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.
PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
On the block: RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Reason to Buy: Getting Ahead of the Trade Deadline
While the Saints are coming off their first win of the season, many more of those are unlikely to follow. There are already rumblings of the Saints trading veterans as they look to next season. One of those veterans is likely Alvin Kamara, who could instantly be a fantasy game-changer on the right offense. Kamara’s efficiency has taken a hit this season, as he is sporting a career-worst -11 Production Premium (no. 46 among qualified running backs). However, he remains a viable threat out of the backfield as a receiver, averaging almost four targets per game. If he is traded to a team in need of running back help, like the Chargers or Chiefs, Kamara’s efficiency will likely be boosted. Once that happens, he can flirt with top-12 value at the fantasy running back position. You can likely acquire him for his current RB28 ranking and reap the reward once a trade happens.
Reason to Sell: Cashing Out
A large part of why Kamara has struggled to produce as a fantasy asset is that he is simply not seeing the same opportunities as before. As highlighted by Wyatt Bertolone in his Week 5 Usage Report, Kamara saw a season low in snaps last week and was out-carried by Kendre Miller for the first time this season. Perhaps now is the time to cash out before things get worse in the event that an in-season trade doesn’t happen. If the Saints’ season continues to go as anticipated, New Orleans will have little incentive to play Kamara down the stretch and will likely want to see if Miller or Devin Neal is the running back of the future.
On the block: WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Reason to Buy: Banking Production for Later in the Season
CeeDee Lamb has now missed two full games after leaving in the first quarter of Week 3 due to a high ankle sprain. The Cowboys failed to place Lamb on injured reserve, which logically means that they anticipate him back before Week 8. If you are 5-0 or 4-1 and have a solid squad, you may be able to stomach an injured Lamb on your fantasy bench until he returns. Once Lamb does return, he likely regains his role as a set-and-forget fantasy WR1; he averaged 12 targets in the two full games he played this season.
Reason to Sell: Immediate Fantasy Points
Let’s face it, to win matchups in fantasy football, you need to score fantasy points. CeeDee Lamb is not helping you win right now. If you are 0-5 or 1-4, you have long odds of making the fantasy playoffs. Try to trade CeeDee Lamb for some immediate fantasy points cause you need them ASAP. Perhaps sending Lamb for Deebo Samuel and Breece Hall might do that trick.
On the block: RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Reason to Buy: Buy Low
Jordan Mason is three games into his time as the de facto starter for the Vikings with Aaron Jones on injured reserve. While Mason has underwhelmed in this role, he is still providing solid production, averaging double-digit fantasy points over the past three weeks. It is uncertain when Aaron Jones will return from his injury. While Mason remains the starter, he should benefit from the return of J.J. McCarthy because anything is better than Carson Wentz. Now might be a good time to buy low on Mason before the offense gets a bump from McCarthy’s return.
Reason to Sell: Sell Low
Jordan Mason is no bellcow. He has seen a total of 44.6 weighted opportunities per ga,me only 26th among qualified running backs. His touches will likely get squeezed when Aaron Jones returns, similarly to how they are being squeezed by Zavier Scott right now. An RB2 finish is likely the ceiling for Mason with tough matchups against the Eagles, Chargers, and Lions on the horizon. Look to bail now before things get worse.
For more articles from PlayerProfiler, check out the fantasy home page – NFL Fantasy | PlayerProfiler – Fantasy Football News & Media
