Fantasy football is all about finding value through trades and making smart roster moves week-to-week. Sometimes a player’s situation is worth monitoring even if their recent results don’t tell the whole story.
Savvy fantasy managers look past the numbers and focus on the changing conditions around key players. This week’s trade analysis will leave you curious about which targets could impact your team’s playoff push.
Trade Targets to Buy: Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers offense has looked like a shell of itself in recent weeks, as key injuries, poor offensive line play, and reserved playcalling have held them back. That hasn’t mattered too much in their last two games, with the Packers able to salt away victories over the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings on the ground.
On Sunday, Jordan Love attempted a season-low 21 pass attempts, after attempting just 24, his third-fewest of the year, in Week 11. Moving forward, Green Bay faces the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears (twice), Denver Broncos, and Baltimore Ravens, and will likely have to pass the ball far than they have been.
Love has gone without a passing touchdown in three of the past four weeks, but has not thrown an interception in his last three, highlighting the safe nature of the offense. The Packers’ defense is playing phenomenally, but they won’t be facing J.J. McCarthy moving forward.
With star receiver Jayden Reed also looking likely to return in the coming weeks, Love should find himself opening things up against tougher opposition. Reed’s presence will open up more deep opportunities for Christian Watson, and the Packers offense should look far more familiar as we hurtle toward the playoffs.
Trade Targets to Sell: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Heading into Sunday, none of Chicago’s seven wins this season had come against teams with winning records. Sunday’s victory over the Steelers put an end to that run, albeit with Aaron Rodgers watching on from the sidelines.
Caleb Williams put up some impressive numbers, completing 19 of 35 pass attempts for 239 yards and three touchdowns. He did give up an awful touchdown by fumbling in his own end zone, but Bears fans won’t care about that with the team leading the NFC North.
Analyzing Williams’s performances this season, though, it’s clear that his better performances have come against weaker opposition. But for the opening weekend against the Vikings, Williams’ top-10 fantasy finishes have all come against defenses that entered Sunday in the bottom 11 against the pass.
The New York Giants ranked 11th-worst in passing yards allowed per game, while the Bengals, Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders made up the bottom four.
Moving forward, Williams faces the Packers twice, the Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. If you make it to the fantasy championship, the 49ers offer a promising matchup. Before then, though, the remaining three teams ranked in the top half of that list, with the Packers 10th-best, and the Browns leading all defenses against the pass.
