Fantasy Football Week 4: Top 100 Players' Updated Trade Values and Advice

It's Week 4 of the NFL season, which means it's also the time of the fantasy football season when players start recognizing the strengths, weaknesses and realistic aspirations for the teams they drafted. 

But fortune favors the bold, and savvy fantasy players are never satisfied. You're always one great trade away from being a contender, which is where the trade value chart comes into play.

Below, we will rank the top 100 players in fantasy and put them into value tiers to give you a better idea of how valuable your players are while you negotiate trades. If a player has a value of 10, for instance, you should be looking to get back a player or players who equal or exceed 10 in value. Any players not listed below have a trade value of one.

That's the background. Let's get to the trade values. 

Trade Value: 13

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

2. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

3. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook has been a machine this season, leading the NFL in rushing yards (375) and coming in second in rushing touchdowns (four). He's also fourth in carries (57), so don't expect the workload to cease anytime soon. He's one of fantasy's three elite values.

Trade Value: 11

4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

5. Le'Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets

6. David Johnson RB, Arizona Cardinals

7. Mark Ingram II, RB, Baltimore Ravens

8. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

9. Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts

There might be some concern valuing Mark Ingram II this high. The major knock against him is that it's unlikely he will keep up his touchdown pace. Five rushing touchdowns after three games has him on a pace for 26 scores on the ground. He won't hit that number.

But he's also on pace for 1,370 rushing yards, a number that seems more likely to be within his grasp. It would be a concern if Ingram's value was primarily coming from touchdowns, but with two 100-yard performances in three games, Ingram's value appears sustainable.

It would be nice to see him get slightly more than the 16.3 touches per game he's averaging, but Ingram should be considered an extremely valuable fantasy player.

Trade Value: 10

10. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

11. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

12. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

13. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

14. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

15. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

The quarterback position in fantasy has been devalued in recent years, with so many players offering solid value. Seeing Patrick Mahomes this high on the fantasy chart, then, may come as a surprise to some people.

But consider the context. For one, the position has been ravaged by injuries early in the season, with players like Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton all out of action. Andrew Luck's retirement took another top-10 option off the board, while players like Aaron Rodgers, Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff have seriously underperformed from a fantasy perspective.

In standard leagues, eight players are averaging 20 or more points at the quarterback position, which means the difference between an elite quarterback and a QB2 has widened.

But Mahomes is the safest player in fantasy. A year after throwing for 5,097 yards and 50 scores, Mahomes is on pace this season to throw for an incredible 6,373 yards and 53 touchdowns. Maybe he doesn't hit that mark, but in his past 19 games, he's averaging 331 yards and three touchdowns. That's a pretty solid sample size and numbers that fantasy players will gladly take each and every week.

Oh, and to this point, he's mostly done it without top wide receiver Tyreek Hill. And he doesn't have the question marks many of other top quarterbacks possess.

Lamar Jackson has been fun this year, but he can't keep pace with Mahomes as a passer. Neither can Dak Prescott. Russell Wilson doesn't have the weapons at his disposal Mahomes possesses. Tom Brady is awesome, obviously, but he's only thrown for 5,000 yards once in his career and has hit 40 or more touchdowns passes once as well.

Mahomes is different. You should be valuing him as such.

Trade Value: 9

16. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

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

18. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

19. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

21. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

22. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

23. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Most players facing six to eight weeks on the sideline would get a major hit to their fantasy value. But Saquon Barkley is so damn valuable, it's important not to degrade him too much. His absence will hurt in the short term, yes, but he's the sort of player who can win you a championship. Don't cut bait unless someone makes you a home run offer.

Trade Value: 8

24. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

25. Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos

26. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

27. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

28. Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders

29. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

30. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants

What Evan Engram is doing isn't a fluke. In four December games last year while Odell Beckham Jr. was out injured, Engram caught 22 passes for 320 yards and a score. He was targeted 31 times in those contests.

The point of those numbers is to express that Engram has traditionally feasted when he's been the top option in the passing game. He ate without Beckham available last year, and he's eating this year as well. Having Daniel Jones at quarterback also gives him an upgrade over Eli Manning, as evidenced by his six receptions for 113 yards and a score in Week 3 on eight targets.

He leads the Giants in receptions (23), receiving yards (277), receiving touchdowns (two) and targets (30). And with Barkley out injured, he will be an even bigger focal point of the offense. It's time to start considering Engram as one of the two most valuable tight ends in all of fantasy and a top-30 value overall.

