It’s always difficult to properly value the quarterback position in fantasy football for trading purposes. Eight weeks into the season, values have shifted dramatically. Unraveling all that we saw in Week 8 and translating it into Week 9 QB trade targets is where fantasy managers can differentiate themselves.
To help you get your head around it all, here are our thoughts on some QBs to buy low or sell high entering Week 9.
Which QBs Should You Trade for in Fantasy Football?
Katz’s Other Week 9 Trade Targets: WR | TE | RB
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Rightfully so, Kyler Murray is rostered in too many leagues to be a waiver wire target. But given the tragic state of the quarterback position in fantasy, could Murray actually be worth buying low?
We have no idea what to expect from Murray. We know players returning from torn ACLs need time to build up the mental confidence in their surgically repaired knees. It’s unlikely the super-mobile Murray will return right away.
Even so, Josh Dobbs has been quite effective from a fantasy perspective in the Cardinals offense. With the team constantly trailing, they are often forced to throw. Murray could be looking at a ton of volume. Plus, we know he has elite QB1 upside because we’ve seen it.
If you’re struggling at QB, there’s not much you can do to fix it. Buying Murray while he is still a bit of an unknown might be your best shot.
Which QBs Should You Trade Away in Fantasy Football?
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Can I really call a player who was never really “high” a sell-high candidate? Let’s call him a sell “middle.”
We are now halfway through the season, and Trevor Lawrence has the same number of 20-point fantasy games as you and me. Simply put, Lawrence has no ceiling … at all. It does not exist. And at this point, with this large of a sample size, we have no reason to believe anything will change.
Fantasy managers who drafted Lawrence in the fourth or fifth round as someone who could potentially ascend into the ranks of the elite QB1 must accept that’s not going to happen. If anyone in your league still thinks it can, ship Lawrence away for whatever you can get. There’s no value in having Lawrence as your only QB — you can stream what he provides.
Trending QB Fantasy Football Trades
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Should You Trade Brock Purdy for Kyler Murray?
If we knew Murray was going to return to his usual self, this would easily be him. But we don’t know that. The fact that he’s not starting Week 9 is also a bit concerning.
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Clearly, Murray is fully healthy. He wasn’t even on the injury report last week. He is physically ready to play, and it’s clear he wants to get back out there. If the Cardinals don’t activate him by Week 10, they have to shut him down for the season. At 1-7, staring down the barrel of 1-8, it’s least crept back into my mind.
Brock Purdy has really struggled with turnovers the past three weeks. He’s thrown five interceptions after not throwing a single one all season. It’s like variance hit him in the face all at once.
Even so, Purdy was serviceable two weeks ago, and he got to 20 fantasy points last week. He’s completely flopped just once all season.
The 49ers have a well-timed bye coming up. They should use that week to make adjustments and get back on track for the second half of the season.
Purdy remains a rest-of-season QB1. I would keep him over Murray.
Should You Trade Justin Herbert for Trevor Lawrence?
If you’re considering trading away Justin Herbert, and the QB you’re getting in return is Lawrence, there better be a whole lot more coming with him.
You can’t even compare the performance of these two quarterbacks this season. Herbert is averaging 21.9 PPG, and Lawrence is averaging 15.6 PPG. That is a massive difference. One is a top-three fantasy quarterback, and the other would be on waivers if his name wasn’t Trevor Lawrence. We know this because Dobbs and Baker Mayfield are largely on waivers, and they have both been better fantasy options than Lawrence this season.
Herbert remains a locked-in elite QB1. Lawrence isn’t even really a viable streamer because he has no upside. He is the epitome of a floor play and an uninspiring one at that. Stick with Herbert unless the package with Lawrence is elite.
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