Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Week 5

Chris Meaney

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Welcome to the Week 5 buy-low/sell-high fantasy football trade target article.

The goal here is to highlight a few players who have seen their stock rise or fall, which ultimately leads to buy-low and sell-high trade targets in fantasy football. If you’re looking for Week 5 waiver-wire pickups, check out the latest episode of Mean Streets.

I’ve also highlighted a few players I’m concerned about, a few I would rather hold than trade and a few players I would cut ties with. You’ll also see the top 10 players traded in CBS Sports fantasy football leagues over the past 24 hours. I addressed some of the following players in the show:

Keep in mind some of the buy-low and sell-high candidates mentioned below don’t need to be moved. These are merely suggestions. I’m a big believer in 2-for-1 and 3-for-1 package deals if it means landing the best player in the trade. Remember, you want to sell high and buy low, not sell low and buy high.

Buy-Low Candidates

Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills

Gave Davis only has four grabs and 50 yards since his 4-catch, 88-yard performance in Week 1 that saw him score a touchdown. Davis has played 98, 96 and 98% of the snaps in his three games. Davis played a team-high 87 snaps and ran more routes than anyone (70) in Week 3 and that was the case last week too as he ran 42 routes on 63 snaps. Josh Allen’s 168 pass attempts rank third and the Bills have one of the best offenses in the game. Buffalo’s schedule gets much easier after their bye in Week 7. I still think Davis has WR2 upside.

Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The window is probably closed after Chris Godwin returned to the lineup last week. He caught seven of his 10 targets for 59 yards. It’s possible the manager would like to just get rid of him because he’s been hurt a couple times this season and he had a scare in the game last week. Julio Jones is a nonfactor and Russell Gage is the number four at best in Tampa Bay’s offense. Godwin and Mike Evans are the players you want from the Buccaneers.

Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Talk

Joe Mixon leads all running backs in red zone carries with 16 (tied with Jalen Hurts) and has a league-high 14 carries inside the 10-yard line. Mixon has a very weak 2.7 yards per carry mark (56 yards per game) and just the one touchdown, but he has 82 attempts, which are just two behind Saquon Barkley for the most. He also has a respectable 17 grabs on 24 targets. Overall, he’s tied with Barkley for the most touches (99) and his 106 opportunities lead all backs.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

It’s highly unlikely, but you may be able to get Jonathan Taylor if the manager is off to an awful start. Taylor only has more than 10 points in a half point setting in one of his three games and he won’t play this week. Always check in on managers who are desperate for healthy bodies right now. An 0-4 owner can’t afford another loss this week. The same thing can be said about Nyheim Hines. If you don’t need him, flip him to a team that does. He may only be valuable this week.

Check In On

Dak Prescott — DAL
Dalvin Cook — MIN
Breece Hall — NYJ
Alvin Kamara — NO (if you’re off to a great start and Kamara becomes your RB2/3)
J.K. Dobbins — BLT
Josh Jacobs — LV (I’d buy if people don’t believe)
Ja’Marr Chase — CIN
Amon-Ra St. Brown – DET
Michael Pittman — IND
Christian Kirk — JAX
Chris Olave — NO
Rashod Bateman — BLT
Romeo Doubs — GB
Dalton Schultz — DAL (Dak will be back soon)
Kyle Pitts — ATL (if you can afford to take on some risk, he’ll never be cheaper)

Sell-High Candidates

Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders

It’s probably a bad time to sell Antonio Gibson because his stock is on the decline, but I’d get out now while you can. Gibson’s snap percentage has gone from 64%, 54%. 44% to 41% last week. Brian Robinson is expected to make his debut this week and J.D. McKissic is the back on the field in passing situations. The Washington offense isn’t great so McKissic will likely get more work when the team is playing from behind late in games and Robinson is a real threat to steal first- and second-down looks as well as goal line work. With that said, I’d look to sell Robinson as well. This is going to be a mess of a situation and Robinson’s stock may never be higher than it is right now as there’s excitement surrounding his name.

Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Rashaad Penny Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Talk

Rashaad Penny broke out last week as he racked up 151 yards on 17 carries and he found the end zone twice. He’s in a much tougher spot this week against the Saints, so now may be the time to sell him. He’s also never played a full season due to multiple injuries and although Kenneth Walker isn’t touching the field a lot, he’s seeing an increase in usage with each game he plays.

Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears

Now is your time to get rid of Darnell Mooney, as he’s coming off his best showing of the season. The Bears’ wideout hauled in a season-high four catches for 94 yards last week. He has 11 targets in his past two games, but he only has six grabs. Volume is king but he’s not getting very many targets as Justin Fields’ 67 pass attempts rank 32nd in the NFL. This team isn’t looking to throw the football and I don’t think you’ll ever be able to trust Mooney in your lineup.