We are now in the back half of the fantasy football season. Player values have mostly crystalized. Draft-day cost has given way to in-season performance, as we now have a larger sample size of what these players have done.
Unraveling all that we saw in Week 11 and translating it into Week 12 WR trade targets is where fantasy managers can differentiate themselves.
To help you get your head around it all, here are our thoughts on some WRs to buy low or sell high entering Week 12.
Which WRs Should You Trade for in Fantasy Football?
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
There’s really no defending Kenny Pickett as a serious NFL starting quarterback. But we’ve still seen Diontae Johnson be far better than he’s been the past two weeks. Johnson has a total of three receptions for 33 yards over that span. But that must be put into proper context.
The Steelers played the Packers and Browns over the past two weeks, two of the toughest pass defenses in the NFL. Their remaining schedule consists of roughly average pass defenses.
Johnson still commanded eight targets on Sunday. He didn’t suddenly become bad at football. If you can buy him at a WR3 price, it’s a worthwhile move.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
It might be difficult to buy low on Puka Nacua after a quality 5-70-1 game against the Seahawks. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try.
Katz’s Other Week 12 Trade Targets: QB | TE | RB
Cooper Kupp left the game early with a leg injury and did not return. If he is out for any period of time, we know what that looks like for Nacua. This recommendation is about paying for Nacua with Kupp prices for a potential Nacua without Kupp.
Nacua can still be effective even if Kupp is okay. But his upside without Kupp is worth acquiring if you don’t have to overpay for it.
Which WRs Should You Trade Away in Fantasy Football?
DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
I have to give Justin Fields credit. His 39-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore was a thing of beauty. But how would you be feeling about Moore had he not caught that touchdown? Probably not great.
Moore has a nice matchup next week against the Vikings. But after that, it’s the bye and a slew of tough defenses against wide receivers.
I definitely wouldn’t go out of my way to sell Moore. This is only if you can get proper value for him, as he’s probably more WR3 than WR2 for the rest of the season.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Is it still possible to sell Deebo Samuel? I’ve had him here for multiple weeks because he is one of the fakest “big names” in fantasy football.
Samuel hasn’t seen more than four targets in a game since Week 3. And Brandon Aiyuk didn’t play in that game.
Aiyuk is the unquestioned WR1 on the 49ers. Samuel is a glorified gadget player. If thrust into more volume, he’s obviously talented. But he’s not a big part of what the 49ers do, with Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey handling so much of the work.
Samuel is a borderline WR3, at best. If anyone is valuing him as anything more, trade him away.
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Should You Trade Deebo Samuel for DK Metcalf?
The list of wide receivers I would try and trade Deebo Samuel for is quite long. Samuel has been one of the most overrated fantasy assets for nearly two full seasons.
Schedule doesn’t really matter for Samuel. The issue for him has always been volume. The whole “too many mouths to feed” concept can be a bit misunderstood.
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There aren’t too many mouths to feed for Christian McCaffrey or Brandon Aiyuk. They command volume because they are really good at football. More recently, George Kittle has also commanded that volume. If Samuel cannot command volume, there’s a reason.
The Seahawks’ remaining schedule is as soft as it gets. Metcalf has already been a fantastic fantasy asset without scoring touchdowns. He finally scored one last week. I think plenty more are coming. If you can package Samuel with another small piece to get Metcalf, that is an excellent move to make.
Should You Trade Tank Dell for Puka Nacua?
I love the notion of acquiring Nacua at a discount. But is trading away Tank Dell in a deal really a discount?
When I make my next pass on my rest-of-season rankings, I am going to move Dell ahead of Nico Collins. Dell has been commanding targets at an elite rate, with 10+ in each of his past three games. He has splash-play upside, as well as the ability to serve as a safety valve underneath. Simply put, he can do it all.
C.J. Stroud trusts Dell, and I think Dell has surpassed Collins as the Texans’ WR1. The Texans have a mixed bag of remaining opponents, but so do the Rams. I believe in both of these guys, but I would not be looking to sell Dell for Nacua.
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!