We have officially passed Week 6 of both the NFL and 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:
- Aaron Rodgers – Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers just got his guy. Davante Adams is headed to the New York Jets and Rodgers couldn’t be happier about it. He’ll now have both Adams and Garrett Wilson to throw the football toward, and that significantly boosts his fantasy football relevancy moving forward.
- Saquon Barkley – Running Back
Saquon Barkley is currently on a supremely underperforming Philadelphia Eagles offense that just got back their best two weapons in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Those two will demand significant attention, further taking away from Barkley. However, he’s coming off a down week with 18 rushes for 47 scoreless yards. One has to imagine that he’ll get into the end zone again soon and show why he’s one of the best in the league at his position.
- Mike Evans – Wide Receiver
Mike Evans had just two receptions for 34 yards during a game where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored 51 points. Luckily, this is an anomaly. Why? Because he played the New Orleans Saints and Marshon Lattimore, a matchup that Evans has been notably inconsistent in for years. Even with a tough matchup ahead, Evans will return to being a solid top-receiving option for a team that loves to air it out.
- David Njoku – Tight End
David Njoku is finally back and dominating the Cleveland Browns passing attack. He ran a route on 73 percent of the team’s dropbacks this weekend and had seven targets, turning them into five receptions for 31 yards. With Amari Cooper recently traded, Njoku can genuinely be the top receiving option.
College:
- John Mateer – Quarterback
John Mateer had three straight scoring games over 32 fantasy points to start the year, while each of the past two have seen him score under 24. This is the perfect time to try and pry him away from another manager, as he still rushes about 18-20 times per game, no matter the matchup. That rushing volume is enough of a convincing factor on its own.
- Mario Anderson – Running Back
Mario Anderson has been very good all season except for one average game. That extended to two average games this weekend when he had just six rushes for 17 yards and four receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown. He was out-touched and out-rushed by fellow back Brandon Thomas, which could make people sound the alarm on him. Anderson is now a buy-low candidate for at least this week.
- Sean Atkins – Wide Receiver
Sean Atkins could be worth a trade, even if his value has tanked lately. He’s received at least eight targets in all but one contest but has scored less than 10 fantasy points in every game except for one. Probably the worst part of it all is that he’s fumbled three times this season. His potential is still great and getting him at a low cost could be game-changing. Or it might not move the needle at all.
- Bryson Nesbit – Tight End
Bryson Nesbit has had less than 10 fantasy points in all but one game this season, and he’s had less than five in three of them. However, he’s racked up tons of targets. He’s seen 50 targets head in his direction through five games, averaging 10 a night. That volume is more than enough to make him worth a buy-low candidate coming off a two-point fantasy showing.
Sell High Candidates
NFL:
- Justin Fields – Quarterback
Sadly, the Pittsburgh Steelers appear ready to bench Justin Fields despite all that he’s done this season. He had another very strong game from a fantasy football perspective, but Mike Tomlin has been speaking as though Russell Wilson will be stepping into a starting role soon. If you’re looking to sell high on Fields this season, then this might be the best time to do it before his benching gets announced.
- Tyrone Tracy – Running Back
If you’re thinking long-term, hold onto Tyrone Tracy. If you want to win right now and make some moves, you might not have a better opportunity to sell high on Tracy. Both of his big games came when the New York Giants didn’t have Devin Singletary and Malik Nabers, the two players who demanded the most touches early on. When they return, Tracy’s role will significantly decline. At present, that makes him a sell-high candidate. Although, if you’re building for the future of your roster, hold onto this young back.
- Allen Lazard – Wide Receiver
Allen Lazard caught a hail-mary touchdown this weekend from Aaron Rodgers, continuing his surprisingly large role in the New York Jets offense. However, that changes moving forward, with Adams joining via trade. Lazard is now, at best, the third-string receiver on this roster, and the Jets still have Mike Williams as well.
- Mark Andrews – Tight End
Mark Andrews being on here isn’t surprising. He finally scored his first touchdown of the season, which makes him an excellent sell-high candidate for this list. It’s shocking honestly that he’s being outrun by Isaiah Likely to this point in the season, but it appears that his job as the top tight end in this Baltimore offense isn’t safe anymore. There were even games when Andrews had fewer routes run than the third-string tight end.
College:
- Luke Altmyer – Quarterback
For the first time this season, Luke Altmyer scored over 27 fantasy points. He had 39 points against Purdue this weekend, throwing 379 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 60 yards and another score. Unfortunately, he gets the Michigan defense next week, and it feels unlikely that we’ll see a performance like we just saw.
- Savion Red – Running Back
Savion Red finally had the floodgates open up for him. He’s receiving nine to 11 carries in each game that he’s played this season, until this weekend. He is coming off a 23-carry showing in which he had 137 yards and four touchdowns. He’s scored six touchdowns in his last three games, breaking 100 in two of them. Unfortunately, a lot of that is based on explosive runs. In three games this season, he’s under 9.5 fantasy points. Red is a true boom or bust candidate that you might be willing to sell high on.
- Kelly Akharaiyi – Wide Receiver
Kelly Akharaiyi had three receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns this weekend. This was his best performance all season, with his next closest fantasy showing him at just 5.6 points. It was a game that saw him set a season high in receiving yards and also watched him reel in his first touchdown of 2024. Given his poor consistency, this might be a one-off.
