Selling high on players is a key tactic in fantasy football for maximizing team value and minimizing risk. Identifying trade targets after a standout week can set managers up for success later in the season.
Carefully evaluate recent performances and upcoming matchups before making a move in your fantasy football league. This list will highlight several intriguing names that could be worth trading, leaving you curious for the details.
Trade Targets to Sell: Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
Justin Fields’ elite fantasy ceiling makes him a tempting option every week, but it also makes him an alluring option for everybody else in your league. But while the former Steeler can win you a week, he can also send an otherwise promising fantasy week into a nosedive with his complete lack of passing ability.
In nine starts this season, Fields has either finished inside the top 12 at the position or outside the top 29 in fantasy. That unpredictability not only makes him a risky fantasy play, but it has already seen him benched once this season, and he is fortunate to be the New York Jets’ starter still.
Back-to-back wins in Weeks 9 and 10 kept Fields in a job, despite his underwhelming performances, but another loss could well see him benched for Tyrod Taylor again. While his upside is tremendous, leveraging a boom week while you can is usually a good practice.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Rico Dowdle has blown up, regressed to a backup role, and blown up again this year, and he now looks set for a prolonged run as the Panthers’ starter. The former Dallas Cowboys back has impressed when given the opportunity, and totalled 100 yards on 24 touches against the Falcons on Sunday.
Moving forward, though, things get dicey for Dowdle. The Panthers face the Rams in Week 13, before a Week 14 bye. They then face the Buccaneers in Week 16 and the Seahawks in the fantasy championships.
Running backs are a valuable commodity in fantasy, especially at this stage of the season, and good running backs are especially so. That should give Dowdle a strong market this week, and that should see you secure significant compensation in trades.
Sean Tucker, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This one is pretty obvious, but it’s not always easy to know how to handle a breakout like Sean Tucker’s at the weekend. The Buccaneers’ bruising backup erupted for 140 total yards and three touchdowns against the Bills on Sunday.
With Bucky Irving expected to be nearing a return, there is a chance Tucker continues to be involved, but Irving’s presence would be a massive hit to his workload. Unfortunately, none of this is a secret, and your league mates will be all too aware of Tucker’s situation.
Nevertheless, his massive production will be intriguing to some, and you might be able to secure something for the runner this week. Irving isn’t guaranteed to come back in Week 12, but selling high often means selling early.
Tucker’s upside means you shouldn’t sell at any cost, but if you can secure a flex option or a significant FAAB budget, both could prove more useful down the stretch.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
I was pretty adamant that D’Andre Swift would return to his starting role after injury, despite Kyle Monangai’s explosive performances when filling in. That proved to be the case, and Swift has tallied 447 rushing yards over his last five games, continuing to establish a massive value on his preseason ADP.
However, he faces a daunting schedule for the rest of the season and has likely lost some goal-line work to Monangai, despite being the team’s RB1. The Bears face the Steelers, the Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Green Bay Packers (twice) in Weeks 12-16, so moving Swift for a similarly ranked back would be a smart move this week.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Betting against a highly drafted, rookie wide receiver in the second half of the season feels wrong. But having backed Bryce Young on multiple occasions this season, I’m all too aware of the volatile nature of the Panthers’ passing attack this season.
I rate Young and McMillan, but there is a boom/bust element to their fantasy production, something that I fully expect to be ironed out in time. Unfortunately, with just three weeks to secure a place in the fantasy playoffs, time is not something fantasy managers have in abundance.
McMillan has registered three top-13 fantasy finishes this season, but just as many fantasy finishes of WR45 or worse. On the back of a spike week, it might be a good idea to move for a more reliable fantasy asset. It takes several good weeks to win the playoffs, but it only takes one bad one to fall short.
Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Michael Wilson falls firmly into the same bucket as Tucker: backup players who have excelled in a situation that almost certainly won’t last. With Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined, Wilson was targeted a ridiculous 18 times against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.
He caught 15 of those targets for 185 yards, as the Cardinals chased an unlikely comeback. They fell short in that pursuit, but that doesn’t make Wilson’s output any less impressive. There is currently no indication as to whether Harrison will return in Week 12, or even beyond, offering a slight hope of continued production for Wilson.
If you’re unsure of a playoff spot, Wilson’s short-term upside is worth more than you’re likely to get in a trade. However, if you are already in a good place, moving Wilson to a more desperate team for a player who could help you in the playoffs might be a wise move.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
Like Johnson, Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has been included in our recent “streamers” articles. The veteran tight end has seen a production bump in recent weeks, most notably when playing with backup quarterback Davis Mills.
Of Mills’ 120 pass attempts this season, Schultz has been targeted 26 times, 21.67%. With Stroud, that number drops to 17.36%, as the third-year quarterback spreads the ball more evenly among his receivers.
Schultz has been targeted 28 times in his last three games, and has averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game in that stretch. With Stroud’s return imminent, the Texans’ offense should be more functional, and their overall control of games should improve.
Mills has won both of his starts since Stroud’s injury, but the Texans have had to come from behind to win both. The team faces some tough opponents in the coming weeks, but should find themselves in less desperate situations.
That, in turn, would mean fewer targets for Schultz. There won’t be a huge market for the tight end, but three consecutive top-10 finishes should fetch you some FAAB at the very least.
