Fantasy Football Trade Deadline Guide
Ten weeks into the NFL season, fantasy teams have reached a make-or-break point. Some teams may be eliminated from playoff contention, some may have a big lead on everyone else, and most are still in the mix for a playoff spot. While the playoffs are a month away, most leagues' trade deadlines are coming up over the next few weeks. There are players that teams should be looking to trade away, and players that should be trade targets to help take teams over the top. Some teams may not need to make any moves, but more often than not, every team can use some upgrade to help win them a championship. Here are some fantasy football trades to help your team.
Trade For- Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Following his week 11 bye, Baker plays against the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders, all of whom are in the bottom twelve against quarterbacks for fantasy. It is hard to find a better three-pack of matchups while trying to make a playoff push, and teams can't win the championship without making the playoffs. On top of the matchups, the Buccaneers are expected to get Mike Evans back following the bye week, and that will only help Baker and the offense.
His playoff schedule isn't quite as good as the remaining regular season schedule, but it is still great. Round one is against the Chargers, and that is not an ideal matchup, as they are top ten against QBs, but the following two matchups are as good as it gets. Baker gets the Cowboys in week sixteen and the Panthers in the championship game. Dallas is ranked 28th vs. QBs and the Panthers are 26th. Between the final three games of the fantasy regular season, and the three games in the playoffs, Baker is set up for fantasy success, and is a great trade target for teams looking to make a playoff push and a title run.
Trade For- James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals:
James Conner is the RB nine on the season in PPR leagues, and he should finish even higher. His playoff schedule is the best in the league, and the Cardinals offense is starting to click. He starts the playoffs with a great matchup against the Patriots. New England is 24th against RBs this year, as they allow 19.4 points per game to the position. The following week, the Cardinals get the Panthers. Carolina is the best matchup for running backs, as they are ranked 32nd against the position, allowing 25.6 points per game. The championship game is the worst matchup of the three, with the Rams, but they still give up 17 points per game to the position. Conner had a great game in the Cardinals first matchup against Los Angeles this year, with 122 yards and 1 touchdown in a victory. Between his performance through ten weeks, and his remaining schedule, James Conner is as good of a bet as there is to be a league-winning running back.
Trade For- Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers:
Josh Jacobs is only the RB 19 on the season, but he is averaging 14.4 points per game, and has just four total touchdowns on the season. He has the fourth-most rushing yards in the league, and plays on an elite offense. His schedule leading up to the playoffs isn't great, with the 49ers, Dolphins, and Lions, but his playoffs schedule is fantastic.
Jacobs gets to start the playoffs with a matchup against the Seahawks, who are 26th against RBs, as they allow 19.9 points per game to the position. The following week the Packers play the Saints, who are 31st against the position, giving up of 21.8 points per game. Unfortunately, the matchup against the Vikings in championship week is not great, as they are 4th against RBs, allowing just 13.1 points per game, but Jacobs has run well against tough defenses this year. Against the Lions 5th ranked run defense, Jacobs had 95 yards on just 13 carries. He has looked great all year long, and has a floor of at least 10 points per game. Jacobs has been rolling as of late, and there have been no signs of him slowing down. If the touchdown numbers increase, he will be a league-winner, and even if they don't, he will be a good piece for any team.
Trade Away- J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers:
J.K. Dobbins has been one of the best picks in all of fantasy this season, as he is the RB 15, and was drafted in the double-digit rounds. While he has been great, he has been touchdown-dependent, and has a terrible schedule for the rest of the season. On top of all that, Gus Edwards is back from injury, and saw 10 carries last week, and that number should only go up.
