Home stretch before the fantasy football playoffs! Trade deadlines are just around the corner. Are you contending, rebuilding or unsure of where you stand? These questions should be answered before taking into account the information provided.
It’s important to know the right time to buy, sell or hold on players. Take a look at your team, what is your record right now? Where are you in total points and points against? This is more of an indication of where your team sits, rather than your record. Decide where you stand, and see what you can do with these players. Buying and selling at the right time can help you not only compete today, but ensure you are staying competitive in the future as well.
See previous buy, sell, hold here… NFC East, AFC East, NFC West, AFC West, NFC North, AFC North, and NFC South
Buy James Robinson, RB Jacksonville Jaguars
Just as I am sitting down to write this piece a notification came across my phone. James Robinson appears to have avoided any serious injury; he is considered day-to-day. That’s great news!
With first round pick Travis Etienne out for the year, Robinson has continued his dominance from last season. Of course, there was the first two weeks where Urban Meyer decided to try and feature Carlos Hyde, but that didn’t work out too well.
Robinson has been brilliant since Week 3. He had four weeks of 19+ touches before the team’s Week 7 bye. He currently sits as RB13 in all fantasy football formats, even with the slow start and the injury early in his last game.
In between Weeks 3 and 6, he had 73+ yards rushing in each game and a touchdown, with two in Week 4! His pass-catching role has been up and down. He had six targets and six catches Week 3, but then only one catch in Weeks 4 and 5, each going for -2 yards. In his last full game before the injury, he had four targets and three catches.
Robinson has a stretch of tough matchups against the Bills, Saints and 49ers in the next three games. He might be out this week. I’d wait maybe a week or two before trying to acquire him. If he sits a game, and has one rough game, his price could come down a bit more. After the three game stretch the rest of the season looks amazing for fantasy football purposes.
It’s hard to say if Urban Meyer will be back next year. My guess is Jacksonville gives him another season, at least. For this reason, it’s hard to predict what will happen with this backfield. After all, Meyer did attempt to use Hyde over Robinson initially.
However, Robinson has been nothing short of brilliant when given the chance. I’d be willing to take the chance and pay up for him as a contender. A first, plus a small piece could get the deal done.
There have been plenty of successful dual backfields, so enjoy Robinson’s light schedule to end the year. Then, hope Meyer has half a brain and utilizes him next year. We also don’t know how healthy Etienne will be coming back from this injury.
Robinson is under contract for 2022 season before he becomes a RFA at the age of 25.
Honorable Mention – Brandin Cooks, WR Houston Texans
One of the cheapest buys for a championship team. He has proven year over year that he can be a top-24 WR. He currently sits at WR22 in Half-PPR scoring. In most fantasy football leagues, you are able to get him for a second round pick. You might have to pay a tad more because of his start to the year, but it’s worth it. He is only 28 years old.
Sell – Ryan Tannehill, QB Tennessee Titans
This would have featured Derrick Henry, but with the recent injury news, he’s a tough sell as a 27 year old back. Let’s stick with the Titans, but turn our attention to their QB, who currently sits inside the top-12 at the position.
However, if you have Ryan Tannehill, you will know it hasn’t felt like a top-12 season so far. In four games this year he has scored 16 points or less. He has seven interceptions this year, which ties his total from last year.
Tannehill is adjusting to a new offensive coordinator after Arthur Smith left to become the head coach of the Falcons. His new weapon Julio Jones hasn’t been healthy. A.J. Brown had a slow start, but has turned it on the last few weeks.
According to teamrankings.com, the Titans are only passing on 52% of plays this year. With the recent news of Henry being out for 6-10 weeks, it may result in a more pass-heavy system.
Adrian Peterson signed with the Titans practice squad Monday. Is he going to keep teams on their toes? Not likely! We could also see the Titans make a move for a replacement before the trade deadline today. With them being 6-2 and playoff hopes on the line, someone needs to step up.
Without Henry healthy, it’s hard to predict what happens with this offense. We saw what the offense looked like in Week 1 without the threat of the play action. In that game, Henry was stuffed on early downs. This led to Tannehill getting sacked six times and pressured on nearly 40% of his drop-backs.
If I am not competing, I am looking to sell Tannehill off of his three TD performance. He is only 33 years old, but if I can use his top-12 QB status, and the moment of a good game, I’d do it. Someone might buy into the fact they will need to pass more, however, we saw how well that worked Week 1.
We need to remember that Henry himself will be 28 next year. When do we see the decline in his game? What do the Titans do about RB in the offseason?
I am not saying the Titans can’t figure this out or that Tannehill isn’t a competent QB. For me, I like to get top value for my guys when I can. You can probably get a younger QB like Mayfield, Derek Carr, or Daniel Jones, plus something else for Tannehill. I’d do that before I find out what the offense looks like without Henry.
Sell – Adrian Peterson, RB Tennessee Titans
If you were able to pick him up off of waivers in your league before he signed, great job! Now, go and sell him for whatever you can get! Unless you are super RB needy, go and get whatever you can. Peterson is great, but can we honestly believe he steps into Henry’s role and becomes fantasy relevant? It’s possible, but if I can get a second (unlikely) I am doing it. Bye weeks and injuries have made any RB with a pulse valuable!
Hold – Deshaun Watson, QB Houston Texans
Everyone is waiting for 4 PM eastern time. Will he be moved before the deadline? I can’t see a team giving up what the Texans are asking for, but do they really want to pay him to sit? Will they budge on their price and sell?
If he gets traded, does he get suspended after the trade? Will he get suspended next year? Is he in jail next year? No one knows.
This case has been so unique. There was so much noise at the beginning, but it’s been crickets for so long. The odd trade rumour, but nothing from the legal front since August. Aaron Ross of The Athletic does a great breakdown of the events of this story.
We don’t know what the future holds for Watson. However, what we do know is he is a heck of a fantasy football QB when he is playing. Moral issues aside, that is something we can’t deny.
If he is cleared, will there be a suspension still awaiting him? If he is criminally charged his career is likely over.
You can move him if you want, but what are you really getting for him at this point? The worst case scenario is he never plays again, but if he does you have yourself a top-5 QB in fantasy football. That’s worth the risk to hold and wait this out.
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.