Trade Targets

Most league trade deadlines are fast approaching and whether you are 7-0 or 0-7 you need to continue to continue working to improve your team for the second half of the season. My number one advice for the stretch run is to handcuff your stud running backs. Yesterday was a prime example of the importance of this with C.J. Anderson heading to Injured Reserve and Devontae Booker now stepping into the starting role and will see a workhorse amount of carries. If you are looking for players to add to prepare you for the stretch run then look no further; below are three wide outs and three running backs who can be bought low and still have the ceiling to be fantasy superstars if you can afford to acquire them and not need to rely on them.

Odell Beckham Jr. - WR New York Giants

Currently WR8

Season total: 76 points

Beckham has been very disappointing so far this season. He scored 32 of his points in Week 6. Last week in London he managed just 4 points and now will spend Week 8 on bye. His owners are surely reeling as their expected anchor has spent most of the season as a WR2. If you are sitting atop the standings with the depth to play him in your WR2 spot or even down in your flex the go out and try to trade for him. His value is about as low as possible right now and as we bear down on both the trade deadline for most leagues and the mathematical eliminations from the playoffs owners are going to need to make some moves for the second half of the season.

Allen Robinson- WR Jacksonville Jaguars

Currently WR42

Season total: 44 points

Robinson has been rough to put it mildly. He has not been over 60 yards receiving since Week 1. He has not found the endzone in four of six games this season. This week he dropped a goose egg on his owners Through six games last season Robinson had 488 yards and 5 touchdowns. This season he has 296 yards and 3 touchdowns. The problem has not been lack of targets; he has at least 5 targets every game this season and has had double digit targets in three games this season as well. He should be targeted by those that can afford to play him as their WR3 or Flex or better yet stash him on their bench.

Alshon Jeffery- WR Chicago Bears

Currently WR35

Two words: Jay Cutler. After Brian Hoyer broke his arm on Thursday night the Bears are being forced to go back to Jay Cutler which is great news for Alshon Jeffery owners. Cutler is much more willing to just throw the ball up to Jeffery and let him win the fight for it so I expect him to average double digit targets for the rest of the season. Jeffery owners are probably about as excited about the QB change as you are which means the price isn’t going to be as cheap as you would like, but if you can get a deal his stock should rise.

Doug Martin- RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Currently RB73

If the Buccaneers are willing to ride Jacquizz Rodgers for 56 carries in two weeks then imagine what we will see Martin get if he can return to full health. But, that is the issue; will he get healthy in time to be effective? He was expected to return to the field after the bye, but suffered a setback and now we don’t have a timetable for his return. Owners who can get him on the cheap and especially those Rodgers owners who don’t already own Martin should pursue him to insulate their acquisition.

Todd Gurley- RB Los Angeles Rams

Currently RB19

Gurley is now 7 weeks removed from being the first round value that he was selected as and his owners should have realized by now that he isn’t what they planned on on draft day. Gurley has been ineffective on the ground averaging just 3 YPC after 4.8 YPC last season. He has yet to exceed 85 yards rushing or 50 yards receiving in a game. In comparison he ran for 128 yards or more in four of his first seven games as a rookie. Gurley is a prime buy low candidate; he has been terrible, is on bye this week, and has a very tough two games following the bye. If his owner is in trouble and in danger of being eliminated from the playoffs and you can afford to play him as your RB2 or better yet your FLEX and can get him on the cheap then grab Gurley and hopefully by the time that the fantasy playoffs roll around the stud everyone was expecting will have resurfaced.

Terrance West- RB Baltimore Ravens

Currently RB20

West came alive once he was given the reigns to the Ravens’ backfield and ran for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns in three weeks. In Week 7 he threw down a stinker with 8 carries for 10 yards and now in Week 8 he is on bye. If the West owner is in need of wins and in need of a running back to cover the bye then make an offer on West and see if you can steal him away for next to nothing. Additionally, with the complete lack of usage that Kenneth Dixon has seen so far you can easily handcuff West with Dixon and lockdown that backfield for the rest of the season.

