Knowing when to buy, sell, or hold a player can be one of the biggest keys to success in fantasy football. If you can buy a guy at a low point and watch him turn into an asset, you are already giving yourself a big advantage over the competition. If you are able to sell a player at a high point and get a nice return, you can turn that into a league-winning move. Knowing when to hold a player is also important; not acting too rashly can save you from a monumental mistake down the road.
Buy: Brian Robinson, Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
I love trading for players coming off injuries, especially ones with goalline responsibilities like BRJ. He’s been on the shelf two different times thus far in 2024 but still ranks in the high RB2 range across the season. Even when his yardage totals leave fantasy managers wanting more, his penchant for finding the end zone nearly always saves the day. I love the thought of floating an offer for the former Crimson Tide running back before your league’s trade deadline and before a fantasy playoff schedule of New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. With a talented young quarterback and top-3 offense to ride alongside, Robinson, Jr. should be a prime trade target for all playoff contenders in need of running back stability.
Buy: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Let’s buy another player returning, albeit from suspension, in the feast or famine wideout known simply as “Jamo.” The boom has outweighed the bust so far this season, as Williams has finished as a WR2 or better twice as often as he’s fizzled out. He’s on the number one scoring offense in the league, and his bye week is behind him. It won’t always be pretty, but I can’t think of many better candidates at this point in the season from a trade value perspective. This is the type of gamble that can win a league. Be brave and snag the young Lion before the sun sets on your window to trade.
Sell: Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Sell the three WR1 finishes in his last five games. Sell the weak matchup this Sunday against New Orleans. Sell Drake London’s hip injury. Whatever you do, just sell Mooney. The schedule gets much rougher with Denver, a bye, and the Chargers from Weeks 11-13, and Drake London is still the man in Hotlanta whether he’s banged up or not. Mooney has been on my bench in the Dr. Roto staff league with AJ Brown and Malik Nabers filling my WR spots, but many managers aren’t as fortunate and will be willing to make a move for a guy who’s shown such a high ceiling. Now is the time to take advantage and extract maximum trade value. Similar to a Dr. Seuss book, it’s time to say, “Darnell Mooney, will you please go now?”
Hold: Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills
If it feels like Shakir is always open when you watch Bills games, it’s because he is. It isn’t just schematic, though. Very few pass catchers in the league run routes with the precision Shakir does, and Josh Allen rewards him often. Rumors are floating around that Keon Coleman is likely to miss time with a wrist/arm injury that Buffalo Head Coach Sean McDermott is hesitant to label day-to-day or week-to-week, and Shakir is the PPR sponge fantasy teams will need with or without Coleman in the lineup. As consistent as it gets, start Shakir with confidence, especially this week against Indianapolis.
