Week 3 Fantasy Football Trade Targets
Oh boy… two weeks in, and the injury bug has struck early this season. We’ve already lost Aaron Rodgers, J.K. Dobbins, Cooper Kupp (TBD), Diontae Johnson (TBD), Greg Dulchic and now Joe Burrow? Anthony Richardson? Nick Chubb? Saquon Barkley? David Montgomery? Amon-Ra St. Brown? Brandon Aiyuk? Sheesh! Successful fantasy managers briefly sulk about the loss of a player on their roster and move on to the next.
Let’s find some replacements and clear some space with this week’s trade for and trade away players.
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Trade For…
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins
Yep, I said it. Don’t look now, but Captain Kirk is QB1 in fantasy football after two weeks. You might think he’d be untouchable at that level, but the Vikings are 0-2. Cousins probably wasn’t even drafted in single QB leagues, meaning he’s a waiver pickup for somebody that had Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow or Daniel Jones after Week 1. The Vikings have zero run game right now with just 69 total rushing yards (not so nice, huh?) and the third-worst yards per attempt at 2.65 ahead of only the Raiders and Texans.
Additionally, the Vikings have arguably the worst defense in the league right now, surrendering a 68.3% completion rate and 332 rushing yards in just two games. Cousins will need to throw and throw often to keep them afloat. MIN plays LAC, CAR, KC and CHI coming up. I’m not worried about any of those secondaries with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson in tow.
Cousins is lame. I get it. You can’t knock the output, though.
Running Back: Kyren Williams
I mentioned last week to trade away Cam Akers after Williams looked far more explosive in Week 1. Well, since then, Akers has been put on the NFL trade block, and Williams is the clear bell-cow for the Rams, who were a touchdown away from shocking the 49ers and being 2-0. Williams is the RB2 behind only Christian McCaffrey after two weeks. Williams has rushed for exactly 52 yards and scored twice each week, but he had 10 targets which he turned into 6/48/1 vs. the best run defense in the NFL. This is for real. The Rams (dare I say it?) are for real. There might be managers thinking this is a fluke. If they do, capitalize.
If you had Dobbins, Chubb or Barkley, you need to make a move. This may be a sneaky steal.
Wide Receiver: Christian Kirk
Kirk was a major bust in Week 1, with just one catch for nine yards on three targets. Calvin Ridley was a beast. The NFL adapts quickly and now views Ridley as the No. 1, not Kirk… and rightfully so, no offense. Ridley had the dud in Week 2, while Kirk saw single coverage and ate! He went 11/110 on 14 (!!!) targets with a 45-yarder included. He did not score, which actually helps us here trying to buy low before everyone notices the Jaguars have two No. 1 receivers on their team and a blossoming QB in a pass-friendly offense. Ridley and Kirk may go back and forth on who blows up weekly, but it’ll be one or the other and start to become both.
Kirk was an afterthought after Week 1. He’ll be tougher to grab now but say something like, “Yeah, but Ridley…” and trade DeAndre Hopkins, DJ Moore or Jahan Dotson for Kirk.
Tight End: Zach Ertz
First off, I’m still excited about my Sam LaPorta mention last week. Get him if you still can. #RookieTE.
Now, old reliable… Ertz had a run for top-end TE numbers in fantasy before he was oft-injured and got thrown away by the Eagles in favor of Dallas Goedert. If you didn’t realize, the Cardinals still do have a team in Arizona and Mr. Ertz has been quite productive. He’s the TE5 on the season and leads all TEs with 18 targets and 12 receptions. He’s collected exactly six receptions in each game so far but has not scored. Yet, he’s been the TE12 and TE7. They have little to no weapons in ARI, and somebody has to catch passes. Why not the OG? He’s not flashy and has limited upside, but if you’re streaming, you could do worse.
Note: his next two matchups are dreadful vs. DAL and SF, but keep him on your radar or scoop for cheaper after the Cardinals get shutout in back-to-back weeks.
Trade Away…
Quarterback: Joe Burrow
I admit, I told you to trade for him last week. Well… not anymore.
For the record, I hate that I’m suggesting this, but hear me out… His calf is not healed from the preseason scare. He played on it, but not well and re-injured it Sunday. Burrow has the 27th (6th worst) quarterback rating at a measly 70.6, sandwiched between Ryan Tannehill and Justin Fields. However, he’s thrown the 11th most passes. The math does not check out for the Burrow you thought you were drafting. I know, “it’s only two weeks”. The problem is, it’s also, “Well, it’s already been two weeks.” Week 1, he got punked on the road in bad weather by CLE, who clearly has a vastly improved defense. I’ll let that slide. In Week 2, though, he was at home and playing a weakened BAL secondary and still only put up 222/2/1. Ja’Marr Chase is nowhere to be found. If not, for Tee Higgins playing well, this offense would be a firesale. CIN is 0-2, and Burrow is hurt.
There are plus matchups before their bye in Week 7. I could absolutely see the Bengals going more run-heavy, minimizing Burrow’s need to be special, resting, and saving him for a brutal second-half schedule, including SF, BUF, BAL and PIT in four of CIN’s five games after the bye.
This might backfire, but I’d rather have Kirk Cousins (above), Matt Stafford, Russell Wilson and Jared Goff right now.
Running Back: Raheem Mostert
Trust me. I love Heeeeeeeem! I also know his history all too well. He’s healthy right now, which is amazing. He’s showcasing his underrated ability and speed in a high-powered offense. He’s also RB5 in PPR with three total receptions. Last week, Bill Belichick controlled Tua Tagovailoa like he always does and minimized Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That won’t happen until they meet again in Week 8. Therefore, I expect more of what happened in Week 1, which was Hill and Waddle going nuts while Mostert had just 12 touches for 50 total yards and a score for 13 PPR fantasy points, or RB18 on the week.
Ride the wave if you’d like to, but I rather sell high.
Wide Receiver: AJ Brown
After two weeks, he’s the No. 2 in PHI. Or, he’s the No. 1, but not statistically. Either way, he’s been outpaced by DaVonta Smith (WR7) across the board. Probably because he earns double coverage, but nonetheless, it’s a problem.
Here’s a comparison through two weeks:
Brown (PPR WR38): 11/108/0 on 16 targets
Smith (PPR WR7): 11/178/2 on 15 targets
Brown is an alpha, obviously. However, Smith is too. I’d bet 90% of fantasy managers value Brown more than Smith, and probably significantly. It’s not the story early, though. I love Brown and wouldn’t give him away, but name-brand goes a long way in fantasy football. That coupled with weekly potential in a high-powered offense…?
I’d try to flip for Chase, Ridley or Waddle.
Tight End: Kyle Pitts
Hopefully, you can skip this one because you read my Top 5 Busts article preseason and didn’t draft him in the first place. Although, those that did… stop dreaming. The potential is super fun, but only when it happens. I’m already over 1,300 words on this article, or I’d list the countless players we, as a fantasy community, have held hope for based on potential through the scope of athleticism. As George Costanza would say, “It’s not him, it’s Arthur Smith.” 9.9 PPR fantasy points through two weeks. Not per game… total. That’s good for TE27! Pitts is 4/59/0 on eight total targets so far this season. The Falcons have the third-fewest pass attempts in the league, and when Desmond Ridder does throw, he targets Drake London and rising superstar Bijan Robinson. Slim pickens and no love? Hard pass.
Swap Pitts for LaPorta, Engram or Kmet. Gross, I know. You’re welcome.
For more from Sky and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @skyguasco.
