Fantasy football season hits its most unpredictable stretch around midyear, and that’s when competent managers start shopping for value. Some players are coming off rough patches that make them ideal buy-low targets. Others are hovering on the edge of bigger roles and just need an opportunity to break out. Here are the names worth considering before your league’s trade deadline arrives.
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.
