Week 9 was rife with news off the field.
The week itself began with major news regarding Raiders wideout Henry Ruggs III. Ruggs was released from the team after he was arrested and charged with several felonies, including DUI resulting in death and reckless driving resulting in death or seriously bodily harm, for his involvement in a fatal car crash that killed a 23-year-old woman.
Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers caused a stir after testing positive for COVID-19 despite proclaiming in August that he was "immunized" against the virus. And Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a public falling out with the team and was released this Monday.
Thursday kicked off with a thrilling AFC duel in which the Jets almost covered against the Colts, but an early Mike White injury forced Gang Green to rely on third-string QB Josh Johnson.
The Sunday slate was without Rodgers, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, Jameis Winston, Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and James Robinson. Backup quarterbacks became a theme of Week 9 as Jordan Love, Colt McCoy, Jacoby Brissett, Trevor Siemian and Johnson played the majority of snaps under center for their respective teams. Two of the backups, McCoy and Brissett, actually won their contests and all five scored more fantasy points than Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence.
It was also the week of the underdog. The Falcons, Jaguars, Browns, Broncos, Titans and Giants pulled off upsets over the Saints, Bills, Bengals, Cowboys, Rams and Raiders, respectively.
Whether you’re 9-0 or fighting for the last playoff spot in your league, now is an excellent time to throw out some trade offers to level up your teams. As we approach Week 10, here are the trade targets who saw their value shift after the last nine weeks of games.
Buy-Low Week 10 Trade Targets
Below are nine Week 9 underperformers, or players whose value may increase over the next few weeks whom you should target via trades.
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
Prescott didn't look like himself in a tough Week 9 matchup against the Broncos, completing 19 of 39 attempts for 232 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He still scored 20 fantasy points finished as a top-10 QB for the week, though a lot of those points came when the game was already out of hand. It's certainly a shock given how dominant the Cowboys offense has been. I expect him to bounce back big time against the Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders over the next three weeks. This may be bold, but I think he has top three potential rest-of-season, so while this isn't exactly "buying low," this is probably the lowest you can get him.
Michael Carter, RB, Jets
Carter disappointed coming off of a stellar Week 8 performance in which he finished as the No. 1 running back for the week. He struggled against Indy's stout run defense and tallied 13 carries for 49 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and caught a pass for 37 yards — his worst performance since Week 3. I think this game would have had a different game script and outcome if Mike White had not been injured early and replaced with Josh Johnson. Carter should be considered a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside in spite of the Jets' overall ineptitude.
Mark Ingram II, RB, Saints
Ingram has been fairly quiet since joining the Saints midseason. He saw eight touches for 52 scrimmage yards in Week 8 and 14 touches for 64 scrimmage yards in Week 9. His involvement increased week-over-week and he should offer a safe floor in light of workload alone — especially given the Saints' uncertain quarterback situation.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Lions
Swift had his worst game all season in Week 8 before the team's bye. He tallied 12 carries for 27 yards and caught all five of his targets for 24 yards, finishing as RB46 in half PPR. Part of that was due to game script as the Lions were blown out 44 to 6. Prior to that, the Georgia product had been stellar and was RB9 in half PPR on a per-game basis. I expect him to bounce back in a big way after the bye.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens
Bateman has been lukewarm since recovering from a groin injury and joining the team in Week 6. He caught five of eight targets for 52 yards and has shown flashes of greatness. I love his target share and anticipate his role in this offense to only grow as a function of time.
Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns
Landry was a dud in a game in which the Browns put up 41 points. He caught three of five targets for 11 yards and finished with a paltry three fantasy points in half PPR, while Donovan Peoples-Jones caught two of three targets for 86 yards and a touchdown. Landry should continue to be an integral part of this offense, especially without competition (and drama) from Odell Beckham Jr., who was waived this week.
Logan Thomas, TE, Washington
We haven't seen Thomas since Week 3 against the Bills while he has been on injured reserve dealing with a hamstring injury. He reeled in all four of his targets for 44 yards and a touchdown during that contest and is slated to return to practice off of Washington's Week 9 bye. Thomas is a prominent red-zone target and should be a much-needed injection of life to the Football Team's offense. The team faces Tampa Bay in Week 10, whose secondary has been banged up and exploitable all year.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
Higbee hasn't crested the double-digit fantasy mark in half PPR since Week 3 against the Buccaneers. He did see a season-high 10 targets in Week 10 and caught five passes for 51 yards. He also had an almost-touchdown called back during the third quarter of the Rams' Sunday night loss. His target share and involvement in this high-volume offense makes him an attractive buy-low target.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Cowboys
After a four-game hot streak, Schultz struggled for the second week in a row. He caught just two of seven passes for 11 yards in Week 8 and reeled in four of five passes for 54 yards in Week 9. I still believe that Schultz is a rest-of-season TE1 and this may be your last chance to "buy low" on him; the Cowboys face the Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders next, which should boost his value significantly.
