The fantasy football trade deadline season brings both opportunity and risk as managers look to strengthen their rosters for playoff pushes. Identifying which players to target and which to move can make the difference between a championship run and an early exit.
Some positions offer hidden gems available at bargain prices, while others present sell-high candidates whose current production may not be sustainable. Smart traders know that timing and player evaluation are everything when it comes to making moves that pay off down the stretch.
Top Trade Targets To Buy: Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz got off to a hot start in 2025, catching two touchdowns in the season’s opening two weeks. Things have died down since, though, and the Washington Commanders tight end has finished outside the top 20 at the position in two straight weeks.
That drop in form has coincided with the absence of starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, who trusts the veteran as much as any of his pass catchers. Down the stretch last season, Ertz scored six touchdowns in the final seven weeks of the season, making it eight in nine weeks after two weeks of this campaign.
Daniels is set to return in Week 5, and that should mean a return to form for Ertz, who may even be on waivers in many leagues. Ertz was the TE3 overall after Week 2 and should again be a weekly starter with his quarterback returning.
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
If Chicago’s offense continues to improve throughout the year, rookie tight end Colston Loveland will be a big part of it. Loveland had been targeted three times before leaving early in Week 3 with a hip injury.
Tyler Warren:
19 catches (25th in NFL)
263 yards (17th)
1 rushing TDColston Loveland:
3 catches
43 yards
-Was drafted after getting surgery on his shoulder
-Has missed essentially 2 games now out of 4 (got hurt after 1 catch in Week 3) pic.twitter.com/t8PET38EVm— jamfan40 (@jamfan40) September 29, 2025
That injury kept him sidelined for Week 4, but his three targets against the Dallas Cowboys were a significant jump from his previous usage. Rookie progression is always a solid bet in fantasy, and Loveland was a first-round pick for an elite offensive play caller.
The Bears have a bye in Week 5, meaning Loveland will have done nothing for two straight weeks, having done very little before that. The rookie may be on waivers in your league, but even if not, he is an excellent bet for anyone without an elite option at the position and should cost very little.
Top Trade Targets To Sell: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles star Dallas Goedert had a massive game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4, scoring two touchdowns. Those touchdowns took Goedert’s tally to three scores on the year and continued his stellar start to the campaign.
However, it’s reasonable to expect some regression in that department moving forward. Goedert hasn’t topped three receiving touchdowns since 2021, and has never topped five.
The Eagles have plenty of weapons, and they all need to be kept happy with targets and carries, making Goedert’s pace difficult to maintain. The veteran’s best fantasy finish to a season was TE10 overall in 2019, and you could likely get better value than that for him right now.
You shouldn’t be desperate to move on from the Eagles star, but it would be worth investigating what you could get for him in your leagues.
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
People have been patiently waiting for a second breakout season from Kyle Pitts for a long time, and the Atlanta Falcons tight end has flashed some positive signs early on this year. Pitts has now registered two top-10 fantasy finishes at the position, and his Week 4 performance was his best since Week 8 last season.
Like Harrison, though, Pitts has been inconsistent and has finished as the TE19 and the TE20 in the two weeks he didn’t finish in the top 10. That might not sound too alarming, but there are top-10 tight ends on waivers weekly in fantasy, and you may as well be streaming tight ends for sporadic production.
Pitts has become a meme in recent years, but his name still holds some value in fantasy while he is producing. With bye weeks now upon us, flipping him for a consistent flex option might be a good idea.
