We are now through the first week of the 2025 fantasy football season. Given our limited context, it’s almost impossible to gauge a team’s performance after only one week confidently. However, fantasy rosters can constantly be improved, and there is always value to be found if you know where to look.
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
Dak Prescott was drafted late in fantasy leagues this year, and he shouldn’t be difficult to acquire after a mediocre outing against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prescott tallied just 7.8 fantasy points in Week 1, but there were many contributing factors. Passing offenses are typically below par in Week 1, across the league, due to the lack of game-time starters getting in the preseason.
Prescott’s passing was slightly off at times, but several drops by star receiver CeeDee Lamb didn’t help him. He was impressive overall and can be expected to add a touchdown or two most weeks after drawing a blank in Week 1.
The entire Dallas Cowboys passing attack is a buy-low opportunity, starting with their quarterback, who was the QB3 overall as recently as 2023.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young was another overlooked quarterback in fantasy drafts this year and did little to prove people wrong in Week 1. Young faced the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were a quarterback-friendly unit in 2024.
Nevertheless, he struggled to get anything going, relying heavily on a catch-and-run effort from running back Chuba Hubbard for his only passing touchdown. The third-year quarterback is working with an incredibly young receiving corps, following Adam Thielen’s trade back to the Minnesota Vikings.
BRYCE YOUNG 5TH TD OF THE DAY 🤯🔥
HE’S COOKING THE FALCONS DEFENSE.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/FaEgNJNJVN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 5, 2025
That may take a week or two to settle, but the Carolina Panthers remain a likely shootout team, and Young remains a dual-threat playmaker. Week 1 was far from impressive, but you can’t buy low after a good performance.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
There were doubts about Isiah Pacheco ahead of the season, following his shaky return from a fractured fibula at the end of last season. That being said, preseason camp reports were very positive, and he was expected to lead the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield again in 2025.
Week 1 was a disappointment, with Pacheco afforded only five rushing opportunities, as the Chiefs played from behind for more than three and a half quarters. He averaged five yards per carry, though, against what should be a good Los Angeles Chargers run defense.
Pacheco is still the starting running back in Kansas City and should still be viewed as an RB2 in fantasy, but his 4.8 fantasy points will have opened a buy-low window in many leagues.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
There is a good chance that any trade enquiries for RJ Harvey at this point in the season will be swiftly dismissed, but he is definitely worth asking around for. The Denver Broncos’ rookie was being drafted (RB22) as though he would lead the Broncos’ backfield from Week 1, which certainly wasn’t the case.
J.K. Dobbins was the clear lead back for Denver in Week 1, with Harvey limited to just six attempts and one target. He turned that into 69 total yards, flashing his explosiveness, which will make many fantasy owners reluctant to sell up just yet.
However, the limited usage will be concerning for those who drafted him as their RB2. Harvey has the potential to be a weekly RB1 once he secures the starting job, and Dobbins got off to a strong start in 2024 before his production declined. Those with enough depth to stash Harvey should be enquiring at the very least.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Week 1 was a horror show for the Miami Dolphins, as they lost 33-8 to the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins failed to score a single point until the fourth quarter and were overwhelmed by the Colts on both sides of the ball.
The Colts added some key pieces to their defense during the offseason, though, and should prove a tough matchup for many offenses this year. The Dolphins were poor in Week 1, but have done more than enough (with Tua Tagovailoa healthy) in recent years to be given the benefit of the doubt.
Throwback Play of the Day: Tyreek Hill zooms 57 yards for a touchdown on SNF after recovering a Jeff Wilson fumble. – Week 14, 2022 ⚡️💨pic.twitter.com/3bUHFg14yh
— SleeperDolphins (@SleeperMiami) April 23, 2025
Passing games are often disjointed to start the year, and Tagovailoa doesn’t have the rushing ability to make up for that. Tyreek Hill was targeted six times, catching four passes for forty yards.
There were concerns about Hill’s relationship with the team, but his opportunities suggest he’ll be an explosive fantasy asset once the Dolphins offense clicks into place. The bad vibes around Miami, the embarrassing loss, and the preseason concerns will have made Hill owners nervous and potentially open to a sale.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
Calvin Ridley was being taken far too low in drafts this year (WR28), but he struggled to connect with his rookie quarterback, Cam Ward, in Week 1. Ridley finished with four receptions for 27 yards, but was targeted eight times.
