Trading activity was abundant as usual this week. Last week, Le’Veon Bell was the most traded player from Monday through Thursday in leagues of managers that have incorporated their teams into MyPlaybook. He was traded 1,920 times over that span. This week, four players were traded more often than Bell was last week during the same timeframe:

As we do each week here, let’s examine each player and, using the latest trade value chart, propose some potential deals for fantasy managers.

Ezekiel Elliott

Perhaps no player this year has given his fantasy managers quite as much consternation as has Elliott. No injury. No trade. Just things slowly deteriorating to the point where a consensus top-three pick is now being swapped for a second wide receiver at times.

Elliott’s problems have been three-fold. First, and most obvious, his quarterback play has declined significantly. Andy Dalton has performed poorly in Dak Prescott‘s stead, and Ben DiNucci seems unlikely to do better. Second, Elliott has had an issue with holding onto the ball, having fumbled five times, losing four of them, through seven games. And finally, the Dallas offensive line has been injured and often ineffective.

Two of those issues may be correctable. The third one – the quarterback play – likely will not be. So, where does that leave Elliott? In my opinion, still as one of the most valuable players in the game. Elliott has at least six receptions in four games already, so he won’t be game-scripted out of the action often. He’ll continue to get goal-line work and, if anything, the Cowboys will likely lean heavily into the run to try to protect their defense.

In other words, Elliott is just outside the top tier of running backs. If you can trade for him for someone like Kareem Hunt or nearly any wide receiver, I would. But if you are targeting Elliott, start lower with your offers. His perceived value likely trails his actual value.

Michael Thomas

Thomas returned to practice on Thursday, but his availability to play against the Bears is still very much to be determined. It’s been a lost year for Thomas, who had a poor fantasy performance in Week 1, missed several games with a high-ankle sprain, missed another because of a disciplinary issue, and finally missed another with a hamstring strain.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll reiterate it here: I do not like trading for injured players. There is enough uncertainty projecting players over the remainder of the season; adding to it the question marks that come with any ailment, and especially a soft-tissue injury like Thomas’s, is only asking for trouble.

With that said, Thomas is being traded often, so if you’re looking at a trade involving the veteran, I’d value him as a high-end WR2 at this moment. If I could trade him for Keenan Allen or Terry McLaurin, I would. If I could acquire him for D’Andre Swift, Melvin Gordon, or Cooper Kupp, I would. But rest assured, I would feel uncomfortable in any deal. So tread carefully.

Mike Evans

Evans’s trade value was close to falling off a cliff. He’s barely produced with Chris Godwin in the lineup, and now, with Antonio Brown in the fold, his projected long-term output is questionable, at best.

But then news broke of Godwin’s fractured finger and Evans suddenly became a must-start option in Week 8. And if Godwin’s injury keeps him out in Week 9, Evans should have value then, too.

Even so, Evans should be valued only as a low-end WR2. He’s had 41 yards receiving or fewer in five games. Two catches or fewer in four games. 10 yards receiving or fewer in three games. There’s little reason to think he can carve out anything more than borderline WR2 value with Godwin and Brown active and healthy, so he should be valued only slightly higher than that with an extra game or potentially two without Godwin.

As someone rostering Evans, swap him for Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore, Robert Woods, or David Montgomery. If you’re looking to acquire him in a trade, try Marquise Brown, Darrell Henderson, or Melvin Gordon.

Jonathan Taylor

On the surface, Taylor’s season has been a disappointment, considering Marlon Mack‘s injury in Week 1. He was almost immediately vaulted into top-5 running back status, yet over the last four games, he’s had more than 13 carries once. And the breakaway runs are few and far between.

With that said, savvy fantasy managers know that this is the time to try to add Taylor to their roster, which is likely why he is on the most-traded list. Other than a matchup with the Ravens in Week 9, Taylor’s schedule contains nearly universally plus matchups for running backs, and all indications are that the Colts are planning to lean into Taylor and factor in Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines less.

In a 1-for-1 trade, Taylor is worth more than any player at any other position (other than the elite quarterbacks in a two-quarterback/superflex league). If you’re trying to upgrade at running back, I would be fine to swap James Conner or Kareem Hunt for him.

Josh Jacobs

Fantasy managers are also likely trying to buy low on Jacobs, after a poor effort against the Bucs. Jacobs tallied only 31 total yards in Week 7, hasn’t topped 100 yards rushing once this year, and has averaged only three yards per carry. He’s also been limited at practice with a knee injury.

But, as with Taylor, fantasy managers looking to acquire Jacobs are taking the correct approach. Not only is Jacobs past his bye, but he’s averaging 23 touches per game, and dominating the goal-line touches. He has 92.3% of the Raiders’ rushing attempts within the 10-yard line (most in the NFL) and 80% of the team’s rushing attempts from inside the five-yard line (fourth in the NFL).

As with Taylor, Jacobs is worth as much as nearly any player at any other position. And if you can swap him for another RB1 and you have a personal preference, that’s fine. But otherwise, there’s no reason to deal him.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Last week, I wrote: “Smith-Schuster is worth buying low on, but, again, let’s stress the word ‘low.’ Smith-Schuster shouldn’t be valued anywhere close to high-end WR2 status at this point, and instead should be viewed only as a middling WR3.”

My guess is that fantasy managers’ opinion has changed after Smith-Schuster brought in nine of 14 targets for 85 yards against the Titans. But mine hasn’t. So long as Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are both healthy, I certainly don’t expect Smith-Schuster to return WR1 value and, as of now, not steady WR2 value either.

With that said, there’s obviously some upside and, like last week, D’Andre Swift is a name that is often swapped for Smith-Schuster. I would be fine to try to acquire Smith-Schuster for Swift or a similar running back like Darrell Henderson. As for receivers, I’d try to sell high on Christian Kirk, but I’d be willing to swap someone like Tee Higgins if necessary.

Chase Edmonds

Edmonds presents an interesting case study. He’ll get the chance to take over for Kenyan Drake for at least a couple of games and potentially longer, but he’s also currently on a bye, which means fantasy managers acquiring him must have the roster space to hold a player who is not going to help them this week. That’s a rare find at this point in the season.

For those who do have the room, Edmonds makes an excellent target. He likely isn’t going to play as well as he has looked at this point in the season, as backup running backs with fresh legs often look more explosive in their brief stints in the game than they otherwise would. But the Cardinals have a dynamic offense and have upcoming matchups with Miami and Buffalo.

Because of the bye week, I would value Edmonds more like a borderline RB2. I’d swap Ronald Jones or even Drake himself for him, or a receiver like Kirk or Brandin Cooks.

Melvin Gordon

Gordon is a running back that is difficult to value as we head into Week 8. On the plus side, Phillip Lindsay is likely out for the Broncos’ upcoming “revenge” game against the Chargers, and Gordon should dominate carries. On the minus side, when Lindsay is active, Gordon’s value plummets, and he has the potential DUI suspension hanging over his head.

For trading purposes, I would value Gordon similarly to Edmonds. He’s someone who you can start fairly confidently in the immediate future, but his long-term outlook is cloudy. Jones, Drake, Kirk, or Cooks are fine targets in trades.

The Mainstays

David Montgomery and Myles Gaskin are in this column every week. They have equal value as stable but unexciting RB2s. If you can swap them for other backs like Swift or Henderson, or receivers like Kupp or Diontae Johnson, do it. Otherwise, simply take the guaranteed running back touches in a world where they are a rare commodity.

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Dan Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter @danharris80.