Ezekiel Elliott- RB Dallas Cowboys

Currently RB5

The rest of the guys on here are buy low candidates, but Elliott I think is worth what he is going to cost you. As we move closer and closer to the playoffs it is very important to insulate your roster. Step one in insulating your roster owning your handcuffs and Elliott has an elite handcuff in Alfred Morris. This makes Elliott more appealing to me right now than David Johnson or LeVeon Bell (DeAngelo Williams is banged up). Elliott is through his bye and if you can afford him them go after him. Tip: if Morris is not owned; pick him up.

Week 8 Preperation

Welcome to Week 8! Officially the halfway point of the Fantasy Football Season. If you have yet to win a game you are about one week from being mathematically eliminated and if you are 8-0 you are almost certainly locked into a playoff berth. Either way you need to keep making moves and trying to improve your roster; remember that it was Tim Hightower who was on over a third of all championship fantasy rosters last season. An add you would have made in Week 13 or 14 last season. So keep working and let’s get to it!

Waiver Wire Pickups.

Mike Gillislee- RB, Buffalo Bills 2.1%

I have been telling Shady owners to grab Mike Gillislee for the last two weeks and then during last week McCoy injured his hamstring and was then forced from the game after bringing you just 1 fantasy point. Gillislee only got five carries in relief, but remains an important handcuff that needs to be owned.  McCoy is owned in 99.9% of leagues and Gillislee is owned in 6% of leagues; those numbers should match.

The same goes for the other top handcuffs:

• Alfred Morris
• DeAngelo Williams
• Derrick Henry
• Devontae Booker

Injured Players on their way back

If you can stash them through the huge bye weeks we have over the next couple of weeks then there are a few guys we are expecting back from injuries that are worth grabbing to help with your run to the playoffs.

• Donte Moncrief- WR, Indianapolis Colts - 46.1%
• Dion Lewis- RB, New England Patriots - 27.9%
• Corey Coleman- WR, Cleveland Browns - 31.9%
• Thomas Rawls- RB, Seattle Seahawks - 47.9%

Ty Montgomery- WR/RB, Green Bay Packers 20.1%

Montgomery has been granted RB eligibility in ESPN leagues which makes him not only productive, but also very flexible in how you can use him in your lineup. If you are in a PPR then he becomes even more valuable as he gets double digit targets out of the backfield.

Brandon LaFell- WR, Cincinnati Bengals 12.8%

LaFell has found the endzone four times in the last three weeks. It blows my mind that I am actually writing these words, but with a huge bye week coming up this week and Josh Norman likely to sit this game out, which would shift Breshad Breeland to cover A.J. Green, LaFell has an amazing opportunity to contribute to a fantasy win for you in Week 8.

Jacquizz Rodgers- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34.5%

Rodgers once again became the feature back in the Buccaneers’ offense as Doug Martin reinjured his knee and remained sidelined. Rodgers took 26 carries for 154 yards. The injury to Charles Sims has left open the counter-punch to Doug Martin once he returns meaning that Rodgers is going to still get work even when Martin returns.

Chris Thompson- Washington Redskins 14.2%

In a PPR league and need running back help? There are probably few better options available out there to you than Thompson. This week he grabbed all 7 of his targets for 40 yards and got 12 carries for 73 more yards. Matt Jones has fumbled away his shot at becoming a true workhorse which leads to even more work for the best pass catching back currently taking the field. Thompson provides a very solid PPR floor and enough opportunity to be considered a flex play in standard leagues.

Ka’Deem Carey- Chicago Bears 1.8%

Jordan Howard looked like he was going to be the guy to put a lot of teams over the top in their rush to the playoffs, but the last two weeks he has gained just 56 yards on 22 carries. Carey is healthy again and siphoning off carries from Howard and looks like the better runner. He is almost universally available, but if you are going to pick him up don’t plan on using him over the next couple of weeks as the Bears have the Vikings this week and a bye week following.

Last Week:

Cam Meredith

Jay Ajayi

Hunter Henry

Time to Drop

Eddie Lacy- RB, Green Bay Packers 96.4%

Eddie Lacy was off to a terrible start this season. He never got more than 20 carries in a game, topped 100 rushing yards only once, and didn’t find the endzone. Lacy was placed on Injured Reserve before the Packers’ game on Thursday which means he will be out until at least Week 15 and yet he remained owned in 96.4% of leagues. Trust me when I say this: Drop Eddie Lacy. You are not going to trust your playoff chances to a guy in his first week back in action and wasting a roster spot on a guy who was such a borderline start before is going to sink your team. Lacy is droppable in all re-draft leagues.

