RSJ’s Jackson Barrett created a value-based drafting Excel tool to create the preseason values for this Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart. The tool uses the FantasyPros consensus projections to assign values based on a 12-team, full PPR league.
Each week throughout the season, I will alter these values to reflect the player’s value for the rest of the season. I have made changes based on the FantasyPros ECR, results from the season so far, and The Wolf’s Rest of Season Rankings. But for the most part, the below values should generally reflect consensus rankings. The values provided also allow for comparing player values across positions, not just within one position group.
For more information on how to make successful deals, check out our strategies for negotiating trades.
RISERS
It pains me to say this, but Adam Thielen has been phenomenal this year. Following an absolute brick in Week 1, Thielen has had four straight games with 15+ fantasy points and is the WR3 in this span.
Thielen has been a terrific safety blanket for QB Bryce Young. The veteran receiver and rookie quarterback have developed a connection early.
As much as I would like to write off Adam Thielen and call him washed, the production is undeniable. Thielen finished Week 5 with 13 targets and now has at least seven receptions in four consecutive games.
It looks like Thielen will be Young’s go-to target this season. Even with a struggling team and a lacking roster, Thielen has a very valuable role. Unless something changes, Thielen is a starter at the flex moving forward.
Another player that I want to write off is DJ Moore. Unfortunately, his connection with Justin Fields and his impressive ability to create yards after the catch has Moore as the WR4 on the season. Much of this production comes from a 49 point explosion last week against the Commanders. His performances over the last two weeks have been nothing short of incredible and warrant a bump in his value.
As a DJ Moore cynic, I must point out that Moore’s two explosive games have come against two of the worst defenses in football, Washington and Denver. Moore will have quality games throughout the season but don’t expect 25+ points regularly.
FALLERS
In a week riddled with injuries, the game’s top receiver wasn’t able to make it out unscathed. Justin Jefferson is now dealing with a hamstring injury that has sent him to the IR. Losing the consensus 1.01 is crushing.
Hamstring injuries are also incredibly frustrating for WRs and RBs. We just saw Copper Kupp deal with setbacks while spending multiple months trying to recover from a hamstring injury. We will know more in a couple of weeks, but Jefferson will likely be dealing with this injury in some capacity for multiple months and could easily miss more than the minimum four games. Jefferson will be an elite fantasy option when he returns. Unfortunately, this will not be for several weeks and rosters with Jefferson will be hurting in the meantime.
I’m no doctor, but it’s my opinion that things will get worse for Jefferson before they get better. The Vikings are 1-4 and face a difficult stretch of games without Jefferson. There has also been plenty of speculation about Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins being traded. If the Vikings’ record continues to slip, there is a very real possibility that Kirk is traded and Jefferson is shut down.
If I’m a Jefferson owner with a lacking roster, I would be looking to move Jefferson while he still has value.
Commander’s WR Jahan Dotson is not having the season that many expected. Most expected Dotson to make a second-year leap and be a fantasy breakout player. In reality, Dotson has regressed and is unplayable in fantasy.
In a game in which Commanders’ QB Sam Howell had nearly 400 passing yards, Dotson had just three catches for 30 yards on five targets.
This usage is concerning to begin with but is even scarier when considering that Howell attempted 51 passes and Washington played from behind the whole game.
Until Dotson is more involved in this offense, his value is essentially zero.
TRADE TARGETS
Another player that was touted as a second-year breakout, Chris Olave has struggled in recent weeks. Following a solid start to the season, Olave has averaged just 5.3 fantasy points per game in the last two weeks.
Olave still has an elite role in this offense. He has played the WR1 role throughout the year and this won’t change. But why has Olave been struggling?
In my opinion, his lack of production has a lot to do with the health of his QB, Derek Carr. Carr has been nursing a shoulder injury in recent weeks. This injury has affected his ability to throw, negatively impacting receivers.
Olave has the talent and usage to succeed on fantasy rosters. Carr will steadily get healthier as the weeks progress. With several quality matchups in the coming weeks (IND, CHI, MIN), buy Olave before his value increases.
Jaylen Waddle was valued fairly similarly to Olave this offseason. Five weeks into the season, they still have a similar (reduced) value. Both player have had okay weeks but neither have exploded just yet.
In four games this season, Waddle has yet to score more than 15 points and his best weekly finish was WR20 (Week 5). However, his role in a high powered offense should translate to more fantasy points.
The argument to buy low on Waddle is fairly simple. He is incredibly talented with the ball in his hands and plays for the Dolphins. It doesn’t take much more explanation than that. Waddle has proven his talent over the last two seasons and the Miami offense is a fantasy goldmine this season. A blowup game for Waddle is coming, invest in him before that happens.
