Fantasy Football Trade Advice: Week 4 Hold 'em & Fold 'em

Each week, I will highlight players to target and which players to deal away in potential trades.

These trade options are not the mega-deals that require you to shake the core of your fantasy football team, but rather are low-level trades that should help solidify your team and get you one step closer to the championship.

Hold 'Em - Players to Target 

The players you should see in your scope this week are Jordy Nelson, Reggie Wayne and Jonathan Stewart.  These bargain buys should reward any manager with the foresight to acquire them. 

Jordy Nelson - WR (Packers)

Chances are the manager in your league who has Nelson hasn't played him yet.  Nelson may, however, fit nicely into your starting line-up.

He's established himself as a legit starting receiver, opposite Greg Jennings, and is Rodgers' third read.  And being the third read in the Packers' passing attack is equivalent to being the first read in most other NFL offenses.  

This week would be the ideal time to send a trade request for Nelson given his low production against the Bears.  Nelson has the ability and opportunity to put up solid WR3 numbers for the remainder of the season and is a high-quality low-level buy.

Reggie Wayne - WR (Colts)

Wayne makes this list only if Curtis Painter is named the starter for the Colts.  Late in the fourth quarter, Kerry Collins was forced from the game against the Steelers after suffering a concussion.

Up until that point, Collins was 13 for 29 with 93 yards and no scores.  Painter replaced Collins, and in as many minutes as Collins had quarters, threw for 60 yards, including two perfectly placed spirals to Pierre Garcon, which led to the Colts' only offensive touchdown.  

And if you'll recall, Wayne was a staunch supporter of Painter before the Colts named Collins the starter.  There's no denying Wayne's talent, and his production will match that talent if Painter is named the starter this week.  Wayne can be found on the clearance rack; buy without the guilt.  

Jonathan Stewart - RB (Panthers)

The attention Cam Newton is getting for throwing for over 400 yards in two consecutive games is well deserved.  

Being a legit passer, Cam has now grabbed the attention of defensive coordinators.  In their first two games, Carolina's throw-to-run ratio was 67/48.  They lost those games.  

This week, Carolina pounded it on the ground 34 times compared to just 21 tosses and enjoyed their first victory.  The Panthers will undoubtedly have to regain a balanced attack to maintain a shot at winning.  

More importantly, Stewart and DeAngelo Williams have received nearly the same number of carries: Williams with 27 and Stewart with 23.  Stewart has averaged just under 4 yards per carry while Williams is getting 2.2 yards per carry.  

Stewart has also had breakaway runs and receptions called back because of penalties and/or bad calls.  Prudent owners should wait until after the tough matchup with the Bears next week and then scoop up Stewart on the cheap.

Fold 'Em - Players to Trade 

As for the players to move, Steve Johnson, Beanie Wells and Matt Hasselbeck are on the choppin' block.   

Steve Johnson - WR (Bills)

Leading up to the shootout with the Patriots, Johnson's gimpy groin was enough to keep him on your bench.  After hauling in 8 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown in week 3, he will be a permanent fixture in your line-up.  

Don't do it.  Let him go.  

Not only might his groin injury flare back up, more importantly, you can find his same value on the waiver-wire.  Deal Johnson to the guy who is 0-3 and in full panic mode now, and then go grab either David Nelson or Donald Jones.  

Fitzpatrick throws to all three equally.  And while some might call the Bills a poor man's Saints team, the Bills wideouts are putting up just as good, if not better, stats than the likes of Meachem, Henderson, Moore and Graham.    

Beanie Wells - RB (Cardinals)

Trading Beanie may be a difficult task.  You'll have to summons your inner Samuel L. Jackson to negotiate this deal.  

The selling point is that he's clearly the featured back in a solid offense, a rarity in the NFL these days.  And with the horde of injuries plaguing the NFL now, surely some team in your league is desperate at running back.  

Package Beanie with a decent wide receiver and try to land a consistent running back or wideout, whatever is your greatest need.  

Out of the remaining 9 Cardinal games before the fantasy football playoffs, Beanie has to run against the Giants, Vikings, Steelers, Ravens, Eagles and the 49ers (who rank #1 against the run after 3 weeks).  

At the risk of stating the obvious, the first step to winning a title in your league is making the playoffs.  With that schedule, Beanie isn't the answer.  Fold 'em.

Matt Hasselbeck - QB (Titans)

Michael Vick was going to go here, but for what you paid to have him on your team, it's unlikely you can get good value for him now.  Vick is as advertised: a walking injury waiting to happen. Too late.  

Hasselbeck, however, has put up solid numbers, throwing for over 300 yards in the Titans' previous two games.  During those weeks, Hasselbeck had the services of one of the most talented wide receivers in the game, Kenny Britt.  

Now that it appears Britt will be placed on I.R. due to an ACL tear, Hasselbeck's value will plummet.  Defenses no longer have to account for Britt, and the drop-off in talent from Britt to Nate Washington et al. is drastic.  Sell, sell, sell.