Fantasy Football

Fantasy football can be like a great "will they, won't they?" storyline in a sitcom. Just when you think everything is perfect, the writers go and throw some drama in front of the proverbial Ross and Rachel, keeping them agonizingly apart yet again.

So, too, does fantasy football play with your heart.

That winning streak you were on? It would be a shame if a few of your key players got hurt. Desperately need a win to keep yourself in the postseason hunt? Wouldn't you know it, this is the week when several of your regular starters have a bye week.  

Fantasy is never boring. Luckily, unlike that romcom you're watching, you have some control over the outcome for your team. Well, at least you can control who you start and who you sit. A season-saving addition is always just one trade away. 

That's where the trade value chart comes in, to help you properly value the players you have and those you are seeking. Remember that any player not listed below has a trade value of one. And as always, may the fantasy points be with you!

                 

Trade Value: 15

1. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

                 

Trade Value: 14

2. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

                   

Trade Value: 13

3. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

5. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

6. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

7. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

8. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

9. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

10. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

                  

Trade Value: 12

11. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

12. Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Los Angeles Rams

13. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

14. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

15. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

16. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

17. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

18. Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens

19. Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

                  

Trade Value: 11

20. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

21. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

22. Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers

23. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

24. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

25. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

26. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

27. A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans

                     

Trade Value: 10

28. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

29. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

30. James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

31. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

32. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

33. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

34. Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots

                  

Trade Value: 9

35. Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

36. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

37. Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

                   

Trade Value: 8

38. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

39. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

40. Antonio Brown, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

41. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

42. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

43. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

44. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

45. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

46. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Football Team

                    

Trade Value: 7

47. Melvin Gordon III, RB, Denver Broncos

48. Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets

49. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

50. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

51. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

52. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

53. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

54. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

                   

Trade Value: 6

55. Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans

56. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

57. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

58. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions

59. Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins

60. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

61. Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys

                  

Trade Value: 5

62. Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills

63. Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals

64. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

65. Myles Gaskins, RB, Miami Dolphins

66. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

67. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

68. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

69. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Buffalo Bills

70. Corey Davis, WR, New York Jets

71. Noah Fant, TE, Denver Broncos

72. Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

73. Dalton Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills

                    

Trade Value: 4

74. J.D. McKissic, RB, Washington Football Team

75. Darrel Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

76. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

77. Kenyan Drake, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

78. Adrian Peterson, RB, Tennessee Titans

79. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

80. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals

81. Cole Beasley, WR, Buffalo Bills

82. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

83. DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

84. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

                 

Trade Value: 3

85. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

86. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

87. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

88. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings

89. Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots

90. Zach Ertz, TE, Arizona Cardinals

91. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

                    

Trade Value: 2

92. Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks

93. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

94. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

95. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

96. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

97. Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

98. Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots

99. Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

100. Julio Jones, WR, Tennessee Titans

                      

One thing to remember is that trade value is subjective. A great example of this is the value on this chart of the three Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideouts: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. 

Some folks might feel they should be higher because each player has posted big numbers, when healthy, this season. Other folks might value them less because the three of them on the same team means that on a weekly basis they siphon targets and production from one another, and it can be difficult to judge when it's best to start, or sit, any of them.

Some fantasy players prefer players they can start and forget each week, trusting they'll produce. Other fantasy players don't mind playing the matchups and projecting which players will play well on a given week, adjusting their lineup with incoming waiver additions. Those players want options and depth and aren't worried about choosing between two seemingly equal talents for one roster spot.

Everyone is different. Do what works for you.

Let's talk A.J. Brown, who is a great trade target if you are in the market for a wideout at the moment. The Titans may be bringing in Adrian Peterson, but the 36-year-old isn't Derrick Henry at this point in his career. Not by a long shot.

So the Titans are likely going to go from a team built around running the ball behind the best running back in the NFL, to one that throws more with Ryan Tannehill.

And that's good news for Brown.

Other repercussions to the potential season-ending Henry news: Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown and Julio (when healthy) about to take off.

Titans offense must shift to a more vertical attack. Coupled with a suspect defense and mostly friendly schedule, the trio could launch.

— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) November 1, 2021

I know every RB is about to get traded to the Titans, but alternatively they could just throw to A.J. Brown every play.

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) November 1, 2021

More good news? He's been tearing it up lately. In his past three games, Brown has 25 catches for 379 yards and two touchdowns on 29 targets. And with Julio Jones' hamstring issues keeping him questionable—alongside the fact that he's 32 and has already missed three games this year—Brown is entrenched as WR1 in Tennessee.

The Ryan Tannehill-to-A.J. Brown connection is coming on strong of late 🔥

In Weeks 1-5: 38.5% completion percentage, 32.5 yards per game, 5.0 yards per attempt, 1 TD.

In Weeks 6-8: 83.3% completion percentage, 126.3 yards per game, 12.6 yards per attempt, 2 TD.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 1, 2021

A.J. Brown’s weekly target share in six full games this year:

22.2%
22.5%
27.2%
31%
33.3%
33.3%

— John Daigle (@notJDaigle) November 1, 2021

He is poised to have an enormous second half of the season. Enormous. Savvy fantasy players aren't going to let him go, but you might be able to steal him for a solid price depending on who in your league is rostering him. It can't hurt to try—don't be surprised if he's a top-five wideout the second half of the year.

Oh, and as for that Peterson guy? Obviously, he'll be a waiver-wire darling this week, so you don't need to worry about him from a trade perspective just yet. But don't be shocked if he doesn't ever pop off.

Between 2007 and 2015, Peterson rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season seven times. Only injuries slowed him down.

Since then, He's only hit that benchmark once in the past five years. He's in his mid-30s, after all.

Just watch the video below. Notice how all but two of his highlights came with the Minnesota Vikings?

https://twitter.com/Titans/status/1455628025618477065

He last played for the Vikings in 2016.

The point here is that you might be able to land him on waivers then turn around and trade him for RB1 value to the player in your league who had Henry.

It's unlikely that Peterson will post RB1 numbers. Frankly, he should be best viewed as a shaky flex, as we don't even know how major his role will be for the Titans in the future. Trying to bamboozle someone into paying top dollar for him is a savvy, if not a bit conniving, move.

But hey, all's fair in love and fantasy football. Or something like that.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will hold some one-week fantasy football appeal Sunday as he takes over the offense from Aaron Rodgers, who was ruled out for the Packers' Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19.

Love, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, is set to make his first career start and just his third NFL appearance, but he'll do so under favorable conditions.

The Packers' playmaking group, which has been ravaged by injuries and COVID-19-related absences in recent weeks, has a good chance to get closer to full strength against the Chiefs as wide receivers Davante Adams (reserve/COVID list) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) could be available.

Adams, Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb give Love no shortage of weapons in the passing game, and running back Aaron Jones will be available to take some pressure off the second-year signal-caller out of Utah State.

Love also benefits from getting to face a Kansas City defense that's struggled to contain the pass in the season's first half. The unit has allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game (269.8), the joint-sixth-most passing touchdowns (15) and the sixth-highest opposing passer rating (103.3).

In addition, the California native gets to work with the first-team offense for the entire week of practice rather than getting thrown into the fray at the last second.

It's always difficult to project how a quarterback will perform in their first start with limited experience outside of practice and exhibition games—Love has thrown just seven regular-season passes—but he finds himself in a more promising position than most.

Fantasy-wise, Love is a high-upside bye-week replacement for managers who may be without the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady on his bye week.

With Aaron Rodgers out, can Jordan Love be fantasy relevant in Week 9? @FieldYates and @KyleSoppeESPN explain: pic.twitter.com/WwIZzBj8W2

— Fantasy Focus Live (@fantasyfocus) November 3, 2021

Although there's some bust potential because it's his first start, all the other factors are working to his advantage, including a game script that should feature plenty of passes to keep pace with Patrick Mahomes and Co. While Love isn't a major threat with his legs, he did score nine rushing touchdowns in 38 college games to boost his fantasy floor.

Conservatively, it's best to rank the Packers' fill-in starter somewhere between No. 15 and No. 20 among Week 9 fantasy quarterbacks, but it wouldn't be a shock if he finishes inside the top 10.