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.
Before going over player values, let’s take a look at the biggest changes to the trade value chart and some potential trade targets.
RISERS
As someone who doubted his fantasy outlook throughout the offseason, I am prepared to admit that Travis Etienne is firmly in the upper tier of fantasy running back.
Throughout the offseason, I expected Etienne to be a part of a committee in some form, limiting his fantasy ceiling. This could not be further from the case through seven weeks. At this point, Etienne is one of the most heavily utilized running backs in the NFL and his fantasy output reflects this.
Etienne currently ranks 1st in carries, 6th in RB targets, and 4th in opportunity share. One of the few RBs with a true workhorse role. This has manifested in 19.7 fantasy points per game and an RB3 rank on the season.
It is certainly possible that rookie Tank Bigsby gets more involved down the stretch. But until this happens, Etienne’s explosiveness, talent, and premium role make him a top-tier fantasy RB.
After taking a hit over the last few weeks, Rhamondre Stevenson is clawing back into mid-RB2 territory.
In previous games, Stevenson was slowly losing work to Ezekiel Elliott. Thankfully for Stevenson owners, he has started to take that work back.
Stevenson’s value is capped by the state of the New England offense. However, they showed signs of life in Week 7 against Buffalo. This wasn’t enough to have me fully sold, but it is a step in the right direction.
As Sal mentioned above, Stevenson has seen an increased role in the passing game over the last two weeks. With 12 targets across Weeks 6 and 7, Stevenson’s value is shooting up in PPR leagues.
FALLERS
The alarm bells are officially going off for Josh Jacobs. Through seven games this season, Jacobs has received a workhorse level of touches but simply hasn’t done anything with them. With 118 carries on the season, Jacobs has just 347 yards on the ground. This is an abysmal 2.9 yards per carry.
Jacobs is definitely part of the problem considering he ranks 40th in both explosive run rate (rushes that go for 15+ yards) and missed tackles forced per attempt. However, offensive line play and scheme are to blame as well. Jacobs is constantly being blown up at (or behind the line of scrimmage). Jacobs ranks 48th in yards before contact per attempt.
The Raiders simply have not been able to get the run game going this season, to the detriment of those who drafted Jacobs. Last season’s rushing leader should be competing for the rushing title once again given his volume, but efficiency woes are holding him back.
Week 7 introduced a two-headed “monster” in the Los Angeles Rams’ backfield. Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman were in a pretty even timeshare on Sunday. I fear that this will lead to a significant hit in Kyren Williams‘ value when he returns.
In Week 7, the new duo combined for 31 touches that resulted in 132 total yards. Both Freeman and Henderson made solid plays and it appears that they will both contribute in the coming weeks. The quality of play from Henderson and Freeman will determine their role when Kyren returns. If both backs continue to be relatively effective, expect them to be involved down the line.
Given Kyren’s extended absence and ankle injury, this could quickly turn into a split backfield when he returns from the IR.
TRADE TARGETS
Although he has been mentioned as a faller, Josh Jacobs must be mentioned as a trade target. In fantasy football, especially at the running back position, volume and role reign supreme. Although Jacobs has yet to have elite fantasy output, his role and volume are elite.
Jacobs has 144 touches through 7 games. Based on his usage, Jacobs ranks 4th in expected fantasy points per game among RBs. But in reality, Jacobs is 19th in fantasy points per game. Finding players who have a solidified role but are underperforming is a great way to attack the trade market.
Jacobs is bound to have an explosive day soon, go grab him while his value is reduced.
Another player who has a great role but is not meeting expectations is Joe Mixon. The Bengals have struggled so far this season and that does not exclude their top running back. Mixon currently averages 11.5 points per game but is expected to score 15.8.
Mixon is expected to score this many points per game because he dominates the Cincinnati backfield. In fact, he dominates the backfield more than any other running back. Mixon ranks 1st in opportunity share, handling 86 percent of the opportunities given to Bengals RBs.
The Bengals should get on track this season. Once this offense gets going, fantasy managers will be looking back and wondering why they didn’t get Mixon onto their roster.
