Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season is in the books and we are rapidly approaching the halfway point. This season has already started out brutally for RBs drafted in the early rounds of startup fantasy drafts. But whether your fantasy team is reeling from injuries or is dominating at the top of the standings, one thing is for sure: trades can change everything.
Trade to solidify your team for a championship run for win-now teams. Trade for the future because you’ve already determined this is a rebuild year. But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Dynasty leagues are all about progress towards a championship, and maintaining a dynasty once you reach that goal. Progress requires action, and trades are not only good for your team but they keep your league active and exciting.
In this two part series I’ll recommend some trade targets for win-now teams in Part 1. And players worth trading away for future equity. Trade targets discussed here can be adapted for redraft leagues by switching out players for future draft capital in the trade offer. If you have any questions on specific trades please reach out to us on Twitter @TheUndroppables.
Part 1: Win Now Teams
Teams that are currently sitting at the top of their leagues with either a 7-0 or 6-1 record should start making preparations for a deep playoff run. Even if you’ve been following the “productive struggle” model, this is the year those previous moves will pay off. You will want to add players with favorable matchups during the fantasy playoffs (typically Weeks 14-16) at the right price. Of course trading for Kyler Murray or Davante Adams will add significant value to your team. But at what cost? For potential league winning players you’ll want to go all in, but here are some players to target that add value at the right cost.
Justin Herbert (QB – LA Chargers)
Justin Herbert is currently the QB10 and is living up to expectations as a former Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s also benefiting from a relatively easy start to his 2021 that most recently got harder against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. Herbert struggled in that game, throwing for under 200 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. He is coming off a Week 7 bye and then has a run of tough matchups from Week 8 – Week 13.
If Herbert struggles in these tough matchups it will decrease his value, making him a good trade target this year. His fantasy playoff schedule in Weeks 15 and 16 have two easy matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs (3rd most points to QBs) and the Houston Texans (13th most). Week 17 is a tough one against division rival Denver Broncos who have been tough on paper against opposing QBs. This game may be a must-win for the Chargers to make the playoffs so I would expect Herbert to play lights out despite the matchup.
Offer: Shoot an offer out to the Herbert manager after tough matchups in Week 8 (NE) or Week 10 (MIN) for 2 future late 1st round picks and a QB like Justin Fields in Superflex leagues.
Jalen Hurts (QB – Philadelphia Eagles)
Jalen Hurts is currently the QB2 in fantasy and has gotten off to a hot start thanks to a relatively easy schedule the first 6 weeks, at least in terms of giving up points to the QB position. His hardest matchup so far has been against Carolina who gives up the 16th most points to opposing QBs.
Weeks 9 through 11 matchups are all tough against QBs, and his fantasy playoff schedule in Weeks 15-17 includes two stints against Washington (1st in points to QBs) and the Giants (12th in points to QBs). Hurts’ fantasy playoff schedule is amazing, on paper. And with a tough four weeks coming up on his schedule, his value could drop if he struggles.
Offer: After Week 11 against the Saints would be a perfect time to throw out an offer of two 1st round picks in Superflex leagues.
Derek Carr (QB – Las Vegas Raiders)
Derek Carr is the QB11 in fantasy, but he’s the QB2 in the NFL in terms of passing yards. A spot that no one outside of #RaiderNation expected him to be in this season. For fantasy, Carr is ranked exactly where he is supposed to be based on his entire career. He’s a very good NFL QB that is typically a high-end QB2 for fantasy.
However, now that Gruden is gone the offense is rallying around Carr and there is less pressure in the form of appeasing an old school type of coach. The reigns are off and the two toughest matchups on Carr’s schedule are the Bengals in Week 11 (25th in points to QBs) and the Broncos in Week 16 (29th in points). The same Broncos team that Carr hung up 341 yards and 2 TDs on. The rest of the season is currently wide open with opposing defenses that are easy on QBs.
Offer: Because he’s still QB11 and has the name Derek Carr, you could probably work a trade that involved a late 2nd round pick and a sexier name like Trey Lance in Superflex leagues.
Amari Cooper (WR – Dallas Cowboys)
It’s almost blasphemous for me to write about Amari Cooper in a positive light as myself and my good friend @PauliesSleepers have been calling him the #fantasylocust for several years now. He’s living up to that moniker this season, going absolute HAM in Week 1 against the Bucs, putting up 38 PPR points. And then following up every week since with anywhere from 5-15 points to earn his current spot at WR26.
Cooper’s value and targets have dipped partly due to the emergence of CeeDee Lamb who is currently the WR13 in PPR leagues despite coming off a bye in Week 7. Lamb will continue to chip away at the alpha role on the team as he is the future of the franchise. Cooper is still a very good WR, but his inconsistency hurts his fantasy value. With a few tough matchups in Weeks 8 – 12, his value could dip further, making him a viable trade target. Send out an offer in Week 11, because you’ll want him on your roster for a run at the fantasy playoffs. His schedule in Weeks 13-17 is very friendly to opposing WRs.