Last Week

Tavon Austin

D/ST Streaming Options for Week 8

*must be owned in less than 50% of leagues.

Cowboys vs Eagles

The Cowboys have quietly been a very playable fantasy D/ST so far this season and now they come off the bye to play the Eagles at home. The Cowboys’ conservative offense doesn’t turn the ball over and the Eagles seemed desperate to give the ball away last week losing it four times to the Vikings. The Eagles offense has been lethargic after their hot start, relying on their defense to keep them in games. If you are looking for a D/ST to start this week the Cowboys can be had almost everywhere.

Bears vs Minnesota

The storyline surrounding the Bears this season has been all about the offense, but on the other side of the football the defense has kept them in games and has forced seven turnovers through seven games. On a short week in Green Bay they still managed 9 fantasy points and now they get another NFC North foe in the Vikings. The Vikings D/ST is elite, but the offense stumbled hard last week and were torched by the Eagles D/ST. The Bears should be able to take advantage as well, though I wouldn’t bank on the Bears taking a kick to the house.

Getting Ready for Week 7!

Welcome to Week 7 and the halfway point of the regular season for most leagues! Whether you are 6-0 or 0-6 your league is going to be won with the right moves on the waiver wire so let’s get to it!

Waiver Wire Pickups.

Mike Gillislee- RB, Buffalo Bills 2.1%

I wrote right here last week that if you own LeSean McCoy then you need to own Gillislee. Then on Sunday we watched in horror as McCoy took a hit and then looked seriously injured for a few moments before he got up and then proceeded to finish the game with 140 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Hopefully that has scared you into securing the handcuff to the guy that is winning you weeks. McCoy is owned in 99.8% of leagues and Gillislee is owned in 2.1% of leagues; those numbers should match.

The same goes for the other top handcuffs:

• Alfred Morris
• DeAngelo Williams
• Derrick Henry
• Devontae Booker

Cameron Meredith- WR, Chicago Bears 32%

For the second week in a row Meredith exploded in the Bears’ offensive attack this week going for 11 receptions and 113 yards. I think he is in the must start category as long as the Bears continue to play Brian Hoyer under center.

Marcus Mariota- QB, Tennessee Titans 41%

Own Ben Roethlisberger and need a replacement? Mariota is probably your top option. In the next three weeks he is home against the Colts, home against the Jaguars, and then at San Diego all soft defenses that are very exploitable. Defenses are going to continue to sell out to stop DeMarco Murray from running all over them giving Mariota and the subpar receiving core to take advantage.

Jay Ajayi- RB, Miami Dolphins 43%

I think everyone thought that we had seen Ajayi’s last shot at taking this job with the return of Arian Foster. Ajayi responded with 204 yards and 2 touchdowns surely giving the 5% of people who started him a nice win. Foster took just 3 carries to Ajayi’s 25. Adam Gase is going to ride the hot hand into next week and Foster is going to take the back seat as long as Ajayi is running this well.

Hunter Henry- TE, San Diego Chargers 49%

Just eeeking onto the list is Hunter Henry, who was dropped in 6% of leagues before the week in response to the return of Antonio Gates. Henry put the doubters to rest by finding the endzone for the third straight week. The Chargers and the Patriots are both teams where both tight ends on the team are going to be startable on a weekly basis.

Other guys worth adding: Cole Beasley, James White, and Kenny Britt.

Last Week:

Dwayne Washington 11%

Jacquizz Rodgers 30%

Eddie Royal 43%

Sammie Coates 75%

Time to Drop

Tavon Austin- WR, Los Angeles Rams 65%

Austin is a talented player, but this offense doesn’t have the ability to use him properly. He has 10 points in the last three games combined. He is going to eventually breakout with a monstrous multi-touchdown game, but his floor is far too low to be of any weekly use and can be safely dropped in any leagues 12 teams or fewer.

Last Week

Jeremy Langford 48%

Tajae Sharpe 25%

D/ST Streaming Options for Week 6

*must be owned in less than 50% of leagues.

Ravens vs. Jets

The Ravens have been a solid streaming option many weeks this season as their schedule continues to be favorable. The Jets resorted to Geno Smith on Monday Night Football as they got blown out by David Johnson and the Cardinals. In his short time on the field Geno fumbled and was picked off by the Honey Badger. The Ravens will be a fine option regardless of who starts at QB for the Jets, but sign up if they start Geno Smith.

