[brid video=”1128907″ player=”10951″ title=”2022%20Razzball%20BUY%20SELL%20HOLD%20for%20Fantasy%20Football%20Week%209″ duration=”167″ description=”It’s the Razzball BUY, SELL, HOLD for Fantasy Football Week 9! Keenan Allen (:40) Michael Carter (1:24) Rashod Bateman (1:58)” uploaddate=”2022-10-31″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/9233/snapshot/1128907_th_1667244600.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/9233/sd/1128907.mp4″ width=”480″ height=”270″] Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets.
Each week we’ll take a look at the top trade targets for each position. Trade targets can be any player at any time throughout the season. The objective (when possible) is to “buy low” and “sell high,” acquiring and getting rid of players as they are hitting their peak or before they lose their value. This article will become extra handy once bye-weeks kick off next month. Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets..
Did I miss a key trade target for this week? Comment below.
Buy “Low”
Quarterback: Justin Fields (CHI) – Justin Fields is QB12 through eight games. Over the last five weeks though, he’s QB5. He only averages 23 pass attempts per game since Week 5 but also averages 66 rushing yards per game since Week 5. Fields has the second most total rushing yards and rushing yards per game among quarterbacks, behind only Lamar Jackson. He has the second most rushing touchdowns as well, tied with four others behind Jalen Hurts. Fields is a great roster stash as the byes continue to deplete our quarterbacks. His next three starts are against the Dolphins, Lions and Falcons, who are all in the bottom five against fantasy quarterbacks, meaning they’re plus matchups for Fields. Weeks 9-11 see 14 teams go on bye.
Some weekly QB starters going on bye include Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson and Daniel Jones in Week 9; Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow in Week 10; Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith and Tom Brady in Week 11. Fields is a perfect substitute for all of those absences. Fields has increased his fantasy points each week since Week 5. During that time, he’s scored 10, 17, 19, 24 and 27 fantasy points. The Bears’ offense has scored its two highest totals of the season over the last two weeks, with 33 vs. the Patriots and 29 vs. the Cowboys.
With “shootout” matchups coming up and the Bears’ bye not until Week 14, Fields should not only be a bye week replacement but potentially a weekly replacement for struggling fantasy quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Brady, Wilson, Matt Stafford and maybe even Justin Herbert depending on the matchup. If he’s not on waivers, Fields may be a cheap “buy” in trade. Go get him.
Running Back: Jeff Wilson (MIA) – Wilson got traded from the 49ers to the Dolphins. He rejoins his backfield bestie Raheem Mostert and former Offensive Coordinator from San Francisco (now Head Coach in Miami) Mike McDaniel. Wilson will remain a backup for now, but Chase Edmonds was also traded and is now on the Broncos. Mostert has a long injury history, and Wilson is one tweak away from taking over a lead role again. In four games this season when Wilson saw at least 12 carries, he was RB14, RB26, RB17 and RB11 in .5-PPR. His yards per carry in those games were 4.7, 6.3, 4.1 and 7.1. Wilson has always been effective with his limited work. He remains a top-end handcuff and worthy of an add-on if your trade partner has him collecting dust on the bench.
Wide Receiver: Darnell Mooney (CHI) – This is my “gut call” of the week. Mooney is uber-talented. His lack of production has nothing to do with him personally. It’s the fact that the Bears are dead last in passing yards per game this season, with only 126. That’s embarrassing. In addition to limited volume, Chicago just traded for former Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. Most might think this is a downgrade for Mooney. I feel the opposite. We see every season that it’s difficult for a wide receiver to command a heavy target share after being traded over to a new team/system/scheme/quarterback.
Claypool will take time to gel with Justine Fields and the Bears’ offense. Mooney is already established and has already earned a 28.4% target share which is 11th in the NFL, and a 38.7% air yards share which is 10th in the NFL. The Bears’ offense has been improving each week since Week 5. As mentioned above in Fields’ mention, the schedule opens up nicely for the Bears. You’d have to imagine they plan to throw more if they traded a second-round pick for Claypool with seemingly a lost season. So, Mooney is cheap, and an easy flex fill for bye weeks. His bye isn’t until Week 14, and the fact that defenses can’t double-team him now with Claypool should open possibilities for Mooney. He’s yet to score, but once he does, his 10-13 PPR points per game go to 16-20. Love that.
Tight End: Greg Dulcich (DEN) – Dulcich may be on waivers. My podcast partner Derek Favret (@Derek_Favret) wrote the Week 9 Waiver Wire Adds article this week and listed Dulcich, who is available in 42% of leagues. If he is on waivers, same your trade bullets and just pick him up. However, if he’s rostered in your league, go get him. Dulcich has started in three games this season. He’s the TE11, TE7 and TE9 in PPR. He’s TE5 in PPR fantasy points per game. He caught a deep bomb last week and was tackled inside the five-yard line.
