Welcome to Redraft Buy-Low & Sell-High (September Edition). I highlight which players I am looking to acquire at a discount or trade away, while their value is at its peak.
Redraft Buy-Low & Sell-High (September Edition) is here to help you navigate the trade market as it heats up. After four weeks of the NFL season, we are now seeing our fantasy squads taking shape. Four weeks ago, every team was perfect. Now we see flaws and underperforming players, not to mention injuries.
This monthly piece looks at some players I am looking to Buy-Low & Sell-High on before Week 5 kicks off.
Redraft Buy-Low & Sell-High (QB)
Buy- Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold is currently QB18. Outside of Week 1, his first start in a new offense, he has been averaging 18.7 points per game. Last year, he finished as QB7, and there is no reason for him not to be a borderline QB1 the rest of the season. Consider him a cheap option to target in 2QB and superflex leagues.
Other QBs to Buy: Matthew Stafford (Rams), C.J. Stroud (Texans), Jared Goff (Lions)
Sell- Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Currently, Daniel Jones is the QB7; however, he has never finished higher than QB10 (2022). His value is at an all-time high right now in redraft leagues, so try to trade him for someone like Jared Goff or C.J. Stroud and see what other position you can upgrade.
Other QBs to Sell: Brock Purdy (49ers)
Redraft Buy-Low & Sell-High (RB)
Buy- Breece Hall, New York Jets
Hall has been averaging a paltry 10.5 PPR fantasy points per game (RB36), but there is hope. The Jets have one of the top five easiest schedules remaining for running backs, and he has never finished below RB16 when he plays a full season. Braelon Allen is likely to go on IR, so while Hall has only been averaging 59% of the snaps and 69.9% of the running back carries, that should change. Expect him to have weekly top 5 upside. Try to get him now, before he plays Dallas and Carolina in the next three weeks.
Other RBs to Buy: Alvin Kamara (Saints), Chase Brown (Bengals)
Sell- Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
I have always been a fan of Travis Etienne, but he is exceeding my expectations right now. He is the PPR RB9, but his opponents have been the Panthers, Bengals, Texans, and 49ers. None of these teams has been playing particularly well, so the Jaguars haven’t needed to throw the ball a lot. As the season goes along, expect Etienne to get fewer attempts as the team has to play from behind more. I think Etienne will end up a top 15-18 running back, but nine is too high, so get value while you still can because the Jaguars’ next three opponents are the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Rams.
Other RBs to Sell: Quinshon Judkins (Browns)
Redraft Buy-Low & Sell-High (WR)
Buy- D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
So far, the perennial WR2 with WR1 upside has been a disappointment at WR34. Through Week 4, Rome Odunze has the most targets for Chicago with 35, Olamide Zaccheaus is second with 22, and D.J. Moore has 21. Expect this to change as the season progresses. There is a reason why Zaccheaus has never finished higher than WR65. By season’s end, I expect Moore to have over 100 targets and be a top 24, if not top 15 receiver. With their next four games against the bottom 12 pass defenses, I expect the Bears’ passing game to really show what it will be the rest of the season.
Other WRs to Buy: Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins), Brian Thomas, Jr. (Jaguars)
Sell- Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
Tre Tucker is currently 3rd on the team in both targets, receptions, and yards behind Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. The only reason he is the WR11 is because he has four touchdowns, three of which came against the Commanders’ weak pass defense. Geno Smith has only thrown six touchdowns this year (the other two went to Ashton Jeanty). Tucker has more than 5 points in the two games he scored touchdowns. Smith will eventually start throwing TDs to Meyers and Bowers, so outside of a couple of possible spike weeks, Tucker will not be a useful fantasy asset.
Other WRs to Sell: Quentin Johnston (Chargers), George Pickens (Cowboys), Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers)
Redraft Buy-Low & Sell-High (TE)
Buy- T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
After a rough couple of weeks with J.J. McCarthy making his first career starts for the Vikings, Hockenson started to look like the top-five tight end he was before his injury. Whether it’s McCarthy or Carson Wentz at quarterback, expect Hockenson to be much closer to TE5 than his current TE18 the rest of the season. See if you can swap him for a current top 12 tight end, someone like Zach Ertz or Dallas Goedert.
Other TEs to Buy: Brock Bowers (Raiders), Sam LaPorta (Lions)
Sell- Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
As Daniel Jones goes, so will Warren. He is currently the TE4, but if Daniel Jones reverts to the guy who was cut by the Giants, Warren’s numbers will fall off. Especially if Anthony Richardson becomes the starter. Richardson tends to like the deep ball and not focus on tight ends: no Indianapolis tight end had more than 31 targets, and the four Colts’ tight ends combined for a total of only 75 targets. Try to downtier Warren to get someone like Kyle Pitts or Dalton Kincaid and upgrade another position.
Other TEs to Sell: Mark Andrews (Ravens)
For more trade help, check out Aaron St. Denis’ Trade Value Charts, for both redraft and dynasty leagues, as well as IDP.