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 in the books, we finally have some tangible data to help project the remainder of the fantasy season. Figuring out who to target and who to trade away is a question of which Week 1 stat lines are for real, and which are small-sample variance.
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Week 2 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
On the block: RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
Reason to Buy: Immediate Running Back Need
Travis Etienne was the clear-cut RB1 for the Jaguars in Week 1. He saw a 63% opportunity share out of the backfield and capitalized, accumulating 156 yards of offense. His opportunity share should only increase with Tank Bigsby traded away to the Eagles after Week 1. With games against the Bengals, Texans, and 49ers upcoming, Etienne has some favorable matchups ahead. If you are a team in immediate need of running back help, you should look to acquire the former first-round pick. I’d look to part with a big-name player who may not have big-name production moving forward, like Tyreek Hill or DK Metcalf.
Reason to Sell: Set at the RB position, looking to add depth elsewhere
While Etienne looks like the clear-cut RB1 for now, the specter of Bhayshul Tuten looms. The Tank Bigsby trade opens up an opportunity for the fleet-footed Tuten to secure more touches out of the backfield. Much of Etienne’s Week 1 production was buoyed by a 71-yard run. Unlike Etienne, Tuten has the speed to score on that play. A team looking to sell Etienne is operating under the premise that they are “selling high.” Moving Etienne for a player like D.J. Moore, or Tyler Warren, if in need of some wide receiver or tight end help, may look like stealing if Tuten pulls a Bucky Irving and takes over the backfield.
On the block: RB Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks
Reason to Sell: It’s Better to Overreact than Underreact
Kenneth Walker was in a full-blown timeshare with teammate Zach Charbonnet in Week 1. Walker saw 13 total touches compared to Charbonnet’s 12. Charbonnet handily outproduced Walker, accumulating 23 more total yards and scoring a touchdown. The question becomes, is this the new normal? Walker missed most of training camp with a foot injury — maybe the Seahawks were easing him into action. On the other hand, Walker may be a few more inefficient outings away from ceeding even more work to Charbonnet. Sometimes if the price is right, it’s better to overreact. If you can get a wide receiver who struggled in week 1, like Calvin Ridley or Terry McLaurin, it might be best to part with Walker to do it.
Reason to Buy: Week 1 is crazy
Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker have shared a backfield for two years prior to this season. Walker has started over Charbonnet the past two years. Week 1 can produce some crazy results, and falling victim to a small sample size is one way to lose your league. If you can obtain Walker for another player who was outproduced by his teammate in Week 1 in Jerry Jeudy, you may ultimately win that deal when/if the usual order of things returns in Week 2.
On the block: WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Reason to Buy: Talent wins out
A.J. Brown saw one target in Week 1. It’s hard to score fantasy points when you don’t get opportunities, and the successful nature of the Eagles’ rushing attack looks like it will limit the Browns’ upside again this year. However, A.J. Brown is no stranger to this conundrum as he saw only 97 targets last season and still finished WR20 in total fantasy points. He likely will not pay off where he was being drafted, but he is still a top 24 WR. If you can “buy low” from a panicked league mate, do so. Trading Garrett Wilson, coming off a WR7 performance, for Brown could pay off in the long run.
Reason to sell: The Eagles may never have to pass
Ok … maybe never is a bit of hyperbole; however, this Eagles rushing attack is good. AJ Dillon looked like a competent running back behind this offensive line last week. Unless something gives, Brown is going to be the WR1A on a run-heavy offense, which is not a league-winning type of pick in fantasy football. If you are looking to for a splash move on your roster, trading Brown for a player like Emeka Egbuka provides a great opportunity to cash in on Brown’s name value and secure a consistent upside play on your roster.
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