Offer: You’ll need that boom type of player to bring home the trophy and could acquire Cooper for probably a late 1st round pick and a young player like Jaylen Waddle.
Deebo Samuel (WR – San Francisco 49ers)
Acquiring Deebo Samuel right now is doing so towards the top of his value. Samuel has been on an absolute tear this year. Racking up YAC on his way to an overall WR5 finish currently in PPR leagues. More impressively, he’s the WR3 in PPR points per game as the alpha receiver for the 49ers.
However, if you’re looking for a league winner, Deebo Samuel is it. His most difficult matchup the rest of the season is Week 17 against the Texans who give up the 27th most points to opposing WRs. The rest of his matchups are all against teams that are middle of the pack at best against WRs. And with Weeks 15 and 16 against Atlanta (7th most points to WRs) and Tennessee (1st most points), that’s a championship winning schedule.
Offer: Trading for Samuel now will cost you at least 2 future 1st round picks. See if you can work a 2022 (or two) and 2024 1st round pick to try and keep your 2023 1st (trust me).
Michael Thomas (WR – New Orleans Saints)
Michael Thomas’ value has never been lower. He has not played a professional game of Football since December 2020. Almost 1 year removed from the game, and 2 years removed from his First Team All-Pro season in 2019, Thomas is becoming a fantasy after thought. Maybe not for the managers that have him stashed on IR just waiting until the day he plays again. But with the Saints’ leading WR in yards being Marquez Callaway and leader in receptions being Alvin Kamara, the door is wide open for Thomas to step back into his alpha role.
Thomas is eligible to return from IR and is hopefully projected to play in Weeks 9 or 10. There are rumors swirling about Thomas being disgruntled with the Saints organization which is delaying his return. But whether he returns for the Saints or forces a trade before the deadline Thomas can be a league winner. He has a few tough matchups on his schedule in Weeks 11 (PHI), 12 (BUF), and 14 (NYJ), but Weeks 15 (Tampa Bay) and 16 (Miami) are good on paper. He gets Carolina in Week 17 (22nd most points to WRs) in a potential must-win divisional matchup.
Offer: This may be the lowest value you can get for Thomas. Send out an offer this week, or during one of his harder matchups, for an early 2nd round pick and a player like Bryan Edwards.
Devonta Smith (WR – Philadelphia Eagles)
Devonta Smith is currently the WR37 in PPR leagues. However, he is the 18th most targeted WR in the NFL who is playing 91% of the offensive snaps in Philadelphia. His workload and fantasy scoring has continued to increase despite not scoring a TD since Week 1. Smith’s fantasy performance has been inconsistent in his first 7 games but they have all been against good coverage teams.
His remaining 4 games in Weeks 15-17 include Washington twice (2nd in points to WRs) and the NY Giants in Week 16 (14th in points). These divisional matchups during the fantasy playoffs will be critical for the Eagles if they want to make the playoffs. Hurts and Smith will hopefully be playing at their best at this point in the season. Coming off a bye in Week 14 and making a playoff push despite currently being 2-5, the Eagles are 2nd in the NFC East.
Offer: In Week 7, I acquired Devonta Smith in a 10-team 1QB PPR redraft league for Mike Davis straight up. I don’t think everyone can get this type of value, but that shows how relatively low his value is currently. In dynasty leagues, a late 1st round pick may get the deal done, but an early 2nd round pick and a player like Michael Pittman may hold more value for the trade partner.
Saquon Barkley (RB – New York Giants)
Barkley is dangerously close to being labeled “injury prone” by the fantasy community has he has once again missed multiple games, this time due to a sprained ankle. Despite reports of Barkley working with trainers on the sideline this week, don’t expect him back this week. With a bye in Week 10, the Giants may continue to hold him out until Week 11 against the Bucs if he’s not fully healthy.
This time off and public doubt growing every day is creating a trade window for Barkley when managers should #buythedip. Before his injury in Week 5, Saquon was coming off two consecutive weeks of 20+ point performances and getting a lot of production in the passing game. Barkley’s schedule Weeks 12-17 is a mix of easy matchups and tougher ones like Dallas in Week 15 and Chicago in Week 17. But with two games against division rival Philadelphia (Weeks 12 and 16) who are giving up the 3rd most points to RBs, Saquon can carry you to the title.
Offer: If Saquon misses Week 8 against Kansas City, his value will fall a little more and I would send out an offer of a late 1st round pick and a player like Darrell Henderson.
Keep making the right moves to make a run at winning it all this year. Make to check out our weekly Waiver Wire column (Untangling the Waiver Wire) and Favorite Starts of the Week (Money Makers and Heart Breakers) from The Undroppables own Mike Reedy. Along with our weekly rankings and daily content found exclusively at theundroppables.com.
