Buy Low
C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF (Redraft/Dynasty) - Spiller is clearly not 100%, but every week more flashes of that lethal acceleration and quickness come back. The Bills are going through some quarterback troubles right now, but EJ Manuel should be back sometime in November. Spiller can still be a dynasty cornerstone and huge weapon in the fantasy playoffs this year.
Marvin Jones, WR, CIN (Redraft/Dynasty) - Jones came up huge with big plays on an end around and wide receiver screen against the Bills. He also made a couple of clutch second half catches, which all together should earn him more snaps and touches as defenses focus on A.J. Green. Mohamed Sanu is a limited talent, and he won’t hold Jones off for much longer.
Tavarres King, WR, DEN (Dynasty) - See you if you can create a roster spot for King. He could step right into Eric Decker’s role if Decker leaves in free agency next year, and the Broncos obviously covet his services because they made sure to promote him when Green Bay came calling to sign him to their active roster.
Case Keenum, QB, HOU (Dynasty) - In very deep dynasty leagues, or 2-QB leagues, Keenum is a name to remember. T.J. Yates is working on his own pick six streak, and Matt Schaub is a lame duck with a bum wheel at this point. I’m not a Keenum believer, but you never know...
Dwayne Allen, TE, IND (Dynasty) - It hurts to watch the Colts offense sputter when you know that Allen would be making an impact as both as a receiver and run blocker. Coby Fleener is never going to be a core producer for this team. Allen will be a valuable commodity once he is healthy next year. Try to poach him from a team that is unaware of what they have in him.
Brian Hartline, WR, MIA (Redraft/Dynasty) - Hartline’s numbers have tailed off a bit, but he is still a high floor weekly WR3/Flex play, and he’ll still get the #2 corner matchup against teams like the Jets, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Tampa left on Miami’s schedule.
Shane Vereen, RB, NE Percy Harvin, WR, SEA (Redraft) - It’s time to add these potential difference makers in November/December even in short bench leagues. If you wait for news that they are close to a return, you’ll have a lot more competitive for their services.
Terrelle Pryor, QB, OAK (Redraft/Dynasty) - Pryor was rattled by the Chiefs defense and home crowd, but that is no exclusive club to be in this year. He is still a supreme physical talent who has shown enough to get the Raiders “quarterback of the future” label. Pryor has the right stuff to be a fantasy QB1, but it’s possible that not everyone who owns him can see that. I’ll keep putting him in the buy low column until it is obvious to even casual observers.
Philip Rivers, QB, SD (Redraft/Dynasty) - For some reason, there are still Rivers doubters out there. A few of his fantasy lines have been somewhat weak, but with Jacksonville, Washington, and Denver coming up in the next three games, plus the Giants, Denver, and Oakland in the fantasy playoffs, he is a very desirable QB1 to have for the remainder of the season. I would even consider going from Drew Brees to Rivers if I can get a RB1/WR1 in the deal too.
Shonn Greene, RB, TEN (Redraft) - I’m not the biggest fan of Greene, but I think he can be more effective than Chris Johnson, and he gets goal line carries. The Titans have a softer second half schedule, but that could benefit Greene more than Johnson. Greene is due back this week, or in week 9 after the team’s bye at the latest. He’s worth an add in all but very short bench leagues.
Riley Cooper, WR, PHI (Redraft) - Maybe the takeaway here is that you should start your #2 receivers against Tampa, but Cooper’s considerable athletic ability also deserves some credit. He was able to get behind Johnthan Banks and make a good play on a deep ball for a score, and then left Banks grasping at air as he streaked down the sideline for another large gain. With Nick Foles passing effectively, Cooper’s value could persist. Don’t overlook him on the waiver wire in deep leagues.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB (Redraft) - It’s gloom and doom for Rodgers with no Randall Cobb until at least December, until you look at the ridiculously soft schedule coming up for the Packers against the pass after this week: @MIN, CHI, PHI, @NYG, MIN. He’s going to be fine.
Doug Martin, RB, TB (Redraft) - The perception of Martin has finally caught up with the reality of a very limited surrounding offense in Tampa. Now you can take advantage of that by buying low if his owner is fed up with the underwhelming stat lines. He was a yard from a long score last week, and Mike Glennon is looking better than expected. With Buffalo and St. Louis on the fantasy playoff schedule, Martin looks like a good “ace in the hole” for playoff teams.
Heath Miller, TE, PIT (Redraft) - Miller isn’t flashy, but the Steelers will be passing a lot this year, so he’ll continue to be a low TE1, with mid-high TE1 upside in PPR leagues. If he is on a team with another good tight end, he might come cheaper than you think.
Sell High
Bernard Pierce, RB, BAL (Dynasty) - Pierce is thought of as a strong running back to stash away in dynasty leagues, but he hasn’t been impressive this year, and Ray Rice isn’t that close to the running back cliff. If you need help to get over the hump this year in your dynasty league, don’t get too attached to Pierce as a piece to turn into a player who is putting up points right now.
Justin Blackmon, WR, JAX (Redraft) - I don’t expect Blackmon to fall out of the top 24-36 wide receivers going forward, but his scalding early pace is based mainly on a busted coverage vs. the Rams, and a gameplan vs. the Broncos that featured little else other than throwing to Blackmon when the Jags had the ball. The return of Blaine Gabbert and Cecil Shorts will threaten Blackmon’s upside, so if you can make a lateral move to an established WR1/WR2 like Victor Cruz or Jordy Nelson, go for it.
Chris Johnson, RB, TEN (Redraft/Dynasty) - The Titans second-half schedule is the last thing that Johnson owners have to hang onto, but that could be better for Shonn Greene than Johnson if Greene is running with more urgency and getting yards after contact. Johnson still has some name-brand value, try to cash it in before Greene returns.
Harry Douglas, WR, ATL (Redraft) - Don’t assume that Douglas’s numbers will look much better with Julio Jones out than they did with Jones in and Roddy White hobbled. Douglas can’t win one on one battles with more physical corners outside, and he is unlikely to be more than the low flex play he already was.
Steve Smith, WR, CAR (Redraft) - Smith is still putting up acceptable stat line every week, but his high ceiling has been lowered since Ted Ginn and Brandon LaFell started taking all of the deep targets. He is just a low ceiling WR3/Flex, although he could garner more value than that from a wide receiver-deficient team on reputation.
Joseph Randle, RB, DAL (Redraft/Dynasty) - Randle is barely a replacement level talent. He could have a decent game vs. Philadelphia (assuming Demarco Murray is out), Murray’s injury is not a long-term issue, and Randle would eventually lose value to Lance Dunbar even if it was.
Kris Durham, WR, DET (Redraft/Dynasty) - Durham is competent, but nothing more. He only had a solid statline vs. Cleveland because Calvin Johnson was limited.
Zac Stacy, RB, STL (Redraft) - I still like Stacy in dynasty leagues, but in redraft his value has been inflated a little by matchups against the worst team in the league and the team that played maybe the worst single game all season. He is just a flex play, and one with a limited weekly scoring range against a very tough second-half schedule.
Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG (Redraft) - Jacobs turned back the clock, but he is still on an 0-6 team, and Andre Brown/David Wilson will be back soon. The matchup against the Vikings is pretty good, but that’s exactly why you might be able to get something for Jacobs in a 2-for-1 to upgrade a spot in your starting lineup.
