Fantasy Football Week 9: Tips, Trade Value Rankings for Top 100 Players

Kids want candy for Halloween. College students want hip costumes and cool parties. And fantasy football players celebrate the holiday, too.

Todd Gurley has been a beast, for example. Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz have been dressing up as potential MVP candidates. Matt Ryan, on the other hand, must be dressed as an anchor because his value continues to sink. Jay Ajayi is suddenly dressing up as an Eagle and Kelvin Benjamin a Bill. And Sammy Watkins must be a ghost because he's straight-up disappeared.

So, how to value all of these players as you consider making trades to bolster your roster?

With the weekly trade value chart, of course. As always, any players not listed have a trade value of one. And may the fantasy points be with you!

Trade Value: 11

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1. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams 

2. Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

3. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

5. Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

We are halfway through the fantasy season, which means it's time to evaluate which players have been the most valuable to this point in the year. I use VORP (value over replacement player), calculating how valuable it is to start a player compared to the best bench player. For a full explanation of how I calculate VORP, check out this article.

Essentially, this allows you to determine value regardless of position by calculating how many points per week a player offers compared to the top replacement player at that position. Is Hunt, for instance, a greater value at running back than Deshaun Watson is at quarterback?

Spoiler alert: Yes. Here are the top 21 players in the VORP rankings to this point of the season in standard-scoring leagues:

• T1. Ezekiel Elliott: +11.6
• T1. Todd Gurley: +11.6
• 3. Kareem Hunt: +9.8
• 4. Leonard Fournette: +8.7
• 5. Le'Veon Bell: +7.9
• 6. Deshaun Watson: +7.8
• 7. Melvin Gordon: +7.7
• 8. Jaguars D/ST: +7.1
• 9. DeAndre Hopkins: +6.5
• 10. Russell Wilson: +6.1
• 11. Chris Thompson: +5.5
• 12. LeSean McCoy: +5.4
• 13. Zach Ertz: +5.3
• 14. Alex Smith: +5
• 15. Ravens D/ST: +4.9
• 16. Devonta Freeman: +4.8
• T17. Carson Wentz: +4.7
• T17. Greg Zuerlein: +4.7
• T19. Antonio Brown: +4.5
• T19. Rob Gronkowski: +4.5
• T19. Lamar Miller: +4.5

That Elliott suspension could really hurt. Elliott was 11.6 fantasy points better than the top replacement player at the position per week, along with Gurley. That's a huge advantage those two running backs have offered fantasy players this season. And now that Elliott is likely shelved for six games, it appears he won't be available until the fantasy playoffs in Week 15.

The top running backs again show their value, with 10 of the top 21 players coming from the position. Once again, it's vital you have an elite running back on your squad. Meanwhile, there is a ton of parity at wide receiver, with only Hopkins and Brown showing significant separation from the wideout pack. 

Quarterback has more parity as well, though Watson has obviously been a force of nature this season. However, tight end is somewhat depressing once you get past the top three (Travis Kelce comes in at a strong +4.4, while Cameron Brate is next on the list at just +3.6).

Somewhat surprisingly, two defenses make the list, with Jacksonville offering top-10 value to this point. Less surprisingly, kicker value falls off a cliff rather quickly, with Ryan Succop next on the list behind Zuerlein at +3.0. Because you can flex defenses based on matchups with more ease than other positions, however, and because kickers rarely maintain significant value compared to the other positions, you won't find the Ravens or Zuerlein on the list below.

Jacksonville remains on the list simply because they've been so consistently valuable they are absolutely worth giving slightly more value to in trade situations.

The lesson? Elite running backs remain more valuable than the elite options at any other position, and hence, elite running backs continue to hold the highest trade value.

Trade Value: 10

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6. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

8. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

9. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills

10. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

11. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

It may seem odd to have Brown over players like Watson and Hopkins—who have offered a greater VORP to this point—but keep in mind that trade value chart is also about projecting a player's performance going forward. Brown has always been a consistent producer, so it's safe to bet he'll finish the season as one of the elite players in fantasy football.