Dobbins has to play the Ravens, Falcons, and Chiefs in the three weeks before the playoffs, all of whom are in the top 10 against RBs. In the playoffs, things get easier, as he plays the Broncos who are 13th against RBs, the 23rd-ranked Buccaneers, and the Patriots who are ranked 24th. The pre-playoff schedule is much more worrisome, but starting the playoffs with the Broncos isn't ideal either. On top of the rough schedule, Dobbins has not looked great as of late. In six of his last seven games, he has averaged more than four yards per carry just once. He will be back in a timeshare with Edwards, and has slowed down as of late. Dobbins holds value based on his play thus far, and should net a solid return in a trade.
Trade For- Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans:
Since the Titans traded Deandre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley has been a fantasy star. He has scored 22.6, 12.3, and 25.4 points in the three games without Hopkins, and has been the go-to target for both Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. He has an elite playoff schedule, with the Bengals, Colts, and Jaguars. Cincinnati is ranked 20th against WRs, with an average of 20.6 points per game allowed. The Colts are slightly better at 18th, but they still allow 20 points per game. The Jags though, are a perfect matchup for championship weekend. Ridley gets to face his former team, who are ranked 27th against the position, as they allow 22.4 points per game. Between the schedule that includes a revenge game, recent performance, and being the clear number one target, Ridley is set up for success in the fantasy playoffs.
Trade For- Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons:
Despite going over 100 yards just once this season, Drake London is a top-five receiver in fantasy, and has been incredibly consistent. He is a go-to target in the red zone for Kirk Cousins, and is set up for success in the fantasy playoffs. London starts the playoffs with the Raiders, who are ranked fourth against receivers, at just 15.6 points per game, but London has been matchup-proof so far, and the Vegas defense hasn't been very good. Following the Raiders matchup, he gets the Giants, who are ranked 15th, with an average of 19 points per game given up. Those are fine matchups, but London gets the 21st-ranked Commanders in championship week, in a game that should be high-scoring. He has been great all year, and that shouldn't change. London also has a bye in week 12, so teams may be willing to move him for a player who can help them win that week.
Trade Away- Ceedee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys:
Ceedee Lamb is on this list solely due to his QB situation. Dak Prescott is out for the remainder of the season, and Cooper Rush is the starter going forward. In his first game without Dak, he had 10 targets, but it resulted in just 6 receptions for 21 yards. Ceedee will be force-fed targets, but they won't mean much with Rush under center. Dallas couldn't run the ball with Prescott under center, and it won't improve without him. This situation is similar to Ja'Marr Chase being without Joe Burrow last season. With Jake Browning under center, he had over 100 yards just once, and had just two touchdowns. He saw enough targets to salvage some games in PPR leagues, but his upside was gone. It seems likely the same happens to Lamb with Dak out for the season, and that is why he should be traded away.
Trade For- T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings:
Outside of a select few, tight ends have disappointed once again, but T.J. Hockenson is back from injury, and he is already producing. In his second game back, he had 9 catches for 72 yards on 9 targets. He is already the number two target for Sam Darnold, and he hasn't even played 50% of snaps in a game yet. Teams may not want to part ways with him, as they held him all year, but if someone is willing to move Hock, then make a move for him. He plays the Seahawks in round one, and they are ranked 20th against the position, then he gets the Packers who are tied at 20th with the Seahawks, and he finishes with the 17th-ranked Bears. The schedule is good, and he is seeing great volume in limited action right now, so who knows what a full workload will look like.
Trade Away- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills:
Dalton Kincaid has been a major disappointment this season as he was expected to be the clear number-one target for Josh Allen, and he has been far from it. He has seen just 10 targets in a game once, and has not had more than 52 yards in a game this season. His playoff schedule is poor, as he plays the Lions who are ranked second against the position, the Jets who are 8th, and the Patriots who are 14th. The Bills want to run the ball, and they spread it around when they pass. Between the new addition of Amari Cooper, the continued breakout of Keon Coleman, and the always-reliable Khalil Shakir, Kincaid has a lot of competition for targets. He has not been terrible this season in PPR leagues, but he lacks a ceiling, and is not Allen's go-to guy as many expected.