NFL Players for Fantasy Managers To Target in Trades Before 2026 Roster Cuts

The 2026 NFL season is just over two weeks away, and the Patriots and Seahawks will soon meet in Seattle for a Super Bowl LX rematch.

With the regular season approaching, fantasy football draft season is in full swing, as managers prepare for drafts in person and online.

However, even as draft season accelerates, some fantasy managers—particularly those in dynasty leagues—will look to improve their rosters through trades.

Trading can be tricky, especially in redraft leagues. Managers are often reluctant to make a deal if they believe they may be giving up too much, which can lead to inflated asking prices or stalled negotiations. Still, opportunities emerge when another manager is willing to move the right player for a fair return.

You can make low-ball offers for Jahmyr Gibbs all day long—it's not going to happen. But if you know who to target, you can add a player who can help your chances at fantasy glory without breaking the bank.

These players fit that profile.

QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Erin Hooley

While there has been quite a bit of player valuation movement at the other positions, the quarterback market has been pretty stagnant—the pecking order now is essentially what it was three months ago.

Given that, what fantasy managers looking for an upgrade need is a signal-caller who is productive and has some long-term upside but doesn't carry a lofty price tag.

Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions fits the bill—and then some.

Goff was second in the league in passing yards and sixth at the position in fantasy points a year ago. Fantasy Football World co-host Brian Johnson said recently that Goff's fantasy ceiling is a fair bit higher than that.

"The lack of mobility will hurt him, but I think Jared Goff still has a shot to finish as QB1 overall", Johnson said. "The Lions did lose their starting center, Cade Mays. That hurts, but (that might mean) maybe more shotgun (while Mays is out) for Goff, who has elite weapons in Amon-Ra St. Brown, we know that, but who's to say Jameson Williams is not the top wide receiver for the Lions this year? We're just looking at shootouts galore for the Lions, who have 11 of their final 13 games in a dome. Their defense is dog water. They have the easiest schedule in the NFL. I just think they're slinging it all day, every week."

The top quarterback overall may be a stretch. But Goff hasn't finished lower than QB7 over the past three years. At 31 years old, Goff is still relatively young by quarterback standards. He's at the helm of one of the NFL's best offenses.

And on as many teams as not, Goff is rostered as a backup.

RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Finding a reasonably priced running back upgrade on the trade market can be difficult, as fantasy managers often place a premium on the position.

However, Javonte Williams could be available at a more manageable price. He is coming off a career year, though his production declined over the second half of the season. It was the first standout campaign of his career, and his injury history may further temper his trade value.

However, per Derek Brown of Fantasy Pros, Williams' per-game metrics show a back who has the potential to be a viable fantasy starter for the next few years.

"In Weeks 1-8, he had a 4.8% explosive run rate with an 11% missed tackle rate and 3.52 yards after contact per attempt," Brown said. "That yards after contact per attempt mark is otherworldly. In Weeks 8-17, he posted a 5.5% explosive run rate with a 13% missed tackle rate and 2.33 yards after contact per attempt. He improved his marks down the stretch in two of those three categories. If Williams can post production as he did over the first half of the 2025 season for an entire year, he is a locked-in top ten back with top-five upside. At his floor, he looks like a low-end RB1 or top 15 fantasy back."

You'll probably want to leave that stuff out when you send the trade offer, and Williams isn't going to be cheap.

But among short-term upgrades available at a reasonable cost, he is one of the strongest options.

RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

There isn't a backfield in the NFL that inspires less confidence among fantasy managers this year than the two-headed attack of Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason.

However, that lack of hoopla could be a blessing in disguise if it means that Mason could be available for a reasonable cost in a trade. Because as Mike Barner wrote for 4For4, there's upside to be had with the fifth-year veteran.

"Mason gains yards in chunks," he said. "When he was given his first significant workload as a member of the 49ers in 2024, he averaged 5.2 yards over 153 carries. That included nine carries of at least 20 yards. The Vikings gave him a similar workload last season, and he averaged 4.8 yards over 159 rushing attempts. He had a broken tackle rate of 20.1% that contributed to his averaging 3.1 yards after contact. That outproduced teammate Aaron Jones, who had a 9.1% broken tackle rate and averaged 2.5 yards after contact."

