As we reach the middle of the first phase of our fantasy tournaments, it’s safe to say that the vast majority of what could once be thought of as simple trends have already turned into certainties.
Example: the target shares massive shots aimed at Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel, players who were once used to being part of trios or doubles with whom they shared targets.
Such certainties, however, make the windows of opportunity for exchanges increasingly scarce. But they still exist and it is our duty to always be on the lookout.
Especially if you have an excellent record of wins and losses (7-0, 6-1 or 5-2), it is possible to target teams’ calendars between weeks 15 and 17, which, as a rule, comprise the fantasy playoffs. football, to analyze the matchups and look for good opportunities, rather than simply clinging to your current cast and vetoing any kind of negotiation.
That said, let’s look at some names for “buy low” and “sell high” before NFL week 8 in 2021!
Photo: Reproduction Twitter/Darrell Henderson
Running Backs to “buy low”:
Darrell Henderson (LAR)
Aside from week 3, in which he did not go out on the field due to an injury, the seventh round was the first in which Henderson did not finish in the top 20 running backs for fantasy.
With that comes the opportunity to go after one of the very few “battlehorses” runners in the NFL. If he didn’t go over the total 70 yards against Detroit – an opponent that suggested a more impactful performance – the shirt 27 kept his average of about 80% of the offensive snaps, having been used in both running and passing situations.
With a trip to Houston on the horizon already this week 8, it is highly likely that the “price” of the Rams holder will rise after Sunday. So try to take advantage of this chance.
Zack Moss (BUF)
In addition to coming from a week off, the 20 shirt’s last performance – against the Titans, in week 6 – was the only one that did not exceed 10 PPR points among the matches in which it was activated by the Bills. Coincidentally or not, it was exactly this game and the season opener, where it wasn’t on the field against the Steelers, the only times Buffalo has come off the field in defeat this year.
With that in mind, in addition to the fact that Moss has been clearly more explosive than his “competitor” Devin Singletary, there is a considerable chance that the Bills will give the second year more touches going forward. Even if that is not the case, at least the maintenance of its most prominent role in the red zone must remain intact.
Anyway, until Sunday you can get a possible RB2 between now and the end of the season for the price of an intermediate or low RB3. Try to take advantage.
Other RBs to “buy low”: Aaron Jones (GB), Nick Chubb (CLE), Chase Edmonds (ARI), J.D. McKissic (WAS)
Running Backs to “Sell High”:
Elijah Mitchell (SF)
Despite having ensured the leading role of the Niners backfield, some circumstances cause concern about the freshman’s future and his consequent ability to repeat the good performance he had in week 7, when he exceeded 100 yards and scored 1 TD against the Colts .
For starters, JaMycal Hasty’s return to the pitch ensured him exclusivity in passing situations and we know that a RB’s lack of involvement in aerial play makes him more dependent on the gamescript his team finds during matches.
To make matters worse, Kyle Shanahan’s unpredictability in terms of how he uses his runners is well known – Trey Sermon, drafted three rounds before Mitchell, remains leaning on the squad and Jeff Wilson has the prospect of returning to the field sometime in November.
In addition, there is a chance that rookie Trey Lance will take over as QB at some point in the season, which could remove touches and touchdowns from the 25 shirt, especially in goal line situations.
Therefore, it seems like a good idea to involve Mitchell in a negotiation that brings to your cast an RB that generates less doubts.
Devonta Freeman (BAL)
Being off week 8 is a factor that makes it difficult for you to “sell” it, but every time a veteran who is on a committee hits a streak of two or more games by scoring touchdowns, the opportunity to that has a higher perceived value than what it actually has considering the so-called regression to the mean, deduced from what the “peripheral numbers” reveal about its use and how much it is sustainable.
Not having surpassed 40% of Baltimore’s offensive plays in the two games in which he was used most prominently, but having added more than 10 fantasy points in both, it’s time to include the ex-Falcon in an advantageous negotiation.
Other RBs to “sell high”: Alvin Kamara (NO), Damien Harris (NE), Myles Gaskin (MIA), James Conner (ARI), D’Ernest Johnson (CLE), Brandon Bolden (NE)
Wide Receivers for “buy low”:
D.J. Moore (CAR)
After an explosive start to the season, the shirt 2 experienced a drop in statistical performance in the last three games, which accompanied the poor performances of his QB Sam Darnold and the Panthers themselves as a whole, who have not won in four games after they opened the year with a record from 3-0.
But considering that, for fantasy, such correlation is far from the rule – there are several examples of great players for our game on teams with negative NFL campaigns – the snaps, targets and catches that Moore continues to enjoy indicate that, sooner rather than later, he should resume statistical eruptions.
So, enjoy that low moment and try to incorporate it into your cast.
Tee Higgins (CIN)
While in the shadow of freshman sensation Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins offers plenty of reasons for him to get excited about what he can produce between now and the end of the season.
Aside from having to remember the injury that kept him from rounds 3 and 4 and naturally brought him back into the Bengals’ game plan, his peripheral stats are encouraging.
There were no less than 15 targets in week 7 against the Ravens and, considering that the sum of these with the targets of the two previous rounds guarantee you an average close to 10 per game – even in return from injury -, the tendency is that your current average of yards will increase and that the TDs, who were present in the first two games of 2021, reappear.
