.
If Robinson’s fantasy managers are panicking over what just happened because they don’t know, don’t tell them. Just make an offer for Robinson. Now is the time.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
I am putting Chris Olave’s name here again. I know what you’re thinking. How many weeks before he stops being a buy-low and he starts to just be what he is? I don’t know the answer to that.
What I do know is Olave is really good at football, and his role remains excellent. Olave saw another 15 targets this week. He only caught seven of them for 57 yards, but it should’ve been a massive game. Carr missed Olave wide-open twice for what could’ve been long touchdown receptions. Can you imagine the discourse on Olave if even one of them hits?
I am banking on Carr (or a turn to Jameis Winston) resulting in this offense figuring out how to connect on these deep balls. Olave is getting open. A couple of better reads and better throws from Carr, and we’re talking about Olave as a WR1. If you can snag him at a WR2 or even WR3 price, do it.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This year’s Diontae Johnson Award is on pace to go to Chris Godwin. It’s been seven weeks. Godwin has 33 catches this season … and no touchdowns. He realistically should have at least two, if not three.
Had Godwin been scoring commensurate with his yardage, the perception of his value would be much better. Use that to your advantage.
The targeting is there. Godwin has seen 30 targets over his last three games. The touchdowns will come. Buy Godwin before they do.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
It’s strange calling a guy who didn’t play football the past week a buy low, but the tight end position is a wasteland. Coming off a complete dud, and with the Dallas Cowboys on bye, Jake Ferguson might have even been dropped in leagues. Even if he wasn’t, I can’t imagine fantasy managers are clinging to Ferguson.
The Cowboys still have a potent offense, and Ferguson’s role is as their TE1. Better days are ahead. You should be able to buy him for next to nothing.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Sell-High Trade Options
Here are a few players fantasy managers should be looking to sell at a high price, if possible.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
This was the week. We finally got a vintage Patrick Mahomes game. He threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns.
Now, I’m not saying you should go out of your way to sell the best player in the history of the sport. But Mahomes hasn’t been Mahomes for fantasy this season. Prior to this week, Mahomes had gone three straight games under 20 fantasy points.
For the rest of the season, I still like Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts better. If you can sell Mahomes and get one of those QBs or a haul of sorts, it’s something to consider.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
I went back and forth a bit on whether to include Alvin Kamara here. Ultimately, I settled on Kamara being a sell if you can get someone to pay a premium based on how he’s been producing for fantasy.
Kamara is not the same explosive player we remember from the late 2010s. He’s older, and he’s definitely lost a step. He’s averaging 3.92 yards per carry and has become a heavy between-the-tackles carry guy.
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The reason Kamara’s fantasy numbers are excellent is his massive receiving work. Kamara has seen a whopping 39 targets across his four games. He already has three 14-target games.
Derek Carr can’t stop checking the ball down, even before the play develops. That’s great for now. It’s resulting in Kamara being an elite RB1 in fantasy without scoring touchdowns.
The problem is if it ever stops, Kamara may not even be an RB2. Therefore, if you can get someone to give you RB1 value for Kamara, it’s a trade worth exploring. Just be careful not to misinterpret this as me saying to get rid of him at all costs.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
It pains me to put Jahmyr Gibbs on this list as a sell-high after his breakout performance. Gibbs ran the ball 11 times for 68 yards and a touchdown while also catching nine of 10 targets for 58 yards.
Gibbs definitely would be here to stay if the role was his to keep, but David Montgomery will return, and when he does, he will immediately resume his role as the team’s RB1.
Gibbs’ role will be more than it was over the first half of the season, but he just won’t be the RB1 once Montgomery returns. If you can sell him as an RB1, it’s worth considering.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
To be fair, Michael Pittman Jr. isn’t a clear sell. He’s a very talented player and remains the WR1 for the Colts. With that said, it’s at least a little concerning that he only saw five targets and caught two passes in a game where the Indianapolis Colts scored 38 points.
It is worth noting that Gardner Minshew II only attempted 23 passes. Nevertheless, Downs’ ascension could mean Pittman will merely be good, as opposed to the great fantasy receiver he’s been thus far.
Pittman is only a sell if you can get high WR2 value. Otherwise, you’re better off holding.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
Through six games, Jerry Jeudy is averaging fewer than six targets a game. His best fantasy outing is 13.1 fantasy points. Jeudy did look better against the Packers, but he’s clearly playing second fiddle to the superior Courtland Sutton.
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Does Jeudy still have any name value? I’m not sure. That’s really all you can use to sell him. He’s not really a sell-high; he’s just a sell because there’s no real upside with him.
The best utilization of Jeudy in trades is likely to package him with someone else for an upgrade. Try and do that while the trade rumors are still swirling, as that is likely the source of optimism on his future value.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
This spot is essentially reserved for Kyle Pitts every week. You’re probably sick of reading his name, but if you take a look at the list of tight ends, who else could you reasonably get any value for?
Pitts followed up his consecutive 14+ point efforts with a respectable 7.7 points. However, he only saw four targets.
Pitts is still splitting the role with Jonnu Smith, with Smith once again narrowly edging him out in snaps. Most importantly, he still possesses the name value to get something for him. He’s the best option as a sell at the tight end position.