Ertz may seem like a stretch here, but remember that in standard-scoring leagues he still hasn't scored less than eight points in a week. That sort of consistency is priceless in fantasy. Gronkowski has a greater ceiling from week to week, but Ertz's high floor makes him one of the most valuable players to have on your team.

People generally undervalue tight ends because they don't score as many overall points as the other positions. But you have to start a tight end, and having the best one available offers you a more significant advantage than you might think.

Trade Value: 9

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12. Jordan Howard, RB, Chicago Bears 

13. Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans

14. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints

15. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons

16. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers

17. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

18. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

19. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Some of the players in this tier are potentially heading in different directions. Miller is one of the boats rising alongside Watson's tide. Ingram has rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the past three games, perhaps not coincidentally since Adrian Peterson was traded to Arizona.

Both players have risen to this tier.

Freeman, on the other hand, has gone a bit cold, failing to reach double-digit points since Atlanta's Week 5 bye. If Miller has benefitted from Watson providing a jolt to Houston's offense, Freeman's fantasy struggles correspond with Atlanta's overall offensive woes. 

Still, the highs of Miller and Ingram don't quite consistently reach what the running backs in the higher tiers offer. And the lows of Freeman shouldn't relegate him to a lesser value tier at this point, either.

Trade Value: 8

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20. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

21. Chris Hogan, WR, New England Patriots

22. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

23. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers

24. Brandin Cooks, WR, New England Patriots

25. Michael Crabtree, WR, Oakland Raiders

26. Will Fuller, WR, Houston Texans

27. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Fuller is the hottest receiver in fantasy at the moment, surpassing even Hopkins. In the past four weeks, he's caught 13 passes for 279 yards and seven touchdowns. Now, yes, that touchdown production isn't sustainable. If he keeps this pace, he'll finish with 22 touchdown receptions in just 12 games. That probably isn't going to happen.

But Fuller is a heck of a deep threat, and the Texans aren't afraid to let Watson sling it. So until Fuller stops producing, his value is going to be pretty damn high. He's an excellent sell-high candidate, but it's hard to imagine he won't remain in the WR2 conversation, at least, for the rest of the season.

Trade Value: 7

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28. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

29. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys 

30. Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

31. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

32. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks 

33. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

34. Chris Thompson, RB, Washington

Thompson continues to confound me. He gets just 11.1 touches per game, yet he's turned that into 673 yards and five touchdowns. That means he's generating 1.1 fantasy points per touch.

For comparison, Gurley is averaging 0.79 fantasy points per touch. Let's take it further. Last season's top fantasy running back, David Johnson—who had an epic season—averaged 0.87 fantasy points per touch.

Are you starting to see why Thompson's rate of production is so surprising? It's unusual that a running back offers this level of efficiency, and it's why I continue having trouble believing Thompson should be able to sustain it. But nine weeks into the season, well, he's sustained it.

So while I remain cautious, it's impossible to deny that Thompson is offering top fantasy value, remarkable as it seems. If Washington ever treated him like a feature back, he'd instantly ascend to one of the top two tiers on this list. 

Trade Value: 6

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35. Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

36. Jerick McKinnon, RB, Minnesota Vikings

37. Jay Ajayi, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

38. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

39. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

40. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins

41. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts

42. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

43. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

44. Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

45. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Buffalo Bills

46. Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks

47. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

48.  Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Let's talk Ajayi. One one hand, leaving Miami's impotent offense should only benefit him, especially since he's coming to an Eagles team that is fifth in rushing yards per game. On the other hand, there is certainly some uncertainty as to what his precise role in Philly will be.

LeGarrette Blount has been really good for the Eagles, averaging a cool 4.7 yards per carry. Interestingly, however, the Eagles are handing him just 12.5 carries per game. Blount is 30 and carried the ball 299 times for the New England Patriots, so it would appear the Eagles are limiting his usage to keep him fresh. 

