6 Fantasy Football Trade Deadline Moves to Make After Week 11

The final month of the fantasy football regular season is upon us. The stretch run to the playoffs is here. And for many fantasy managers, that means there is little (or no) margin for error.

That doesn't stop the fantasy gods from trying to ruin everything. Guys continue to go down with injuries while others fall flat at the worst possible time. The first overall pick in most fantasy drafts will probably be out in Week 12 because he spit on a guy.

Gross, Ja'Marr—just gross.

Whatever the reason, quite a few teams have holes in the roster as they head into a must-win week. And while the waiver wire remains open, another way of adding talent is about to close up shop. The trade deadline is here in many leagues, both redraft and dynasty alike.

Every fantasy manager loves a seismic trade involving superstar players, but those are a rarity. Still, there are realistic targets who could both provide a sizable stretch-run boost and might be available at a cost that won't make you faint from sticker shock.

See where this is headed?

QB Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

If fantasy points were awarded for nicknames, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones would be even more valuable. Danny Dimes. Indiana Jones. Dan the Golden God.

One of those might be made up.

It has been a while since Jones posted a fat fantasy stat line. The Colts were on bye last week, and two of his three worst fantasy performances of the season came in Weeks 9 and 10.

However, he is still a solid seventh for the season in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks. And those sluggish outings the last two times out could contribute to making the 28-year-old available. So could the fact that he was drafted as a fantasy starter exactly zero places, so many fantasy managers may have another viable signal-caller on the roster.

Jones' first two matchups after the bye are not ideal—the Kansas City Chiefs rank outside the top-20 teams in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, and the Houston Texans are dead-last in the league in that regard.

But that schedule opens up quite a bit after that. From Week 14 to Week 17, the Colts square off with the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and take on the San Francisco 49ers at home and travel to Seattle. All four of those opponents rank inside the top 15 in fantasy points given up to quarterbacks, and Jacksonville and San Francisco rank inside the top 10.

It appears the Colts intend to bring Jones back in 2026. But there's just enough uncertainty present with the seventh-year veteran that a redraft team with a hole at another position or a dynasty squad looking to the future could be amenable to a deal.

Given all the injuries at quarterback, there are no shortage of contenders looking for some stability under center.

RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Matt Freed

This trade wouldn't be cheap. Acquiring Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown in redraft would require dealing a viable weekly starter (plus), and a second-round pick in the 2026 rookie draft in dynasty leagues would likely be the starting point in talks.

This was a player who entered the season with big-time expectations. He was drafted as a fantasy RB1 in many leagues after a smoking-hot stretch run a year ago.

Brown hasn't met those expectations (he's RB16 after 11 weeks), but after 24 touches for 127 total yards in last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, his top-three PPR weeks in terms of fantasy points have come his last three times out.

Of course, given how hot Brown has been, it's fair to ask why managers might deal him. The answer has more to do with 2026 than the rest of this season. He has averaged just 4.1 yards per carry this year, and next year will mark the final season of his rookie deal.

It's not hard to imagine the Bengals either drafting a back next April or bringing in a veteran—never mind that there may be a new head coach in Cincinnati.

Quarterback Joe Burrow and wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are safe, but the winds of change could blow Brown right onto the fantasy scrapheap next season.

He has much more value now for "win now" fantasy managers than those looking to the future, especially with three straight top-10 fantasy matchups for running backs looming after this week's home date with the New England Patriots.

RB Breece Hall, New York Jets

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

This is going to be the most expensive move on our list, if only because New York Jets running back Breece Hall is a big name. He was one of the first players selected in dynasty rookie drafts in 2022, and his ADP in redraft leagues this season was RB15.

The 24-year-old is coming off a ho-hum effort against the New England Patriots, but he ranks just outside the top-12 running backs in PPR points for the season. He has seen at least 15 touches in eight of 10 contests this year.

So why would fantasy managers consider selling a high-end fantasy RB2 who is a major part of his offense? Well, that offense is 29th in yards per game and 25th in points per game.

For redraft managers with a massive hole at wide receiver or quarterback, Hall may be their most tradeable asset. And dynasty managers whose teams aren't going anywhere this season need to consider he will be a free agent after the season, which at his position could mean anything from a far better situation in 2026 to being mired in a full-blown committee.

If fantasy managers are willing to pay up for Hall, the next month could help propel them into the playoffs. Over the next month, three of New York's next four opponents rank 12th or higher in PPR points per game surrendered to running backs.

WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

We're including two wide receivers as trade targets in this column. One carries a Macy's price tag, while the other might be more attainable.

Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens is the Macy's option.

The reason for that cost is as much name as numbers, at least this year. Flowers is averaging a career-high 70.3 yards per game, but he has found the end zone just once and sits just inside the top 25 in PPR points among receivers.

Michael Fabiano of SI believes Flowers is well-positioned to heat up over the final few weeks of the fantasy regular season:

"Flowers isn't putting up huge numbers, but he has scored double digits in three straight games. His stats should increase with Lamar Jackson back under center too, and he has one of the more favorable rest-of-season strength of schedule at wide receiver. Flowers has plus matchups against the Jets, Bengals (twice), Steelers and the Packers, so get him in a trade for the stretch run."

Flowers won't be cheap in redraft or dynasty formats—he's a 25-year-old wideout who is still under team control through at least 2026.

But given his so-so production to date this season and the fact that he plays for a team that ranks dead-last in the league in pass attempts, he's just about the biggest name who might realistically be available.

WR Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Frankly, New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson might be the most realistic trade target in this column for a number of reasons.

The biggest is that the fourth-year veteran's fantasy value most assuredly carries an expiration date. He is cruising toward career highs in receiving yards and yards per reception in no small part because Malik Nabers tore his ACL.

Were it not for that injury, there's no way Robinson would be WR23 in PPR points at this point in the season.

Robinson is also headed toward free agency next year. Now, some may view that as a positive—the Giants passing attack hasn't exactly lit the world on fire on recent years.

However, there is more than a little uncertainty surrounding Robinson, and it's not like fantasy squads who have him rostered (in both redraft and dynasty leagues) don't have a ton invested in the 24-year-old.

If I'm a fringe contender with a hole in the backfield, he is exactly the kind of "found money" starter this analyst would be looking to flip for a low-end starter at running back.

Robinson is unlikely to single-handedly change a fantasy season, but his production has been reliable. He has posted at least 12 PPR points in four of his last six games—a stretch over which he is a top-15 fantasy option.

Splash trades may be fun, but smart trades win leagues.

Obtaining Robinson at a reasonable price is smart.

TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Bart Young

This last deal is geared more toward dynasty fantasy managers. In redraft leagues, between injuries and tight ends who haven't met expectations, managers are clinging to any tight end with a pulse.

I got Dalton Schultz of the Houston Texans off the waiver wire a few weeks back, and I'm happy about that.

However, if you're in a dynasty league and feel like this could be your year if only you had an upgrade at tight end and the team with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs is playing for draft position, it's time to shoot them an offer. It's a move this manager made in 2023.

That move did not lead to a championship, but it was worth the attempt.

Kelce isn't the dominant fantasy force he once was, but after nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, he's the highest-scoring player at his position in the AFC.

However, Kelce is also 36 years old. And with the Chiefs looking more mortal by the week at 5-5, the odds are good that this is his final season.

Given that somber reality, teams out of contention with Kelce rostered have two choices. They can get what they can for him at the fantasy trade deadline, or they can wait and hold out hope he returns for a 14th season.

Something beats nothing—and if Kelce is the final piece in a championship puzzle, it's a move worth making.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.