Trade Value: 7

31. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

32. DeShaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

33. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

34. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

35. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

36. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

37. Brandin Cooks, WR, Los Angeles Rams

38. Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions

39. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

40. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

41. Darren Waller, TE, Oakland Raiders

42. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

We focus on a tight end two sections in a row because Darren Waller is legit. He leads all tight ends in receptions (26), is third in yards (267) and third in targets (29). The fact that he's a top-three tight end without having scored a touchdowns says a lot about his sustainability going forward.

It's clear he's become an integral part of Oakland's otherwise mediocre offense and has established a clear rapport with Derek Carr. Start treating him like a top-five tight end—your days of adding him as a steal are probably over.

Trade Value: 6

43. Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions

44. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

45. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

46. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

47. James White, RB, New England Patriots

48. Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks

49. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

50. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

51. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

52. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

53. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

If production alone were valued on the fantasy trade chart, Austin Ekeler would be a top-five player. But his days as the Los Angeles Chargers' feature back may be coming to an end.

As Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday, "[Melvin] Gordon's holdout could soon be coming to an end, though no final decisions have made when to report, per league sources. He had planned to return at some point in October, but could soon be moving up his reporting date."

And Ian Rapoport reported later that Gordon was rejoining the team on Thursday and would return to game action in Week 5.

Ekeler isn't going to suddenly become an unused option in Los Angeles. He's too good for that, especially because the Chargers will likely work Gordon back into the flow slowly. And even as the No. 2 option last year, Ekeler still posted 958 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns—solid numbers.

So Ekeler's value isn't falling off a cliff. But you probably aren't going to be selling high for much longer, and definitely shouldn't be buying high.

Trade Value: 5

54. Josh Gordon, WR, New England Patriots

55. DJ Chark, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

56. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington

57. John Ross III, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

58. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

59. Sammy Watkins, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

60. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

61. Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens

62. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos

63. Phillip Dorsett, WR, New England Patriots

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

65. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

66. Sony Michel, RB, New England Patriots

67. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons

68. Royce Freeman, RB, Denver Broncos

69. Matt Breida, RB, San Francisco 49ers

There haven't been many positives from Washington's season, but rookie wideout Terry McLaurin is one of them. He's tied for first on the team in receptions (16) and leads the team in receiving yards (257), targets (24) and touchdowns (three).

Alongside Chris Thompson, he's one of two weapons for Case Keenum.

Yes, his touchdown production will slow. But the fact that he's already the team's top option in the passing game—and outside of Thompson, the only legit playmaker on offense—is an excellent sign for his fantasy sustainability.

Savvy fantasy players will value him accordingly. But he's far from a household name, which means you might be able to snag him as a throw-in while negotiating a trade. Regardless, you can still probably get him for a bargain rate.

Trade Value: 4

70. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers

71. Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta Falcons

72. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

73. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

74. Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

75. Frank Gore, RB, Buffalo Bills

76. Chris Thompson, RB, Washington

77. LeSean McCoy, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

78. Peyton Barber, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

79. Ronald Jones II, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

80. Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills 

81. Carlos Hyde, RB, Houston Texans

82. Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Good luck figuring out whether Peyton Barber or Ronald Jones is the more valuable running back going forward. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't even seem to know. Jones is definitely the upside play, but it isn't a great sign that he was completely shut out of the offense last year and hasn't definitively staked his claim as the top option this year.

Trade Value: 3

83. Derrius Guice, RB, Washington

84. Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington

85. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

86. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

87. Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

88. Tyrell Williams, WR, Oakland Raiders

89. Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

90. John Brown, WR, Buffalo Bills

91. Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons

92. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Boy, do the Philadelphia Eagles need DeSean Jackson back. His eight receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 was a reminder of what an elite, field-stretching threat could do in this offense. And the Eagles' bevy of drops in Weeks 2 and 3 were a reminder of how much the team needs Jackson and Alshon Jeffery.

Expect Jackson to feast once he returns from injury. Those injury uncertainties keep him lower on this list, but he's worth keeping an eye on going forward.

Trade Value: 2

93. Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans

94. Will Dissly, TE, Seattle Seahawks

95. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

96. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

97. DJ Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

98. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals

99. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Detroit Lions

100. Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers

Whatever your opinion of Josh Allen as a franchise quarterback, in fantasy, he's averaging 18.8 points per week. He's also a legitimate running threat. In his 15 career games, he's rushed for 736 yards and 10 touchdowns, or 49 yards and 0.6 touchdowns per game.

To put that into perspective, those are better numbers than Michael Vick (42.7 rushing yards and 0.2 rushing touchdowns per game) posted in his career.

Obviously, Allen's sample size is way smaller. But he's a legitimate threat to produce with his legs and is showing growth as a passer too. If you weren't already taking him seriously in fantasy, start doing so.