No matter how your fantasy football team fared in Week 1, things can always get better...or worse. That's why you should constantly be looking for ways to improve your squad. For most, that means being active on the waiver wire, but for the truly adventurous, that could mean looking for buy-low, sell-high trade targets and trying to make some deals. Fortunately, Fantasy Pros is here to help with tips and trade advice in their Week 2 Stock Watch that includes Mike Williams, Dameon Pierce, Cordarrelle Patterson, Patrick Mahomes, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, among others.
Few owners like making trades this early in the season. Even when a player does poorly, most still cling to his preseason outlook. It's tough to get a great deal on a guy who busted in Week 1 (unless he got hurt, in which case you probably don't want him anyway), and it's even tougher crafting a fair deal for a guy who balled out. The asking price is almost always too high, as fantasy owners tend to think positive things that happened in Week 1 are a sign of consistent, season-long dominance. Funny how it doesn't work both ways, right?
That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, though. If you find a frustrated owner dealing with some injuries, you might be able to snag an undervalued player or lotto ticket who will pay off down the line. Establishing trade talks early is also a good way to let the other owner know you're always open for business, which will pay dividends when trade season really heats up.
MORE FROM FANTASY PROS: Trade analyzer
Trade values change rapidly in the fantasy football world, so don't get too infatuated with a specific target. Adapt to the trends, and don't be shy about acting if you have a good offer on the table, even this early in the season. -- Matt Lutovsky
WEEK 2 WAIVERS: Top pickups
Week 2 Fantasy Trade Advice: Buy-low trade candidates
By Andrew Erickson, Fantasy Pros
Mike Williams, WR, Chargers. You didn’t honestly think Williams' 2022 season would go smoothly, now did you? Big Mike did his best Casper impression in Week 1 finishing with just two catches for 10 yards on four targets. It was extremely bizarre to see him not go off, especially considering Keenan Allen (hamstring) exited the contest in the first half. It’s par for the course when it comes to Williams, who always has a bit of boom-or-bust to his game. He’ll bounce back big Thursday night with Allen unlikely to suit up.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Texans. The preseason usage was a lie! Pierce fell very much behind Rex Burkhead in the Texans’ backfield in Week 1, playing just 29 percent of the snaps versus Burkhead‘s 71. Burkhead got 19 touches! However, he was extremely inefficient as a rusher, posting the second-worst rushing EPA -7.7 in Week 1 versus a stout Colts front. I doubt we see his receiving role diminish, but Pierce will eventually take over duties on early downs. There's nowhere to go but up for the rookie.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Cowboys. Panic will ensue among Schultz owners regarding the thumb injury to Dak Prescott, but we know that TEs fair much better with subpar QB play than WRs do. Among all the TEs that played on Sunday, Schultz was the only one who played 100 percent of the snaps. His role in Dallas’ offense provides him a super secure floor even if the ceiling is shorter with Prescott sidelined.
For more buy-low targets from Fantasy Pros, click here.
WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kicker
Week 2 Fantasy Trade Advice: Sell-high trade candidates
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Falcons. Patterson made the most of an early exit by Damien Williams (ribs), toting the rock 22 times for 120 rushing yards against an elite Saints run defense on a 65-percent snap share. All in all, C-Patt totaled 25 touches, easily the most in his polarizing career. Considering how late you were able to draft him, I’d sell high knowing I can get a much less volatile asset in return. On top of that, next week’s matchup versus a stout Rams defense might poise serious issues for Patterson and bring his fantasy value back down to Earth.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs. Anytime you can sell an RB after he scores two receiving TDs, you should do so. CEH only played 39 percent of the Chiefs’ snaps — albeit it was a blowout — but you’d expect him to get more than seven carries with KC playing with a positive game script. The fact that Jerick McKinnon was equally involved (39-percent snap share) makes me want to cash out on CEH.
WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kicker
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. Mahomes showed that he didn’t need Tyreek Hill in Week 1, delivering five TDs against the league’s worst secondary. For Mahomes owners, his Week 1 performance provides the perfect conduit to sell high for QBs that offer more on the ground, like a Jalen Hurts or Josh Allen, plus potentially more.
For more sell-high targets from Fantasy Pros, click here.
