Fantasy Trade Market: Buying or Selling Most Disappointing Stars at NFL Quarter Mark
Anyone who's been a fantasy football manager long enough knows the pain of parting ways with a star player too soon, only to see him flourish on another roster.
Now that we're about a quarter of the way into the 2024 NFL season, this week's fantasy trade market will help you avoid hasty decisions and make the right ones with notable players who have been disappointments through September.
Is it time to trade that running back who's yet to score a touchdown?
How about the wide receiver who was supposed to be a fantasy scoring machine with an upgrade at quarterback?
Perhaps a team has signaled a change in its backfield, and you're a bit nervous about it.
Bleacher Report's fantasy trade market ahead of Week 5 has all the information you need to execute shrewd deals and counter incoming proposals with proper value.
Buy These Players Now
1 of 3
Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
Week 4: 9 carries, 51 yards; 4 catches, 27 yards
2024 Season: 71 carries, 329 yards; 10 catches, 52 yards
Jacobs is RB26 in fantasy scoring among running backs. He's yet to find the end zone and doesn't have much of a role in the Packers' short passing game.
Still, the 26-year-old can be a league-winning asset if you need an RB2. He will handle the lion's share of the Packers' rush attempts, giving him a good chance to break his scoreless streak and rack up fantasy points in favorable matchups.
Green Bay placed AJ Dillon on season-ending injured reserve, and MarShawn Lloyd will be out for the short term with an ankle injury. In a change-of-pace role, Emanuel Wilson is the only tailback sharing a notable number of touches with Jacobs.
In Week 5, Jacobs should be able to break out against the Los Angeles Rams' bottom-tier run defense. When he does, the window will close on his buy-low market.
Buy Jacobs for: Jordan Mason, Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 4: 9 catches, 99 yards
2024 Season: 6 catches, 60 yards
Higgins had a slow start to the season after an offseason of contract negotiations with the team and a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the first two games.
In Week 3, the 2020 second-rounder had a quiet season debut, recording three receptions for 39 yards. However, he saw an uptick in production in Week 4 and led the Bengals in targets (10).
Because of Higgins' secure role in the Cincinnati offense and an eye toward free agency in 2025, he has the means and motivation to rack up numbers in a pass-reliant offense.
Buy Higgins for: Michael Pittman Jr., Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Week 4: 5 catches, 41 yards
2024 Season: 20 catches, 191 yards, TD; 1 carry, 5 yards
As WR36 in points-per-reception leagues, Garrett Wilson had better receiving numbers with Zach Wilson as his quarterback through the first three weeks of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Don't fret, though. The receiver should be able to bounce back as he works on his rapport with Aaron Rodgers, who's played well in his age-40 term.
Assuming Rodgers avoided a major leg injury, he's still capable of elevating a top receiver with his pinpoint accuracy. The veteran QB threaded the needle on a pass to Wilson for a touchdown in Week 3.
Buy Wilson for: Mike Evans, Chris Olave, Deebo Samuel Sr.
Sell These Players
2 of 3
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4: 11 carries, 50 yards; 1 catch, 10 yards
2024 Season: 47 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs; 10 catches, 48 yards
Etienne had an odd Week 4 outing. He started the game on the sideline, reportedly because of a shoulder injury, and then took the field in the second quarter.
The 25-year-old salvaged an abbreviated performance with 60 scrimmage yards, but Tank Bigsby led the team in rushing yards (90) and handled two goal-line carries.
Though Etienne had almost twice as many touches (12) as Bigsby (seven), the Jaguars may shake up the backfield to spark a stagnant offense that's one of the league's lowest-scoring units.
Don't wait to find out what the winless Jaguars may do in the coming weeks. Sell Etienne's stock now and ask questions later with a new running back who has a more secure role.
Sell Etienne for: Kenneth Walker, Xavier Worthy, Josh Jacobs
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4: 10 carries, 49 yards; 2 catches, 35 yards
2024 Season: 41 carries, 115 yards; 14 catches, 133 yards
Last week, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters rookie fourth-round running back Bucky Irving earned more snaps.
In Week 4, both Rachaad White and Irving logged 10 rush attempts for 49 yards, though the latter scored on a goal-line carry. The former continued to see more work in the short passing game.
As the season progresses, Irving could see a further uptick in his rushing opportunities because he's outpaced White on the ground in three out of four games this season.
While Irving carves out a bigger role in the Tampa Bay offense, managers with White on their rosters should sell his stock before it falls any further on the market.
Sell White for: Diontae Johnson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jonathon Brooks
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
Week 4: 3 catches, 34 yards
2024 Season: 10 catches, 82 yards
After four consecutive seasons with at least 57 catches, 615 receiving yards and four touchdowns, Schultz is headed for a significant drop-off because of the Texans' talented wide receiver group, which features Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs.
With that receiver trio, the Stanford product won't see many opportunities in the passing game. While his last stat line isn't going to attract a flock of buyers, managers should try to package him in a deal following his most productive outing of the season.
Moreover, if Dell misses more time with a chest injury, Dalton could be in line for a handful of targets next week.
Regardless, try to move him at all costs. Once again, Schultz will be an afterthought in the Texans' passing attack once Dell returns to action.
Sell Schultz for: T.J. Hockenson, Isaiah Likely, Mike Gesicki
Hold These Players for Another Week
3 of 3
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
Week 4: 17/23, 157 passing yards, TD; 5 carries, 12 yards
2024 Season: 87/141, 787 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs; 16 carries, 79 yards
If you've become impatient with Williams because of Jayden Daniels' rapid development in Washington, give him at least another week.
After throwing for multiple touchdown passes for the first time in an NFL game last week, he followed up with an underwhelming outing in Week 4.
However, Williams gets a plus matchup with the Carolina Panthers' porous pass defense in Week 5. After that, he gets a string of passer-friendly contests with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals, three teams that have had issues in coverage.
The No. 1 overall pick won't generate the rushing production Daniels provides weekly, but he could soon light up defenses through the air. Remember, six-time Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen suited up last week after missing two outings with a heel injury.
Williams can post gaudy passing numbers with a fully healthy wide receiver group that features Allen, DJ Moore and rookie first-rounder Rome Odunze.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
Week 4: 6 catches, 113 yards
2024 Season: 17 catches, 201 yards
Following three weeks of negligible production, Pittman had his best outing in Week 4, which started with a 32-yard pass from quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Richardson suffered a hip injury late in the first quarter, and Joe Flacco took over the offense.
Flacco, a 17-year veteran, led a more efficient offensive attack than Richardson, who entered Week 4 with more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (three) and a 49.3 percent completion rate.
Managers should find out the 22-year-old's status before making a move on Pittman.
If Richardson returns from injury, trade Pittman right away. But if Flacco is in line for multiple starts, hold on to him a little longer if you need wide receiver help.
Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers
Week 4: 5 catches, 78 yards, 2 TDs
2024 Season: 8 catches, 104 yards, 3 TDs
Christian Watson sprained his ankle in the the Packers' last outing.
Though the wide receiver's injury seems minor, he has a history of missing games. In his first two seasons, he sat out 11 contests.
Green Bay could be cautious with Watson's recovery timetable because of his injury history and its depth at the position. If so, Wicks may see more action in the coming weeks.
A popular late-round sleeper in fantasy drafts this year, Wicks is a big-play wideout, averaging 14.6 receiving yards per catch. He also knows how to find the end zone, scoring three times in four games in a limited role this season.
Keep Wicks on your roster until you find out Watson's short-term status.
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.
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