We're at the midway point of most Fantasy seasons, so the time to make that blockbuster deal is now. Dave Richard shares his negotiating tips heading into Week 8 and some potential targets.
By Dave Richard
• 7 min read
Our Trade Value Chart is designed to assist you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring league. The values assigned to the players below are strictly a measurement of their Fantasy value heading into the current week. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you might be able to get in return. This list should also provide a glimpse into how we feel about a player for the remainder of the season.
We're at that point in the season where trading almost becomes mandatory. If you've got a loaded roster, you're looking for one more move to bolster it and keep your spot at the top of the standings. If you're in contention but saddled with losses, you're looking for a deal or two to catapult your team into the thick of the playoff hunt. And if you're on the brink of a losing season, you're interested in a package that can give your team a chance later on this year.
With seven weeks in the books there's plenty to review as far as who's hot and who's not, but what about the players who are hurt? Without question there are several players hobbled by injuries and buried on Fantasy benches. Should they stay there or should they get moved?
Really, it depends on the Fantasy team. If you're one of those fair to middlin' squads grasping to playoff hopes, selling off an injured stud for a player who can help you now is a good idea. And if you're the owner of a team with a good record and big playoff aspirations -- and you have the depth -- you're the type of team to deal for one of these injured players and wait for them to come back. That's the market right now for guys like Greg Jennings, Pierre Garcon, Trent Richardson and DeMarco Murray.
Let's check out what CBSSports.com Fantasy owners are getting in trade for these types of hobbled heroes.
Greg Jennings for Mike Williams and Jermaine Gresham: So here's an example of an owner acquiring some depth in exchange for an injured stud. If Jennings were healthy this trade would never happen, but the owner thin on talent and desperate for a chance to win this season moved his prominent receiver for some good starting options. The team getting Jennings can probably afford to stash him. This deal works.
Greg Jennings and Alex Smith for Philip Rivers and Lance Moore: This trade is similar to the above deal except the owner getting Jennings is giving up just a little bit more for him. While I personally feel that Jennings is only worth a marginal amount, other owners might see him as a terrific buy-low candidate expecting him back any week (and he could conceivably return sooner than later). But again, a team that needs to win now gave up Jennings and his backup quarterback for a better passer and a healthier receiver.
Pierre Garcon and Darren McFadden for Alfred Morris and DeSean Jackson: The side getting Morris and Jackson wins this deal based on past performance, but anyone expecting Darren McFadden to break out with a favorable schedule coming down the stretch might be willing to sell high on Morris and pony up Jackson for McFadden along with the potential Garcon brings. Truth is, he probably didn't need to give up a receiver as good as Jackson.
Pierre Garcon for James Jones: Here's another example of a team dealing a hurt stud for help now. And frankly, the team acquiring Jones might win out. Jones didn't score last week at St. Louis but has remained a big part of the Packers' offense and should still see some playing time even when Jennings comes back. But that isn't a guarantee, and because it's not, his long-term value is capped but his short-term value is not. Garcon's short-term value is in the toilet but he could be a factor come the Fantasy postseason.
Pierre Garcon for Alex Green and Joel Dreessen: More depth in exchange for a stud worth waiting for. In this case the depth is made up of players picked up off waivers, so it's not such a tough trade to make.
Trent Richardson for Dez Bryant: Richardson's rib injury could keep him out for a game but isn't expected to be a long-term injury. But he could be affected by the injury for a few weeks. An owner got desperate here and moved him for Dez, though the deal isn't quite as bad if it's in a PPR league.
Trent Richardson and Hakeem Nicks for Tom Brady: Per the trade chart, this deal is nearly fair. Maybe the owner getting Brady is giving too much for him. In fact, if Richardson and Nicks were healthy this would be a rip-off. But because the injury bug has bit Richardson and Nicks, the uncertainty around them pushes their respective values down a touch. The owner who had Brady better have a good quarterback behind him in order to make this trade.
DeMarco Murray for Matthew Stafford: A swap of tainted studs? Perhaps, and it's an OK deal. Stafford's value is at an all-time low, but it comes on the heels of an expected loss at Chicago. Up next: A tough battle against the Seahawks at home, and that's not the last tough matchup the Lions' quarterback will have this year. Dumping him for a potential stud running back once he's back on the field isn't such a bad move -- assuming Murray heals quickly. That's the gamble any owner acquiring Murray is taking.