Week 6 Preperation

Welcome to Week 6! We are getting to the make or break portion of the season as we approach the halfway point of the fantasy regular season. Whether you are 5-0 or 0-5 your league is going to be won with the right moves on the waiver wire so let’s get to it!

Waiver Wire Pickups.

James Starks- RB, Green Bay Packers 24%

Eddie Lacy is up in the air with an ankle injury for this week which puts James Starks in line for a huge workload. If you have Lacy and don’t have Starks and his own percentage suggests that you don’t; I hope you have the top waiver slot. You need to own your handcuffs, which brings us again to...

Alfred Morris- RB, Dallas Cowboys 22%

If you own the league’s leading rusher and his backup is in his fifth year in the league and he has three 1,000 rushing yard seasons to his name; YOU NEED TO OWN HIM.

This goes for all the handcuffs to the elite runners. DeAngelo Williams has dropped to 82%. If you own Le’Veon Bell; you need to have a Williams on your roster by the end of this week. His price will drop because those who own him will realize he has no value on his own and trading for him should be easy. Derrick Henry has dropped to about 60% ownership. He hasn’t blossomed into his own role in the offense yet with DeMarco Murray playing so well, but he is still a must own for Murray owners. Friendly reminder: Murray is in his sixth year in the league and has played all 16 games exactly one time. Mike Gillislee is owned in under 2% of leagues. He is a must own at this point for LeSean McCoy owners as it looks like they won’t actually resign Karlos Williams.

Jacquizz Rodgers- RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26%

He has already jumped up 25% this week in response to the news of him getting the start on Monday Night Football. Charles Sims has been placed on IR making Rodgers the Doug Martin handcuff. He should see weekly work in the role as Sims did.

Dwayne Washington- RB, Detroit Lions 14%

Washington didn’t breakout two weeks ago in his first shot as he injured both his ankle and knee. He sat out Week 5 and in his place Zach Zenner took 7 carries for 9 yards. Theo Riddick is the best pass catching back in the NFL, but he doesn’t have the size to carry the load. When Washington is healthy he is going to get that shot.

Eddie Royal- WR, Chicago Bears 41%

He suited up through a calf injury on Sunday and caught 7 balls for 43 yards while Cam Meredith stole the show with 9 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Royal is still the guy you want behind Alshon Jeffery in this offense.

Sammie Coates- WR, Pittsburgh Steelers 40%

He had a huge game on Sunday as he reeled in 6 catches for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns for 29 fantasy points which led all wide receivers for Week 5. His own percentage will jump by probably 20% this week. I think he is a solid add who looks like he has a pretty solid floor as long as Ben Roethlisberger stays upright, but I also think we have seen his best game of the season.

Corey Coleman- WR, Cleveland Browns 36%

He has been gone three weeks with a broken hand. He and Josh McCown are slated to return in the next couple weeks. He can be a game changer upon his return; if you have a roster spot to spare he could pay off big later in the season.

Last Week:

Dion Lewis- RB, New England Patriots 18%

Kenneth Dixon- RB, Baltimore Ravens 34%

Cole Beasley- WR, Dallas Cowboys 40%

Cameron Brate- TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 42%

Time to Drop

Jeremy Langford- RB Chicago Bears 55%

Jordan Howard has taken this job. Langford is still working off the injury, but he is going to be the backup when he returns. Unless you own Howard you can comfortably drop Langford.

Tajae Sharpe- WR Tennessee Titans 32%

Sharpe is the top wide out option for the Titans, but has back to back games of 1 point. His promising 7 point game in Week 1 seems ages ago. Sharpe should be dropped for someone with more upside.

Last Week

Sammy Watkins 48%

Adrian Peterson 43%

Kevin White 27%

Josh Gordon- 22%

Mohamed Sanu- 42%

D/ST Streaming Options for Week 6

*must be owned in less than 50% of leagues.

Pittsburgh Steelers

For the second straight week they find themselves on my streamer list. Last week they put up 6 points against the Jets and this week they get the Miami Dolphins, who have given up 38 points to opposing D/ST so far this season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

They are coming off the bye and going into Chicago. They have back to back 10 point outputs against the Ravens and Colts. The Bears offense has been better with Brian Hoyer under center but they are hardly world beaters and the Jaguars have a front seven that certainly gets paid enough to be able to deal with Jordan Howard.

