Look, we’re seven weeks into this season, and if you’re still sitting on your hands waiting for the “perfect” trade, you’re already behind. The fantasy playoffs are breathing down our necks, and this is where champions separate themselves from the pretenders.
With six teams hitting the bye week (Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, LA Rams, and Seattle), desperation is setting in across fantasy leagues everywhere. Smart managers know this is prime hunting season: the perfect time to strike deals with panicked owners who are scrambling to fill lineup holes.
Let me break down the players you need to target and the ones you need to ship out before their values crater harder than a fourth-quarter lead by the Falcons.
The Buy-Low Goldmine: Players to Target
- Puka Nacua – The Injured Superstar With Championship Upside
Here’s the thing about Puka Nacua: the kid was the fantasy points-per-game leader among wide receivers before that ankle injury sidelined him for London. Any fantasy manager worth their salt knows injuries heal, but elite talent is forever.
The Rams’ offense just torched Jacksonville for five touchdown passes without their best weapon. That’s not a knock on Nacua; that’s proof this offense is a fantasy goldmine when healthy. Matthew Stafford is slinging the rock like he’s trying to prove he’s still got it, and when Nacua returns from this bye week rest, he’s walking into a dream scenario.
The beauty here? Some impatient manager in your league probably thinks Nacua is damaged goods. Strike fast, strike hard, and watch your championship odds skyrocket.
- De’Von Achane – The Diamond in Miami’s Rough
Miami’s offense looks like a train wreck right now, I get it. They got absolutely demolished 31-6 in Cleveland, managing just 219 total yards. But here’s what separates the wheat from the chaff in fantasy football: finding consistent production in chaos.
De’Von Achane has been rock solid, posting double-digit PPR points in every single game this season. Even in that disaster against Cleveland, he salvaged 98 total yards from scrimmage. That’s the kind of floor you dream about in fantasy football.
The Dolphins’ schedule after their Week 12 bye is absolutely juicy. While everyone’s panicking about Tua’s interception concerns and the team’s overall struggles, Achane remains the one bright spot. His explosiveness gives him ceiling games that can single-handedly win you weeks.
- Jakobi Meyers – The Trade Deadline Wild Card
Now this one requires some stones, but hear me out. The Raiders are 2-5 and going absolutely nowhere. The NFL trade deadline is November 5th, and Meyers is exactly the type of veteran receiver a contending team would covet.
Meyers missed Week 7 with knee and toe issues, and Vegas is on bye this week. That’s two weeks for him to get healthy and potentially land in a much better situation. We’ve seen this movie before: a productive receiver on a terrible team gets traded to a playoff contender and becomes fantasy gold.
It shouldn’t cost you much to take a flyer on Meyers, especially with so many teams on bye creating roster crunches. Sometimes the best fantasy moves are the ones that require a little faith in the chaos of the trade deadline.
The Sell-High Opportunities: Cash Out While You Can
- DeVonta Smith – Fool’s Gold in Philadelphia
DeVonta Smith just posted a monster game: nine catches, 183 yards, and a touchdown. Fantasy managers are probably feeling pretty good about themselves right now. That’s exactly why you need to move him immediately.
This was just Smith’s second game all season with more than 60 receiving yards. The Eagles’ offense is more unpredictable than a Jalen Hurts rushing attempt, and they’re eventually going to remember they have Saquon Barkley in the backfield.
Philadelphia’s offense operates on chaos theory: you never know which week they’ll decide to run the ball 40 times or which receiver will randomly disappear. Smith’s career-high performance screams sell-high opportunity, especially to a manager who’s desperate for receiver help.
- D’Andre Swift – Riding High Before the Storm
Swift looks fantastic right now with back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances, sitting pretty as the RB11 in fantasy points per game. The upcoming matchups against Baltimore and Cincinnati look absolutely delicious on paper.
But here’s the kicker that nobody’s talking about: rookie Kyle Monangai is seeing increased snaps, and Chicago’s playoff schedule (Weeks 14-16) is an absolute nightmare. Green Bay twice and Cleveland? That’s not exactly the recipe for championship success.
Ben Johnson has done wonders with Swift in the short term, but the writing’s on the wall. Trade away those recent performances while they’re still fresh in everyone’s memory, before the rookie takes over and the schedule gets brutal.
- Pat Freiermuth – Thursday Night Fool’s Gold
Freiermuth went absolutely nuclear against Cincinnati: five catches, 111 yards, and two touchdowns. Fantasy managers are probably ready to crown him the TE1 for the rest of the season.
Pump the brakes. The Bengals are the worst team in the NFL at defending tight ends, giving up 17.8 fantasy points per game to the position. Plus, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington also found the end zone in that same game. This wasn’t Freiermuth breaking out; this was the Steelers taking advantage of the worst tight end defense in football.
Pittsburgh’s going to continue using multiple tight ends, which means Freiermuth’s target share is about to get diluted faster than a weak cup of coffee. Sell this performance to someone who thinks they just found their playoff savior.
The Championship Mindset
Listen, fantasy football isn’t about collecting the prettiest names or holding onto players because you drafted them. It’s about making the tough decisions that separate champions from also-rans.
Right now, with bye weeks creating chaos and trade deadlines approaching, this is your moment. The managers who recognize value in injured stars, see opportunity in struggling situations, and cash out on unsustainable performances are the ones hoisting trophies come December.
Don’t get emotional about your roster. Don’t fall in love with last week’s hero. Stay aggressive, stay smart, and remember: the best trade you can make is the one that puts you in position to win when it matters most.
Your championship window is wide open right now. Make sure you’re the one walking through it.
