Fantasy Football: Trade Deadline Strategies – Week 10 4×4

We are approaching a critical stage of the fantasy season. Most leagues go through 13 weeks of the regular season before the playoffs. So, we have 4 more weeks. If you are 3-6, then you need to win out to make a playoff spot. If you are on top, then it is time to solidify your seeding. We will dive into a strategy this week.

Week 9 Top Performers

• Christian Can Do No Wrong – RB Christian McCaffery continued his dominance with 27 touches for 166 yards and 3 TDs. He is on pace for 26 TDs this season. Handcuff this dude, please.
• Russell Killing It – QB Russell Wilson has been on an MVP pace of his own. He lit up the Bucs’ D with 378 yards, 5 TDs and 0 INTs, plus 21 yards rushing. He has now passed for 17 TDs with just 1 INT on the season.
• Rookie of the Year? – RB Josh Jacobs may be trailing Kyler Murray in the polls, but Jacobs has been ballin’. He took his 28 carries into 120 yards and 2 TDs. He’s a stud.
• Love the Drake – RB Kenyan Drake escaped MIA purgatory to a fun offense and gave the Cards an effort in his first game with 162 yards on 19 touches and a TD. He should produce until the other backs get healthy.
• Changing of the Guard – We knew it would happen at some point, as rookie RB Devin Singletary got 23 touches to Gore’s 11 converting them into 140 yards and 1 TD.

Injuries: Jacoby Brissett, QB, Colts – Knee (Out); TY Hilton, WR, Colts – Calf (Out); TJ Hockenson, TE, Lions – Back (Questionable); Preston Williams, WR, Dolphins – ACL (Out).

Trade Deadline Priorities

In some leagues, the trade deadline has passed (too early in my opinion), but if you have time like this week and the next, then make a deal to win the title.

If you have 6 wins or more at this point, I’d consider you a Contender. Here is what you need to do:

• Trade Depth for Stars – If you have solid bench players, then try to trade your good starter and that depth for a Stud. Stars win titles, and if you can get a Julio Jones or Zeke Elliott, then do it. Look at the teams on the bubble of the playoffs as partners.
• Fill All Your Holes – If you have a starter that isn’t cutting it, then trade that depth for a player you can count on. In the playoffs, your Stars will lead you, but they may have a tough match up where your other guys need to contribute. Don’t carry a zero at TE or WR2. You need predictable points from your entire starting lineup.
• Trade or Pick Up Handcuffs – Don’t be that guy who has McCaffery and then he gets hurt in Week 13 and then your season tanks. The handcuff is not the same as the Stud, but your team should be Studs in the starting lineup and Handcuffs on the bench with maybe one or two upside guys who can peak late. Minimize your decisions each week, and then you can roll.

If you have 3, 4 or 5 wins, you need to make the Dance. Here is what you need to do:

• Trade for Balance – If you are like me in my one league, you have been churning the roster all year scratching out wins. The goal is to be consistent. It’s ok to trade a stud, like Alvin Kamara or Mike Evans to get 2 quality starters in your lineup. It is more important to get predictable outcomes across your lineup than one boom performance.
• Churn the Wire Hard – Cut all those middling guys who don’t give you anything. Go after the upside RBs who can get hot in November and December. Target pass catchers in offenses that throw a ton. You will likely have to juggle match ups more with these guys, but the idea would be to find that gem we talked about in other posts.
• Stream Defenses – A little trick I like to do is to find Defenses in great match ups to pick up a win or two. In some leagues, Defenses can really score a lot. Look at teams that sack the QB a lot (because that leads to TOs), plus target teams playing young QBs or the Jets….

Week 10 – Waiver Targets, Buy Lows, Sneaky Starters and Caution Players

Byes: Broncos, Eagles, Jaguars, Patriots, Redskins, Texans.

