Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart Week 4: Running Backs

Championships are won with trades.

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, these values will be altered to reflect the player’s value for the rest of the season. Changes made to player’s value will be based on FantasyPros Rest of Season ECR, results from the season thus 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 positional group.

For more information on how to make successful deals, check out our strategies for negotiating trades.

Be sure to tune back each week throughout the season. We’ll be adjusting the chart, discussing risers & fallers, and pinpointing trade targets.

The trade value chart for each position is linked below.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Trade Value Chart: Running Backs

Running Back Riser

In terms of his numeric rank, Saquon Barkley isn’t a massive riser. But after three weeks, it’s hard to justify ranking Barkley anywhere other than RB1. He has seen an enormous workload and is making the most of it.

Saquon Barkley currently leads all running backs in weighted opportunities per game and fantasy points per game. He also ranks highly in most efficiency metrics, including third in both yards after contact and rush yards over expected per attempt.

After three games, there are few players who should be valued higher in fantasy and he has a legitimate case to go at the 1.01 if leagues were drafted today. Those who pulled the trigger on Barkley near the 1-2 turn should be quite pleased with his production thus far.

Running Back Faller

It’s been hard to watch D’Andre Swift so far this season. He’s currently averaging 1.8 yards per carry which ranks dead last among running backs with at least 25 rush attempts. He also ranks last in rush yards over expectation per attempt.

Swift does not seem to be a fit in Shane Waldron’s offense and his role has been quickly diminishing as a result. In Week 3, Swift played a shade over 50 percent of snaps while ceding third down, goal line, and two-minute snaps to other backs.

With bottom of the barrel efficiency and no access to high-value touches, Swift is almost worthless in the majority of fantasy leagues. He is absolutely droppable in leagues with thin benches.

Running Back Trade Target

After a week of tough sledding against a highly talented Steelers defense, J.K. Dobbins presents a strong buy-low opportunity. He may not have produced in a significant manner in the box score, but his role expanded in a way that is incredibly bullish for his future outlook.

Through the first two weeks of the season, Dobbins and Gus Edwards were utilized in a fairly even split. Thankfully, Jim Harbaugh realized that Edwards is a complete dustball and handed the backfield to Dobbins. He played 65 percent of the snaps, took 86 percent of the running back opportunities, and played on third downs and in the two-minute drill.

A role like this should allow Dobbins to maintain strong RB2 production throughout the season. Check with the Dobbins manager in your league to see if the price has come down after a rough Week 3 outing.