Trade Targets for Week 9 (Fantasy Football)
Week 8 has wrapped up, and now we look at who we can target before Week 9 to help our teams secure a win and boost our chances for a deep playoff run. We had a few trades happen in the NFL for the trade deadline, including one we will discuss further in the article, with the Cardinals sending Joshua Dobbs to the Vikings. I love seeing NFL teams trade like that, and it shakes some things up a bit in the trade market for fantasy football. We may be able to take advantage of some of the changes in the market for these players to bolster our teams. The NFL trade deadline has passed, but let’s get some deals done before the fantasy football trade deadlines start happening!
Players to Trade For
Marquise Brown
The Cardinals recently traded Joshua Dobbs to the Vikings and announced that either rookie Clayton Tune or Kyler Murray will be taking over starting duties soon. Marquise Brown was good for fantasy with Dobbs at QB and should have an even higher ceiling once Murray is back. He has scored at least ten fantasy points in five of eight games and is the current WR21 on the season. Hollywood Brown should still be affordable, and with no certainty that Murray plays in Week 9 or Week 10, it may be a great time to buy.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison
Speaking of the Joshua Dobbs trade, we will discuss his new pass-catchers. Justin Jefferson is currently injured, but there are reports that he will be available sooner rather than later. There may be fantasy managers struggling to get wins and are now nervous about Kirk Cousins‘ injury, so it’s worth exploring a trade. Jefferson could be available in Weeks 10 or 11, so if you can make a move and still be okay for a couple of weeks, I would try to do that.
I’m also including Jordan Addison because he can provide solid production for the remainder of the season. He’s proven that he can play, and again, with Kirk Cousins out, he may have a dip in value. Dobbs looked solid, and with the way Minnesota’s offense works, you should also target Jordan Addison.
James Cook
Honestly, James Cook was in consideration for “Players to Trade Away” over the last couple of weeks, but now, with the Bills signing Leonard Fournette, I think there is a solid opportunity to buy James Cook for cheap. Cook may not be more than an RB2 with upside for the remainder of the season, but he is a solid option to add if you need help at the running back position. Fournette could certainly come in and steal opportunities from Cook, but Cook has played well, and I think he will continue to be the guy on the Bills’ offense.
Players to Trade Away
DeAndre Hopkins
Making his second appearance in “Players to Trade Away,” I bring you DeAndre Hopkins, who had 128 receiving yards and three touchdowns in Week 8. Hopkins had yet to score a touchdown in six games this season but blew up once rookie quarterback Will Levis entered the game. With a blow-up game and some hype around Levis commanding this Titans’ offense, I want to sell where I can. Hopkins could turn things around and be a solid fantasy option, but I would instead attempt to cash out now at what could be peak value. Three of Hopkins’ four receptions were touchdowns, and unless Levis is just that guy, he likely will have some growing pains that will impact Hopkins’ production.
Gus Edwards
We will follow up a trade-away candidate who had a hat trick in Week 8 with another player who had a hat trick in Week 8. Gus Edwards had 19 carries for 80 yards and three scores against the Cardinals, scoring 20+ fantasy points for the second consecutive week. Before the last two weeks, Edwards had scored ten fantasy points in just one of six games. There are likely many RB-needy teams in your league, so if you can afford to trade away the depth, trying to package Edwards with another player to upgrade a tier is a good idea.
Jahan Dotson
One of the more disappointing players this year has been Jahan Dotson. He finally had a breakout game in Week 8 against the Eagles, catching eight of 10 targets for 108 yards and a touchdown. Dotson only has three games this season with at least 40 receiving yards and has just two touchdowns. There may not be much of a market, but if there’s an opportunity to get him off your team, you must look into it. Package him with another player or two to upgrade at a position of need for your team. Hopefully, there are some Dotson believers in your league.