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Welcome fantasy friends and foes to the Top Trade Targets and Avoids for Week 8. After a self-imposed brief hiatus, I'm back to provide the top players to go seek out in trades. With bye weeks in full gear, fantasy managers need to ensure they can construct winning weekly lineups.
Obtaining players who already had their byes or players that might be traded by the November 3rd NFL Trade Deadline can provide a distinct advantage in achieving the best return on your fantasy investment.
As usual, I will identify three more players that should be on your trade radar. Find out which players to target and who to trade away as we kick off Week 8.
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Players to Target in Trades for Fantasy Football
Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
I realize that the New York Jets offense is the lowest-scoring offense in the league. However, Jets rookie running back Michael Carter is seeing an increased workload and has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal 1-5 start in the 2021 season.
Carter has scored in two of his last three games and has established himself as the Jets' top option in the backfield as a runner and a viable pass-catcher. He led the team in both rushing and receiving in their Week 7 loss to the New England Patriots. He recorded 19 total touches for 104 scrimmage yards and
With fellow rookie Zack Wilson going down with an injury, the Jets traded for veteran Joe Flacco and will rely on the veteran in the interim. The team will have to depend more on the running and short passing games, which perfectly suits the rookie running back.
Carter may not be a game-changer for your fantasy lineups, but he does provide value in deep PPR formats. He should be relied upon as the primary running back, and who doesn't need that type of production in their fantasy rosters?
Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans
You have to believe that Brandin Cooks is jealous of running back Mark Ingram. Ingram just got traded to the New Orleans Saints to help ease the load for Alvin Kamara as the Houston Texans start purging their roster before we hit the NFL Trade Deadline.
Here is hoping that Brandin Cooks is next. The Texans are a dumpster fire, and there is no end in sight. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills took over for Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) and has experienced some growing pains. But, at least, the rookie signal-caller knows who to get the ball to. Cooks owns a 31.4 % target share, which ranks fourth in the league.
Cooks has only scored one touchdown this season, but he is a target hog who could fit very well in a wide receiver needy team. (Hello Packers, Chiefs, and Browns). He is an underrated wideout who has recorded 1,000 receiving yards in five of his past six seasons.
Fantasy managers are hoping that Cooks gets traded to a team that will enable him to achieve the 100+ targets and 1,000 yards seasons that we are accustomed to. So get the jump on your fantasy managers and obtain Cooks now.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins
Mike Gesicki was an undervalued tight end coming into this season, and he has surpassed fantasy projections. Currently, Gesicki is the TE5 on the season, and he is the apple of Tua Tagovailoa's eye, seeing an 18.4 % target share. Additionally, he is also progressing into being a downfield option in the Miami Dolphins offense. He owns a 26.8% air yard share, ranking second and fourth in deep targets with five.
Of course, the injuries to the Dolphins wide receiver room don't leave many options. Gesicki has proven more than capable of stepping up as the top receiving option.
Gesicki will continue to see all of the volume in the Dolphins passing game, which is forced to pass heavily. This season, the Dolphins defense has been a colossal disappointment, allowing the second-most points in the league. With no running game to speak of, Tagovailoa and Gesicki are creating fantasy goodness in Miami.
If you are still waiting on Robert Tonyan or Tyler Higbee to be your weekly TE1, please stop and get Gesicki instead.
Players to Trade Away for Fantasy Football Week 8
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears rookie running back Khalil Herbert was one of the hottest pickups in fantasy football the last few weeks. Herbert produced 97 rushing yards with a score against the Green Bay Packers in Week 6. He followed that breakout performance by producing the first 100-yard rushing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' top-ranked defense.
Herbert accomplished those stats while filling in for starter David Montgomery (hamstring) and Damien Williams (COVID). Since training camp, the rookie has been impressive, and his production has carried over into the regular season.
The caveat arrives with Damien Williams returning to full strength and Montgomery coming back in a few weeks. For the time being, Herbert will be the main back in Chicago, and fantasy managers should ride the hot hand but then sell! Sell! Sell!
The Bears backfield will become a massive timeshare, and I didn't even mention the return of Tarik Cohen, who is also due back after the Week 10 bye. A crowded backfield in Chicago is not tasty for fantasy, especially when considering the Matt Nagy factor. Well, that is, if Nagy still has the job in the immediate future. So I am running away from this situation and selling Herbert while his value is at its peak.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The ideal time to move a player is when he posts a blowup game. Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans just put up three touchdowns in the Bucs win over the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Evans accomplished his massive day with Rob Gronkowski still recovering from fractured ribs and the rejuvenated Antonio Brown (ankle) being a surprise Week 7 inactive.
Fantasy managers have seen this movie before, with Evans having a few fantasy explosive games and then disappearing for long stretches for the rest of the season. So now is the perfect time to sell high on the Bucs receiver, who just happened to be his turn with Brady deciding which wideout gets all of the love that week. He has a tough matchup in Week 8 against Marshon Lattimore and the Bucs so it's best to move him now before another letdown game.
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