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Buy Low
Doug Martin, RB, TB (Redraft/Dynasty) - Watching Martin and Devonta Freeman side-by-side in Atlanta last week, there was no appreciable difference between the quality of Martin and Freeman’s play. That’s not a knock on Freeman, it’s a compliment for Martin. He’s consistently making the first tackler miss and running with top-end burst, leg drive, and determination. As the Bucs team continues to smooth out the rough spots, he’ll get better and better game scripts.
Mike Evans, WR, TB (Redraft) - Evans small day vs. Atlanta was partially on him, with multiple drops, but he also drew three pass interference penalties for at least sixty yards. He’s going to be the primary target in an up and coming offense with a growing young quarterback. Tampa’s schedule is favorable and Evans’ peaks should make his valleys worth absorbing.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT (Redraft/Dynasty) - Williams was the #1 fantasy running back through two weeks, and the offense he’s in now is arguably better because of Martavis Bryant. Someone who doesn’t need Williams or just got him on waivers might not realize they have a RB1. If you can pry him away for less that the typical RB1 price, go in for the kill.
Tyrod Taylor, QB, BUF (Redraft/Dynasty) - Taylor started out red hot, faded when Sammy Watkins went out, and then got hurt, so in the fast-moving world of fantasy perceptions, he’s borderline waiver wire quarterback. Taylor is healthy, Watkins is healthier, and the backfield is as healthy as it has been all year, so Taylor should hit the ground running out of the bye against a Dolphins defense he owned earlier this season.
Andrew Luck, QB, Frank Gore, RB, Donte Moncrief, WR (Redraft) - The Colts are running into the possibly historic buzzsaw that is the Denver Broncos defense and then lick their wounds during a Week 10 bye, so these players are unlikely to be a shot in the arm for a team on the playoff bubble. Established teams can wait out that short hiatus from the lineup to take advantage of a @ATL-TB-PIT-@JAX-HOU-@MIA run from Weeks 11-16. Luck should be healthier out of the bye and Gore has been playing well enough to be an RB1 in a better functioning offense.
Brandon LaFell, WR, NE (Redraft/Dynasty) - LaFell might have been found treasure on the waiver wire a few weeks ago, and he hasn’t done anything to justify a big investment or spot in the lineup, so he might be available for cheaper than you think. The big day for LaFell is coming sooner or later, as Tom Brady is targeting him downfield in single coverage. Washington has a suspect back end that even Sam Bradford found holes in deep. LaFell’s time could be now so get that offer in, especially if LaFell is on a rebuilding team.
Eli Manning, QB, NYG (Redraft/Dynasty) - Odell Beckham is back to full speed and Manning coincidentally had one of his career best games. It’s easy to forget Manning was QB7 from Week 9 on last year, and his schedule sets him up with ample opportunity to be a QB1 this time around with matchups against Washington, Tampa Bay, New England, and Miami on the slate. Victor Cruz could also be back for the stretch run.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA (Redraft/Dynasty) - Lynch is your splashy add in dynasty for a title run. He looked like his old self against San Francisco two weeks after stalling out against a game Dallas side last week. The bye week should bring at least rest if not a re-focusing of the team. Four of Lynch’s five 100-yard games came from Week 10 on last year. Lynch’s second hafl schedule includes five home games and a Week 15 matchup against the weak Browns run defense.
Chris Givens, WR, BAL (Redraft/Dynasty) - If Givens is free on the waiver wire, he might be worth a shot. His combination of deep speed, Flacco’s arm, Flacco’s triggerhappy attitude about throwing deep, and Marc Trestman’s pass-happy offense could generate value in the vacuum left by Steve Smith. Givens was once seen as a young wide receiver on the rise, and fortune has given him a chance to generate momentum.
Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (Redraft/Dynasty) - The dominoes are falling in the Chargers passing game, leaving Inman as the third wide receiver and fourth overall downfield option with Ladarius Green out. Inman came through with 7-79 and 5-79 lines when he was pressed into duty late last year, and the Chargers offense is leaning as pass heavy as ever. If you can find a spot for Inman, he could pay off as none of the three options ahead of him - Antonio Gates, Stevie Johnson, and Malcom Floyd - have optimistic injury outlooks
Sell High
Giovani Bernard, RB, CIN (Redraft) - If Bernard is behind at least two solid running back options, you might want to cash him in if a running back needy team comes calling. Bernard looked just as good last week as he did when he was a consistent fantasy option through the first half of this season, but the team chose to ride Jeremy Hill, which is exactly what they did last year, although Bernard wasn’t playing at this level. Bernard could and should have some big games going forward, but the ride could be rocky and his weekly ceiling isn’t as promising with Jeremy Hill getting a lot of the goal line work. Another dud or two like Week 8 and any trade value for Bernard will be gone.
Gary Barnidge, TE, CLE (Redraft) - Josh McCown missed Week 9, but he’ll likely be back next week to face Pittsburgh. Still, the punishment is adding up and McCown seems unlikely to last the season. Barnidge has the kind of trust from McCown that magnifies his fantasy value more than Johnny Manziel or Austin Davis can. Barnidge is no slouch, but if he’s not your best tight end, you should shop him to the best team that doesn’t have a steady tight end for something of value.
Vernon Davis, TE, DEN (Redraft/Dynasty) - Sell on the news. Davis might take a bit to get up to speed in this offense, and by then, the window to help a team get to the playoffs will be gone. The prospects of Manning to Davis are exciting and could help tilt a league in the playoffs, but unless you are rubbing two sticks together at tight end, it’s best to see if someone will deal something of value for the hope that Davis unlocks the latent value of the tight end in this system with Peyton Manning and the offense in general picking up.
Alfred Blue, RB, HOU (Redraft/Dynasty) - They say every starting running back has value. Well, everyone except the 49ers. Blue doesn’t have weekly value unless he gets a huge workload and that’s not coming very often if at all on this Texans team. See if you can get some pocket change for Blue.
Antonio Andrews, RB, TEN (Redraft/Dynasty) - “Every starting running back has value” part II. Andrews was anointed the starter by the Titans, and he has earned it, but what is that job worth in fantasy? Perhaps Mike Mularkey and Marcus Mariota can work some second half magic, and they do draw Jacksonville twice, but there are many more losses than wins looming, and David Cobb will be back very soon. Any return is a profit.