Buy Low
James Conner (RB-ARI), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR-GB) - I hate to sound like a broken record, but opportunity is there for both of these players to go off any given week, Conner could easily get 20 carries and multiple goal line carries against the minor league level Jaguars, and Valdes-Scantling continues to be inexplicably missed by Aaron Rodgers on short and long touchdown passes. If you need depth with upside, both are good players to seek in minor deals.
Kyle Pitts (TE-ATL) - Maybe the team that took him in your league is disappointed because of the hype machine around Pitts (guilty as charged). The reality is that his snap count is going up, he’s getting a big opportunity for a receiving tight end, and the offense has averaged almost twice as many yards per play and had all of their 10+ yard passing plays with Pitts on the field. His breakout is coming sooner or later, try to get in sooner if you don’t have a trusted tight end on your redraft roster.
Darnell Mooney (WR-CHI) - Fields to Mooney might be the next signature deep ball combo. The Browns pass defense was struggling against Tyrod Taylor and the Texans last week, so Sunday could be the launching pad for this young talented duo. Get your offers in now before the potential between these two is realized.
James Robinson (RB-JAX) - Robinson’s value and reputation in fantasy leagues is being tarnished because of the state of the Jaguars franchise, but he is still a starting quality NFL running back who has proven he can hold up for an entire season under a lead back workload and he produced and showed up every week on a terrible team. Eventually he is going to return to fantasy glory, so get in while no one wants to go near the Jaguars when it is time to set fantasy lineups.
Justin Herbert (QB-LAC) - Herbert has looked good, but his fantasy numbers have suffered because he and the offense continues to shoot themselves in the foot in the red zone. That’s not going to last forever. If you have coveted Herbert from afar and want him on your team, the price may never get lower than it is this week.
Saquon Barkley (RB-NYG) - Barkley’s first two games didn’t really go that differently than expected, but he is still seen as a disappointment in redraft leagues and his price has dropped significantly in DFS. The Giants weren’t going to ride Barkley hard four days after his first game back from serious knee surgery. With a long week of rest of the Falcons defense up this week, Barkley will be cleared for takeoff.
Sell High
Lamar Jackson (QB-BAL) - I would consider getting out of Jackson shares in redraft this year because he just can’t hold up if he continues to initiate contact with tacklers and otherwise play with no regard for his health. It is inspiring if you are one of his teammates, but nerve-wracking if he is the leader of your fantasy team. Coming off of a high visibility huge game, you might able to turn him into Patrick Mahomes II or Tom Brady, or maybe even Kyler Murray if you add a sweetener.
Sell Low
Josh Allen (QB-BUF) - Allen’s intermediate accuracy was a problem in Week 2 and he just doesn’t have that same Mario after he got the invincibility star look about him as he had in 2020. If you get 75 cents on the draft dollar for Allen, it might be a good trade in redraft, and if he’s not your primary dynasty quarterback, it might be time to see if you can still get something close to peak value from a rebuilding team that doesn’t have a quarterback of the future.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB-DAL) - If you didn’t sell Elliott last week, try again this week even though the asking price will obviously be lower. Elliott will still be useful in fantasy leagues this year, but his strong Week 2 output in a split backfield role conceals the new risk that comes in his weekly scoring profile. He’s closer to flex value than the elite RB1 he was drafted to be in redraft leagues. In dynasty, the clock is ticking before the bottom drops out.
Alvin Kamara (RB-NO) - It is definitely time to sound the alarms about the Saints offense. Kamara is good enough to defy that a la peak Steven Jackson, but his bounce back probably won’t be this week as Bill Belichick will force someone else to beat the Patriots. If you want to get out of Kamara in redraft, the price is likely to go down before it goes up.
Opportunity Knocks
This section will list players who will get extended opportunity this week who might be on your dynasty waiver wire. Consider picking them up if you don’t know what to do with a roster spot that was opened up because of a player going on injured reserve or showing you that they aren’t worth carrying any more.
Olamide Zaccheaus (WR-ATL) **Monitor Gage Status**
Auden Tate (WR-CIN) **Monitor Higgins Status**
Anthony Schwartz, Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR-CLE) **Monitor Beckham Status**
Cedrick Wilson (WR-DAL) **Monitor Cooper Status**
Quintez Cephus (WR-DET)
Anthony Miller (WR-HOU)
Jacob Eason (QB-IND)
Sony Michel (RB-LAR)
Alexander Mattison (RB-MIN)
Elijah Moore (WR-NYJ)
James Washington (WR-PIT)
Jacques Patrick (RB-SF)
Tyler Johnson (WR-TB)
Dyami Brown (WR-WAS)
Davis Mills (QB-HOU)