Skip to main content

Trade Advice: Buy Low, Sell High

Eddie Lacy (RB) Green Bay Packers

Eddie Lacy’s struggles early on makes him a prime buy low candidate

 

We are now a quarter of a way into the regular season and players have played above and below expectations. Naturally, with the bye weeks now in play, we are looking for ways to improve our roster in more ways that just the waiver wire. This is where you may have a chance to grab a player low or sell a player high as teams are looking to make moves before it’s too late.

 

Here to help, we’ve asked our experts who they feel at this point is worth dealing for or putting out on the trade block. Without question, there are some big name players out there, have a look below to find out who they are.

 

Get Start/Sit & Waiver Wire Advice

 

 Expert Buy Low Sell High
 Dennis EsserCoach Esser  Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE)  DeAndre Hopkins (WR, HOU)
 Joe BondFantasy Six Pack  Eddie Lacy (RB, GB)  Kirk Cousins (QB, WSH)
 Kevin HansonEDS Football  Eddie Lacy (RB, GB)  Darren Sproles (RB, PHI)
 Mike ClayPro Football Focus  Justin Hunter (WR, TEN)  Julius Thomas (TE, DEN)
 MuntradamusBeast Dome  Steven Jackson (RB, ATL)  Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN)
 Pat JamesFantasy Council  Demaryius Thomas (WR, DEN)  Brandin Cooks (WR, NO)
 Tom PoisalTop Tier Football  Kendall Wright (WR, TEN)  Ahmad Bradshaw (RB, IND)

 

Q1. What one player is a buy low target that you would want on your team and why?

 

EDDIE LACY (RB, GB)

“There are a lot of candidates, but I believe the best buy low is Eddie Lacy. Lacy had a bad start to the season against Seattle, where he also got knocked out due to a concussion. Things didn’t get any easier or better for him the next two weeks, facing the Jets and Lions (1st and 6th against running backs). I would go after a frustrated owner now, before this week when he faces the Bears, who struggle to stop the run. Lacy had a slow start last season, before finishing with 177 fantasy points in the last 10 weeks. I believe he turns it around this year too.”

– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

 

“To borrow a word (or five letters) from Aaron Rodgers, Lacy fantasy owners should “R-E-L-A-X”. His slow start makes him an ideal buy low target for those that don’t already own him. Even though Lacy’s production has been less than what I would have expected even given his brutal schedule against three tough run defenses, his schedule improves greatly with a top-10 favorable schedule based on his remaining opponents. Yet to exceed 13 carries, 43 yards rushing yards or score a touchdown this season, Lacy led the NFL in games with 20-plus carries last year and finished third with 11 rushing touchdowns. As the offense in general bounces back, Lacy will see a larger volume of work with more goal-line opportunities against a softer schedule that will make him a top-six running back the rest of the way.”

– Kevin Hanson (EDS Football)

 

 

DEMARYIUS THOMAS (WR, DEN)

Demaryius Thomas owners may be getting antsy with two of his first three games notching less than 50 yards. Thomas fell victim to the wrong side of a blowout against the Colts, as well as the Seahawks shutting down the Broncos for most of their Week 3 match up. The Broncos’ schedule gets a little easier, so expect DT to pick up the pace.”

– Pat James (Fantasy Council)

 

 

ROB GRONKOWSKI (TE, NE)

Rob Gronkowski has been brought along slowly by the New England Patriots to start the season. His play counts for the first three games are 38 of 86, 28 of 67, and 46 of 77. This is something that most smart owners who drafted Gronkowski expected, but there will be some less patient owners out there that will be desperate for more production from their second or third round pick. The best part is another owner had to suffer through the growing pains while you get the benefit of a top end tight end for most of the remaining season. If the Gronkowski owner has a losing record in the first three weeks it’s time to pounce.”

– Dennis Esser (Coach Esser)

 

 

KENDALL WRIGHT (WR, TEN)

“I thought about Keenan Allen, but I’ll go with Kendall Wright despite Jake Locker’s troubles. Wright is an excellent young talent that the Titans will continue scheming the ball to the rest of the season. 9 of his remaining 13 fantasy weeks will pit him against pass defenses ranking 16th or worse. If the Titans continue spiraling downward, don’t forget the garbage points he could accumulate in pass-happy comebacks.”

– Tom Poisal (Top Tier Football)

 

 

JUSTIN HUNTER (WR, TEN)

Justin Hunter has already been targeted five times while within 6 yards of the opposing end zone. Only six players have seen more looks in that area of the field. Hunter has yet to score, but he’s seeing over 20 percent of Tennessee’s targets and is busy near the goal line. He’s a great buy low.”

