We are now through eight weeks of the fantasy football season. Fantasy managers should always be looking to improve their rosters. With that in mind, here are a handful of players to explore trades for, either to buy low on undervalued players or sell high on overvalued ones.
Top Trade Targets To Buy in Your League: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
There are some players whose reputations can survive any number of bad weeks. Derrick Henry, Ja’Marr Chase, and A.J. Brown have remained must-starts in fantasy this year, despite all going through disappointing spells.
Dak Prescott isn’t one of those players, and while savvy fantasy managers will forgive him for a bad outing against the Denver Broncos (8.6 fantasy points), many will not. Prescott was available outside the top 100 picks in fantasy drafts this summer, and still isn’t short of doubters, despite his MVP-caliber start to the season.
The Dallas Cowboys star was the QB4 overall in fantasy points per game heading into Week 8, and should still be viewed as a top-five quarterback moving forward. He’ll almost certainly be available for less than that in many leagues, and some may even be openly looking to move him on.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns
Dillon Gabriel finally threw some touchdown passes in Week 8, after not troubling the scoreboard since Week 5. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Browns went 40 minutes and 46 seconds without scoring between their two touchdowns.
The New England Patriots scored 27 points during that time, resulting in a blowout loss for the AFC North strugglers. Myles Garrett was visibly angry at the end of the game, adding a visual representation of the bad vibes around Cleveland at the moment.
Gabriel also threw his first two NFL interceptions on back-to-back drives. Those included a back-breaking pick-six to Robert Spillane to put the Patriots 16 points ahead in the third quarter. The Browns have a bye in Week 9, giving them the perfect chance to make a change and let Shedeur Sanders get healthy.
Even if named the starter, Sanders is a stash at best, but so was Jaxson Dart earlier in the season. The rookie quarterback could be nothing, but it’s worth getting ahead of the curve if you have a roster spot, especially in Superflex.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Rico Dowdle’s fantasy breakout was halted by the return to health of Chuba Hubbard, just as many feared it would be. However, while Hubbard has seen more work over the Carolina Panthers’ last two games, he has been far less efficient than his teammate.
The Panthers face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, particularly with Bryce Young sidelined with an ankle injury. However, their 4-4 record keeps them in the hunt, especially if they can win their divisional matchups.
Hubbard has averaged just 2.5 yards per rush attempt since his return, while Dowdle has averaged 5.32 yards per attempt. If Dowdle continues to produce better results than Hubbard, there’s a good chance he takes over the lead role in the Panthers’ backfield, with plenty still to play for.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
TreVeyon Henderson has been a colossal disappointment this season, but it’s worth remembering that he is still a rookie. Had he not been so highly rated heading into the season, he would be an exciting potential breakout. Instead, he is viewed as a fantasy bust, having been hyped up into the third round of many drafts this year.
The continued subpar performances of Rhamondre Stevenson have yet to result in a promotion for Henderson, but we’re still only eight weeks into the season. Stevenson played under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in his rookie year, and Henderson may be simply catching up on the nuances of the play caller’s offense.
Henderson again proved his explosiveness in Week 8, turning 10 carries into 75 yards, while his more senior teammate managed only 34 yards on 14 carries. High-potential rookies are a great mid-season bet in fantasy, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Henderson take off in the second half of the year.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings
What looked to be a great matchup on paper turned out to be anything but, as the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense bottled up the Minnesota Vikings on the ground. Aaron Jones Sr. made his return from a hamstring injury, but couldn’t make an impact, totaling 15 yards on five carries, and turning four targets into another 15 yards.
Shockingly, that significantly eclipsed what his teammate, Jordan Mason, managed, as both running backs struggled to make an impact. That’s unlikely to continue, though, and both players should be flex-worthy fantasy assets moving forward.
Jones’ receiving prowess puts him ahead of Mason in PPR, with his role less affected by game scripts. That could be an essential factor, with the jury still out on J.J. McCarthy, who is expected to return to the field in Week 9.