That means Blount potentially isn't a major threat to eat into Ajayi's workload. The Eagles can utilize Ajayi as a bit more of a feature back, with Blount handling more short-yardage duties and a role he's played a lot this season—steamrolling a worn-down defense in the fourth quarter. 

In that regard, there is reason to believe that an Ajayi and Blount pairing shouldn't necessarily tank either player's fantasy value. In the case of Ajayi, he should see his value receive a positive bump.

As for Benjamin, well, Tyrod Taylor isn't an upgrade on Cam Newton, though he should serve as the team's top option in the passing game. Expect his value to remain about the same or dip slightly. 

Trade Value: 5

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49. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

50. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

51. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington

52. Adrian Peterson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

53. DeMarco Murray, RB, Tennessee Titans

54. Duke Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns

55. Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta Falcons

56. C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos

57. Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

58. Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks

59. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants

60. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

61. Alfred Morris, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Welcome to fantasy relevance, Mr. Morris.

Morris isn't overly talented, and Darren McFadden will eat into his touches. But Morris instantly enters the flex conversation amidst Elliott's suspension and is a player that shouldn't come cheap if you failed to handcuff Elliott earlier in the season. 

Trade Value: 4

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62. Charles Clay, TE, Buffalo Bills

63. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

64. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

65. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos

66. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

67. Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions

68. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

69. Pierre Garcon, WR, San Francisco 49ers

70. Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers

71. DeSean Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

72. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

We all want to ride Smith-Schuster's bicycle these days. The Pittsburgh wideout has been solid if unspectacular for most of the year before he exploded for seven receptions, 193 yards and a score on Sunday.

He should only continue to grow in the team's offense. And consider that in Pittsburgh's final eight games, he faces four opponents ranked 13th or worse in fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts per week: the Indianapolis Colts (fifth in points allowed), Tennessee Titans (13th), Green Bay Packers (ninth) and the New England Patriots (fourth).

If you were savvy enough to pick up Smith-Schuster, enjoy the ride. If you didn't, he's actually a buy-low candidate given his enticing matchups down the stretch.

Trade Value: 3

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73. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

74. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

75. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

76. Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens

77. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Oakland Raiders

78. DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

79. Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants

80. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers  

81. Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

82. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington

83. Sammy Watkins, WR, Los Angeles Rams

84. Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST

I should probably give up on Reed and Watkins. The former has scored more than five fantasy points in a game just once this season. The latter has five receptions for 70 yards in his past four games.

If they were less talented and had histories of horrid production, both players would be fantasy afterthoughts. But both are good players on offenses that have been decent this season. In Reed, you have a player who has proven to be one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL when healthy. In Watkins, you have an explosive playmaker who is on the NFL's No. 2 team in points per game and No. 9 team in yards per contest.

There is upside with both. But they are running out of time to prove it to fantasy players.

Oh, and the Jaguars defense has legitimate fantasy value. They very rarely lay an egg, bolstered by a league-leading 33 sacks. Their 10 interceptions are tied for third in the NFL and five fumble recoveries tied for seventh. Sacks and turnovers are a safe bet for consistent fantasy production. This defense is for real.

Trade Value: 2

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85. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Detroit Lions

86. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

87. Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears

88. Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets

89. Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets

90. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions

91. Hunter Henry, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

92. Dion Lewis, RB, New England Patriots

93. Latavius Murray, RB, Minnesota Vikings

94. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns

95. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

96. Orleans Darkwa, RB, New York Giants

97. Alex Collins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

98. Paul Richardson, WR, Seattle Seahawks

99. Jermaine Kearse, WR, New York Jets

100. Robby Anderson, WR, New York Jets

Keep an eye on Collins. In Week 6, he rushed 15 times for 74 yards. Last week, he posted 18 rushes for 113 yards. Collins looks like the more dangerous and talented running back over Allen. He should see his workload increased, and thus, should see his fantasy value rise.

All fantasy stats via Yahoo Sports.