Ahead of Week 8, use these fantasy football trade targets to optimize your lineup for the rest of the season.
buy cheap jordan mason
Mason has finished three straight games with fewer than 10 fantasy points. But this requires more background. In Week 6, Mason totaled over 70 yards in the first half before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. However, heading into Week 7, Mason was not on the final injury report suggesting he would see a normal workload, which he did.
Mason completed a season-high 86% of snaps in Week 7, earning 14-of-15 running back carries. He couldn’t find the end zone, but his usage was great. Now, the elephant in the room is the looming return of Christian McCaffrey. Let’s take a closer look at this.
McCaffrey reportedly could return in Week 10 after the 49ers’ bye. That’s not a guarantee, however, and even if McCaffrey were to return, it’s unlikely he would be able to fulfill his full workload right away. Deepak Chona, a Harvard-trained sports surgeon, points out that Achilles tendonitis has a high recurrence rate. That would probably make it easier for the 49ers to bring him back. That means Mason will likely still be involved in this offense even if McCaffrey returns. If possible, trade a player like Najee Harris for Mason.
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Send trade with Rico Doodle
Doodle is scheduled to return from his bye week and play against the 49ers. But before the bye, coach Mike McCarthy said Dowdle definitely needs to touch the ball more. This is just coaching talk, but McCarthy said something similar about Dowdle before the Cowboys’ Week 4 game against the Cowboys. In that game, Doodle set season highs in snaps, touches and fantasy points.
Dowdle was a solid FLEX option last month. He has finished in the top 25 running backs for three straight games and has five straight games with at least 55 total yards. Dowdle is a talented player who can be purchased at a low price in fantasy leagues right now. They also have a strong postseason schedule, playing against the Bengals, Panthers, and Bucks, all of whom rank in the bottom 10 in rushing EPA per play, according to NFL Pro. If possible, try trading Dowdle for a player like Romeo Doubes or Alexander Mattison.
Trade for Chase Brown
Brown is expected to continue to be a part of the Bengals’ offense. In Week 7, Brown took a team-high 58% of the snaps and commanded 71% of the backfield carries. Along with Zack Moss, this was Brown’s best use of the season. Unfortunately, he was held to just 54 yards on 17 touches for no score. It wasn’t a dream day, but it opened a buying window for Brown.
According to PFF, Brown commanded the majority of the down snaps early in Week 7, with Zack Moss remaining the third down back. This is likely because the Bengals coaches now trust Moss more in pass protection. However, this could change as the season progresses, especially given Brown’s explosiveness on the field this season. According to PlayerProfiler, Brown ranks in the top 10 this season in both explosive run rate and yards per carry. He has strong matchups coming up against the Eagles and Raiders, so now is the time to make a deal. If possible, trade someone like Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt for him.
buy devonta smith cheap
Smith scored just one goal in Week 7. Although this was his first poor performance of the season, Smith’s usage remained strong. He completed 91% of the Eagles’ passing plays and continued to be used both in the slot and outside wide. The real problem was that the Eagles jumped out early against the Giants and led by multiple points throughout the game.
As a result, Jalen Hurts attempted only 14 passes, his lowest of the season. Prior to this game, Smith had scored at least 11 fantasy points in every matchup and was a top-25 receiver in all of those contests. According to PlayerProfiler, Smith ranks 12th in WR efficiency this season. His schedule continues to be great, so now is the time to buy his fantasy value cheap. He will play seven secondaries in the bottom half of the league over the next seven games, according to PFF Coverage Rankings. If possible, trade players like Brian Thomas Jr. or Brian Robinson Jr. for Smith.
Submit Offer to Diontae Johnson
Johnson entered Week 7 with hamstring, ankle and rib injuries. Despite being less than 100%, he played while suiting up, but he clearly wasn’t himself, as he ran routes on just 73% of the Panthers’ dropbacks. This was his lowest total since Week 1, when he left early with an injury. Johnson finished Week 7 with just one catch for 17 yards.
Johnson hasn’t performed well in recent weeks due to his own health and poor play from Andy Dalton. Bryce Young will return to QB for the Panthers in Week 8, which probably won’t help Johnson. However, there is a possibility that Johnson could be traded before the NFL trade deadline. A team like the Bucs could use an injury-prone veteran receiver, and Johnson’s fantasy value would increase significantly if the Panthers were willing to make an intradivisional trade. .
Trading Johnson comes with some risks, the main one being Young’s lack of development as a pitcher, but with the right price, those risks could be worth it. If possible, move someone like Kareem Hunt or Tank Bigsby in his place.