– Mike Clay (Pro Football Focus)

 

 

STEVEN JACKSON (RB, ATL)

Steven Jackson was ranked ahead of Jamaal Charles in my Preseason Rankings for multiple reasons. The main reason is the high power of the Falcons offense this season which will be scoring TDs at a rate that cannot be touched. S-Jax is a BIG power BEAST RB who can take over any game the Falcons need him to. He will be falling in the endzone nearly every game and is an easy bet for 10+ TDs on the season as long as Matty Ice keeps slinging the ball down the field to Julio and Roddy. The Falcons know S-Jax is a key ingredient for this team to win football games, and as long as Matt Ryan is moving the ball down the field, S-Jax will be getting his TDs. You will get your W’s.”

– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)

 

 

Q2. What one player is a sell high candidate that owners should look to move and why?

 

KIRK COUSINS (QB, WSH)

Kirk Cousins is who I would sell high. He has taken over for an injured Robert Griffin III, who is out at least six weeks, and you couldn’t have asked for a better start. Cousins’ value won’t get any higher than it is now after a huge game against the Eagles in Week 3, and rumors are floating around that he will keep the starting job once RG3 returns.”

– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

 

 

AHMAD BRADSHAW (RB, IND)

“Bradshaw is off to a great start for the Colts but there’s no way he lasts the season with his history of health problems. He’s never started more than 12 games in a season and has played in 16 games just one time. Trent Richardson is also starting to run the ball more effectively so I think this is the perfect spot to peddle Bradshaw.”

– Tom Poisal (Top Tier Football)

 

 

BRANDIN COOKS (WR, NO)

“I’m selling Brandin Cooks in redraft leagues. The New Orleans Saints have a slew of pass-catchers that Drew Brees spreads the ball around to from week to week. It seems as though Cooks’ production may model that of Darren Sproles during his time as a Saint. He’ll have great weeks, but he’ll also have weeks in which he’ll fall off the map.”

– Pat James (Fantasy Council)

 

 

JULIUS THOMAS (TE, DEN)

Julius Thomas will continue to put up strong TE1 numbers, but he’s scored an unsustainable five touchdowns on 14 receptions, whereas NFL reception-leader Emmanuel Sanders has yet to score and Demaryius Thomas, who has one more end zone target than Julius Thomas, has only one touchdown. Expect the scoring to be distributed a bit more evenly going forward. If you can get an elite back or wideout for Thomas (I’ve seen it happen), do it.”

– Mike Clay (Pro Football Focus)

 

 

DARREN SPROLES (RB, PHI)

“Ideally, the time to sell Sproles would have been after his career game (7/152 receiving and 4/26/1 rushing) in Week 2, but Sproles is the RB7 through Week 3 in standard-scoring formats. Averaging 6.9 YPC and 14.0 Y/A, Sproles is on pace for 1,670 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. While I think Sproles will be a useful low-end(ish) RB2 the rest of the way in standard leagues, there is no way that he maintains his mid-RB1 type of numbers.”

– Kevin Hanson (EDS Football)

 

 

GIOVANI BERNARD (RB, CIN)

“Trade away Giovani. His value cannot go any higher than it is right now as he is a Top 10 RB in Fantasy Football. The emergence of Jeremy Hill is very real, and the small frame of Giovani is very real as well. Giovani has saved his season with goal line TD runs, all which can be taken away since Jeremy Hill is a much more physical RB. You are looking at a player who will be going downhill quicker than Kayne’s music career since dating Kim. Trade Giovani now while his value is sky high. Montee Ball straight up is a steal if you can get it.”

– Muntradamus (Muntradamus – Beast Dome)

 

 

DEANDRE HOPKINS (WR, HOU)

DeAndre Hopkins owners that were lucky enough to draft him, did so late in their drafts. Hopkins has looked like the better receiver when compared to his more senior wide receiver partner Andre Johnson, but his opportunities will likely be very hit and miss with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. The first few games have been very game flow reliant and the Texans would like to feature the running game. The Texans want to stay away from exposing Fitzpatrick in the passing game and were forced to do so this past week when the Giants jumped ahead. Hopkins has played great, but has probably done so on a very good drafting owner’s bench. If you offer Hopkins to an owner who missed on some veterans that are struggling (Torrey Smith, Reggie Wayne, etc.) you can more than likely better your lineup at other positions.”

– Dennis Esser (Coach Esser)

 

 

Thank you to the experts for their buy low/sell high picks. For more fantasy football advice, you can follow them on Twitter.

 

More Articles

Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Grades & Start/Sit Advice: Week 1 (2024)

Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Grades & Start/Sit Advice: Week 1 (2024)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 5 min read
Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart: Michael Harris II, Zach Eflin, Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2024)

Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart: Michael Harris II, Zach Eflin, Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2024)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 10 min read
Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, CJ McCollum (3/28)

Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, CJ McCollum (3/28)

fp-headshot by Raju Byfield | 2 min read
3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

fp-headshot by Anthony Corrente | 2 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

3 min read

Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Grades & Start/Sit Advice: Week 1 (2024)

Next Up - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Grades & Start/Sit Advice: Week 1 (2024)

Next Article