Waiver Targets (60% or Less Owned)

• Brian Hoyer, QB, Colts (0% Owned) – Hard to look past his performance on Sunday in relief of Jacoby Brissett. Hoyer was efficient and the Colts play the Dolphins coming off their first win. He should have a good game in a super bye week.
• Zach Pascal, WR, Colts (25% Owned) – With the mid-week Hilton injury, Pascal stepped in a the WR1 for IND. A TD later, and he will be the rave of the wire. Get him if you can against MIA.
• Davante Parker, WR, MIA (51% Owned) – He has been a bust overall, but Parker was drafted in the 1st round. With Williams out, he is the clear #1 and FitzMagic can sling it.
• Mike Gesicki, WR, MIA (3% Owned) – Yeah, 2 Dolphins, but it is late in the year, and the Fins are finally trying to get this talented kid the ball.

Last Week: Kenyan Drake – See Above; Jaylen Samuels – He was the healthiest, but he didn’t do great – 21 touches (great) for 83 yards (meh) and a FL; Chris Conley was uninspiring with just 32 yards receiving; Dallas Goedert was outshined by Ertz this week just 4 catches for 39 yards.

Trade Targets (Buy Low)

• Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints – Yep, he’s on the list and mentioned 2x this week. He is coming off an injury and the bye, but Brees is back, so his value should shoot up after one week. Get him before he does it. Hopefully, you had Murray and didn’t miss a beat.
• Ronald Jones, RB, Bucs – You missed the cheap value, but he is the lead back (finally!). He got 20 touches to Barber’s 4 for 82 yards and a TD. He is in a high volume offense, and the knock was he couldn’t catch. He’s improved tremendously.
• Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos – Maybe a little late here, but I really like what this kid is doing. Now, the Broncos are not a high volume passing game, but he is the clear #1 and he is peaking.
• Mohammed Sanu, WR, Patriots – I really liked how Sanu was used against the Ravens. He is very involved, and with Josh Gordon gone, he becomes a red zone weapon, too.

Last Week: Devin Singletary – See Above; Sony Michel – 5 for 30 yards, but. still a long term play; Tyrell Williams – not great 3 for 48 on 4 targets; and Emmanuel Sanders – huge game 7 catches for 112 yards and a TD.

Sneaky Starters (Good Daily Plays)

• Daniel Jones, QB, Giants (FD $7400) – I’m going to go back to the Daniel Jones well, as the Jets seem to have given up on this season. Jones has played well in bad match ups, and this qualifies. I think this game may be a sneaky high total – set at 43 – I’d go over that.
• Ronald Jones, RB, Bucs (FD $6300) – The AZ-TB should be a real shootout. I like Jones’s usage, and he should get plenty of volume in this one.
• Andy Isabella, WR, Cardinals (FD $4900) – Isabella and not Kirk has been a good target for Kyler Murray. Plus, the AZ-TB game is a complete target game. SEA WRs feasted all. He is really cheap, too.
• Tedd Ginn, WR, Saints (FD $5300) – The Falcons are awful against the deep ball, and Ginn should get at least one or two with Brees back. Get him in the lineup.

Next Week: Derek Carr – 289 yards and 2 TDs got you value; Le’Veon Bell – 25 touches for 121, but no TDs; Tyler Lockett – yep, 13 catches on 18 targets for 152 yards and 2 TDs; Cameron Brate – he was supposedly active, but didn’t play….

Caution Players (Starters To Think Twice About)

• Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks – He’s the co-MVP so far, but the 49ers are going to hit him a lot. He may still make it happen on the ground, but I don’t think he will be as electric as his last 2 starts.
• Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings – He has had a good year, but that Cowboys defense at home is going to be flying around. I also see signs of Cook slowing down, like against the Chiefs – 21 carries and only 71 yards – he did have 45 yards receiving, but the Dallas linebackers are really fast.
• Julio Jones, WR, Falcons – He’s good, but Matt Schaub against a good D in the Saints plus Marshon Lattimore on Julio makes for a rough day.
• Darren Waller, TE, Raiders – The Chargers are turning around their defensive season, and I don’t like Waller in this match up. He will likely have to block more with that pass rush or at least chip slowing him in routes.

Last Week: Lamar Jackson – he was just too elusive – 163 yards passing, 61 yards rushing and 3 total TDs; Kyler Murray – he was fine – 241 yards, 2 TDs and 34 rushing yards; Odell Beckham – 5 for 87 yards – not bad; Travis Kelce – 7 for 62 yards – decent.

Ok, make those deadline deals and get a win.

Wegs