Week 3 didn't wreak injury havoc to the same horrifying degree as Week 2, but still threw some major wrenches in the fantasy football machine. But we have to roll with the punches and keep sending fantasy trade offers (that aren't insulting).
Whether you're trying to avoid busts, play matchups, or turn waiver-wire sleepers into more stable fantasy assets, our trade advice is to always scan for fantasy stocks likely to improve and look for opportunities to sell high. Let's take a look at this week's fantasy football trade advice as player values and perception fluctuate.
MORE: Week 4 fantasy football rankings:
Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Defenses | Kickers
Buy low on injured Ben Roethlisberger?
MRI on Ben Roethlisberger confirms an MCL sprain. No damage to ACL. Expected to make a 4-week recovery
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 28, 2015Whether you can actually buy low on Big Ben will depend on the other owner's desperation. Anyone who has just dropped to 0-3, has a viable backup and a massive hole at another position might sell at a major bargain. Offer a rotational flex player if you have depth at RB/WR/TE but low-ceiling options at QB and a dry waiver reservoir at the position.
Roethlisberger has played at an MVP level, and the Steelers defense should get them in shootouts down the stretch. He also has two upcoming matchups against a Bengals team he torched last year, another duel with Andrew Luck, a visit from Oakland and the collapsing Ravens pass defense in Week 16.
Sell high on Steve Smith?
When a 36-year-old receiver catches 13 balls for 186 yards and two touchdowns, it's probably time to sell high. The highlight reel alone should juice Steve Smith Sr.'s value on the trade market.
Ice up, Son! Steve Smith with the most Steve Smith 50-yard TD catch you'll ever see. Still got it. #CINvsBAL http://t.co/PDqIAKlLTW
— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2015Smith shouldn't wait long to enter Canton upon retirement, in my opinion, but I also wouldn't expect Smith to maintain anything close to his early-season pace. Smith has averaged 168 yards receiving the past two games after the 13-yard dud Week 1. In Smith's first six games of 2014, he averaged 96 yards per game compared to 56 yards in the final six regular-season contests. Per Pro Football Focus data, the missed tackle comp gives him 13 total in the first six against seven in the final six.
Smith has a good enough share in this offense to put up solid WR2 numbers this year, but given this year's top-20 RB hellscape, I would take RB2 value in a trade if anyone's will buy high on Smitty.
Rishard Matthews' fantasy outlook
A fluky, garbage-time score Sunday boosted Matthews' yardage from 67 to 113 and two TDs on the day. Credit to Matthews for adjusting to the ball, but Ryan Tannehill stretching out a play and hitting receivers well downfield is not something this offense produces with regularity.
Matthews saw nearly 80 percent of the snap share through two weeks and that dropped to just 51 percent on Sunday. Matthews was outsnapped by four other Dolphins receivers, yet still racked up yards in junk time.
If you can find someone who doesn't think the rise of rookie first-rounder DeVante Parker will hurt Matthews' production, see if Matthews can be dealt for better value. Don't expect an RB2 or WR2 in return, but it wouldn't hurt to see if Matthews would sweeten the deal of a transaction you already have in the works.
What is Dion Lewis' fantasy outlook?
Dion Lewis just has so much shake.
I don't know how teams are expecting to tackle @DionLewisRB 1 on 1. pic.twitter.com/08SKA1vFxJ
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) September 28, 2015Bill Belichick opened Week 3 scripting for Lewis. On the first play from scrimmage, New England designed a throw to Lewis with the center leaking to block in the flat. The first drive ended with a red-zone handoff to Lewis that went for a touchdown. Lewis produced through both ground (8-for-37) and air (5-for-30 on five targets), then ceded to LeGarrette Blount after a Patriots win was locked in early.
My fantasy advice: Trade for Lewis if there's any chance that you only need to part with value less than the equivalent of a mid-RB2. He has even more appeal in PPR leagues.
Editor's note: The Sporting News Football Championship is here! Hosted by FanDuel, this exclusive event will feature 10 weeks of qualifiers, culminating in a FREE Week 11 Final with $20,000 in prizes. Sign up now!