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If Week 1 reminded us how much we missed football, Week 2 was a painful reminder of how stressful the season can be. Injuries are starting to pile up and fantasy managers everywhere are scavenging the waiver wire for replacements. There could be some gems out there, but if you need players you can count on in your starting lineup, now is the time to start getting aggressive on the trade market.
In my first column of the season, I highlighted Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyren Williams as players to buy low. Harrison bounced back from a one-catch NFL debut to the tune of 130 yards and two touchdowns. In the same contest, Williams found the end zone but disappointed from an efficiency standpoint against a porous Arizona run defense. Although he still dominated touches out of the Rams backfield, it might be more difficult than I expected for Williams to find success behind this banged-up offensive line. Rachaad White and Xavier Worthy were the players I suggested trading away after solid Week 1 showings. As I predicted, White was shut down by the Lions and continued to split carries with Bucky Irving. Worthy was given more opportunities in his second professional appearance, but was still just the third-most-targeted Chief and failed to deliver the explosive plays he did in the season opener.
Overall, I'd consider Week 2 a big success. If you made any of the trades I recommended, they immediately paid off. I'll admit that my confidence in Williams was overzealous, however, so there is room to improve. With that said, let's dive into some players to acquire heading into Week 3.
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Players to Target in Trades for Fantasy Football
Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
A few weeks ago, Ja'Marr Chase was a slightly concerning pick in the first round of fantasy drafts as it seemed he could extend his holdout over a contract dispute into the regular season. Chase and the Bengals did not reach an agreement but the 24-year-old still decided to cease his holdout and suit up right away.
We know Chase is elite, so if he's playing and Joe Burrow is healthy, he must be excelling, right? Well, through two games, the results haven't been so good. Cincinnati is 0-2 and Chase hasn't scored as a top-30 receiver yet. Furthermore, Tee Higgins has been out with a hamstring injury, making it all the more confusing that Chase isn't dominating.
It would be fair to try to forget the Bengals' Week 1 fall to the New England Patriots even happened. Zack Moss was the only player on the team to succeed in fantasy, and it makes sense if Chase wasn't exactly ready for game action after weeks of inconsistent and limited practice.
Things were a bit different in Week 2, though. Burrow played well, throwing two touchdowns and nearly taking down the Chiefs. Chase was quiet on the stat sheet with just four receptions for 35 yards while being out-targeted by Mike Gesicki and Trenton Irwin. The three-time Pro Bowler did make some noise when he lost his temper on the field in the fourth quarter.
Ja'Marr Chase was HEATED 😳
He was flagged for a CRUCIAL 15-yard penalty.
(via @NFLonCBS)pic.twitter.com/fk68Derc6x
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 15, 2024
There was a specific reason for this outburst as Chase was upset about what he believed was a missed penalty. With how he continued to express frustration on the sideline, though, we can speculate that Chase reached his boiling point. Star wideouts as talented as Chase often show emotion when they aren't as involved as they'd like to be, not to mention that he has not yet been offered the contract he deserves.
If the Bengals were 2-0, I wouldn't be sure anything would change. But the team will make adjustments, starting with finding ways to get its best player the ball. Chase will be fed the rock in Week 3 against a Washington Commanders defense that cannot stop opposing receivers.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin feasted upon Washington for three total touchdowns two weeks ago and rookie Malik Nabers went nuclear for 10 receptions, 127 yards, and a score on 18 targets against the Commanders this past Sunday.
This is a perfect "get right" game for Cincinnati. It will be heavily favored at home on Monday night and it would be shocking not to hear Chase's name called early and often. Now is your chance to scoop him up after a slow start to the campaign.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
This can't be considered a "buy low" as George Kittle just finished as the TE1 on the week. The eighth-year pro turned eight targets into seven receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown in a tough loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Nonetheless, you should aggressively pursue Kittle in a trade before Week 3.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that Deebo Samuel Sr. would likely miss a "couple" games as he recovers from a calf strain he suffered in Week 2.
Upon hearing this news, I planned on naming Brandon Aiyuk here. Aiyuk has struggled thus far this season, making him an ideal trade candidate now that he will see an expanded role. After closer investigation, however, I realized that Kittle is the player to go after.
George Kittle last four weeks:
Week 18: 2 TDs
Week 17: 1 TD
Week 16: 2 TDs
Week 15: 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/PAEN0Di2Fl— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 8, 2023
This sample is a bit dated, but Samuel missed Weeks 15 through 17 and did not play a full allotment of snaps in Week 18 of the 2022-2023 season. Kittle became the favorite target of quarterback Brock Purdy during that span and dominated in the fantasy playoffs.
This trend continued last season. Samuel missed two full games in 2023, in which Kittle averaged nine targets, seven receptions, and nearly 114 yards. Although he didn't score, Kittle was still the fantasy TE5 over these two weeks.
With Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve and Samuel now also set to miss time, Shanahan and Purdy should lean on Kittle, especially as Aiyuk continues to shake the rust he seems to have on him from his offseason holdout.
Kittle's first opportunity sans Samuel will come against the Los Angeles Rams' injured secondary. The Rams allowed the fourth-most half-PPR fantasy points to tight ends in 2023 and have not shown any signs of slowing down the position this season, either.
Given how poorly the top tight ends have performed over the past two weeks, I'm not sure there are any I'd rather have than Kittle going forward. I'd be willing to add a piece to a lesser tight end to get him or flip a more highly touted tight end into Kittle-plus.
Players to Trade Away for Fantasy Football
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
I went back and forth multiple times on which Dolphins player to include here. Following Tua Tagovailoa's concussion and Miami's subsequent move to place him on injured reserve, it's hard to have faith in the offense going forward. 27-year-old Skylar Thompson will be taking over under center, at least for the time being.
In Thompson's three full games as a starter in 2022, Miami's running game was just fine, so I won't suggest panic-selling De'Von Achane. But the answer to the question of which receiver to trade is both.
Hate to do this but ...
Tyreek Hill averages is Skylar Thompson's 3 full games in 2022:
9.0 targets
5.3 catches
46.3 yards
0 TDsAnd WR Jaylen Waddle:
5.3 targets
3.7 catches
37.0 yards
0 TDs— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) September 13, 2024
The problem is, I assume most fantasy managers already realize how much of a downgrade Thompson is for the Dolphins offense. Jaylen Waddle should be considered a flex play at best, but how can you possibly view Tyreek Hill as anything less than a fantasy WR2? Hill's name alone carries so much value that it will demand consideration every time it appears in a trade offer.
That's why it might be smart to trade him away now. He didn't do anything special in Week 2, but the Dolphins' passing attack was struggling against Buffalo long before Tagovailoa exited the game. Hill's value as a trade asset will take a major hit as soon as we see how much worse this offense can get.
In addition to having Thompson at the helm, Hill will have to overcome Seattle on the road, Tennessee at home, then New England in Foxborough before a Week 6 bye. The Seahawks and Patriots don't pose terrible challenges on paper, but Thompson could certainly struggle in what are notoriously difficult places to play. The Titans defense has looked awesome to start the season.
Tagovailoa could return at some point in 2024 but the team will prioritize his well-being, as it should. Fantasy managers of Hill would be wise to move on from the situation and shop him for low-end WR1s or WR2s with upside.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Let me start by saying I like Malik Nabers. The sixth overall selection in April's draft has been as good as advertised, if not better, two games into his career. What's even more impressive than his current standing as the fantasy WR8 is his league-leading 38.5% target share. Nabers saw a ridiculous 18 targets in Week 2 despite quarterback Daniel Jones throwing just 28 passes.
Nabers' value is immense in dynasty leagues but I would be looking to sell high in most redraft formats. Of course, a 38.5% target share is probably not sustainable. I'm not going to factor that into my reasoning, however, as I still believe Nabers can finish the season earning close to 30%.
I mentioned earlier that Nabers' explosion came against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have been abysmal against receivers since the start of the 2023 season. They surrendered the most yards and the second-most fantasy points to wideouts last year.
Nabers' upcoming schedule is not nearly as appealing as this matchup was. In Week 3, he'll face the Browns on the road.
Wide receivers vs Cleveland so far:
Brian Thomas 2-94-0
CeeDee Lamb 5-61-0
Gabe Davis 3-43-0
Brandin Cooks 4-40-1
Christian Kirk 1-(-1)-0Get Malik Nabers this week.
— Heath Cummings (@heathcummingssr) September 17, 2024
Cleveland's pass defense has been solid thus far in 2024 but it's important to remember just how stout it was, especially at home, last season. In Cleveland, the Browns allowed just over 126 passing yards per contest, by far the fewest in the NFL.
In Week 4, the Giants will take on the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, who held Daniel Jones to a passer rating of 32.4 the last time they met. Nabers is easily the most talented weapon Jones has ever had, but betting on Jones' pass-catchers for consistent production has always been a bad bet.
Jones has never supported a receiver finish better than WR35. That should change this season but a top-15 finish for Nabers in half-PPR is highly unlikely.
Although he'll have more big performances, we've already seen the outcome when New York's offense struggles like it did in Week 1. Nabers came down with five receptions for 66 scoreless yards. Not bad for a flex option, but that's not going to cut it as a WR2, let alone a WR1.
Ideally, I'd be thrilled to trade Nabers-plus for A.J. Brown if the latter's manager is desperate for an injury replacement. Some other names I'd consider include Chris Godwin, Garrett Wilson, or Davante Adams.
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