We are now at the end of the fantasy football regular season. Fantasy managers should always be looking to improve their rosters but now with a specific focus on winning playoff matchups. Given that most trade deadlines have passed, consider this more of a guide as to which players might be trending upward and which might be trending downward.
Top Trade Targets To Buy in Your League
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
I know what you’re thinking. Jayden Daniels is an elite QB1. How can you buy in on him, especially after one of his best performances of the season?
Daniels just threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 34 yards and a fourth score. It was a truly dominant, MVP-like effort.
Jayden Daniels jukes 'em for the rushing TD!
📺: #TENvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/TaRwXvsoZU— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024
Well, the Washington Commanders are on bye in Week 14. Whichever manager has Daniels won’t be able to use him for a potential win-and-in matchup. If you can still trade in your league and you’re locked into the playoffs, try and pry Daniels away.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
I’ll be honest. The QB situation isn’t ideal right now. With only four weeks to go, it’s tough to find non-obvious QBs to recommend going forward.
Kyler Murray doesn’t have the easiest schedule, but it’s not overly challenging. It’s about average.
Murray ran more against the Minnesota Vikings, amassing 48 yards on the ground. He also threw for 260 yards. The Arizona Cardinals just couldn’t get the ball in the end zone.
We know Murray has a high ceiling. If you’re struggling at quarterback, maybe consider taking a chance on him reaching it.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Note to self: Whenever a player is returning from a lengthy injury, assume he will be limited. Even if we get reports that he’s fully healthy with no limits, assume he will be limited.
Isiah Pacheco looked fully healthy on Black Friday. By all accounts, he was. Yet, he only played 37% of the snaps. Kareem Hunt remained the starter and lead back.
As has been the case the entire season, though, Hunt was woefully inefficient. He carried the ball seven times for 15 yards. He caught two passes for zero yards.
Hunt did a good job doing what the Kansas City Chiefs needed him to do, but this is not someone who should be the feature back in an NFL offense in the year 2024. I fully expect Pacheco to be around 60% of the snaps as soon as Week 14.
The schedule is not particularly friendly, but Pacheco should be a high RB2 going forward.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
It feels like fantasy managers have been predicting James Conner’s demise for three years. Instead, he keeps getting better.
The Cardinals showed their commitment to Conner by giving him a two-year extension. They further illustrated their belief in him by giving him 20 opportunities against the Vikings.
Conner’s next two matchups are average, but his final two matchups are excellent. Despite the middling fantasy outing this week, Conner’s usage remains as good as it gets. He could be a difference-maker in the fantasy playoffs.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Maybe it’s just me, but it doesn’t feel like the fantasy community is appreciating how good Ladd McConkey has been. The rookie WR certainly doesn’t play like one.
McConkey has hit double-digit fantasy points in five of his last six. He’s scored at least 14.3 fantasy points in three straight and has commanded a whopping 27 targets over that span.
We are seeing the rapid emergence of McConkey into an elite wide receiver. The only thing missing is the touchdowns. If the volume remains, they will come. McConkey is certainly trending upward.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins did not play his best game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Atlanta Falcons are in serious jeopardy of choking away the division to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the meantime, though, Drake London continues to be treated like the alpha WR1 he is. London commanded a whopping 16 targets on Sunday, catching nine for 86 yards.
In Week 14, the Falcons get the Vikings’ pass-funnel defense. It could be another huge game for London. But even beyond that, there’s nothing overly imposing about their remaining opponents. London looks like the WR we all thought we were getting in the second round.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
The depletion of the Chiefs WR corps has led to the team having to use Travis Kelce more than they planned to. That’s resulted in five games with 12+ targets over his last seven.
The main issue for Kelce has been a lack of touchdowns. He’s only scored twice all season, but the usage is there. Eventually, the touchdowns have to follow the volume.
The Chiefs have at least two teams left on the schedule who can force them into a shootout, maybe three. Kelce could be in store for a strong close to the season.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots
Since Week 6, Hunter Henry has scored at least 9.4 fantasy points in all but one game. He’s earned at least eight targets in three consecutive games.
Drake Maye is playing better each week and the New England Patriots lack a clear WR1. Henry could continue to be that guy.
The only holdup with Henry is the Patriots are on bye in Week 14. Obviously, if you need a win to get in, Henry is not going to help you. However, Henry is clearly trending upward as the fantasy playoffs near.
