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 5 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
On the block: WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Reason to Buy: Contingent Upside Realized!
With teammate Tyreek Hill out for the season with a knee injury, Jaylen Waddle is set to be the Dolphins’ WR1. Through the first three games. Hill outpaced Waddle in targets, seeing 23 to Waddle’s 17. Hill also far outpaced Waddle in air yards, seeing 359 compared to Waddle’s 144. It is likely that Jaylen Waddle absorbs much of the targets vacated by Hill. Already averaging 11.9 fantasy points per game, Waddle has top 12 wide receiver upside with Hill on IR. Now is the time to pounce before the person who rosters Waddle in your league knows what they have in him.
Reason to Sell: Cash Out
While Waddle can finally reach top 12 wide receiver upside with Tyreek Hill out of the picture, a couple of other things need to go his way in order for him to get there. The Dolphins’ offense is near the bottom of the league in total passing yards, averaging less than 200 yards passing per game. This is with Tua Tagovailoa still under center, which, based on Tua’s injury history, can change at any moment. While Waddle may not be at his peak in value, now is a good time to move off Waddle before the wheels of the Dolphins’ offense come off.
On the block: TE Brock Bowers, Los Angeles Raiders
Reason to Buy: Nearing Full Health
Brock Bowers exploded in Week 1, posting 15.3 fantasy points after seeing eight targets and 80 air yards. Unfortunately, Bowers also injured his knee in that same game and hasn’t really been the same since, averaging only 8.7 fantasy points and 31 air yards since Week 2. However, now four weeks removed from the injury, Bowers should start to turn the corner soon and reestablish himself as a dynamic receiving threat for a Raiders team in need of a spark. A buy-low window is closing on the most dynamic tight end in fantasy football.
Reason to Sell: Snap Share Concerns
Brock Bowers has failed to crest double-digit fantasy points in his last three contests. After seeing 80 air yards in a week, he has only 94 air yards over the past three weeks combined. Perhaps most concerning, Bowers posted those disappointing numbers while seeing a season-high snap share and route participation rate over the last two weeks. This is largely driven by the absence of Michael Mayer, who sustained a concussion early in Week 3. With Mayer set to return, Bowers is looking at a reduction in his snap share, which will limit his fantasy upside.
On the block: RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Reason to Buy: Potential Buy-Low Window
After finishing as the RB1 overall in Week 1, Derrick Henry has failed to post a top 24 RB week in each of the past three contests. After facing a stout Browns defense in Week 2. Henry has been game-scripted out of the past two contests. However, with Lamar Jackson now injured, Derrick Henry is now set to be the focal point of the Ravens’ offense. It would be shocking if Henry gets game-scripted out of the Ravens’ upcoming tilt with the Houston Texans. Look for Henry to reestablish himself against the Texans and try to get him on your squad before he does so.
Reason to Sell: The Buy-Low Window Only Just Opened
With Lamar Jackson set to miss the next couple of weeks, the Ravens offense may be in a tough spot with Cooper Rush starting games. While they will likely lean on Henry, the points may be few and far between. The buy-low window may just be starting and likely won’t close until Lamar Jackson returns to the Ravens from injury.
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