- Jack Endries – Tight End
Jack Endries is an interesting situation. In the first three games, he combined for only eight receptions and turned them into 69 scoreless yards. In the last two games, he’s had 11 receptions for over 200 yards and two touchdowns. This has all the makings of a great sell-high candidate, though some could be convinced that this is a good sign of what is coming. Either way, keep your eye on Endries.
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:
- Trevor Lawrence – Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence has finally shown fantasy relevance this season. He’s thrown two touchdowns in each of his last three games with his weapons getting a little more time to gel with him. He’s not a superstar fantasy quarterback, though he’s starting to show consistency, and that means a lot in this game.
- De’Von Achane – Running Back
De’Von Achane feels untouchable, but many managers are likely frustrated with his performances lately. He’s scored under 10 points in each of the last three weeks, and with the Miami Dolphins not having a solid quarterback, his future doesn’t look great for fantasy. Luckily, there’s been word that Tua Tagovailoa might come back to return in the next few weeks, which drastically improves Achane’s value.
- DK Metcalf – Wide Receiver
DK Metcalf has underperformed in each of the last two weeks, though he’s still the top option in this offense. He saw 11 targets last week, yet came down with only three for 48 yards. He’s had a couple of big plays called back due to penalties, and if there was ever a time to try and pry him away from another manager, it would be right now.
- Cole Kmet – Tight End
Cole Kmet is starting to emerge as a top option in the Chicago Bears’ passing attack. A passing attack that has grown better as the season has progressed thanks to Caleb Williams getting comfortable. Kmet has 26 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns on the season, which is great for a position that doesn’t produce often.
College:
- Tyler Huff – Quarterback
Tyler Huff was on waiver wire watch last week, and if you’ve missed him, try to trade for him. Huff has scored over 28 fantasy points in five straight weeks now. He’s got a bye week this weekend but returns to a fantastic matchup against Middle Tennessee.
- Tawee Walker – Running Back
Tawee Walker just racked up 198 yards and three touchdowns on 24 rush attempts against Rutgers this weekend. He’s the full-fledged starting running back at the moment, making him even more valuable in fantasy formats.
- Jackson Meeks – Wide Receiver
The Syracuse offense is number one in the country in pass attempts per game, which immediately boosts the value of Jackson Meeks at wideout. Meeks has had double-digit targets in three consecutive games and a receiving touchdown in four straight. His value might be rising, though it might not go any lower either.
- Jake Briningstool – Tight End
Jake Briningstool has been one of the best tight ends in the country this season thanks to his consistency. He’s seen at least five targets in every single game except for one, and he’s seen a receiving touchdown in three of five contests. At the tight-end position, those numbers are invaluable.
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:
- Daniel Jones – Quarterback
Alright, so Daniel Jones didn’t have a good week against the Cincinnati Bengals. He still gets the Washington Commanders and the Carolina Panthers in the next two weeks, which bodes well for him in terms of fantasy value. He’s a solid waiver wire add, especially if Nabers returns to the field. Maybe not a long-term option, but serviceable for now.
- Cam Akers – Running Back
Cam Akers was just traded to the Minnesota Vikings, the place where he literally just left last season. So far in 2024, Akers proved capable of leading a backfield when Joe Mixon went down with an injury. Now, he steps into a familiar offense that might be missing Aaron Jones with his own injury. Akers could immediately have fantasy value again.
- Bub Means – Wide Receiver
The New Orleans Saints will be without both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed thanks to injuries. This leaves Bub Means as a standout target. He showed great chemistry with Spencer Rattler and had five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. The Saints don’t have many other options, so Means will rack up targets.
- Grant Calcaterra – Tight End
Dallas Goedert got hurt on the third play of the game this weekend, pushing Grant Calcaterra into the starting role. He had four receptions on four targets for 67 yards. If Goedert misses any further time with his injury, then Calcaterra will continue being fantasy-relevant.
College:
- Spencer Petras – Quarterback
Spencer Petras just had 41 completions on 59 passing attempts for 461 yards and three touchdowns. Sure, he had three interceptions and a fumble lost in the process, but he still had over 40 fantasy points. Since the end of September, Petras has been inside the top 25 college fantasy football quarterbacks, and that should continue.
- CJ Campbell – Running Back
CJ Campbell has six touchdowns in his last four games and he’s getting heavily involved in the passing game as well. That’s a combination that immediately makes any running back fantasy relevant, and it’s certainly working for Campbell. If he’s healthy moving forward, he’ll be a premier waiver wire add.
- Dane Key – Wide Receiver
Dane Key had eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown this weekend, and that makes it three straight games over 20 fantasy points. It’s helped that he’s seen at least 10 targets in each of those outings as well. Combine all of that and Key can keep on dominating the stat sheet.
- Jermaine Terry – Tight End
Jermaine Terry has just woken up. He didn’t get a single point in each of the first four weeks of the season. However, in the last two weeks, he’s seen 14 targets and averages over 10 fantasy points in those past two contests. Maybe this will continue, maybe it won’t. Could be worth a flyer for an underwhelming position.
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.