Ridley’s production was underwhelming, but Ward is clearly keen to feed his star receiver, and more time spent playing together should make a huge difference. Ridley was already undervalued, and his disappointing 6.7 fantasy points should land him firmly in the shop window.
The Titans will likely play from behind a lot this season, and while he struggled to connect with his targets consistently, Ward showed a lot of promise. Once Ridley and Ward’s connection clicks, the veteran receiver should be able to put up weekly WR2 numbers, with low-end WR1 upside.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
There was a lot of interest in George Pickens’s Dallas Cowboys debut, but it was tight end Jake Ferguson who was second on the team in targets behind CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson is a favorite target of Prescott, who targeted him twice in the end zone in Week 1.
The Cowboys’ passing game was inconsistent, but Prescott looked impressive overall, which bodes well for Ferguson. Lamb and Pickens will continue to spread defenses and give the tight end plenty of space in the middle of the field this season.
The Cowboys’ passing game should improve in Week 2, having shaken off some rust against Philadelphia. Ferguson should be a top-ten tight end for the rest of the year, with weekly touchdown upside.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku’s disappointing Week 1 won’t have fantasy managers panicking, but the fact that he was out-targeted by rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. might. In the Cleveland Browns ‘ opening-day loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Njoku caught three of his six targets for 37 yards.
Fannin was targeted nine times, catching seven for 63 yards. Njoku was drafted as a top-10 tight end (TE9) this year, but managers will now be wondering if he is even the first-choice tight end on his own team.
DAVID NJOKU TOUCHDOWN. THE BROWNS HAVE A SECOND HALF LEAD. pic.twitter.com/rauQ5MclrI
— Max Loeb (@loebsleads) October 27, 2024
The veteran remains one of the hardest players to stop with the ball in his hands, and his incredible size and athleticism make him stand out. He has a great relationship with quarterback Joe Flacco and would be worth trading for if available in any of your leagues.
Top Trade Targets To Sell in Your League
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones may be the only obvious sell-high quarterback after Week 1. The former New York Giants starter scored two rushing touchdowns as the Colts dismantled the Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jones’s performance was good enough for him to finish Sunday as the QB1 in fantasy, tied with Justin Fields. You won’t be able to fool your league mates that Jones will remain a top fantasy quarterback, but his 29.5 fantasy points will have turned heads, particularly in Super Flex.
Assessing Week 1 can be difficult, but Indianapolis’ 33 points in Week 1 suggest the Miami defense may be below par this season. It could be that Jones’s leadership is simply bringing the best out of the Colts’ offense, but the odds are against that becoming the norm.
Daniel Jones with his first TD pass as a Colt.
Keep proving us wrong DJ. Jobs not finished.
pic.twitter.com/9976qYxdx4— SleeperColts (@SleeperColts) September 7, 2025
Aaron Rodgers also performed above expectations in Week 1, but his value likely hasn’t risen to anything more than a high-end QB2, which he should be able to make good on. Jones, meanwhile, still has Anthony Richardson breathing down his neck and could lose his job if things go south.
The Colts would ideally like to get another look at Richardson this season, and Jones’s value could disappear quickly with a bad week or two. If you can get high-end QB2 value or better for Jones, moving on while you can might be a good idea.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson, and he wouldn’t be short of suitors in the fantasy trade market. The rookie stepped up and outshone his teammate Jerome Ford in Week 1 with an impressive receiving display.
Sampson caught all eight of his targets for 64 yards, adding a modest 29 further yards on 12 carries. That receiving production is significant, given the impending return of Quinshon Judkins to the Browns’ setup.
Judkins will likely take time to ramp up, having missed significant time during the summer for off-field issues. Once up to speed, though, the second-round pick will be expected to take over most of the rushing responsibilities, with Sampson competing with Ford for receiving work.
Ford is more known for his work as a pass catcher, and Sampson’s Week 1 showing should concern Ford owners. However, the Bengals’ defense isn’t the toughest test, and a step back in Week 2 will see Sampson’s value dissolve as quickly as it appeared.
Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Javonte Williams won’t be viewed as an overnight RB1 in fantasy, but his production against the Eagles on opening night will have seen his value spike. It will naturally be tempting to hang onto a running back that just scored you 20.4 fantasy points, but Williams’s rushing efficiency suggests the high times won’t last.
Williams’s fantasy production in Week 1 mainly came from his two rushing touchdowns, which already looks like an outlier for both the player and his team. Williams scored just four rushing touchdowns all year in 2024, with two coming in the same game. Dallas, meanwhile, managed just six rushing touchdowns as a team last season.
The former Bronco averaged just 3.6 yards per attempt on the ground and caught two of his three targets for 10 yards. If you can get middling to high-end RB2 value for Williams after Week 1, cashing in might be a good idea.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Quentin Johnston will be on waivers in many leagues, but he is an obvious sell-high in fantasy for deeper leagues. Unfortunately, the receiver had a poor reputation heading into the year, so many will still be out on him, but 24.9 fantasy points is hard to ignore.
Besides, you only need one of your 11 league mates to want to take a chance on a potential third-year breakout. Johnston is a former first-round pick on a good offense, and plenty of fantasy managers will be intrigued.
Justin Herbert to Quentin Johnston for the first TD of the night ⚡️#BoltUp pic.twitter.com/sIxivJort2
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 6, 2025
If the player is on waivers in your league, it could even be worth bidding on him, just to immediately trade him. That way, you’ll know who is interested, and how interested they are (if your league reveals waiver wire bids).
Overall, Johnston will likely be a boom/bust receiver again in fantasy this year, with both Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen the more consistent receivers on the team. If you can flip Johnston for a more consistent player, or a promising rookie who could turn into a star later in the year, that should be considered excellent value.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
Unlike Johnston, Marvin Harrison Jr. carried plenty of hype into the 2025 season and was one of my sell-high players ahead of Week 1. The Arizona Cardinals receiver was a boom/bust option in his rookie year and should improve this season, but perhaps not as much as some expect.
It never feels great to sell high, but there is a non-zero chance that you could get top-10 receiver value from Harrison after Week 1. That’s incredible value for a player who finished as the WR30 last season, and all he had to do was perform against a poor New Orleans Saints defense.
The Cardinals face a very friendly schedule this season, and having introduced Trey Benson to a bigger role, they now have two running backs to keep happy. A more run-heavy approach to games isn’t out of the question, nor is another touchdown-dependent fantasy season from Harrison.
You certainly shouldn’t be out on the Cardinals receiver, but it would be wise to explore his value; you might be surprised at what you could get in return.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce’s name value saw him taken fifth at the position in drafts this year, but that value is set to deteriorate each week, as we get closer to Rashee Rice’s return. In the three weeks that Kelce shared a field with a healthy Rice in 2024, he averaged just four targets and five fantasy points per game.
Tight ends can often be touchdown-dependent in fantasy, but the point of having a top player at the position is to have a solid, reliable floor each week. Without his touchdown against the Chargers, Kelce would have scored 6.7 fantasy points in Week 1.
Beautiful play design to get Travis Kelce WIDE OPEN for the long Touchdown.
pic.twitter.com/2qIavtx6lm— FakeFootballFun (@FakeFootballFun) September 6, 2025
Kelce scored just three receiving touchdowns in 2024, so if he is going to rely on touchdowns for fantasy production, you may as well be streaming the position.
Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster both out-targeted Kelce in Week 1, with Rice and Xavier Worthy also in line for significant targets when healthy. If someone is willing to offer you any value for the legendary tight end, you should be open to it, as any trade value could be gone before you know it.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
Sam Laporta was targeted nine times in the Detroit Lions’ 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, as the reigning NFC North Champions struggled on the ground. The Packers did a great job nullifying Detroit’s feared rushing attack; the Lions were forced to throw as their offense played exclusively from behind.
Laporta topped eight targets only once last season, and the Lions would no doubt love to be more run-heavy in future weeks. Laporta went into the season already ranked among the top four tight ends and could fetch a significant haul in a trade.
The Lions star finished 2024 as the TE8, but his TE1 finish in 2023 still holds weight in fantasy. Those who merely want security at tight end can be forgiven for wanting to hold Laporta, but exploring his market this week could prove rewarding.
