We have officially passed Week 11 in the NFL and Week 12 in College Football season. With all of this new information flooding in, let’s take a look at some buy-low candidates for the fantasy season, on top of looking into a couple of sell-high players, trade targets, and waiver wire additions you should make!
Buy Low Candidates
NFL:
Jayden Daniels – Quarterback
Jayden Daniels is running into that rookie wall through these last couple of weeks, but all know how great he can be. We’ve seen it at the beginning of the season. After scoring just 14 fantasy points this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles, I fully expect him to bounce back next weekend and end the year strong.
Jonathan Taylor – Running Back
This might be confusing to see. Jonathan Taylor could be a great buy-low piece given his performance this weekend. He had 24 rushes for just 57 yards without a touchdown during a game in which the Indianapolis Colts scored 28 points. This isn’t ideal, though he’s receiving enough volume that the scoring opportunities will come again.
Jayden Reed – Wide Receiver
Jayden Reed has been very quiet as of late, watching other receivers like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs make a significant contribution to the Green Bay Packers offense. Reed had another slow game this weekend, reeling in just two catches for 23 yards, with one going for a touchdown to save the day. Regardless, it wasn’t the night we were hoping for out of Reed once again. He could be a nice trade candidate for you.
Mark Andrews – Tight End
Mark Andrews was getting hot, but then he only had two catches for 22 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. Luckily, this should be an outlier. Pittsburgh always seems to limit and frustrate Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens offense. Moving forward, Andrews should continue to find his place in the offense and develop great fantasy potential.
College:
Will Howard – Quarterback
Will Howard provides solid buy-low value off of consistency. He hasn’t consistently exploded for huge fantasy numbers, but he’s thrown at least two touchdowns in nine out of his 10 games this year. This has resulted in him getting over 17 fantasy points in every game.
Ja’Quinden Jackson – Running Back
Ja’Quinden Jackson is coming off an 11-rush game that resulted in 56 yards and a touchdown. It was his second-lowest fantasy point total in the past five weeks. He is a running back who has gotten a ton of touches in this backfield but hasn’t always garnered a ton of fantasy points. Given his usage in this Arkansas offense and their dependency upon his production, I like him as a buy-low candidate.
Evan Stewart – Wide Receiver
Some might think Evan Stewart isn’t a great fantasy piece due to his point totals, but they haven’t shared the full story. He had nine points this weekend despite having 10 receptions on 12 targets for 92 yards. Tez Johnson was also out for a second straight game with a shoulder injury, giving Stewart the top role in the passing game for the time being.
Mason Taylor – Tight End
If the target share is any indication, Mason Taylor could be in line for a strong end-of-season run at LSU. He received 13 targets over the weekend and turned them into six receptions for 59 yards. It wasn’t a great day, with most of those targets not finding their mark, but the simple fact that they kept looking at him could be a positive sign.
Sell High Candidates
NFL:
Matthew Stafford – Quarterback
Matthew Stafford threw four touchdowns this weekend in an explosive outing. However, he’s been very inconsistent. He had two touchdowns combined in the last two weeks but has had eight in the game before and after that small two-game stretch. These are the contests in which he’s had Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp healthy (for the most part). Stafford will face a plethora of tough passing defenses moving forward, and I just don’t trust his ability to throw four touchdowns each week.
Javonte Williams – Running Back
I dislike the Denver Broncos backfield. Not because they aren’t talented, it’s more so that there is too much talent and only one football. Williams only touched the ball a couple of times last week, with rookie Audric Estime taking the full workload. This week, Williams was more involved with nine rushes for 59 yards and a touchdown along with a couple of receptions. I simply don’t trust this to be consistent with how many backs want to touch the ball and get involved.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – Wide Receiver
For anybody who has held onto Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, this might be your best chance to part ways with him. He had a 98-yard touchdown this weekend, the highlight of the afternoon. He ended with two receptions for 117 yards and that score, and outside of a few touchdowns here and there, he wasn’t very good.
