Buy Low, Sell High: Week 1

Players to get in on and get out of before the Week 1 reveal.

Sigmund Bloom's Buy Low, Sell High: Week 1 Sigmund Bloom Published 09/10/2026

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The final days and hours before Week 1 give us the last window to trade for and trade away players in the universe of values they have based on an offseason of navel-gazing. We know that a significant number of players will have a "today" price after Week 1 that is very different from the "yesterday" price. Who are the players who could fit that description?

Sell Low

Cam Ward (QB-TEN)

The #1 overall pick's shine could be coming off of Ward very quickly if he doesn't generate momentum right away against a middling at best Jets defense. The Eagles are waiting in Week 2, and then Baltimore in Week 4 and Houston in Week 5. All this while, Ward is learning a new offense under Brian Daboll and playing behind an offensive line that is a work in progress (to be kind). In superflex leagues, you might want to make Ward the centerpiece of a package to upgrade to a quarterback from the Herbert/Lawrence/Nix tier, or make a lateral move to someone like Tyler Shough or Malik Willis

Jayden Daniels (QB-WAS)

Daniels is starting out with the brutal trio of Philadelphia and Dallas on the road and then Seattle in the Week 3 home opener. His offensive line is rickety without left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and his team's big offseason acquisitions to help a thin passing game were Antonio WilliamsChig Okonkwo, and Stefon Diggs. Daniels is also playing under a new playcaller in David Blough, who was previously an assistant quarterback coach for the team for two years. Daniels shouldn't be unleashed as a runner in the wake of his injury-riddled 2025 campaign, but this offense probably can't hang as a pass-first or run-first unit. Gulp.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB-WAS), Rachaad White (RB-WAS)

Speaking of Commanders to offer up in trades, get anything you can for their running back duos in dynasty, for the same reasons that we should be wary of Daniels' value this year. If Dan Quinn ends up on the hot seat, who knows who the next offensive coordinator will want to have in the backfield?

Makai Lemon (WR-PHI)

Lemon looked ordinary on a preseason field after hamstring injuries delayed his onboarding to the Eagles. Stylistically, he doesn't seem like a great fit for an offense that leverages Jalen Hurts' strengths, and there was a rumor that the team could bring back Zach Ertz, which would effectively nuke Lemon's value this year, if there's much there to begin with. In a different offense with a different quarterback, Lemon could be a lot more valuable, but this ain't it.

Patrick Mahomes II (QB-KC). Rashee Rice (WR-KC)

Mahomes is nine months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, his left tackle is hurt, and the only wide receiver he has who can consistently beat man coverage is a fifth-round rookie. The Broncos have been stingy to Mahomes even in good times, and these are not good times for the Chiefs offense, which will be putting a lot on Ken Walker III's shoulders. The "PPR scam" that Rice has been could be a well that runs dry, that is, if Rice stays healthy and out of trouble, which he hasn't been able to do over the last two seasons. Rice is going to get a chilly reception in free agency next year, and even if the Chiefs do bring him back, it won't be as a foundational player. The bottom could drop out of Rice's value quickly in dynasty leagues, and Mahomes' value is more reputation than recent track record.

Sell High

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