A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
A.J. Brown remains one of the most frustrating players in fantasy football this year, but a hamstring injury saved fantasy managers a difficult start/sit decision in Week 8. From Weeks 1-7, Brown ranked 33rd among wide receivers in fantasy points per game (12.4).
That was after a boom/bust start to the season, which included two top-four fantasy weeks and four weekly finishes outside the top 47 at the position. The Eagles have a bye in Week 9, followed by games against the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys, all good matchups for the star receiver.
Trade rumors continue to swirl ahead of the NFL trade deadline, but those rumors feel ever-present regarding Brown. If he moves, he will become a potential league-winner overnight; if he stays, his elite upside is still worth a shot if available at a steep discount.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Darius Slayton has become a forgotten name in fantasy, but he could be on the verge of a very significant stretch at Jaxson Dart’s WR1 for the rest of the season. The veteran receiver won’t have caught the eye with his official output, but he led the New York Giants in targets against the Eagles in Week 8.
That’s despite having missed the previous two games with a hamstring injury, and things could have been far better. Slayton had a 68-yard touchdown catch, controversially called back for offensive pass interference in the fourth quarter.
While that was disappointing for the Giants, that play would have taken Slayton’s fantasy points to 18.4, good for WR7 (tied), with only Monday night’s game still to play. Instead, Slayton finished with 4.6 points (WR52 after SNF), and he should remain a cheap waiver add in most leagues this week.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid failed to build on his mid-to-late-season breakout in his rookie year, finishing as the TE30 overall in Year 2. This season, however, he has threatened to become the elite fantasy asset many believed he could be when he was drafted 25th overall in 2023.
Through five weeks, Kincaid was the TE2 overall in fantasy, having averaged 4.8 targets, 57.4 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns per game. He then missed Week 6 due to injury, was on bye in Week 7, and was relatively quiet in a blowout win against the Panthers in Week 8.
With more competitive games coming up, starting with the visit of the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, Kincaid should get back to his early-season usage. The Bills’ star has already recorded three top-10 finishes at the position and has added touchdowns to his overall game, making him a great bet moving forward.
Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
For the second successive year, Mark Andrews has started incredibly slowly in fantasy. Despite solid, if inconsistent, usage, the Baltimore Ravens star has recorded only one top-12 fantasy week out of a possible seven.
However, the Ravens should have Lamar Jackson back in the next week or two, potentially in time for Thursday night’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins. Andrews was targeted 14 times in Jackson’s last two starts combined, and will be one of the primary beneficiaries of the quarterback’s return.
The Ravens got their second win of the season in Week 8, but have little room for error if they are to make the playoffs this season. Andrews is Jackson’s most trusted receiving weapon and should be a big part of the Ravens’ offense moving forward.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
On the receiving end of that Ravens win were the Chicago Bears, who continue to find their feet under first-time head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson was guilty of mismanaging the clock on the Bears’ final drive, highlighting how far the team has to go to be competitive.
However, there is no doubting Johnson’s play-calling ability, and the Bears should continue to grow as an offense throughout the season. Colston Loveland is emerging as a potential star of the future, having seen his role slowly grow in the past few weeks.
The rookie tight end isn’t playable in fantasy yet, but his opportunities continue to expand with each passing game. He saw a season-high five targets in Week 8, and at his current trajectory, he could be a weekly fantasy asset in the second half of the season.
Loveland remains a stash for now, but it likely won’t be long before he’s putting up fantasy-relevant numbers every week.
Top Trade Targets To Sell in Your League: Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
What a difference a day makes. Justin Fields was one Tyrod Taylor injury away from being benched for Sunday’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead, with Taylor sidelined, the former Chicago quarterback led the New York Jets to their first win of the season.
Fields completed 21 of his 32 pass attempts for 244 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Naturally, he also added 31 yards on the ground, in a 39-38 comeback win, in which New York scored 23 points in the fourth quarter.