Jonnu Smith – Tight End
Jonnu Smith had a monster day, taking in six receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. It was a wonderful performance from the veteran on a night when the Miami Dolphins scored over 30 points (finally). Unfortunately, Smith is going to be volatile moving forward. Some weeks he can do this, and others he’ll take a backseat to Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and De’Von Achane.
College:
CJ Ogbonna – Quarterback
CJ Ogbonna had five touchdowns over the weekend for the Buffalo Bulls, and it resulted in him scoring over 40 fantasy points. Unfortunately, this was a true outlier game, with him failing to surpass 28 points in any other contest this season. He’s getting better down the stretch, but if you are holding him, it might be better to sell high.
Duke Watson – Running Back
Duke Watson had scored less than four fantasy points in back-to-back games when he suddenly dropped 30 over the weekend. He had 11 rushes for 117 yards and three touchdowns, after having not scored since the second game of the season. His touchdowns just come too far and few between, so I’d sell high.
Emmett Mosley – Wide Receiver
Emmett Mosley exploded this week as well, having 13 receptions on 14 targets for 168 yards and three touchdowns for 35 fantasy points. He had failed to score over five in all but one game this season. I don’t know if he is worth holding onto at the moment.
Anthony Landphere – Tight End
Anthony Landphere had four receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns this week. Those numbers are an anomaly from what we’ve seen out of him this year. He hadn’t scored a touchdown in seven straight games until this week, and last week he didn’t even see one target head in his direction.
Strategic Insights
The best way that you can identify buy-low opportunities is to look for players that other managers seem to be bullish on. Players that might be on a cold stretch, or have gotten injured recently, look at their potential down the line. As for sell-high opportunities, if you foresee a player potentially dropping in production soon, then take advantage of their current value and ship them off for a great return rather than waiting and getting nothing when they drop off.
An example of a buy-low strategy would have been last season. Let’s say you see Puka Nacua get drafted and you had high hopes for him in the NFL, but the manager that owned him didn’t feel that way. You could aggressively try and trade for him because you see past his draft position and look at his potential. Then, Nacua has his breakout season, and you got him for almost nothing. The same goes the other way, if you have Tyreek Hill who says that he’s going to retire around 31, and you know he’s getting up there despite being a top player at his position, you can trade him away at peak value before he retires and get a great return.
Trade Targets
NFL:
Jameis Winston – Quarterback
It wouldn’t hurt to try and pry Jameis Winston away from another manager. He’s been great in fantasy since filling in for Deshaun Watson. This week, Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. I like his explosiveness in this offense that might find themselves down often.
Austin Ekeler – Running Back
Austin Ekeler isn’t the main running back on this roster, that goes to Brian Robinson. He also can be third on the lineup when it comes to goal-line touches thanks to Jayden Daniel’s rushing ability. However, what he has, that those two don’t, is his receiving skills. He had eight receptions for 89 yards this week against the Eagles. He’s always going to get touches in the passing game, the run game is just the cherry on top.
Jameson Williams – Wide Receiver
Off-the-field problems aside, Jameson Williams is one of those threats that can score every single game on an explosive play. He had four receptions for 124 yards and a long touchdown again this weekend. If you’re looking for a volatile weapon for your fantasy squad, he’s the right guy for the job.
Taysom Hill – Tight End
Taysom Hill, likely for the rest of the season, will be huge for the New Orleans Saints. He completed one of two pass attempts for 18 yards and an interception, he rushed seven times for 138 yards and three touchdowns, and he caught eight passes for 50 additional yards. The guy is listed as a tight end. This is just ridiculous from a fantasy perspective, and with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed both injured, Taysom will get so many touches.
College:
Jayden Maiava – Quarterback
Jayden Maiava could be an intriguing trade target. He’s only started one game this season, that happening this week, and he had 30 fantasy points with four total touchdowns against Nebraska. He’s expected to start this upcoming week also against UCLA. If he does well, there could be serious potential here. It wouldn’t hurt to look into it.
