Fantasy Trade Market: Stars Worth Overpaying for Entering Playoff Push
Fantasy Trade Market: Stars Worth Overpaying for Entering Playoff Push0 of 3
Saints RB Alvin KamaraKevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Ahead of NFL Week 11, Bleacher Report’s fantasy football trade market will cater to aggressive managers who want to strengthen their chances at winning a title or anyone looking to make a run with a borderline playoff team.
As fantasy managers, we’ve all been in situations that call for a season-defining transaction.
You don’t have appealing options on the waiver wire or free-agent pool, so it’s time to strike a deal for a midseason spark.
What would it cost to take a big swing at a star player?
We’ll suggest potential trade targets and assets to offer for them in blockbuster deals that will get you over the hump and in your league’s championship.
Buy These Players Now1 of 3
Texans WR Nico CollinsJack Gorman/Getty Images
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Week 10: 17 carries, 55 yards; 5 catches, 54 yards
2024 Season: 167 carries, 715 yards, 6 TDs; 51 catches, 421 yards, TD
The Saints have placed their top two receivers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, on injured reserve. Kamara is the team’s top running back and pass-catcher. He leads New Orleans in rushing and receiving yards.
Moreover, the five-time Pro Bowler leads all running backs in receiving yards.
If the fantasy manager in your league is asking for too much in a deal that involves Christian McCaffrey, try to acquire Kamara.
Going forward, Kamara’s workload will be similar to McCaffrey’s 2023 touch volume between his rushing and pass-catching duties.
Buy Kamara for: Jahmyr Gibbs, Joe Mixon, De’Von Achane
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Week 10: N/A
2024 Season: 32 catches, 567 yards, 3 TDs
Last week, the Texans activated Collins off injured reserve, but he didn’t suit up to play in Week 10. He has a good chance to return next Monday against the Dallas Cowboys’ bottom-tier defense, though.
The 2021 third-round pick has been out since Week 5, but he’s still 14th in receiving yards, averaging a league-leading 113.4 receiving yards per game.
The Texans desperately need Collins back. Without him, they haven’t scored a touchdown in the second half of a game in four weeks. The budding star wideout should pick up where he left off. Do what you can to pry him away from your competition.
Buy Collins for: CeeDee Lamb, Garrett Wilson, Malik Nabers
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Week 10: 3 catches, 57 yards, TD
2024 Season: 43 catches, 560 yards, 7 TDs
Despite all the buzz around McCaffrey’s 2024 season debut in Week 10, managers should target the 49ers’ most consistent playmaker in production and availability. Kittle is that guy.
The 49ers may limit McCaffrey’s workload as he comes off bilateral Achilles tendinitis. Wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. has dealt with multiple injuries and ailments this year.
Kittle leads the 49ers in catches and receiving yards by a wide margin. McCaffrey will cut into his target share, but the star tight end should maintain a prominent role in San Francisco’s aerial attack.
Kittle ranks second among tight ends in receiving yards and leads in touchdowns. Perhaps you can trade a starting receiver or a top running back for him.
Buy Kittle for: Breece Hall, Chuba Hubbard, Drake London
Sell These Players2 of 3
Ravens WR Rashod BatemanScott Taetsch/Getty Images
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders
Week 10: 13 carries, 44 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 7 yards
2024 Season: 63 carries, 326 yards, 4 TDs; 23 receptions, 255 yards
Don’t get too excited about Ekeler’s only top-four finish in fantasy scoring among running backs in Week 10. That’s an anomaly for a player who didn’t finish within the top 15 in any of the first nine weeks of the season.
Brian Robinson Jr. has missed consecutive weeks because of a hamstring injury. The Commanders didn’t place him on injured reserve, so expect him back in the featured role out of their backfield in the next week or two.
Once Robinson returns, Ekeler will likely revert to his primary pass-catching role, handling an average of five to six carries per contest. If you trade him now, you may be able to get a running back who has a bigger role in his team’s rushing attack.
Sell Ekeler for: Rachaad White, Rico Dowdle, Alexander Mattison
Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Week 10: 6 catches, 54 yards, TD
2024 Season: 31 receptions, 501 yards, 4 TDs
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has too many options in the passing game to trust one player other than Zay Flowers for consistent production.
Flowers, Bateman, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Nelson Agholor or even Diontae Johnson could go off for a big game in any given week. Managers shouldn’t waste their time trying to guess whose turn it is to shine in the spotlight.
Remember, the Ravens recently acquired Johnson from the Carolina Panthers. His role could expand in the coming weeks, clouding Bateman’s already volatile target share.
Anyone with Bateman on their roster should place him on the trade block following his strong Week 10 performance.
Sell Bateman for: Jerry Jeudy, Jameson Williams, Jakobi Meyers
Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 10: 6 catches, 40 yards
2024 Season: 31 receptions, 263 yards, TD
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jaguars plan to rest quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he missed their Week 10 contest with a shoulder injury.
Rapoport also noted that the 2021 No. 1 pick may opt for surgery, and his injury will limit him for several weeks.
Between the possibility of surgery and expected physical limitations, Lawrence’s injury will adversely impact Jacksonville’s aerial attack and its pass-catchers in terms of production.
Yet Engram had a decent Week 10 outing with a healthy target share, which may be enough to push him into a trade deal.
Don’t wait for news on what’s next for Lawrence: Move Engram before the bottom falls out of the Jaguars offense. With backup QB Mac Jones, Jacksonville scored seven points against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10.
Sell Engram for: T.J. Hockenson, Jonnu Smith, Taysom Hill
Hold These Players for Another Week3 of 3
Colts WR Adonai MitchellMike Carlson/Getty Images
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Week 10: 7 carries, 47 yards; 3 catches, 4 yards
2024 Season: 40 carries, 161 yards, TD, 15 receptions, 80 yards
Tyjae Spears missed three consecutive weeks with a hamstring injury, though he returned to a healthy workload comparable to Titans’ lead running back Tony Pollard.
Now that Spears is back in action, the Titans may feature him alongside Pollard in interchangeable roles as an every-down running back.
If so, Spears has an appealing upside for managers who need another option in the RB2 and flex spots.
Audric Estime, RB, Denver Broncos
Week 10: 14 carries, 53 yards
2024 Season: 29 carries, 148 yards
Managers who heard or read Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s comments about his backfield rotation knew the team would give Estime more carries in Week 10.
Payton stayed true to his word. Compared to the first several weeks of the season, the rookie fifth-rounder handled more rush attempts at Javonte Williams’ expense, leading the Broncos in carries, though he didn’t see a target in the passing game.
Estime had a decent showing as Denver’s lead tailback and will likely hold on to the role in the second half of the season, barring any ball-security issues. Managers should hang on to him to get a bigger sample size of how he fits in with Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Week 10: 6 catches, 71 yards
2024 Season: 18 receptions, 211 yards; 2 carries, 14 yards
Last week, Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. didn’t practice. He dislocated his finger and is dealing with a back injury.
Pittman sat out Week 10 and could miss more time because of his injuries, which would allow Mitchell a chance to hold on to a decent role in the Colts’ aerial attack.
Last week, Mitchell posted career-high numbers in catches and receiving yards. He can build on that performance if Pittman takes some time to recover before his return.
Looking for more insight to prep for your draft or make some tough roster decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
