The fantasy football trade season is the perfect time to target players whose box scores don’t tell the full story. This week’s names come with hidden upside, changing roles, and schedules that could quietly swing playoff matchups in your favor. The goal is to highlight options whose perceived value doesn’t match their true rest-of-season potential. Make your league-mates wonder what you know that they don’t.
Trade Targets to Buy: Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Zay Flowers has totaled double-digit fantasy points in nine of his 11 games this season, but is still falling short of the high hopes many had for him when he entered the league. A surprisingly flat showing from the Baltimore Ravens offense was enough to see off the New York Jets on Sunday, but they’ll need more in the coming weeks.
The Ravens face off against the Cincinnati Bengals twice in the next three weeks, with the visit of the Pittsburgh Steelers sandwiched between. Flowers hasn’t tallied 100 receiving yards or more since Week 1, but did so five times last season, three of which were against divisional opponents.
Not only that, but heading into Sunday’s games, the Steelers at the Bengals were ranked 32nd and 31st, respectively, in passing yards allowed per game. Flowers hasn’t had a top-20 fantasy finish since that Week 1 game, but could very realistically have multiple top-10 finishes in the next few weeks.
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
Kayshon Boutte was back on the field on Sunday, having missed two weeks through injury. Teammate Mack Hollins stepped up and performed admirably in his place, and there may have been some doubts as to whether Boutte had lost his role.
Those fears should be calmed, though, after the receiver was targeted twice in the end zone in his first game back. Thankfully, for those looking to invest, those end zone targets won’t show up on the stat sheet, as defensive-pass-interference penalties denied both potential touchdowns.
Boutte is still the deep-ball threat for arguably the best deep-ball thrower in the NFL, and is once again causing havoc in the red zone. He is still dependent on a big play or a touchdown, but should prove a worthy flex play most weeks moving forward.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
This one is a bit niche, which is why it didn’t make the headline, but it’s a golden opportunity for some. Tee Higgins left Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots early and was later ruled out with a concussion. While concussion injuries can vary, it’s fair to expect Higgins to miss Week 13, and possibly Week 14.
For fantasy managers needing to win their next two games to make the playoffs, that’s no use at all. Higgins is likely the first or second receiver on most fantasy rosters, and his absence will be a massive blow to current owners.
If you’re already guaranteed a playoff spot, it’s well worth looking for Higgins in your league this week. If the current owner needs short-term wins, they should be open to a trade that gets them through the next couple of weeks, while you secure a star for the playoffs.
Trade Targets to Sell: DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
DJ Moore enjoyed a stellar Week 12, catching five of his seven targets for 64 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers. Sunday was always going to be a feast for the Bears’ passing attack, with Pittsburgh being the worst pass defense in the NFL to that point in the year.
But unlike some of the other Chicago pass catchers, Moore has the reputation to go along with his outlier week, and should be able to attract interest in trades. The Bears have a much trickier schedule moving forward, and if you can get WR3/flex value for Moore, you should probably take it.
The former fantasy favorite has recorded just two top-10 fantasy finishes this year, and finished outside the top 30 receivers in eight of the remaining nine weeks.
