Week 1 was sloppy for most and electric for others, as to be expected. This week more than any other this season, we’ll see overreactions on both sides of the fence. Some will be scrambling to fix their perceived drafting mistakes, while others will be buying into false promises. Let’s read between the lines and target some of this week’s most valuable assets you may be able to acquire at a discounted price due to a dud last week. I’m not saying they’ll be cheap, but they’ll be cheap-er than draft day costs and should benefit your lineups moving forward. Go get ‘em!
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Caveat… this particular trade target list is heavily loaded, intentionally capitalizing on overreactions. Rarely will you find the Top 5 options at any position as legit trade targets. However, this is the week you may be able to! A move now could set you apart later. People panic after a long summer of ideas and drafts. When their studs pull duds in Week 1, it’s an opportunity for sharks to circle. Be a shark.
Trade For…
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson / Joe Burrow / Justin Fields
It’s a long shot. I get it, but also not impossible this week. Each player had a rough week. Jackson and Burrow finished QB27 and QB31, respectively, while Fields was QB15. If you need a top-end quarterback, this might be the only week you can score one for “cheap”.
Trevor Lawrence
T-Law is QB8 after one week and looked great. He was 9th in passing yards and 5th in completion % on the week and left quite a bit on the field with over/under throws, penalty call-backs and miscues with his new superstar Calvin Ridley. Lawrence should have a career year and is not being considered as such currently. He’s a weekly starter with Top 5 upside.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson / Saquon Barkley / Joe Mixon
Same as the quarterbacks above. These guys are not likely attainable, but if they would be, now’s the time. Bijan is the best player on the Falcons and showed that with somewhat limited work. However, the scare is Tyler Allgeier, who went 15/75/2 along with three receptions. Bjian was 10/56/0 on the ground, but also 6 of 6/27/1 threw the air. He’ll be elite. Capitalize on the Allgeier overreaction, which you can.
Barkley got caught in the wash of a disastrous SNF performance. 12/51 – 3/12 is not what you expected from your first-rounder. Dallas dominated. Giants folded. Saquon will be Saquon moving forward and at a discount right now. Worth a shot.
Mixon was a borderline bright spot in the Bengals whooping Sunday. He went 13/56 – 3/17. Burrow had 82 total passing yards. Mixon will get his touches, and if he scores, he’s roughly Top 12 on the week. I want 15-20 touchbacks on my team. Mixon might be the easiest to acquire.
Rhomandre Stevenson
Stevenson came in with an injury designation and was a game-time decision, so drafters may not have even played him last minute. 12/25 with a long of five (5!!!) yards isn’t impressive obviously, but he also had six receptions on six targets for 64 yards which was second among RBs on the week behind only Aaron Jones. Zeke has 12 touches but for just 36 yards. I’m not worried about him. This Patriots offense surprised against Philly. Go get some at a discount.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase / Tee Higgins / CeeDee Lamb / AJ Brown
Any top-end pass catcher would be a nice addition to your team. These guys, in particular under produced in Week 1 and might be gettable for less than draft day value. Take a shot. The Bengals got stuffed by the Browns after Chase ran his mouth. They’ll be fine. Lamb didn’t get many looks because the Dallas defense had the game in hand early. AJ Brown was overshadowed by Davonta Smith after Bill Belichick “removed” him as the top option, which he does weekly. Expect big games from all of these guys to come.
Michael Pittman
Pittman was an afterthought during drafts but impressed in Week 1. He had 11 targets for 97 and a nice long touchdown. He only had four total games with 11+ targets all of last year. Anthony Richardson had some rough spots, but overall a nice debut. Pittman slid by me, I’ll be honest. You may want to grab on while you can. He’s a WR2 with WR1 upside.
Tight End
Travis Kelce / Mark Andrews / Darren Waller
This is obvious. If you can get a hold of a league-winning tight end, do it. Clearly, they won’t be cheap, but could be attainable if their manager bombed Week 1. Worth a look/ask.
Sam LaPorta
We generally don’t target rookie tight ends, but LaPorta is different. He caught all five targets for 39 yards in his first game. He didn’t even score, and he was TE8 on the week. TJ Hockenson was a Top 5 TE in Detroit, and Jared Goff loves him some TE targets; TJ Hockenson, Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett. LaPorta may not be a weekly starter just yet and might even be available on waivers, but someone to keep an eye on and pick up for cheap if you’re streaming TEs.
Trade Away…
Quarterback
Dak Prescott
Dak was a Bust in my Top 5 Bust article earlier this summer. The Cowboys won 40-0… 40-0!!! Dak was QB29 with 24 pass attempts for 143 yards and no TDs. I get it, that’s not a weekly expectation, but my concern with his pass attempts without former OC Kellen Moore now with the Chargers is real. Dak is fine, but he’s now the Top 12-15 QB you drafted.
He has name value and is a part of a very good team. I just don’t think he’ll produce what you drafted and would try to upgrade. Honestly, I’d rather have Derek Carr, Anthony Richardson and Brock Purdy. Those guys are probably waiver adds. So, why not try to trade up for Lawrence?
Running Back
Cam Akers
This one stings. I was all about the Akers hype preseason. Still might be, but nervous AF after just one week. My friend LaQuan Jones of @RealDealFantasy shared these metrics of Akers Sunday.
- 22/29/1 Rushing
- 1.3 Yards/Carry
- 45.5% Stuff Rate
- 0 Targets
- 8.9 PPR Fantasy Points (RB33)
Gross, I know… the worst part is that they fed him, and he did very little until the game was out of reach in garbage time. His backup Kyren Williams wasn’t particularly efficient either, but did score twice and earned 17 touches himself. Perhaps Akers is too low to sell right now, but if he accidentally scores again this week (which he won’t against the 49ers), then I’d off-load immediately. HC Sean McVay has been looking for opportunities to go elsewhere for years. Akers is not helping his own cause or ours as managers. I wish it were better. It’s not.
Wide Receiver
Deebo Samuel
I listed Brandon Aiyuk as “My Guy” preseason. So far, so good. Aiyuk was WR2 Week 1 on 8/9/129/2 and 33 PPR fantasy points. Deebo was 5/7/55 with two rush attempts for just eight yards – 11.3 PPRFFP / WR36. I saw this coming at the end of last season with Brock Purdy. I stand by my belief that Aiyuk is a better receiver than Deebo. Not runner… receiver. Purdy trusts him, and more importantly, so does Kyle Shanahan finally. Deebo has a name brand and huge play-to-play upside, as we all know, but aside from a few big plays last year, Aiyuk was the one splashing with 2x as many 20+ yard plays last season. Drafters took Deebo in the 3rd. Go get better value and upgrade. Deebo will be fine, but like Dak, he’s not going to be what you drafted.
Tight End
George Kittle
(Copy and paste Deebo response). Similar to Deebo, I’m concerned about Kittle. Not only is Aiyukk a breakout, but the offense runs through Christian McCaffery. Kittle came in with a groin injury. He played, but not 100%, which limited him to just 3/19 on six targets. Kittle had a career year last year, but many of his teammates were in and out with injuries. When they’re all healthy, it’s CMC and Aiyuk. Capitalize on name brand and big play potential. I’m a 49ers fan and a Kittle fanboy. In fantasy, though, I’d cut bait for a solid TE like LaPorta, Musgrave or Kmet, plus another piece. I will definitely take Kittle in a Royal Rumble Match, though.
For more from Sky and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @skyguasco.
