Week 1 fantasy football results often create overreactions, but smart managers know this is prime buying season. Several high-upside players delivered disappointing performances, opening valuable trade windows for savvy fantasy managers.
From struggling quarterbacks to underutilized skill position players, these buy-low candidates could transform your roster.
Top Trade Targets to Buy Low: 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 many contributing factors existed. 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.
MORE: Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
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.
