Week 12 of the fantasy football season continued to bring us more ups and downs and head-scratching moments. Savvy fantasy managers will be able to take advantage of these ebbs and flows to improve their teams. Here are a handful of players entering Week 13 of the fantasy football season that presents an optimal opportunity to buy low or sell high on.
Who Are Some Fantasy Football Week 13 Trade Targets To Buy Low?
Since expectations vary across fantasy managers, there could be a window for you to acquire some of these players at a value. All of these candidates are in a position to exceed expectations for the rest of this season.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
Donovan Peoples-Jones was a sleeper to keep an eye on heading into 2022 and has flourished this year. Coming into Week 12, Peoples-Jones was the WR13 in per-game scoring since Week 4 and sat 11th in receiving yards. Additionally, he’s had 70 or more receiving yards in six of his last seven games.
That hot streak ended Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching just two of his four passes for 16 yards in the 23-17 OT win. Amari Cooper, on the other hand, had a far better day. But no matter what, the script is being flipped next week.
Week 13 means the return of Deshaun Watson just in time to face the Houston Texans, and they have a reasonably favorable rest-of-season schedule. Now I expect some rust, but this offense has so much potential with Watson. Peoples-Jones will be the vertical target for, last we saw two years ago, one of the best deep ball throwers in the NFL. There is massive value there if you buy low on Peoples-Jones ahead of Week 13.
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James Robinson, RB, New York Jets
I’m so sick of having to talk about injuries that occurred on MetLife Stadium’s field, but we have to add Michael Carter to the list after he sprained his ankle, according to Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Carter had eight touches and 36 yards before the injury and did not return to the game.
UDFA Zonovan Knight stepped in and rushed 15 times for 69 yards against the Bears while also adding 34 yards on three of three receiving. But since he is rostered in less than 1% of leagues, I don’t feel he qualifies.
MORE: Week 13 Fantasy Waiver Wire Targets Include Zonovan Knight
James Robinson, however, absolutely does. Robinson has played on 22% of the snaps in his three games with the Jets but was a healthy scratch in Week 12 after an abysmal seven carry, 10-yard performance against the Patriots in Week 11.
That shouldn’t be the case in Week 13, assuming that Carter misses the game, which is expected. Robinson is a quality running back and had three straight top-11 finishes to start the season before losing his job to Travis Etienne.
Mike White injected new life into this Jets offense, and assuming the possibility of a high ankle sprain which could, for all intents and purposes, end Carter’s season for fantasy, Robinson is a prime buy-low candidate with a playoff schedule against the Lions, Jaguars, and Seahawks.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
After missing most of Weeks 10 and 11, JuJu Smith-Schuster returned, having finally cleared concussion protocol. But unfortunately, he didn’t do much, playing on just 38% of the snaps with a 45% route participation. He also saw just two targets. Meanwhile, Skyy Moore led the team in targets, despite sitting seventh in routes.
Better days are ahead for Smith-Schuster, who was on an absolute tear prior to his injury. In his last three complete games, Smith-Schuster finished as the WR1 (WR7, WR8, and WR4) while averaging 8.3 targets, 20.1% of the air yards, and 108 receiving yards per game.
Travis Kelce unquestionably is the No. 1 option both in and out of the red zone, but I expect Smith-Schuster’s snaps to rise as it feels teams are treating players returning from a concussion a bit differently. If you can buy low on Patrick Mahomes’ top wide receiver ahead of the fantasy football playoffs, now is your last chance to do it.
Who Are Some Fantasy Football Week 13 Candidates To Sell High?
Actual value vs. perceived value is also something fantasy managers need to have their pulse on. It cannot only tell you when to buy low but also when to sell high before the floor crashes out. Here are three players that could be worth selling before their value drops.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
The 2022 season has been as up and down as I can ever remember. Alvin Kamara is no different. While the matchup against the 49ers was difficult, Kamara has now recorded four straight games under 45 rushing yards and 3.5 yards per carry.
Kamara rushed seven times for 13 yards add caught six-of-seven targets for 37 yards but watched Taysom Hill nearly match him in carries and Kamara lost two fumbles. There is some credence that Kamara was sick Saturday, but this is multiple games in a row. It’s getting to the point where fantasy managers are wondering if Kamara should be started.
Kamara is another example of the sunk cost fallacy, and I’d be willing to sell him to someone who believes in his upside, which I still do, but the results aren’t there.
He gets a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in Week 13 before taking their bye, and if you somehow make the championship, a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles is waiting. It’s not even selling high at this point, but if you can, based on the name value, do it.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This year’s rookie class at running back wasn’t spectacular, but by no means was it bad. Breece Hall was incredible, Kenneth Walker III is the running back we thought he was, and even Damien Pierce has been thriving in Houston. Now it’s Rachaad White’s turn to jump into the mix.
After rushing for 105 yards on 22 carries in the team’s Week 10 victory, White was at it again on Sunday, rushing 14 times for 64 yards against the Browns while catching all nine targets for an additional 45 yards in the air.
MORE: Week 13 PPR Fantasy Football Rankings
With primetime still to play, his 19.9 PPR points leave him as the RB8 on the week with a trajectory that appears to be shooting to the moon. However, a massive elephant in the room is Fournette’s eventual return.
Aside from these last two games, White had yet to rush for over 30 yards and had one game (Week 4) with 30+ receiving yards. When healthy, this is still likely Fournette’s backfield, even though White has taken a portion of the opportunity share.
With the upcoming matchup against the Saints, 49ers, and Bengals, I would consider selling high on White in Week 13 ahead of a potential Fournette return.