Buy Low
Van Jefferson (WR-LAR), Gabriel Davis (WR-BUF), Tyler Johnson (WR-TB) - All three of these second year receivers have the goods to be everyweek fantasy starts in their potent pass offenses, they just don’t have the opportunity. That can change on any play if a starter gets hurt, and for dynasty leagues, they will eventually get their day in the sun. All three are about as cheap as they will get in dynasty, and they might be free in redraft leagues. We don’t think about injury upside for receivers very often, but this trio has enough to be compelling.
Darren Waller (TE-LV) - Waller has been on a bit of a cold streak since a massive season opener against the Ravens. At that point, it looked like he was going to join Travis Kelce atop the fantasy tight end rankings, but since then he hasn’t had a game of note in fantasy leagues, and his numbers are trending down. That should change this week against the Broncos, who gave up a 9-117 line to Waller on the last day of the 2020 regular season and notoriously have trouble covering tight ends. This is probably your last chance to buy low on Waller if you have a hole at tight end.
Laviska Shenault (WR-JAX) - Shenault is a long term buy low - that is, we can’t be sure that we’ll be able to count on him at any point this year, but he absolutely has the talent and ability to become a strong weekly play once there is stability around him. The deep ball from Trevor Lawrence in Week 4 showed Shenault’s speed to get downfield and ball skills to adjust to the improvisational throw, something Lawrence won’t forget once a real adult is in charge of this football team and setting him and the rest of this young team up for growth, and hopefully eventually, success.
Odell Beckham Jr (WR-CLE) - The Mayfield-Beckham relationship bottomed out in Week 5, when Mayfield froze out Beckham following a drop of an easy fourth-and-2 conversion. Mayfield seemed to refer to it and cite it as a reason the team lost the nailbiter of an epic shootout and Beckham was seen sitting by himself on the bench. Beckham’s huge salary may make it difficult to deal him before the early November deadline, but he isn’t long for the Browns either way. The speed, hands, and body control are all still there, but Mayfield is not the quarterback to unlock those tools and skills. Many have given up on Beckham, so you might be surprised how cheap he can come in dynasty leagues right now. He’s probably close to free in redraft and worth the gamble.
Javonte Williams (RB-DEN) - Williams’ value in redraft leagues has tumbled since he was going around the fifth round of drafts this summer. He has looked as good as advertised, but Melvin Gordon isn’t going away and the team has been too quick to abandon the run, failing to get Williams in a rhythm when they can really leverage his tackle-breaking skills. Gordon has been on the injury report with multiple issues, so the door could open for Williams at any time, and he might not look back with an extended opportunity. He was too expensive in drafts, but his current value in redraft leagues doesn’t reflect the still present ceiling that made him so attractive to fantasy players just two months ago.
Buy High
Rondale Moore (WR-ARI) - Moore is coming off a very good game, but he hasn’t come close to peaking yet. He is doing good things with the ball in his hands, with three near scores as a runner, and last week a long sideline catch that would make the most technically accomplished receiver proud. Kyler Murray is going to look his way on extended plays, and Moore should get more snaps with the necessity of more four wide sets with #1 tight end Maxx Williams sidelined for the season.
Kadarius Toney (WR-NYG) - Toney’s breakout game was very visible, and knowing the Giants, it might be best to see if he fades into the background with Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton due back, and then make your offer in dynasty leagues. The team that has him likely drafted him at a huge discount because Toney didn’t have a good spring or summer and the fit with the organization seemed odd to say the least. Now we can see that his talent is unstoppable and he didn’t look nearly as raw as we were primed to believe he would be. There are very few players who as rookies make their pro competition look as helpless to stop them as their college competition looked just one year before - when that happens take notice because we might be on the verge of seeing something very special.
Austin Ekeler (RB-LAC) - I’ll make this simple - just look at Ekeler like he is Christian McCaffrey in redraft leagues, and make an offer of what you would give for McCaffrey. He is playing the best football of his career in a fantasy rich environment and has the look of a league winner, even when the opposition isn’t pulling him into the end zone like the Browns did last week. Go strong to the hole for Ekeler if you are making a push for a title.
Sell High
Devontae Booker (RB-NYG) - Booker will get a start or two in place of Saquon Barkley, but he is just an average backup and probably won’t move the needle for fantasy against the Rams this week or Panthers next week. That didn’t stop folks from bidding a lot for him on the waiver wire this week, so you might be able to pawn him to a running back needy team in a very thin week for the position.
Opportunity Knocks
Preston Williams (WR-MIA)
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB-NE)
James Washington (WR-PIT)
Khalil Herbert (RB-CHI)
Ty’Son Williams (RB-BAL)
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR-CLE)
Darrel Williams (RB-KC)
Ricky Seals-Jones (TE-WAS)