Player | Value | Player | Value | Player | Value |
Arian Foster, RB, HOU | 36 | Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE | 14 | Malcom Floyd, WR, SD | 7 |
Ray Rice, RB, BAL | 33 | Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT | 14 | Alex Green, RB, GB | 6 |
LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI | 28 | Cam Newton, QB, CAR | 14 | Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL | 6 |
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB | 27 | DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL | 13 | Sidney Rice, WR, SEA | 6 |
Drew Brees, QB, NO | 26 | Matthew Stafford, QB, DET | 13 | Lance Moore, WR, NO | 5 |
Tom Brady, QB, NE | 25 | Fred Jackson, RB, BUF | 12 | Joe Flacco, QB, BAL | 5 |
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN | 24 | C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF | 12 | Donald Brown, RB, IND | 5 |
A.J. Green, WR, CIN | 24 | Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL | 12 | Brent Celek, TE, PHI | 5 |
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL | 24 | DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI | 12 | Mike Williams, WR, TB | 5 |
Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA | 23 | Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG | 12 | Brian Hartline, WR, MIA | 5 |
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET | 22 | Dez Bryant, WR, DAL | 12 | Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN | 5 |
Julio Jones, WR, ATL | 21 | Michael Vick, QB, PHI | 11 | Andy Dalton, QB, CIN | 4 |
Victor Cruz, WR, NYG | 21 | Tony Romo, QB, DAL | 10 | Jay Cutler, QB, CHI | 4 |
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE | 20 | Darren Sproles, RB, NO | 10 | 49ers/Bears/Texans DSTs | 4 |
Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS | 20 | Michael Turner, RB, ATL | 10 | Martellus Bennett, TE, NYG | 4 |
Peyton Manning, QB, DEN | 20 | Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET | 10 | Greg Olsen, TE, CAR | 4 |
Frank Gore, RB, SF | 20 | Antonio Gates, TE, SD | 10 | Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET | 4 |
Ryan Mathews, RB, SD | 20 | Torrey Smith, WR, BAL | 10 | Felix Jones, RB, DAL | 4 |
Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN | 20 | Denarius Moore, WR, OAK | 10 | DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR | 4 |
Percy Harvin, WR, MIN | 20 | Steve Johnson, WR, BUF | 10 | Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR | 4 |
Roddy White, WR, ATL | 20 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT | 9 | Ben Tate, RB, HOU | 4 |
Jamaal Charles, RB, KC | 19 | Andrew Luck, QB, IND | 9 | Justin Blackmon, WR, JAC | 4 |
Wes Welker, WR, NE | 19 | Steven Jackson, RB, STL | 9 | Jermichael Finley, TE, GB | 4 |
Alfred Morris, RB, WAS | 19 | Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI | 9 | Vick Ballard, RB, IND | 4 |
Jimmy Graham, TE, NO | 19 | James Jones, WR, GB | 9 | Josh Freeman, QB, TB | 3 |
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI | 19 | Vernon Davis, TE, SF | 9 | Jeremy Kerley, WR, NYJ | 3 |
Darren McFadden, RB, OAK | 18 | Randall Cobb, WR, GB | 9 | LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, ARI | 3 |
Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI | 18 | Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN | 9 | Nate Washington, WR, TEN | 3 |
Jordy Nelson, WR, GB | 18 | Jason Witten, TE, DAL | 9 | Kendall Wright, WR, TEN | 3 |
Vincent Jackson, WR, TB | 18 | Kenny Britt, WR, TEN | 9 | Andre Brown, RB, NYG | 3 |
Eli Manning, QB, NYG | 18 | Steve Smith, WR, CAR | 9 | Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF | 3 |
Chris Johnson, RB, TEN | 18 | Rashad Jennings, RB, JAC | 8 | Michael Bush, RB, CHI | 3 |
Marques Colston, WR, NO | 18 | Owen Daniels, TE, HOU | 8 | Michael Crabtree, WR, SF | 3 |
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG | 17 | Heath Miller, TE, PIT | 8 | Carson Palmer, QB, OAK | 2 |
Andre Johnson, WR, HOU | 17 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN | 8 | Chris Givens, WR, STL | 2 |
Matt Forte, RB, CHI | 16 | Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC | 8 | Brandon Gibson, WR, STL | 2 |
Willis McGahee, RB, DEN | 16 | Matt Schaub, QB, HOU | 8 | Pierre Thomas, RB, NO | 2 |
Reggie Wayne, WR, IND | 16 | Greg Jennings, WR, GB | 8 | Andre Roberts, WR, ARI | 2 |
Doug Martin, RB, TB | 16 | Philip Rivers, QB, SD | 8 | Phillip Tanner, RB, DAL | 2 |
Reggie Bush, RB, MIA | 16 | Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC | 8 | Christian Ponder, QB, MIN | 2 |
Stevan Ridley, RB, NE | 16 | Brandon Lloyd, WR, NE | 8 | Titus Young, WR, DET | 2 |
Mike Wallace, WR, PIT | 16 | Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ | 7 | Donnie Avery, WR, IND | 2 |
Eric Decker, WR, DEN | 15 | Antonio Brown, WR, PIT | 7 | Brandon Bolden, RB, NE | 2 |
Miles Austin, WR, DAL | 15 | Josh Gordon, WR, CLE | 7 | Scott Chandler, TE, BUF | 2 |
Trent Richardson, RB, CLE | 15 | Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS | 7 | Dennis Pitta, TE, BAL | 2 |
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