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.
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Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
On the block: RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Reason to Buy: The Opportunity is there!
Ashton Jeanty is having an uninspiring start to the season as the RB17 overall. Many fantasy players did not envision this type of production when they selected Jeanty in the first round of drafts. However, what was expected and has come to fruition is the opportunities Jeanty has seen in the Raiders’ backfield. Jeanty has a 75.7% Opportunity Share, ninth among qualified running backs, and 98 Weighted Opportunities, twelfth among qualified running backs. With the Raiders now coming off a bye, Jeanty may become even more utilized in their offense. Jeanty has only 20 targets on the season, a number that places him outside the top 24 running backs. Something has to give with this Raiders offense. Getting Jeanty involved in the passing game, coupled with the return of Brock Bowers, may result in more scoring opportunities for Jeanty and more fantasy points. I would buy at his current RB2 price.
Reason to Sell: Bad Offense
The Chip Kelly offense in Las Vegas has gone about as well as always doubling down on an 11 in blackjack. The rank near the bottom of the league in passing and rushing offense, averaging less than 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing per game on the season. With Geno Smith‘s poor play this season, it’s hard to see how even a unique offensive talent like Brock Bowers can raise the floor of this offense. The Raiders have been unable to sustain drives with Geno averaging 5.0 adjusted yards per attempt (35th among qualified quarterbacks) and throwing 10 interceptable passes this season (second among qualified quarterbacks). With this type of offensive production, it’s hard to see Jeanty being an RB1 this season. Selling for borderline RB1 prices may be the way to go on this one.
On the block: WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Reason to Buy: Offensive Rebound
Nico Collins is currently the WR36 overall and has failed to live up to his Round 1/2 turn draft cost. He is averaging a career low of 12.8 fantasy points per game. However, much of his usage aligns with the type of usage he has had in the past two seasons, where he finished as the WR8 and WR7 in fantasy points per game. Similar to previous seasons, Collins is seeing a 24.1% target share and averaging 83.2 Air Yards per Game. The boom weeks will come at some point with this usage. If you can buy for his current WR3 price, I’d do it.
Reason to Sell: The Rookies are Coming
While Collins’ usage is similar to past seasons, the surrounding talent is a little different. Rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are making a push for targets, with both rookies coming off double-digit fantasy point performances with Collins out of the lineup this past week as a result of a concussion. With Christian Kirk also nursing a persistent hamstring injury, the Texans’ receiver room may have a lot of mouths to feed for a passing game that currently ranks middle of the pack in passing yards per game. Collins could be stuck in WR2 purgatory the rest of the season. He is a player that I would sell off if I had a robust receiver room and was looking to snag a solid RB2.
On the block: RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
Reason to Buy: Solid RB2 with RB1 upside – for now
Kimani Vidal had his best game of the season last week, scoring 19.7 fantasy points against the Minnesota Vikings. He has been an RB1 in two out of the three games he has played with Omarion Hampton missing action. This is Vidal’s backfield even when Hassan Haskins returns from injury, as Haskins only saw seven opportunities and played 31.2% of snaps in Week 6 compared to Vidal’s 67.2% snap share and 22 total opportunities. The question is no longer if Vidal is the back to own on the Chargers, but whether he retains standalone value upon Hampton’s return. If you think the answer is yes, this is a rare buy-high opportunity.
Reason to Sell: Omarion Hampton
Kimani Vidal is coming off his best performance of the season in an island game. This is a high-risk, sell-high opportunity if you snagged Vidal off the waiver wire. If you need help on your team elsewhere, try to trade for an underperforming wide receiver like Terry McLaurin or Nico Collins. Ultimately Hampton will return. Even if Vidal is able to carve out standalone value upon Hampton’s return, are you really going to be confident starting a backup RB in the fantasy playoffs? Look to move off Vidal if you are confident you are making the fantasy playoffs with the hopes of getting a player that can produce a bigger spike week in Weeks 15-17.
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