We’re heading into the 10th week of the regular season for fantasy football, and if you have a losing record at this point, it’s time to take action to improve your team – before it’s too late. There’s no quicker way to transform your team than to complete a good trade. Everyone knows you should buy low and sell high, but sometimes it’s reasonable to sell low, or buy high. The key to a good trade is timing. Look at your roster, and then look at the roster of each team in your league. You must understand what they need before you propose a trade. The trade deadline in most leagues is between November 20th and December 1st.
Here are three players to trade for because I think their best days are ahead of them.
STEFON DIGGS, WR BUFFALO
It’s hard to believe that Diggs has topped 100 yards only once this season. His performance in a week 9 matchup against the Jaguars was expected to be a get-right spot for Diggs, but Buffalo had their worst game of the year in Jacksonville. Diggs still caught six passes for 85 yards on eight targets. But he’s yet to break out like he did in 2020. Still, he’s averaging more than 15 points per game. Now, the Bills get the Jets at home, and I expect Josh Allen & Co. to come out on fire. There are also other favorable matchups to come, so buy low on Diggs. Trade Saquon Barkley, or James Robinson to someone desperate for a running back.
JAMES CONNER, RB, ARIZONA
Conner has been dominating carries inside the five-yard line, but Chase Edmonds has split carries with him and has been getting several targets per game. Then the news broke Monday that Edmonds suffered a high-ankle sprain and is likely to miss 4-6 weeks. When Edmonds limped off the field Sunday, Conner went to work. He carried the ball 21 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught five passes for 77 yards and another touchdown. Conner has 11 touchdowns in his first nine games. If someone would trade Conner for Antonio Gibson, David Montgomery or Michael Carter, do the deal without hesitation.
DALLAS GOEDERT, TE, PHILADELPHIA
When Goedert missed week 6 because of COVID, someone in my home league dropped him. Suffice it to say that I broke the FAB bank to land him. The reason was because Zach Ertz had been traded, and Goedert finally had his chance to be THE tight end in Philadelphia. Your window to buy low on Goedert is still open because he hasn’t been dominant yet. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is having a difficult time getting on the same page with the talented tight end, but that could end soon. If you have George Kittle, offer to trade for Goedert and ask your trading partner to throw in a running back like A.J. Dillon or Alexander Mattison.
Here are three players to trade away because I think their best days are behind them.
PATRICK MAHOMES, QB, KANSAS CITY
There are plenty of analysts who will tell you to “buy low” on Mahomes. I will take the contrarian view. No one can doubt the talent of Mahomes, who has led his team to two Super Bowls in a row. In my opinion, you’re not going to buy low on Showtime. But it’s noteworthy that Mahomes has slipped to QB7 in fantasy this year. I could be wrong, but I think Mahomes is a depreciating asset. It’s not unreasonable to think that there might be some kind of fatal flaw in the Chiefs offense that is going to derail them this season. If you have Mahomes rostered, try trading him for Elijah Mitchell, or Mike Evans, then stream the position.
ANTONIO GIBSON, RB, WASHINGTON
Humility is a good quality, so humble yourself and admit you made a mistake if you drafted Gibson in the second round. If you listened to the pundits and traded for Gibson sometime after the draft, you still made a mistake. He’s averaging 6.8 fantasy points in the last three weeks. On Sunday, he carried eight times for 34 yards and caught three passes for 20 yards. Gibson was out-targeted by J.D. McKissic 8-3 and out-carried by Jaret Paterson with 11. If you’re waiting on another good game so you can sell high, it’s unlikely to arrive soon with a tough schedule ahead. Try trading him for Chris Carson, who may return from the IR this week.
DALTON SCHULTZ, TE, DALLAS
Schultz is currently TE5, but his target share has been declining in recent weeks. He possesses low weekly upside, and his offensive role will continue to shrink within the Dallas Cowboys offense. There are too many mouths to feed in Dallas. The Cowboys have the second-ranked rushing attack, fueled by the revitalized Ezekiel Elliot and the emergence of Tony Pollard into a playmaker out of the backfield. This should minimize a need for a high-volume passing attack. To make matters worse, Michael Gallup is expected to return this week. Trade Schultz to someone who needs a tight end and ask for Myles Gaskin, or Jerry Jeudy.
Thomas L. Seltzer, AKA Doubting Thomas, runs his own blog at ww.doubtingthomassports.com. Follow Thomas on Twitter @ThomasLSeltzer1.
