We’re hitting that time of the year where the playoff picture is starting to take shape. We’re through the huge bye-pocalypses (bye-nados? bye-opical storms?), and now it’s all about finishing strong.
This is the time when owners who look good to make the playoffs should start to think about consolidating their depth to create a force of a starting lineup. Others, who can’t afford a loss, need to think about making sure they can plug any holes in their team.
Some major injuries helped to shake up the landscape this week, so let’s stop wasting time and get to it. Here are your trade values for Week 10.
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Quarterback
Player | Current Value | Previous Value | +/- |
Dak Prescott | 27 | 26 | +1 |
Tom Brady | 26 | 24 | +2 |
Russell Wilson | 23 | 22 | +1 |
Carson Wentz | 22 | 20 | +2 |
Drew Brees | 22 | 22 | – |
Alex Smith | 15 | 14 | +1 |
Matthew Stafford | 14 | 11 | +3 |
Kirk Cousins | 11 | 13 | -2 |
Tyrod Taylor | 11 | 11 | – |
Cam Newton | 11 | 11 | – |
Marcus Mariota | 11 | 11 | – |
Matt Ryan | 11 | 11 | – |
Jared Goff | 11 | N/A | +11 |
Philip Rivers | 8 | 8 | – |
The biggest shakeup in quarterback values happened well before Sunday’s games, as Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury rocked the fantasy world. As you’ll see, other than Watson’s removal, there is very little movement in the quarterback values. The minor gains in value are simply a product of there being one fewer extremely reliable option (and two if you want to count Jameis Winston), which necessarily increases the value of the remaining healthy passers.
But we can at least mention Jared Goff, who utterly dismantled a seemingly disinterested Giants pass defense this weekend. I personally wouldn’t mind the NFL giving the Rams a week off before every game to allow Sean McVay to prepare the perfect gameplan, but I understand that this would “unnecessarily lengthen the season” and be the “dumbest idea in the history of sports.” (Yes, my bosses are mean). But either way, Goff has firmly entered the low-end QB1 discussion at this stage, and if you own teams that have lost either Aaron Rodgers or Watson (slowly raises hand), he isn’t a bad low-end trade target.
Running Back
So, which New Orleans running back would you rather own at this point? Since the Adrian Peterson trade, Mark Ingram is the second-ranked running back in fantasy, while Alvin Kamara is third. Even when Kamara doesn’t produce on the ground, he’s a lock for production in the passing game. Drew Brees cares not for your fantasy team, so he isn’t going to throw near the end zone unnecessarily. Consider both Kamara and Ingram rock solid RB1s going forward and trade for them accordingly.
I would have some degree of hesitation before trading for Devonta Freeman, Doug Martin, or Aaron Jones. Freeman continues to battle through injuries, hasn’t topped 100 total yards since Week 3, and hasn’t scored a touchdown in four games. Tevin Coleman is a more than capable fill-in if the Falcons want to give Freeman a break, so exercise a bit of caution (though, to be clear, there just aren’t that many reliable backs at this point – just don’t value Freeman as a total stud as of this moment).
I think Martin should be fine, but it’s worth noting that he’s averaging just 3.5 yards per carry this year and that number is inflated by his big first game against the Patriots. With Jameis Winston set to miss at least a couple of weeks (and my guess is that it might be more), the Bucs are likely going to want to lean on Martin if they can. But the offense won’t look as dynamic as we all thought it might, so Martin takes a drop in value. As for Jones, Brett Hundley‘s ineffectiveness and complete and utter inability to handle pressure could lead to more work for Ty Montgomery, who looked effective on Monday night. I still think the Packers’ best bet is to rely on the traditional running game with Jones, but with Bryan Bulaga’s season-ending injury, there just won’t be as much room to run.
As for Ezekiel Elliott, well:
Seriously, no idea if he’ll be suspended this year, or if he’ll score two touchdowns on Sunday or be watching from his couch. Last week’s article was published prior to the Second Circuit granting Elliott an administrative stay, so his prospects of playing certainly look better than this time last week. But really, unless you’ve got the need to gamble, just don’t trade/trade for Elliott. I’m begging you.
Other quick thoughts – I don’t really have all that much interest in owning a Broncos running back at this point, but I still think Anderson will bounce back a bit and have value until/unless the Broncos fall out of it. And I’m in on both Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams. Both should have a fairly safe floor with their pass-catching skills.
Wide Receiver
All wide receivers with a newly-injured quarterback (DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Will Fuller, and DeSean Jackson) take a bit of a hit in value, though Fuller is the one who takes by far the biggest fall. When most of your value comes from scoring touchdowns at an obscene rate and you replace your MVP quarterback with Tom Savage, well, it’s not good. #analysis.
Marvin Jones is absolutely legitimate (as is Golden Tate, but you knew that already). As Jim Bob Cooter has opened up the vertical passing game, so too has Jones developed. There’s some caution warranted, as the Lions face a fairly decent run of pass defenses to close out the season (Browns and Bucs the exception, of course), but it shouldn’t be enough to move you off trading for either.
No, I don’t know why Robby Anderson was still a free agent in like half my leagues a couple of weeks ago. Look, there’s always going to be one play per game where Josh McCown sees Anderson with single coverage, audibles off a run, and lofts one to him. More often than not, it connects, and pretty soon, we can get the offensive version of #JetsDanceToAnything going (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, please stop reading this immediately and search for the hashtag on Twitter. Best thing ever). Seriously, Anderson has at least 76 yards or a score in four straight games. And he faces off against the Bucs this weekend. Go forth and trade.
The Rams receiver I’d want most if I was starting a real football team is Sammy Watkins. The Rams receiver I’d want most in fantasy football is Robert Woods. There’s no reason to deny this anymore. You remember that time Woods had fewer than four targets in a game this year? Cool, me neither. He’s become an integral part of the passing game, and should be here to stay. Don’t shy away.
Tight End
Player | Current Value | Previous Value | +/- |
Rob Gronkowski | 48 | 48 | – |
Zach Ertz | 34 | 34 | – |
Travis Kelce | 29 | 29 | – |
Evan Engram | 15 | 15 | – |
Jimmy Graham | 12 | 12 | – |
Cameron Brate | 10 | 10 | – |
Delanie Walker | 9 | 9 | – |
Jack Doyle | 6 | 6 | – |
Kyle Rudolph | 6 | 6 | – |
Hunter Henry | 6 | 5 | +1 |
Jason Witten | 5 | 4 | +1 |
Jared Cook | 4 | 3 | +1 |
Austin Seferian-Jenkins | 4 | 6 | -2 |
Jordan Reed | 3 | 4 | -1 |
Vernon Davis | 3 | 3 | – |
Tyler Kroft | 3 | 3 | – |
Ed Dickson | 3 | 3 | – |
Charles Clay | 3 | 3 | – |
Austin Hooper | 3 | N/A | +3 |
I mean, I just have nothing for you on tight end. Unless you’re going to tell me that Zach Ertz‘s injury is serious, it’s almost entirely status quo. I already talk a lot, guys. You don’t need me to start making up stuff just to hear myself talk!
Happy trading, friends!
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Dan Harris is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter at @danharris80.