We are now heading toward the playoff-push portion of the fantasy football season. Player values have mostly solidified, and draft day cost no longer matters when valuing players.
Unraveling all that we saw in Week 11 and translating it into Week 12 RB trade targets is where fantasy managers can differentiate themselves. To help you get your head around it all, here are our thoughts on some running backs to buy low or sell high entering Week 12.
Which RBs Should You Trade For in Fantasy Football?
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Admittedly, it may be difficult to buy low on a guy like Austin Ekeler because of the name value. Plus, before this week, Ekeler had eclipsed 20 PPR fantasy points in three straight games. He hasn’t exactly been struggling. But fantasy managers are a fickle bunch, and they often overreact to what just happened.
Katz’s Other Week 12 Trade Targets: WR | TE | QB
Ekeler’s 10 carries against the Green Bay Packers were a season low, but he did average 6.4 yards per attempt. The issue was he did nothing in the passing game, with just two catches for six yards.
The Los Angeles Chargers have a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens next week, but after that, it’s just one soft run defense after the other. Ekeler is still a top-five back. Getting him for anything less is a good move.
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
After waiting a month for his return, De’Von Achane returned in a smash spot against the Las Vegas Raiders but was forced from the game due to an injury to the same knee that had been healing during a just-completed stint on injured reserve.
The good news is head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t seem overly concerned, and Achane was lobbying to come back in the game.
The Miami Dolphins have a better remaining schedule for running backs than for their passing game this season. Achane is still immensely talented, but his fantasy managers may have had enough after waiting this long and getting 1.5 points. If you can poach him for cheap, go for it.
Which RBs Should You Trade Away in Fantasy Football?
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Despite playing with Tommy DeVito at quarterback, Saquon Barkley had one of the best games of his career against the Washington Commanders. He touched the ball 18 times, amassed 140 total yards, and scored twice.
Here’s the problem for Barkley. The New York Giants have a fine matchup against the New England Patriots next week, but then they have their bye, and in the three fantasy playoff weeks, the schedule is a nightmare. They play the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Rams.
Barkley’s volume will keep him as a productive fantasy asset, but his value will likely never be higher than it is right now. I would sell for players on better teams.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
I know. I know. It’s not easy to sell Joe Mixon high, even off a great game, when Jake Browning is starting for the rest of the season. But Mixon has now posted RB1 numbers in three of the past four weeks. He’s running well and is involved in the passing game.
Most notably, Mixon has scored in four straight games. How many touchdowns are the Cincinnati Bengals scoring the rest of the season? Will they average more than one per game? I’m not so sure.
Mixon takes the smallest hit from Joe Burrow’s injury out of anyone on the Bengals, but touchdowns are everything in fantasy football, and Mixon’s touchdown potential is now significantly reduced. Selling him now is not the worst idea.
Trending RB Fantasy Football Trades
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Should You Trade Joe Mixon for Derrick Henry?
All things being equal, obviously, Mixon is the superior fantasy asset. It hasn’t really been close, but things are not equal anymore. Suddenly, Derrick Henry finds himself on the better offense in the better situation.
Henry’s last two weeks have been disasters, scoring 5.4 and 3.0 fantasy points. But before that, he had three straight games of 16+ points, as well as in four of his last five and in five of his last seven.
MORE: Early Week 12 Waiver Wire Rankings
The Tennessee Titans have played some tough run defenses, and they have found themselves in some negative game scripts recently. Things are about to take a turn for the better.
While Mixon’s schedule is fine, Browning leading this offense is going to be a problem. The way to go about moving Mixon for Henry, if you were to do it, is to make sure that Mixon is being treated like the better fantasy asset. If you can get Henry and another piece for Mixon, that’s a deal worth exploring.
Should You Trade Saquon Barkley for Austin Ekeler?
Barkley just had his best game of the season, scoring 30 fantasy points. Ekeler had his second-worst. His 7.0 fantasy points marked just the third time all season he finished below 21.0.
The Giants still have their bye in front of them and have an extremely challenging Weeks 15-17 schedule. On the other hand, Ekeler is on a better offense and doesn’t have a single difficult matchup from Weeks 14-17.
So, should you trade Barkley in a deal to acquire Ekeler? Absolutely.
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!