Buy Low
Logan Thomas, TE, WAS - Thomas should be at the top of the cheap replacement for George Kittle list. He has turned four targets in each of the last two games into 3-42-1 and 4-60-1 lines. The Football Team plays a weak second-half schedule that has the Lions, Bengals, and Cowboys after the Giants this week, and the 49ers, Seahawks, and Panthers in the fantasy playoffs. Kyle Allen threw at least 40 passes in all of the games that his offensive coordinator Scott Turner called last year when they were together in Carolina, which bodes well for Thomas.
Jordan Akins, TE, HOU - If you lost Kittle, you should also check your waiver wire for Akins, who scored in Week 1 and posted a 7-55 line in Week 2. He also had 3-46 on only 19 snaps in Week 4 before he got hurt. Deshaun Watson made Darren Fells into a viable fantasy option for a bit while Akins was out, and Fells scored an easy long score in the first matchup with the Week 9 opponent Jacksonville while Akins was out. Akins has more speed than Fells and he should benefit from facing defenses that are guarding against the deep ball to Will Fuller.
Raheem Mostert, RB, SF - The season is falling apart for the 49ers to the point that some are openly wondering if Mostert will even be brought back from injured reserve. While this is a possibility if the team goes on an extended losing streak, that also opens the buy-low window, especially in redraft leagues where it’s not clear if Mostert can help your team. Assuming Mostert does come back - and a high ankle sprain isn’t a season-ender unless it happens in December - he’ll be a foundational back in the offense, and with fresh legs. Mostert was a clear RB1 when he was healthy, and while this string of injuries casts a shadow on his dynasty value, it also creates enough of a blemish that you might be able to buy him on the cheap.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND - This is a calculated risk, but his value has never been lower in redraft leagues, and the Colts have a cakewalk schedule against the run coming up after the tough matchup with the Ravens. Jordan Wilkins isn’t known for his durability and could become a smaller obstacle to sustained value for Taylor down the stretch in time. Fantasy players that have been counting on Taylor are disgusted right now and you might be able to take advantage - including in dynasty where it’s time to shoot your shot if you wanted Taylor but couldn’t get him in your rookie draft.
Henry Ruggs, WR, LV - Ruggs started out the season like he was going to be the center of the Raiders pass offense, and then promptly got hurt. He was getting healthy before the bye with a long score against the Chiefs but wasn’t a big part of the thumping the Raiders took at the hands of the Bucs in Week 7 and the wind shut him and the vertical passing game down last week. This week brings a matchup with the Chargers that could be a shootout and the next four games bring Denver, a rematch with the Chiefs, Atlanta, and the Jets. Ruggs could be about to take off in redraft leagues.
Allen Lazard, WR, GB - Lazard is coming back from a core muscle injury next week, which is enough time to get in a buy-low offer in dynasty leagues and scoop him up if he’s on the waiver wire in redraft leagues. Marquez Valdes-Scantling did nothing in his absence and Lazard was the deep passing game when Davante Adams was out before he himself left with an injury. Aaron Rodgers chemistry with Lazard is established and he should benefit from teams trying to force someone other than Adams to beat them.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, NO - Sanders was starting to click with Drew Brees before he went on the covid list and he should have a good return to action this week against the Bucs in a high visibility Sunday night game. Michael Thomas should also be back, but he’ll face Carlton Davis, who shut him down in the Week 1 matchup, so Brees will likely rely on Sanders more often in key situations. The Saints also have ATL-DEN-ATL-PHI-KC-MIN(!) from Weeks 11-16, so Sanders is the answer if you need a cheap veteran receiver in dynasty leagues to help with the push for a title this year. See if he’s on a rebuilding team’s roster and available for a song.
Darius Slayton, WR, NYG - Slayton was getting open all night against the Bucs secondary but Daniel Jones couldn’t hit him. The two had much better rapport earlier this year and last year, and it could be a problem that corrects itself against a weak second-half schedule. Slayton has the look of a future #1 receiver and his three-game fantasy lull creates a window where you might be able to pry him from his dynasty team.
DeAndre Washington, RB, MIA - Washington is a good end of the bench add in deeper leagues with the Dolphins backfield in shambles. Jordan Howard looks like he is stuck in neutral, Matt Breida is hurt and tends to stay hurt, and Myles Gaskin is out for at least three weeks. Washington will be eligible to play next week in a fantasy-friendly matchup with the Chargers and he’s the best healthy all-around back on the roster. It’s easy to forget that he had at least 20 PPR points in each of his three starts last year.
Devin Duvernay, WR, BAL - This is just another reminder to stash Duvernay on your dynasty roster or try to get him for cheap as he surpassed Miles Boykin in snaps last week and could be the answer to Lamar Jackson’s deep passing woes because he works the middle of the field, where Jackson’s accuracy is much better historically.
Joe Mixon, RB, CIN - Last week gave us no reason to cool off our pursuits for Mixon in dynasty leagues, as the Bengals running backs scored three times in his stead. Joe Burrow has this offense moving the ball well despite the offensive line woes and Mixon always plays his best ball in December.
D.J. Chark, WR, JAX - Here’s another reminder to try to get Chark in dynasty leagues, as he saw him as an ascending WR1 going into the season and aren’t even sure if we can start him right now. He still has game, and his arrow is pointing way up. This current quarterback turbulence is your opportunity to add him as a long term piece while his short term value is in the gutter.
Sell High
Drew Lock, QB, DEN - There might be a team or two in your league that isn’t loving their quarterback situation right now and Lock adds the appeal of being a youngster surrounded by talent, so you just might be able to get a prospect or draft pick for him after his miracle comeback against the Chargers. He still lacks the feel to project as a long term starter and could come crashing back to earth at any time.
Damien Harris, RB, NE - Harris is a solid back, but this Patriots offense isn’t going to create the copious scoring opportunities that previous versions did, not to mention Cam Newton is lurking to take goal-line scores and Sony Michel will be activated soon. The matchup against the Jets is attractive, so you might be able to cash him in to a redraft or dynasty team that needs help at running back right now.
DeeJay Dallas, RB, SEA, Ross Dwelley, Jordan Reed, TE, SF - You never know when you can get blood from a stone. Try to turn any of these desperation options into a late pick in dynasty leagues if a team that needs a win this week can use - especially Kittle teams. I was able to get a late-round pick for Richard Rodgers before Dallas Goedert returned, you never know if you don't ask.
Todd Gurley, RB, ATL - Gurley was outplayed by Brian Hill last week. He continues to score, but his contributions in the passing game are minimal and after the matchup with Denver’s skeleton crew run defense this week (which could make next week a better sell high moment), Gurley has a bye and then faces NO-LV-NO-LAC-TB-KC which are all games that could either limit the running game or force the Falcons to abandon it. It’s a good time to sell in dynasty leagues.
Sell Low
Hunter Henry, TE, LAC - Henry hasn’t delivered the same bump in value that Mike Williams and Keenan Allen have gotten from Justin Herbert’s revelational rookie year, but the promise of a delayed impact might allow you to sell him to a dynasty or redraft team that just lost Kittle. Henry will be a free agent next year and has the Austin Hooper risk of going somewhere that greatly limits his value.
