Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart Week 7: Running Backs

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 7 Trade Value Chart: Running Backs

Running Back Riser

Well, it seems that Joe Mixon will not be hindered by the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 2. After missing three straight games, Mixon returned in Week 6 like nothing happened.

Mixon has been absolutely phenomenal in two full games this season. He’s put up over 130 yards from scrimmage and averaged 27.0 PPG across the two contests. Mixon has come in as the RB2 in each of those weeks

Not only has the production been there, but his usage has been phenomenal as well. He’s played 60 percent of snaps and handled 74 percent of the running back opportunities. This usage has amounted to 49 opportunities in two games. A true bell cow role.

Mixon is the go-to option in a backfield that is a piece of one of the league’s best offenses. He will continue to be fed touches and benefit from favorable game scripts. Mixon is an easy RB1 option moving forward.

Running Back Faller

A storm is brewing in the Jacksonville backfield and it seems dead set on destroying Travis Etienne’s fantasy value. There are multiple factors at play here, but both are pushing Etienne’s trade value downward.

The first issue for Etienne is the emergence of Tank Bigsby. Across the last three weeks, Bigsby has played 31 percent of snaps while taking the most carries of any running back in Jacksonville. 

Various injuries to Etienne (shoulder, hamstring) have played a role in Bigsby’s increased usage. But those with Etienne on rosters should be concerned with how Bigsby has seized his opportunity. Bigsby leads the league in YPC, yards after contact per attempt, and rush yards over expected. He’s been the most efficient running back in Jacksonville and will play some sort of role for the rest of the season.

The other factor is the aforementioned injuries. Etienne suffered a hamstring injury against the Bears last week and is in danger of missing time.

Everything is trending in the wrong direction for Etienne and it’s hard to feel comfortable with him as even an RB2.

Running Back Trade Target

J.K. Dobbins is someone who we’ve highlighted as a trade target in previous weeks due to an improving role. That larger role is finally paying dividends and Dobbins is still a trade target despite finishing as the RB12 last week.

With Gus Edwards on IR, it was all Dobbins in Week 6. He played 73 percent of snaps and held a 77-percent opportunity share. Sure, Kimani Vidal might mix-in to a larger degree down the line, but this is a fantasy RB1 type of workload.

Not only does Dobbins control the vast majority of work in the backfield, but this will turn into loads of touches thanks to the run-heavy offensive approach of the Chargers. They rank 3rd in overall rush rate and have a defense that provides game scripts that will allow them to run the ball for all four quarters.

Even when Edwards returns from IR, he’ll likely be more of an afterthought in Los Angeles. This is Dobbins’ job to lose and the only way it seems that happens is through injury.

Tier 1: The Elites

Tier 2: RB1 Options

Tier 3: RB2 Options

Tier 4: Matchup-Based Starters

Tier 5: Bench Assets and Handcuffs