Fantasy Football Week 9: 10 Targeted Players for Season-Saving Trades

Eli Manning, DeSean Jackson, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, and Ahmad Bradshaw are five players you should be looking to trade. With the trading deadline coming up and the bye weeks soon to be history, you should start your trade negotiations this week.

I have used "Fantasy Points Scored This Season" as the trade evaluator. For all the trades proposed, the participants will be very close from that perspective.

The five trades you should make are:

1. Trade Eli Manning to get Matt Forte

2. Trade Brandon Marshall to get Dez Bryant

3. Trade DeSean Jackson to get Brandon Pettigrew

4. Trade Calvin Johnson to get LeSean McCoy

5. Trade Ahmad Bradshaw to get Frank Gore

Trade DeSean Jackson

DeSean Jackson's memorable punt return last year against the New York Giants made him an early pick in this year's draft. But you probably haven't gotten good value for that pick.

Jackson has only 27 receptions in seven games and two touchdowns. The Eagles have had great difficulty scoring in the red zone. So opposing teams have just played deep zones against the wide receivers to take away the big plays. This has impacted Jackson's production.

The Eagles won their last two games against the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson had three catches and less than 50 yards in pass receptions in both games. So the Eagles are taking what the defenses will give them.

Add in his tendency to get injured, and you'd be better off trading Jackson and getting a more consistent producer.

Acquire Brandon Pettigrew

Teams will start to defend the Detroit Lions the same way they do the Eagles. Shut down the big passing play and make them beat you underneath. You can certainly expect this in the upcoming games against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

This approach will play into the hands of the tight ends, Tony Scheffler and Brandon Pettigrew.

Pettigrew can be a matchup nightmare for linebackers and should be targeted more in the tight games down the stretch.

He is probably a better producer than at least a third of the tight ends in your league.

Trade Calvin Johnson

Yes, you read that correctly. Trade Calvin Johnson. I know that he has 47 receptions, 11 touchdowns and has averaged over 100 receiving yards a game. But that just means that you can get a great player in return.

With no more Denvers left on their schedule, the second half of the Lions season is going to be different than the first. The consecutive losses to the 49ers and Falcons gave a hint of what is to come.

Trading Johnson now would be a classic "sell high" move.

Acquire LeSean McCoy

With Jason Peters back on the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line, the real LeSean McCoy showed up this week against the Dallas Cowboys. His 185 rushing yards plus two touchdowns was quite a game.

McCoy has scored ten touchdowns so far and has averaged over 100 rushing yards per game.

Maybe, and that is a big maybe, the Eagles defense have turned things around.  That could position the team for a good second half surge. As the Eagles go, so goes McCoy.

Trade Ahmad Bradshaw

New York Giants' fans are giddy about the team's 5-2 record. It won't be long until the Giants are back at .500.  And as their fortunes turn down in the second half, just like last year, those of Admad Bradshaw will turn as well.

Bradshaw has five rushing touchdowns and one pass reception touchdown. The Giant's second half of the season includes games against Patriots, 49ers, Packers, Saints, and Jets. So his production will drop off sharply. 

Find a giddy Giant fan and offer him Bradshaw.

Acquire Frank Gore

Trade Bradshaw and you can probably get Frank Gore back in return. As the 49ers roll towards the division title, Gore will continue to roll with them.

The 49ers have an upcoming game with the Redskins, and two each against the Rams and Cardinals. They should be ahead early in those five games, and use Gore to protect the lead and run out the clock.

At least one touchdown per game in each of the remaining games is a realistic assumption for Gore.

Trade Eli Manning

The Giants almost started their second half slide a little early this year. But the Dolphins tanked and the Giants pulled it out.

However, there is a brutal schedule ahead for the Giants. So you need to trade Eli Manning for the same reasons you need to trade Bradshaw. And in addition, quite a few of the Giants' remaining games could be in wintry weather. Since Manning does not throw a tight spiral, this can cause him big problems.

Find a Gianst fan in your league and offer him Manning.

Acquire Matt Forte

You should be able to obtain Matt Forte in return for Manning. There are quite a few running backs injured, so you might be in need of one.

He averages just under 100 yards per game rushing plus around five pass receptions. That is quite a combination.

The harsh winter weather will soon arrive. When Jay Cutler starts to play like Jay Cutler does, Forte will become an important weapon in the Bears' run at the playoffs.

Trade Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall might be a very productive player next year catching passes from Andrew Luck. But this year, the Dolphins are going nowhere and Marshall is leading them there.

It's hard to believe that Marshall had ten touchdowns with Denver in 2009. He only has one so far this year for the Dolphins.

His 31 receptions have helped to generate enough production to make him good trade bait. So the trick here is to trade him for a player with similar low production but with a better upside.

Acquire Dez Bryant

That player would be Dez Brant of the Dallas Cowboys.

Maybe if Dez Bryant spent more time looking for the ball than he does looking for the penalty flag, he would have more than 22 receptions.

But he has four touchdown receptions. And there is always the possibility that the Cowboys might mount a late season playoff surge. So Bryant could make a good addition to your team, especially if you can get him for Brandon Marshall.