Trading in fantasy football is an important way to make your team better. However, it is also the only controllable way to make other teams worse. In theory, great fantasy football trades optimize the rosters of both teams involved, leaving non-trading teams behind. This series will help to provide some useful tips on players to “buy” and “sell” in trades. It will also provide the proper context to determine when trading for or trading away a specific player makes sense for your squad. For a player to be involved in a trade, there needs to be a market for that player. Unlike your typical “trade for” and “trade away” articles that are geared toward taking advantage of less-informed league mates, this series will consider team context to determine whether you should buy or sell a popular player in the trade market.
With Week 1 fast approaching, this trade article is focused on drafters who constructed their teams before Labor Day weekend. A lot of news has transpired between July and today that has drastically affected the value of players. Below are two players drastically affected by offseason news who could be on the block in your league.
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Week 1 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
On the Block: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
Teams that should buy: Teams in need of RB help looking to “buy high” before the price creeps higher
Why to buy: Jacocry Crosky-Merritt’s ADP was a rocket ship as drafts approached Labor Day weekend. Available in the last round of most drafts earlier in the offseason, “Bill” now has an ADP of 108.7. This means he is selected in either Round 8 or Round 9 on average. While this may seem like a steep price for a seventh-round rookie, JCM is the only back on the Commanders’ roster who has the potential to become their bellcow. With Brian Robinson no longer on the roster, JCM’s competition for touches is a 30-year-old Austin Ekeler and an inefficient Chris Rodriguez.
The Commanders should be one of the league’s best offenses, and JCM appears poised to capture Robinson’s former role. As the great Marlo Stanfield once said, “Price of the brick going up,” and it may only go up higher. Trading away an established veteran with limited outs to upside like Evan Engram or Cooper Kupp, to a team in need at those positions, may look like a steal when the calendar hits Week 17 and Croskey-Merritt is the Commanders’ clear RB1.
Teams that should sell: Teams that are set at the RB position, and are looking to add depth elsewhere
Why to sell: Those who are looking to trade away Jacory Croskey-Merritt are essentially cashing out. Riding the wave of a great investment is a lot of fun, but having diamond hands when the knife starts falling can be very painful. The fact remains that JCM’s outlook is very ambiguous. A season-long three-way committee is potentially in the range of outcomes.
If you already have established starters and depth at the running back position and there is weakness on your roster elsewhere, trading away JCM makes a ton of sense. Targeting a receiver with some upside, like Josh Downs, or some type of package play involving other upside rookies like Luther Burden III and Bhayshul Tuten, could make a lot of sense for teams looking to cash out on JCM.
On the Block: WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Teams that should buy: Teams with solid receiving options through the first six weeks of the season
Why to buy: Rashee Rice was off to a torrid start to last season. He averaged 16.2 fantasy points per game before tearing his LCL and missing the rest of the season. A lot has happened since Rice’s last game of the 2024 season, including the NFL suspending the sophomore wide receiver for six games to start the 2025 season. However, the NFL and Rice agreed on that suspension late in the drafting season. That means some managers may have drafted before the news was announced and expected Rice to start in their fantasy lineups at the beginning of the season.
If you see a team in your league that fits this mold, offering some early-season help may be the way to get Rice on your squad with the hopes of stashing him until his suspension runs its course. Trading a player like Jameson Williams straight up for Rice would be a good way to provide some comfort to the Rice drafter and also secure the higher upside piece of the deal for yourself.
Teams that should sell: Teams thin at receiver with Rice now missing six weeks to start the season
Why to sell: Imagine drafting Rashee Rice under the assumption that he would start the season without a suspension. Your RB room is robust, and you were able to do that because of the discount Rice provided in drafts. Unfortunately, you still need to win fantasy games during Rice’s six-game suspension. As such, trading away Rice might be the best move.
Trading Rice for his teammate Xavier Worthy could be an interesting deal to explore. Alternatively, a player like George Pickens or a package of Jaylen Waddle plus might do the trick, giving you an upside receiver play with more security to start the season.
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