Yes, the presence of Jones caps Mason's fantasy ceiling in the short-term at least. Mason also isn't a big factor in the passing game. But Jones will turn 32 in December, he has missed at least five games in two of the past three seasons and his contract is up after the 2026 season.

There is also a path for Mason to become Minnesota's lead back in 2027, which could make him an attainable trade target now.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/John Locher

Trading in fantasy football is admittedly a speculative affair. Sometimes you need to be willing to roll the dice on a player who hasn't met expectations to this point in his career.

A player like Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

After a so-so rookie season, Harrison's second year in the pros was a mess—five missed games, 41 catches and 608 receiving yards. Harrison also made news earlier this offseason with some drops on the practice field, although the youngster told reporters that he's not going to let getting roasted on social media get to him.

"It's easy to look at the results," he said. "I know whether if I don't make a play that someone thinks I should have made, they're going to post it, and it's going to do what it's going to do in the social media era. And that's OK. For me, it's just I'm worried about my process, know what I do each and every single day to prepare myself for practice, prepare myself for games on Sunday. And what the result's going to be, the result's going to be. But I know Monday through Saturday, I'm going to do the best I can to make sure I put my best foot forward."

At this point, more than a few fantasy pundits are essentially willing to write Harrison off—and if pundits are doing it, fantasy managers are as well.

Harrison was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft for a reason. He was considered by some the best overall prospect in his draft class.

Buy the talent.

WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Over four professional seasons, Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers has been one of the most frustrating wideouts in fantasy football.

The flashes have been there, but Watson just hasn't been able to stay on the field—he has missed at least three games in every season, including seven missed contests in 2025.

But the Packers had enough confidence in Watson to give him a four-year, $110.5 million extension, and per Shane Hallam of Draft Sharks, his advanced stats should inspire confidence in the 27-year-old as well.

"In his age-26 season," Hallam said, "Watson quietly led Packers WRs in targets per route and yards per route. Among the 76 WRs who drew at least 50 targets last season, he ranked 24th in the former and fifth in the latter, trailing only Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Luther Burden and Zay Flowers. According to Pro Football Focus, Watson's 2.51 yards per route was a career high, but he'd already shown strength in that area. He tied for 14th in that category in 2024 among 84 WRs with 50+ targets."

The Packers thinned out a crowded wide receiver room this offseason—Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs are gone now. A healthy Watson should serve as Green Bay's No. 1 wide receiver this year. And his fantasy ceiling is far higher than most wideouts available at his price point.

The manager with Watson rostered may be frustrated by his injury history and willing to consider a trade. That creates an opportunity to acquire a talented receiver whose upside could exceed his current price.

TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio

There are pitfalls that even the most seasoned dynasty managers fall into. One of the biggest is "future lock." They become so fixated on the long-term prospects of their franchise that they pass on the chance to add the sort of short-term fix that can turn a contender into a champion.

Teams that are in that "win now" window and need an upgrade at tight end should make a run at Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kelce's 2025 campaign was nowhere near his best—his 50.1 receiving yards per game was the lowest output in that regard of his career. But even in that "down" year Kelce finished third in PPR points among tight ends, and with Patrick Mahomes expected back for Week 1, Jamey Eisenberg of CBS Sports expects Kelce to once again be a big part of Kansas City's offense.

"As long as Mahomes is ready to play in Week 1," he said, "that connection should still be strong, and Kelce was solid in 2025 in 14 games with Mahomes. During that span, Kelce averaged 12.8 PPR points, and the only tight ends who finished better than that were Trey McBride, George Kittle, Brock Bowers and Tucker Kraft. Given the cost, Kelce is worth the risk, and he didn't postpone retirement to not be a key player in another potential Kansas City Super Bowl run."

Kelce last finished outside the top five at his position in his second NFL season, in 2014. Given his age and uncertain long-term outlook, managers who are not positioned to contend could be willing to move him now rather than risk losing value later.

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