Trade deadlines are just around the corner throughout fantasy football leagues. Where does your team stand? Are you a contender, or a pretender? Is your team in need of a rebuild?
Here are a few tips on how to determine where your team is at. First, look at your total points for, and against. This is a better way to determine where you stand, rather than your record. If you have a winning record, but are in the bottom half of points for and have one of the lowest points against, you might not be as close to competing as you think. Or, you might need to make a move or two to help out.
If you are a high scoring team who’s had tough matchups, you will need to determine whether you want to risk adding pieces to make a run. You don’t necessarily need to sell off either, but you will want to take the next point into consideration.
Second, look at your roster. Where are your points coming from? Are your top players consistent or all over the map? What is the age of your top producers? Some age thresholds to keep in mind when determining the age of your team:
- QB: 33
- RB: 26
- WR: 29
- TE: 29
If most of your top producers are at or past this age and you aren’t competing, you might want to consider selling. Can you package a top producer at peak age for a younger piece, plus assets, and still compete?
If you can go after big name players and pay the premium price, I wish you all the best in these moves. They can be so much fun! However, it can also cost you your future.
Instead, I wanted to highlight a few names that are priced right for contending teams. These players will help you with depth, and some can go straight into your starting lineup. The best part is, you won’t have to mortgage your future for these pieces.
Tom Brady, QB Tampa Buccaneers
If there is any chance the team with Tom Brady in your league is not competing, I’d ask the price. Brady is currently the QB1 in fantasy football. He is averaging 25.85 points per game (in 4 point passing TD leagues). Last year he was also a top-12 QB, averaging 21.87 points a game.
In super flex leagues I’d be willing to give up a 2022 first to acquire him. He is 44 years old, but honestly has he shown any signs of slowing down? His next four games are good matchups, before running into the Bills, Saints and Panthers from Weeks 14-16. This offense is high powered enough for Brady to succeed in tough matchups.
Taysom Hill, QB New Orleans Saints
After Trevor Siemian came in and helped beat the Buccaneers in Week 8, it was fair to give him the start against the Falcons. Taysom Hill was coming back from a concussion and was limited on Wednesday, before practicing fully the rest of the week.
Did Siemian play well enough to keep the starting job on Sunday? He had no turnovers, but the offense didn’t get going till the fourth quarter. Losing to a division rival in an important game for seeding won’t sit well with Sean Payton.
I expect to see Hill under center moving forward. He was 3-1 as the starter last year through Weeks 11-14. He completed 70.3% of his passes and averaged 21.57 points per game during that span. You can acquire him for a second round pick and enjoy his relatively soft schedule to end the year. He has two tougher matchups Week 12 against the Bills and Week 17 against the Panthers.
Melvin Gordon, RB Denver Broncos
Many Jevonte Williams managers wanted to see Melvin Gordon moved before the deadline, but it didn’t happen. This has been a 50/50 split all year and will continue that way, barring any injuries.
Gordon currently sits as RB14 in fantasy football Half-PPR. He has averaged 12 points per game. The Broncos have one of the softest schedules against the run to end the year. The fantasy football playoff schedule for Gordon includes three teams in the bottom third in rushing defence. The Broncos are very much alive in the AFC West, where all teams currently sit at five wins. With his age you will be able to acquire him for a second in most home leagues.
Ezekiel Elliott , RB Dallas Cowboys
I recently did a poll on Twitter, asking if two first round picks was an outrageous price to pay for Ezekiel Elliott. I was a bit surprised by the outcome. 51% said it was too much, 45% said it was just right, and 4% said not enough. If you play in a league where you can acquire him for less than a couple first round picks, I’d do it right now.
Ezekiel Elliott has a good schedule to end the year, but with tough matchups in Weeks 13 (Saints) and 17 (Cardinals). He currently sits as the RB9 in fantasy football, and is averaging 15.9 points per game. He is 26 years old and is signed until 2026. There are outs, but a dead cap hit is present until the last year of the contract.
Honorable Mention Devonta Freeman, RB Baltimore Ravens
In the last three games, Devonta Freeman has averaged 12.7 points. In that span, he sits just outside the top-24 RBs at 26. The Ravens rush schedule is not the best, but if he continues getting the same number of touches in this offense, he can be a good flex or depth piece on a contending team. You can acquire him cheap, or even off your waivers depending on how deep your rosters are.
Hunter Renfrow, WR Las Vegas Raiders
He is only 25 years old, so great for a long-term buy option as well. Hunter Renfrow isn’t going to blow the top off, but he can bring consistency to your lineup. Renfrow has averaged 7.5 targets per game. He currently sits as WR31 in Half-PPR leagues, averaging 10.7 points a game. That’s the same range as Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. However, he could be had for much cheaper than both of them. Just like those mentioned above, he has a favourable schedule moving forward. Besides Week 11 and 16, he plays against teams in the bottom third against WRs. You are able to acquire him for a second round pick, and probably get a 3rd or 4th back in the process.
Corey Davis, WR New York Jets
The Jets are again a bit of a mess. However, they have one of the most favorable WR schedules to end the year. Corey Davis has been the favorite target of Zach Wilson’s early in his career, averaging seven per game. He is more boom or bust than Renfrow, but only has two poor matchups, in Weeks 10 and 13.
As much as we don’t want to admit it, garbage time sometimes wins weeks in fantasy football. He has averaged 11.8 points in his six healthy games. His price is likely multiple seconds, but keeps your team younger and doesn’t cost you a ton of your future.
Honourable Mention Cole Beasley, WR Buffalo Bills
Much like Devonta Freeman, Cole Beasley doesn’t have a favorable schedule. However, he puts up very consistent numbers. Nothing flashy, but he isn’t going to hurt your lineup. He can be had in most leagues for a 3rd round pick and will bring stability to your flex spot, or 3rd WR to match up with two boom or bust guys.
Rob Gronkowski TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady looked unstoppable in the first two weeks of the season. In his three games this year Gronk, saw seven red-zone targets, catching four of them. In those three games he averaged 6.6 targets along with 61.3 yards. His schedule is not a favorable one, but with so many weapons to worry about, Gronk can get it done where it matters most, the red-zone! You can acquire him for a second or a third plus a prospect.
Logan Thomas TE, Washington Football Team
Before going down with an injury in Week 4, Logan Thomas was averaging 8.4 points a game. Ricky Seal-Jones had productive games in Weeks 5-7 in his absence. Washington Football Team has one of the softest TE schedules to end the year. Look for Thomas to come back healthy in Week 10 off the bye, and start contributing immediately. Thomas had two touchdowns in his three healthy games. He can be had for a similar price to Gronk.
Honourable Mention – Both Giants TEs
The Giants schedule looks to be favorable for TEs to end the year. Evan Engram has averaged 8.3 points this season. His last three games have been top-12 fantasy football performances. However, it’s Kyle Rudolph getting the red-zone looks. Rudolph is second on the team with nine, but only three completions and two touchdowns. Engram can be had for a third round pick, while Rudolph is likely free. Desperation only, but just thought I would mention the schedule and the fact that Engram has been productive as of late.
Look for next week’s article on rebuilding pieces I want to acquire!
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.