Top Players To Sell in Your League
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
As great as Jared Goff has been for the Detroit Lions, he hasn’t been all that spectacular for fantasy. Goff has had some spike weeks, but overall, just three games with over 20 fantasy points.
The Lions may be the best offense in football, but it’s built around the run game. And they should continue to lean on the run, given the remaining schedule.
All four of the Lions’ upcoming opponents rank in the top eight against the pass. With the volume rarely there for Goff, even two-touchdown games aren’t enough for fantasy managers. Those might not be in his future, either.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The early season stretch of Baker Mayfield constantly chasing on the scoreboard was a lot of fun for fantasy. Now, the Bucs are getting easier opponents, leading to a more positive game script. That leads to more throwing.
The running Bucs have arrived. It’s great for Bucky Irving but not so much for Mayfield. He’s now scored single-digit fantasy points in two of his last three.
On paper, the schedule looks favorable going forward, but that’s not actually a good thing because it allows the Bucs to run. We want them down and throwing. Unfortunately, Mayfield may not be a QB1 for many more weeks, if any.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
I sound like a broken record including D’Andre Swift in this column every week. It keeps making sense, though.
Swift’s schedule took a turn ahead of Week 12. Since then, he’s posted games of 9.5 and 9.4 fantasy points. It’s not about to get any better.
Of the Chicago Bears’ four remaining opponents, two rank in the top three against the run. Swift was an RB1 for a stretch but now is more of an RB3.
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fresh off his best game of the season, I remain concerned about Najee Harris’ rest of season value. The remaining stretch of run defenses is as tough as it gets, with all four ranking in the top eight.
Najee Harris ties it up!
21-21 in the first half in Cincinnati 🍿
📺: #PITvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/aRNhSGGhsC— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024
Harris did catch six passes for 54 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. If that type of passing game role persists, then he will be able to overcome the schedule. But I have a feeling it was a product of the opponent.
On the surface, Harris’ arrow appears to be pointing upward. However, if there’s still an opportunity to sell, especially on the heels of this 24.9-point season-best performance, it’s not a bad idea.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
After a dismal Week 10, CeeDee Lamb has mostly gotten things together with Cooper Rush at quarterback. Obviously, his ceiling is nowhere close to where it was with Dak Prescott, but a fully functioning Lamb is still a WR1.
The problem is Lamb is not fully functioning. In his words, he’s “banged up.”
Lamb has a sprained AC joint in his shoulder and has dealt with back and foot injuries. He’s a warrior and plans on playing through them. But as we saw on Thanksgiving, he’s susceptible to aggravation.
The Dallas Cowboys have won two straight, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive, but we all know they’re not making the playoffs. It feels like it’s a matter of when, not if, Lamb gets shut down for the season. Add in the fact that he’s a weekly injury risk and Lamb is not someone fantasy managers can feel great about each week.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
One week after his apparent “breakout” game, it was right back to business as usual for Jaylen Waddle. He is not a key part of the offense.
Waddle earned a mere four targets against the Green Bay Packers. He did catch all of them for 53 yards because he’s still good at football. It’s not a talent issue — it’s just who the Miami Dolphins are this season.
The schedule ahead simply does not matter. Waddle has had plenty of opportunities to be featured and hasn’t. It’s not going to change after 13 weeks.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
With 15.6 fantasy points, Sam LaPorta was clearly a good start in Week 13 … at least based on the results. But we don’t get the points he already scored (which hasn’t been many).
LaPorta caught three passes for six yards; he just happened to score twice because the Lions inexplicably threw the ball at the goal line, something they rarely do.
While LaPorta does have three TE1 performances in his last five games, he is entirely dependent on touchdowns. The sophomore TE has caught more than three passes in a game just once since before the Lions’ Week 5 bye. In total, he has three games all season with more than three receptions (four, four, and six). Despite the good outcome, LaPorta could not be trending worse.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins
I want to preface this by saying I completely buy Jonnu Smith as the single most important cog in the Dolphins offense. There’s no denying it. He’s seen 30 targets over his last three games and posted outings of 28.1, 23.7, and 21.3 fantasy points. For whatever reason, Mike McDaniel has chosen to build this passing attack around the veteran TE as opposed to Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle.
At this point, fantasy managers should be valuing Smith as an elite TE1 … because he is. Going forward, though, there’s reason for concern. The Dolphins’ next three opponents are all inside the top five at defending the tight end position.
Smith will still be startable, but perhaps the games of 20+ points will be more in the 10-14 range.