The win should keep Fields in a job beyond the team’s Week 9 bye, but with the Browns and Patriots defenses waiting in Weeks 10 and 11, the good times might be short-lived. The Jets were ready to give up on Fields a week ago; if you can capitalize on the quarterback’s latest lifeline, it would be a safe bet to move on while you can.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud remains a middling QB2 in fantasy, but a couple of spike performances in recent weeks may have created a sell-high opportunity in some leagues. Stroud has excelled against bad or beaten-up defenses this season, but put up far more modest numbers against more capable opposition.
In games against the Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers, Stroud has averaged two touchdowns a game. Against the LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, though, he threw just three touchdowns combined.
He finished outside the top 22 quarterbacks in fantasy in three of those four weeks, and faces a phenomenal Denver Broncos defense in Week 9. Stroud is on waivers in almost half of 1QB leagues, but is a very tradeable asset in Superflex. If you can get low-end QB1, or even high-end QB2 value, this week, you should probably take it.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
After weeks of waiting, Broncos rookie RJ Harvey finally enjoyed a breakout game against the Cowboys in Week 8. Harvey rushed for two touchdowns and added a third through the air as the Broncos ran away with a resounding 27-10 victory.
However, despite his box-score dominance, Harvey’s usage didn’t change much from previous weeks. The rookie carried the ball seven times and was targeted just once, numbers similar to those he has had all year, save for one outlier game against the Bengals.
Harvey’s Week 8 explosion was one of otherworldly efficiency, and not one of a rookie running back finally taking over his team’s backfield. J.K. Dobbins remains Denver’s lead back and will likely continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
Harvey is currently the RB6 in PPR leagues this week, with only one game still to play. If you can sell league mates on a mid-season breakout, you should be looking for RB2 value in a trade. If nobody is willing to bite at that price, you’re better off keeping him on your roster due to his obvious upside and future breakout potential.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots
Each week that Kayshon Boutte continues his touchdown streak, it gets harder to include him on this list. However, for the same reasons, it also makes him more valuable in a trade.
Nobody would have been willing to give anything up for Boutte after his two-touchdown game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. Even after he followed that up with another score the following week, he was an obvious flash in the pan.
However, after making it four touchdowns in three games against the Browns in Week 8, Boutte may finally have people believing. You still won’t get anything significant, but those looking for a flex option should be willing at least to give up some FAAB for the prolific receiver.
Boutte’s usage as a deep threat makes him a weekly ceiling play, but he has finished outside the top 50 receivers in three of his four weeks without a touchdown. Still, Boutte’s form and the good vibes around the Patriots should make him a valuable trade piece, and he should be used as a sweetener to help you upgrade elsewhere.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is the WR19 on the season in fantasy points per game, pending the results of Monday Night Football. The team’s star receiver has excelled this season, after being taken in the back end of the WR3 range in fantasy drafts due to health worries.
The Saints’ quarterback situation also affected Olave’s ADP. After Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement, Spencer Rattler was left battling second-round pick Tyler Shough for the starting job.
Shough lost that battle, despite his high draft capital and Rattler’s winless record as a starter in 2024. Heading into Week 9, though, Shough will be the one throwing to Olave, which is bad news for the receiver’s fantasy value.
Shough’s promotion to starter is an indictment of Rattler’s performances, rather than a vote of confidence in the rookie. Olave should still fetch WR2 value in a trade, and you should be looking to get out of the Saints offense while you still can.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets
I listed Taylor as a good streaming option at tight end in Week 8, but I was hoping for a different quarterback situation than the one we got. As mentioned earlier, Fields led the Jets to a win, but Tyrod Taylor is a better passer and would boost the fantasy value of New York’s pass catchers.
Mason caught five of eight targets for 34 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati, but most of those targets came in the second half as the Jets chased an unlikely comeback. Unfortunately, the win has likely earned Fields another start or two, which is bad news for Taylor, whose only touchdown of the season so far was thrown by Breece Hall.
The Bengals’ defense ranks dead last in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, while Taylor’s next two opponents, the Browns and Patriots, both rank in the top 12. The rookie is the TE6 on the week heading into Monday night, and should be moved on if possible, before the Jets offense reverts to its usual hapless ways.
