The fantasy football season has reached the critical mid-point, where separating pretenders from contenders often comes down to savvy trades. Identifying players poised to surge and those set to regress is key to staying ahead of the competition.
This week’s trade targets spotlight overlooked assets poised to rise, including one who could seize control of the Carolina Panthers’ backfield, as well as other names that can transform your roster for the stretch run.
Trade Targets to Buy: Rico Dowdle, 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.
Top 10 rushing leaders — 2025 season (so far):
1️⃣ Jonathan Taylor — 850 yds, 12 TD (#ForTheShoe)
2️⃣ James Cook III — 753 yds, 7 TD (#BillsMafia)
3️⃣ J.K. Dobbins — 634 yds, 4 TD (#BroncosCountry)
4️⃣ Javonte Williams — 633 yds, 8 TD (#DALLASCOWBOYS)
5️⃣ Rico Dowdle — 605 yds, 4 TD… pic.twitter.com/jbaJNRclbD— GameBlazers (@GameBlazersFF) October 27, 2025
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, 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., 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.
Aaron Jones was back for the Vikings in Week 8, and he had a 54% snap share against the Chargers. Jordan Mason was at 35%. Mason’s 28% route share tied a season low, which came back in Week 1.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) October 27, 2025
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.
Trade Targets to Sell: RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
After weeks of waiting, Broncos rookie RJ Harvey finally enjoyed a breakout game against the Cowboys in Week 8. Harvey rushed for two touchdowns and added a third through the air as the Broncos ran away with a resounding 27-10 victory.
However, despite his box-score dominance, Harvey’s usage didn’t change much from previous weeks. The rookie carried the ball seven times and was targeted just once, numbers similar to those he has had all year, save for one outlier game against the Bengals.
MORE: Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Harvey’s Week 8 explosion was one of otherworldly efficiency, and not one of a rookie running back finally taking over his team’s backfield. J.K. Dobbins remains Denver’s lead back and will likely continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
Harvey is currently the RB6 in PPR leagues this week, with only one game still to play. If you can sell league mates on a mid-season breakout, you should be looking for RB2 value in a trade. If nobody is willing to bite at that price, you’re better off keeping him on your roster due to his obvious upside and future breakout potential.