If he scores on that, he’s a top waiver add and trade target across the board. The Broncos are on bye this week, which should make him even cheaper if you can afford to wait him out, but after the bye, Denver sees Tennessee and Las Vegas, who are 30th and 16th, respectively, against tight ends. If you’ve been rolling with Mark Andrews, Tyler Conklin or even Hayden Hurst, Dulcich is a great add this week to cover their bye in Week 10. Like Jeff Wilson, add Dulcich to an already-established trade package. Each season a tight end or two emerge as a league-winner at the position. It’s only been three games, but Dulchich feels like that guy.
Sell “High” Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets
Quarterback: Jared Goff (DET) – If he counts… Honestly, I don’t want to “Sell High” on any of the Top 12 QBs right now. If you have one, you’re in good shape. If you have two, somehow move one. Goff has been solid and turned in another 300+ yard performance last week vs. the Dolphins. He also had a season-high in pass attempts with 27. In SuperFlex leagues, he may be thought of as a nice QB2, but I’ll pass. He just lost his favorite target in TJ Hockenson (read below), and the rest of his arsenal can’t stay healthy. I would focus on the fact that the Lions are Top 10 in points per game and pass yards per game in the NFL. They’re fourth in total yards per game. They move the ball and score points. Perhaps someone in your league cares, LOL.
Running Back: Jonathan Taylor (IND) – Jonathan Taylor was the first overall pick this summer in almost all non-SuperFlex leagues. He is an elite running back with volume and what should be a great offense with a powerful offensive line, veteran quarterback and up-and-coming superstar receiver. Unfortunately, the keyword in that previous sentence is should. After a JT-esc performance in Week 1, where he was RB2 in PPR, his last five fantasy finishes have been RB38, RB23, RB57, missed Weeks 5 and 6, RB20 and RB45. He’s had more than 70 rushing yards just twice since Week 1.
He has one TOTAL touchdown on the season and has less than five targets in half of his games played. For those “yeah, but he missed two games” folks… He’s RB26 in PPR fantasy points per game and RB33 in PPR overall. The Colts’ offensive line finished 2021 with an overall PFF rank of No. 12. The unit entered 2022 as the 10th best-ranked offensive line by PFF. Currently, the Colts’ offensive line ranks 30th(!!!) ahead of only the Giants and Rams.
This is a sky-dive from pre-season expectations. Injuries are a part of it, but the quarterback situation hasn’t helped either. The Colts still have little to show for a passing game which gives Taylor less chance for non-stacked boxes. You can still get a fortune for him. His next five games leading to his Week 14 bye are tough – @NE, @LVR, PHI, PIT and @DAL. NE and DAL are both top four against fantasy running backs, and LVR, PHI and PIT are middle of the pack. I’d move JT for an elite WR plus Kamara combo or two WRs. Maybe Kelce plus.?. I’m not saying ship him off for nothing, but test the waters. You can get a haul.
Wide Receiver: Diontae Johnson (PIT) – Johnson is WR34 overall and WR44 in PPR fantasy points per game. Many might feel like Chase Claypool being traded away to the Bears is a plus for Johnson. I beg to differ. Yes, he’ll see more volume, but he already sees the 9th most targets among wide receivers at 9.5 per game. He’s seen double-digit targets in all but two games; in one of those, he saw nine. Still, though, he’s caught exactly five passes in four consecutive games.
He’s had under 60 receiving yards in six of eight games this season. He’s yet to score a touchdown, and his best fantasy finish in PPR is WR22 back in Week 3 vs. the Browns. Should these poor stats improve with one less mouth to feed? Sure. Will they? Meh. First off, the Steelers are on bye this week. Then, they have the Saints and Bengals, who are both stout against the pass. George Pickens has scored and has a nice rapport with rookie Kenny Pickett. If Johnson is still considered a “PPR” receiver in your league and a manager just needs “volume”, ditch DJ ASAP. He’s a flex play at best right now, and you can scoop waiver players who are more consistent.
Tight End: TJ Hockenson (MIN) – Hockenson was traded to the Vikings. He goes from Jared Goff to Kirk Cousins, which should be an upgrade, but is it? Hock is TE4 through eight weeks this season, but 46% of his fantasy points game in Week 4 when he posted 179 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks. He had season highs across the board that week. Outside of that week, Hock has been TE17, TE24, TE11, TE47, TE16 and TE11 in PPR.
The move to MIN can’t help. He was the focal point of the Lions’ offense with both Amon-Ra St. Brown and D’Andre Swift out for a number of games this season. Now, he competes with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook and auxiliary players like K.J. Osborn and Alexander Mattison, who are already established in the offense with Cousins. On top of that, Cousins has been dreadful when targeting tight ends this year. Yes, a tight end has scored a touchdown in back-to-back weeks for the Vikings, but overall, Cousins is 30th in QBR and 33rd in yards per pass attempt when targeting tight ends.
Hockenson carries plenty of name value still, and managers may see this as an upgrade based on a “better” offense. In reality, the Lions are seventh in passing yards per game, and the Vikings are 11th over seven games each. Surprisingly, both teams scored exactly 173 points on the season. I’d try to move Hockenson for a strong RB/WR and pick up Gerald Everett, Will Dissly or Evan Engram unless I can trade for Greg Dulcich for cheap. Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets.