Kelley Joiner – Running Back
Kelley Joiner is hot and cold. This week, he had nine rushes for 140 yards and two scores. Last week, he had nine rushes for 23 scoreless yards. This pattern has continued, with him scoring 55 fantasy points in the two combined games before that, and then scoring two points before that one. It’s back and forth, but worth a trade look due to his explosive running style.
Antonio Williams – Wide Receiver
Clemson targeted Antonio Williams early and often, resulting in him seeing 17 targets head in his direction. He hauled 13 of them in for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The past two games saw him fail to surpass 10 points. Williams could build off this strong showing next weekend, making him a great trade target.
Tanner Koziol – Tight End
I mentioned Tanner Koziol last week, and he’s getting talked about again. He’s been unbelievable lately, taking in at least 10 targets in each of the last five games, never falling under 40 receiving yards, and scoring four touchdowns all in that span. He’s a true threat to explode each week in this Ball State Cardinals offense..
Strategic Insights:
The best advice that I can give regarding trades is to be respectful to the other managers. Don’t horrendously lowball somebody for a player, and don’t insult them to make trades. Be nice and respectful and understand the value that you’re going for. Your first offer should be just thrown out there to see what happens, but both you and the other manager should just slowly throw offers out to see what works for each of you.
Waiver Wire Watch
NFL:
Gardner Minshew – Quarterback
Gardner Minshew could genuinely be worth a look ONLY if his connection with Brock Bowers continues. This week, they were connecting all over the field, and Minshew ended with 282 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. The ceiling still isn’t high, but might be interesting on the waiver wire.
Roschon Johnson – Running Back
I don’t know what to make of the Chicago Bears offense, but Roschon Johnson had a good week. He had 10 carries for just 33 yards but scored a meaningful touchdown. If Johnson can get 10 touches on a weekly basis moving forward, then he’s absolutely worth a look on waivers.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – Wide Receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling was here last week, and if you haven’t picked him up yet, this is your sign to do so. For the second week in a row, he was a playmaker for the Saints. The wideout had two receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown, putting him at around 200 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the last two games.
Zach Ertz – Tight End
Surprisingly, Zach Ertz is still available in a large chunk of fantasy leagues due to his age. However, he’s impacting this Washington offense on a weekly basis. He had six receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown this week and has shown good chemistry with Daniels.
College:
Colton Joseph – Quarterback
Colton Joseph in his last three games has scored 41, 25, and 29 fantasy points. He’s rostered in less than 30 percent of fantasy leagues and has thrown for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in two of his last three outings. I like what he brings to Old Dominion, and he could be a nice pickup down the stretch.
Bryson Washington – Running Back
Bryson Washington is only rostered in 35 percent of fantasy leagues, and he’s had two wonderful weeks. In the past two games, he’s had 319 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns on top of a receiving score as well. Baylor is fully letting Washington take off right now, and if he’s available, this might be your last chance to grab him.
Justin Bowick – Wide Receiver
In the last two games, Justin Bowick has received 22 targets, bringing in 15 of them for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He’s on a very pass-heavy Ball State offense and is posting unbelievable production through the air. Given that he’s rostered on two percent of leagues, there doesn’t seem to be much of a stressor in getting him in time, although that could change quickly with one more performance like these last two.
Moliki Matavao – Tight End
Moliki Matavao has had three straight games over five fantasy points. In that span, he’s received at least five targets, four receptions, and 50 receiving yards in each contest. The only downside is that he’s scored just one touchdown, that coming over the weekend. If he can start scoring, it will increase his production and involvement even further.
Strategic Insights
The easiest way to prioritize waiver wire claims is to simply rank the players you want before going after them. Take them one at a time and understand that you’re not going to get all of them. Waiver wire claims usually go based on the order you place them in, so target your top guys first.
At the end of the day, it is very important to keep up with things every week, otherwise, key players can slip through your fingers. Be sure to consistently search for buy-low, and sell-high opportunities, relentlessly look through the waiver wire markets, and don’t be afraid to shoot out a couple of trade offers if you’re interested. Use all of the above information to keep yourself at the top of the standings.