Is your team stuck at one or two wins? Struggling to find consistency week-to-week? Desperate for a replacement for that highly drafted, now-injured, star?
It isn’t easy to pull off any trade in fantasy football, let alone one that can change the trajectory of your season. However, desperate times call for desperate measures. The following players should see a boost in production during the rest of the regular season, making their current cost worth the price for those in need of a shakeup.
RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Kareem Hunt’s big day (16.1 PPR points) has led to some concern over Jerome Ford’s role. While he did have five more carries (17) than Hunt, Ford wasn’t as involved on passing downs. The Browns haven’t completely committed to the running game with Deshaun Watson out, leading to questions as to what the offense will look like when Cleveland’s franchise quarterback returns from injury.
Ford is the lesser-known name in this backfield, which makes him a potential steal. The second-year running back was more involved than Hunt, although he only saw 50% of snaps; his usage is similar to Nick Chubb’s usual role on early downs, one that has been conducive to fantasy success. Given that head coach Kevin Stefanski has called Ford Cleveland’s lead back, it’s hard to believe Hunt’s first good game would lead to a drastic change.
QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Think back to the past five years of football. Have you ever seen Patrick Mahomes on a buy-low list? That alone is enough reason to make an offer. The two-time champion has had arguably the worst stretch of his career, tossing just 11 touchdowns to go along with five interceptions. If those still sound like pretty good counting statistics, it’s because they are. They just aren’t Patrick Mahomes numbers. Pedestrian numbers in primetime against a horrid Broncos defense did little to make managers feel better about their quarterback.
Everyone knows Mahomes will finish the season, at minimum, as a top-five fantasy quarterback. However, managers with a lesser option at the position (Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa) could pair their QBs with a flex option to try and nab the Kansas City superstar. It isn’t often that a Hall of Fame quarterback can be had; deal for Mahomes if he’s for sale.
WR Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Much like Mahomes, there haven’t been many chances over the years to get Davante Adams, one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers, at a discount. After a monster 172-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 3, Adams has combined for just 149 receiving yards on 14 catches over the past three weeks. While he did miss some time last Sunday against the Patriots, the production hasn’t been up to par for a talent of Adams’ stature.
In spite of their star receiver’s poor play, the Raiders have found ways to win games. A more concerted effort to run the ball might scare managers away from Adams, but the ground game has been fueled by early leads. Although Las Vegas has plenty to feel good about, they’ll need to pass more when facing more difficult opponents down the stretch, whether it’s with Jimmy Garoppolo or Brian Hoyer at quarterback. In spite of a tough stretch, Adams is still sixth in the league in targets; there is some risk here, but the reward is worth it for a struggling squad.