Buy Low
Le’Veon Bell, RB, NYJ - It might seem crazy to invest this Jets offense, but know that Bell was the clear lead back in Week 1 before his injury despite all of the Adam Gase love for Frank Gore, and he could also basically be a wide receiver a significant part of the time because of injuries to the Jets group of passcatchers. It feels unwise to spend any asset for a Jet, but that’s why Bell will probably be cheaper than an accomplished passcatching lead back should be. He’s still only 28 years old, even though it feels like he has been around for longer, so there’s some dynasty room to grow here if he lands in a better offense next year.
Mike Williams, WR, LAC - When Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson were running away from the Bucs secondary last week, you should have been thinking about what Mike Williams is going to be able to do on the other end of Justin Herbert deep balls. The Chargers have picked up Williams fifth-year option and he should have the chance to grow with Herbert and harvest the value of his effortless arm strength. Get in now in dynasty and try to get him as a throw-in in a larger redraft trade if you can.
Michael Gallup, WR, DAL - It feels obvious that Gallup is going to help fantasy lineups when he hits more than he hurts when he misses, and there’s always the injury upside if Amari Cooper wears down like he did last year. Don’t let Gallup’s mostly small numbers in an unprecedentedly large passing game throw you off of the scent of an ascendant receiver who is in a spot to maximize his talents and skills.
Evan Engram, TE, Golden Tate, WR, Darius Slayton, WR, Daniel Jones, QB, NYG - It’s possible that the Steelers-Bears-49ers-Rams gauntlet the Giants had to run to open the season was more responsible for their putrid numbers than Jason Garrett and the players being unable to get the engine to turn over after they lost Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard. Andrew Thomas hasn’t been one of the hits of the rookie class at tackle and the backfield isn’t going to add value, but five of the next six games are against NFC East opponents and the next two after that are the Bengals and Seahawks. Things could get a lot better against easier competition.
Christian Kirk, WR, ARI - Kirk has been a forgotten man as the Cardinals deep passing game isn’t cooking despite the addition of DeAndre Hopkins to preoccupy defenses. He has been battling a groin injury but should be healthier heading into the Jets-Cowboys-Seahawks run of games going into their bye. If you covet Kirk in dynasty leagues, this is a good moment to inquire about his price.
Miles Sanders, RB, PHI - Everything is looking bleak around Sanders, but he has the physical talent to overcome that with enough usage even though his numbers haven’t reflected that yet this year. The Steelers and Ravens are up the next two weeks, which isn’t promising, and his fantasy teams have probably started to lose their faith in him waver. If you see him as a true team cornerstone in dynasty or just want to try to shake up your running back group in redraft, make an offer to see where his price is. The Eagles should be making Sanders a featured player in the passing game, which would both help the offensive line woes with more short quick passes, and help Sanders overcome his line holding him back from posting fantasy numbers.
The Washington Passing Game - Maybe this means trying Kyle Allen in a 2QB/Superflex or buying high on Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson. Maybe it means adding Logan Thomas. Just know that Allen should activate more of the Scott Turner playbook and he might not be good enough to be an NFL starter, he is productive enough to keep fantasy passing games afloat and more. The schedule lets up after the Rams this week with NYG-DAL-BYE-NYG-DET-CIN-DAL the next six weeks after that, which looks like a runway for passing numbers to take off.
Derrick Henry, RB, Jonnu Smith, TE, A.J. Brown, WR, TEN - It feels dirty but if the prospect of not having these Titans is causing anxiety for teams that have gotten off to a slow start, then you might be able to get them at distress signal prices. The Titans may not play this week and it feels like this outbreak will go on forever, but it won’t. Brown’s teams are the most likely to be staring at 0-4 or 1-3, but Henry wasn’t a big asset until Week 3 and his teams might be struggling too.
The Texans Offense - Ding dong the witch is dead! It sounds like Bill O’Brien was a tyrant, so his firing could represent a lift in the form of a better emotional/psychological environment and the removal of an obstacle to team innovation and cooperation. Deshaun Watson probably won’t come with a discount, but David Johnson, Brandin Cooks, Duke Johnson Jr, and Randall Cobb are probably basically free right now if you want to put a chip on things getting a lot better after the Texans got over the hump of a tough early schedule and moved forward from the O’Brien era.
Deejay Dallas, RB, SEA - Dallas looked better than Travis Homer last week and both of the backs ahead of him on the depth are hurt. Carlos Hyde’s situation is especially concerning as a power back with a shoulder injury, but Chris Carson’s durability record speaks for itself. Dallas could be a very important player in fantasy leagues soon. David Moore is a name to monitor among the wide receivers with huge upside if either of Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf goes down.
Buy Low or Sell Low
Julio Jones, WR, ATL - Jones aggravated his hamstring injury so seeing him sit this weekend would actually be a relief. He should probably sit for 2-3 weeks before he comes back but he and the Falcons aren’t always wise about resting him when he’s hurt. He had a massive Week 1 against the Seahawks, so he’s not in AJ Green decline phase, but his inability to stay healthy might be that first sign that he’s entering it physically. This might be a sign that he won’t get fully back to his usual level of play this year now that this injury seal has been broken. Then again, he could return, start off balling in a terrific situation and make us forget about the hamstring issues. You’re either going to wish you traded him or traded for him this week. At least check his team’s record and see if you can get him for a deep discount or if you have him, make some offers for 75 cents on the dollar, ie an everyweek PPR starter like Tyler Boyd if you are 1-3 or 0-4. If your dynasty team isn’t going anywhere, it might be time to pull the ripcord before this gets worse.
Sell High
Todd Gurley, RB, ATL - Gurley has stayed healthy and scored four times in four games. This team isn’t going to give him many favorable game scripts and he’s not doing anything in the passing game. If you are holding him in dynasty leagues on a weak team, or there are running back needy teams in your redraft league, it might be time to cash him in before the well of value runs dry.
Joshua Kelley, RB, LAC - Kelley hasn’t clearly shown that he’s more talented than Justin Jackson, and he might be close to ending up in Anthony Lynn’s doghouse if he can’t stop fumbling. Jackson isn’t the most durable back, so Kelley has injury upside, but the Chargers line was unable to get any push against the Bucs with Bryan Bulaga and Trai Turner out and they could generally have trouble running the ball while Austin Ekeler - who hasn’t been placed on injured reserve yet - is out. You might get a pretty penny for Kelley from a team that just lost Ekeler.