Everyone is thinking about fantasy football trades around this time of the NFL season. And although 3 games is a relatively small sample size, most fantasy football owners must soon make crucial decisions on some key players who may be underperforming and others who are overachieving. By making a move this early in the season, you may be able to take advantage of other teams in your league who are ready to give up on an elite player who is having a slow start but is destined to break out at any moment. That being said, here are 6 players you should look to Buy Low and Sell High.
Fantasy Football Players to Buy Low
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans – It appears as if the Lockout and the tenuous contract negotiations have slowed down the talented speedster—for now. In three games, CJ2k has amassed a measly 98 yards rushing, and even worse, has yet to record a single touchdown. Many owners who used a first round pick on him are surely in panic-mode, and eager to deal him for any respectable, productive player. If you have depth at a certain position, now is the time to be aggressive and make a move for Johnson, as he is due for a big game any moment now.
Shonn Greene, RB, Jets – Greene disappointed many of his fantasy owners when he rushed for a less than spectacular 26 yards on 10 attempts against the Cowboys in week 1. He has yet to have a 100-yard rushing game and has only one touchdown on the season. His next game against a stout Ravens run defense will probably lower his value further, but he has relatively weak matchups the rest of the way including two games against the Dolphins and one against the Chiefs. In an offense that would like to heavily rely on the run, expect Greene to bounce back with a string of big games in the middle of the season.
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers – The oft-injured Gates is one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history—when he is healthy enough to play. He is coming off arguably the two worst games of his illustrious career, registering zero (!) points in most scoring formats. He is currently listed as questionable due to a lingering foot injury. However, Gates has a bye week in week 6 that should give him the proper time to heal and finally put up numbers similar to his week 1 total of 8 receptions for 74 yards.
Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers – Williams is having a difficult time matching his 2010 success, largely due to the fact that defenses are focusing on the second year player much more than when he was an unknown rookie. After a solid week 1 performance of 4 receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown, Williams has had two below average games and has yet to register another touchdown. This trend should be turning around soon as the Bucs have two consecutive games against the soft secondaries of the Colts and 49ers. Remember, Williams is still a big-time talent with terrific size who can breakout at any moment. Get him while you still can.
Fantasy Football Players to Sell High
Ben Tate, RB, Texans – Tate exploded onto the fantasy scene this season with the hamstring injury of Arian Foster. Instead of Derrick Ward, it was Tate who ended becoming the main beneficiary of Foster’s absence, registering back to back 100 yard rushing games and a touchdown to start the season. Tate’s surprising start may be short-lived, as he has a brutal stretch of games against top-notch run defenses (Steelers, Raiders, Ravens and Titans) in the next 4 weeks. Foster has recently been cleared to practice again and will be brought along slowly. Still, the Texans backfield will slowly turn into a running back by committee, much like the Panthers’ juggling act of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers – Mathews has shed the bust label that was placed upon him after his lackluster rookie season. After getting a respectable 12 rushing attempts while splitting carries with Mike Tolbert for the first two games, Mathews got the lion’s share of carries in week 3 and rewarded his owners with 98 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries. There is no doubt that Mathews can be a talented and productive player, but I still have doubts that he can do it over the course of an entire season. He is also battling a nagging toe injury that has caused him to miss practice time, which could ultimately become a cause for concern down the road. He is also one bad game away from becoming Robin to Tolbert’s Batman once again.