Week 10 Trade Targets To Sell High On
Below are eight Week 9 overperformers, or players whose values may decrease over the next few weeks whom you should try to offload via trades.
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
Just as I was about to write off the Falcons offense after scoring just 13 points against Carolina and losing star wideout Calvin Ridley for an unknown duration of time, Ryan was near-perfect in a tough Week 9 matchup against the Saints by way of Cordarrelle Patterson and an Olamide Zaccheaus breakout (just as everyone predicted). He completed 23 of 30 attempts for 343 yards and three touchdowns — good enough for 29 fantasy points, which ties his season-high. This Atlanta team was a mismatch for the New Orleans defense and I think they come back down to earth in the coming weeks. I am not putting stock in Ryan to put up rest-of-season QB1 numbers and would sell high on him given the opportunity.
Tim Patrick, WR, Broncos
Patrick saw his best game of the season in Week 9 and caught four of five targets for 85 yards and a touchdown against Dallas. As much as it pains me to say, I think this would be a good time to sell high on one of my favorite perpetually underrated receivers. He will have to compete for targets with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and likely Noah Fant — assuming they can stay healthy rest-of-season. They face the Eagles' pass defense this week, which could be a big letdown spot for Patrick.
James Conner, RB, Cardinals
Conner will likely be on everyone's sell-high articles this week after his Week 9 hat trick against the 49ers. He posted season highs in every category and 21 carries for 96 yards for three touchdowns and caught five of five passes for 77 yards. Much of that had to do with Chase Edmonds going down on his very first play of the game with a high-ankle sprain that will likely force him to miss time. Conner should get a boost from this injury, though I doubt he will be able to sustain this level of production, especially on the touchdown front. Selling high has inherent nuance and depends on what you can get in return. I personally don't want to rely on Conner as an RB1 rest-of-season, so if you can flip him at that value, I would absolutely consider it.
Nyheim Hines, RB, Colts
Hines crested the 100-scrimmage yard mark for the first time this year and posted a season-best 19 fantasy points in half PPR in Week 9 against the Jets. He saw six carries for 74 yards and a touchdown and caught four of six targets for 34 yards. He has another juicy matchup on deck against the Jaguars this week, though I would temper expectations moving forward. This past week was the first time he scored double-digit fantasy points in half PPR since Week 3 and only the third time all year. He falls far outside the range of reliable running backs rest-of-season and I would definitely try to sell high on him after one stellar performance.
Devonta Freeman, RB, Baltimore
Freeman led the Ravens' backfield with Latavius Murray inactive in Week 9. He saw 13 carries for 79 yards and caught two of three passes for four yards and a touchdown. Le'Veon Bell was also a factor and saw 11 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown in the contest. Freeman's role — and to an extent, Bell's — depends on Murray being hurt. With all three healthy, this is a messy committee of which I want no part.
Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles
Howard put up a strong Week 9 performance for fantasy, but is also part of a three-man, messy committee in Philadelphia. Since being activated in Week 8, Howard has 29 carries for 128 yards and three touchdowns. All signs point to him being the lead back heading into Week 10, but we also said that about Boston Scott vis-à-vis Week 9 and Kenny Gainwell in Week 8. Sell high on Howard before Miles Sanders returns.
Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots
Henry scored his fifth touchdown in six games in a tough Week 9 matchup against the Panthers. His fantasy production has been impressive, though fantasy points do not tell the whole story. Henry is averaging just three targets over the last four weeks. His lack of work in an anemic Patriots offense concerns me, making Henry a touchdown-dependent, sell-high candidate.
Evan Engram, TE, Giants
Engram caught three of three targets for 38 yards and a touchdown. He has now scored in two straight positive matchups. You may need to wait until after his Week 10 bye to try to move him, but he is definitely a sell-high given his low target volume and New York's offensive struggles.