Follow me on Twitter @TimKucirek and for personalized help you can check me out on Fiverr.

Week 5 Preperation

Welcome to Week 5! I hope it finds you at 4-0, but if you find yourself at something other than that then let's get to the help you need and skip right to the article.

Waiver Wire Pickups.

Carson Wentz- QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Wentz is owned in just 34% of ESPN leagues right now. He will be fresh off his bye going into Detroit who just let Brian Hoyer throw for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns and have also been roasted this season by Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers. If you lost Carson Palmer or Cam Newton or if your quarterback is one of the four on bye in Week 5 there probably aren’t many better options out there than Wentz.

Kenneth Dixon- RB, Baltimore Ravens

Despite repeated hype by most outlets for the past couple weeks; Dixon is owned in just 21% of ESPN leagues. The number probably won’t rise much as many will pursue Terrance West instead. West turned 21 carries into 113 yards and a touchdown this week with Justin Forsett a healthy scratch. I think this is good news for Dixon. It shows that Coach John Harbaugh is willing to run with just one guy and that guy can be productive behind this offensive line. Dixon is the superior talent to West and should still take over the backfield when he returns to full health.

Alfred Morris- RB, Dallas Cowboys

He is going to be here until his ownership percentage matches Ezekiel Elliott’s.

Dion Lewis- RB, New England Patriots

Lewis was put on the PUP list prior to the season and must sit out the first six games of the season. We are through four games. He is owned in only 17% of leagues. If you have room for a stash then grab Lewis, who will be very startable in every league once he returns.

Cole Beasley- WR, Dallas Cowboys

If you are in a PPR league and you need a WR, grab Beasley. He has been very active this season as the underneath option for Dak Prescott. With Dez Bryant riding the pine for probably the next few weeks; Beasley should see even more looks and will be a very solid bye week fill in even in standard leagues.

Cameron Brate- TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brate has back to back games with 5 receptions. He should rise into the every week starter status if Jameis Winston continues to look his way, but with Kelce, Fleener, Thomas, and Graham all on bye this week he is an excellent fill in for Week 5.

Time to Drop

Sammy Watkins 77%

Watkins was put on IR on Friday and his own percentage has dropped just about 20% in the past few days. IR puts Watkins out for at least 8 weeks and if he has surgery he will be gone for the season. I am not wasting a bench spot on Watkins for the next 8 weeks. If you can trade him away then do it, but otherwise he is droppable.

Adrian Peterson 55%

Peterson is still eligable to return this season, but if he does it will be in time for the NFL playoffs and not the fantasy playoffs. Peterson was ineffective behind the Vikings offensive line when Matt Kalil was playing and coming off injury and missing the starting left tackle I don’t think he is going to be productive at all. We have probably seen the last of Peterson this season for fantasy. Drop him and let someone else waste a roster spot on him all season.

Ameer Abdullah 28%

Abdullah has been ruled out for the season.

Josh Gordon- 52%

Josh Gordon has once again been put on indefinite suspension list and now must get Roger Goodell’s approval to return. The Browns have already said they plan to move on which means that in the unlikely event that he appears on the field this season it will be in another uniform and with a new playbook. Single season redraft leagues: Drop Josh Gordon.

Mohamed Sanu- 53%

He has just 8 catches for 72 yards in his last three games. Matt Ryan threw for 500 yards on Sunday and Sanu had just 2 catches for 22 yards. The WR2 in a Kyle Shanahan offense has never been productive enough to be fantasy relevant and that continues to be the case this season with Sanu.

D/ST Streaming Options for Week 5

*must be owned in less than 50% of leagues.

Pittsburgh Steelers

They finally played well on Sunday Night Football, pitching a shutuout for all meaningful time against the Chiefs. This week they get to play Ryan Fitzpatrick who has thrown 10 interceptions already. Last season Blake Bortles led the league with 18 picks, until Fitz stops throwing the ball to the other team and with Eric Decker likely on the bench again; sign me up.

San Francisco 49ers

If Carson Palmer isn’t cleared to play following his concussion this week then the 49ers will be at home against Drew Stanton, who has more games with multiple interceptions (7) than multiple touchdowns (2).