After all, since he, at the height of his 1.93m tall, is a massive presence in the end zone, it is not very logical that the touchodwns remain focused on long receptions by Chase and, mainly, on unusual plays by TE CJ Uzomah .
Other WRs to “buy low”: Tyreek Hill (KC), Justin Jefferson (MIN), Calvin Ridley (ATL), Keenan Allen (LAC), Mike Williams (LAC), Amari Cooper (DAL), Chase Claypool (PIT), Brandin Cooks (HOU), Julio Jones (TEN), Tyler Lockett (SEA), DeVonta Smith (PHI), Henry Ruggs (LV)
Wide Receivers for “Sell High”:
Mike Evans (TB)
As has become almost routine in this column, we have, again, a Tampa Bay receiver as someone to be offered in fantasy football trades.
That’s because, benefiting from Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski’s absences against the Bears in week 7, Evans grabbed 3 TDs and pushed his fantasy score into the stratosphere even though he limited himself to just 76 yards in 6 catches.
With this, there is a great chance to combine such unsustainable score with the name value that the shirt 13 has to involve him in a business that guarantees him a WR with less competition for statistical production.
D.K. Metcalf (SEA)
Targeted for “sell” primarily to those in need of short-term wins, the third-year-old concentrated most of his seventh-round fantasy score on the 84-yard TD he scored early on in Monday Night Football against the Saints.
Given that the chance of this happening again while Geno Smith is passing him the ball is low, the No. 14 could be included in a good exchange for both sides with someone who is comfortable with his record of wins and losses and can wait for Russell Wilson’s return to the lawns.
Other WRs to “Sell High”: DeAndre Hopkins (ARI), Chris Godwin (TB), Kalif Raymond (DET), Kendrick Bourne (NE), Christian Kirk (ARI), Van Jefferson (LAR), Allen Lazard (GB), Rusell Gage (ATL)
Tight Ends for “buy low”:
Darren Waller (LV)
A surprising inactive in week 7, with news of an ankle injury putting him out of the game against the Eagles having arrived at the last minute, Waller may be frustrating whoever keeps him in the squad, even more so with the Raiders slacking off in the eighth round and with their numbers left a little to be desired compared to the great score it had in the season opener.
With this, especially if you have a record positive and you’re well underway in the playoffs, there’s a considerable chance you’ll get a “discount” that won’t come back when you bring the most athletic of all NFL TEs getting passes to your team.
Another factor to bring optimism: if the 83 shirt repeats what it did in 2020, with an excellent final stretch, which catapulted its numbers in relation to the first half of that season, Waller could be one of the so-called league winners for the second year in a row.
Other TEs to “buy low”: Mark Andrews (BAL), George Kittle (SF), Rob Gronkowski (TB)
Tight Ends for “Sell High”:
Zach Ertz (ARI)
taking advantage of the hype from the exchange of the 86 shirt, from Philadelphia to Arizona, and, most importantly, his debut for the new team with a long touchdown hardly repeatable, Ertz will probably guarantee you a smaller return than you can make for him by the end of the year.
Similar to what happens with Mike Evans and the other guns in the Tampa Bay aerial game, the veteran has to deal with a lot of competition for targets in the Cardinals, which diminishes his chances of consistent statistical performance.
Other TEs to “sell high”: C.J. Uzomah (CIN), Robert Tonyan (GB)
Quarterbacks for “buy low”:
Patrick Mahomes (KC)
For the first time in his career, with the exception of a game against the Broncos in 2019, in which he was injured, the hottest QB in NFL and fantasy football did not exceed 10 fantasy points in a game – only 6.74 in vario Chiefs took over from the Titans in week 7.
Although the situation of the Kansas City alvirubra franchise in real life is really worrying, the tendency is that the 15 shirt, despite being suffering with its offensive line and ineffectiveness of the land game to take the pressure off the opposing defenses, come back to find ways to produce for fantasy, even if this occurs in the so-called “garbage time”.
With that – and taking advantage of such a narrative that is far more tied to the NFL itself than to our in-game play – comes the rare chance to add to the cast a QB that has never been below the top seven for fantasy in any season in the which was the holder.
Other QBs to “buy low”: Justin Herbert (LAC), Russell Wilson (SEA)
Quarterbacks for “Sell High”:
Jalen Hurts (PHI)
On the other side of the coin when it comes to real-life impact on fantasy, rumors are growing stronger that Nick Sirianni is considering testing a new starting QB: Gardner Minshew. After all, it’s always good to remember that the current Eagles coaching staff doesn’t have very strong ties to the Hurts, as they weren’t present in 2020, when he was drafted.
As much as such a decision, if actually carried out, can be challenged, stranger and more questionable things have happened in the NFL. And once shirt 1 doesn’t enter the field, there’s no way to produce stats – and fantasy points.
With that, even though Hurts has been the most reliable and consistent QB for fantasy so far – he’s been in the top 12 every week so far – maybe it’s time to look to get him involved in trading for a signal caller that doesn’t run. the risk of losing your job.
Other QBs to “Sell High”: Matthew Stafford (LAR), Tua Tagovailoa (MIA)
