Happy Monday!! Welcome back to my weekly trade HUB article! Mike Hubbard Jr here, ready to help you with trade suggestions that can help your chances of winning your fantasy league. Follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) and Instagram (@fantasyhubbard) for all things fantasy football. Feel free to tweet me or message me on either social media with any comments or questions you might have regarding fantasy football.
Week 16 is ending tonight following the MNF game between the 7-7 Miami Dolphins and the 7-7 New Orleans Saints. Dolphins are favored by 3 with an over/under of 37. Ian Book (who?) is scheduled to start for the Saints at QB. Book is a former Notre Dame QB that was drafted by the Saints in the 4th round of the NFL Draft this year. The rookie does have Blake Bortles behind him if things go bad. Alvin Kamara will need to have a great game in order to be competitive. The Dolphins are looking to win their 7th consecutive game and earn a possible playoff berth. My bold prediction is a 20-16 win for Miami including a TD going to Waddle and a TD going to Parker.
Most fantasy football leagues trade deadlines have passed, but I know some leagues don’t use a deadline at all so this article is for those who are still able to trade. It’s the last time to get strategic and use your persuasion and negotiation skills out in the fantasy football trade market. Here are some players to buy and sell before week 17 begins. Like I always say, one trade could be the difference in winning or losing your fantasy football league.
PLAYERS TO BUY
AJ Brown – Tennessee Titans
AJ Brown came off the IR and put on a show in his first game back for the Titans. He finished week 16 with 11 receptions on 16 targets for 145 receiving yards and 1 TD. Those were season highs for him in targets and receptions. Tannehill threw the ball 29 times and completed 22 of those attempts. Brown caught 50% of his competitions and no other pass catcher on the team caught or was targeted more than 3 times. The Titans needed something positive and AJ made it happen. The Titans take on the Miami Dolphins in week 17 whose defense hasn’t been scaring opposing WRs this season. AJ will be leaned on heavily again as long as he is healthy and playing. Trade for him and win your championship.
Deebo Samuel – San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel is a beast. He can be lined up at RB or at WR for the 49ers and do damage. He had 5 carries for 32 rushing yards and 9 receptions for 159 receiving yards on 11 targets in week 16. Deebo had more than double every single pass catchers’ targets and receptions. He takes on the generous Texans defense in week 17 where he could be a fantasy playoff winner. I expect the 49ers to work the offense through Deebo giving him plenty of volume. Buy Deebo, it’s your last chance.
Nick Chubb – Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb showed us all in week 16 that he can get his stats even in a loss against a solid defense. Chubb caught 3 of his 4 targets for a season high 58 receiving yards. He carried the ball 17 times for 126 rushing yards and 1 TD as well. He is the clear RB1 on a running team even with D’Ernest Johnson and Kareem Hunt. It’s unclear if Hunt will be playing in week 17, but he is a must start stud that is a fantasy football game-changer. Despite missing a few games this season, Chubb still leads the team in rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing TDs. He gets the Steelers defense next who have struggled against RBs lately.
Damien Harris – New England Patriots
Damien Harris’ last 2 games were both against the Bills who have a tough defense. In those 2 games he totaled 28 carries for 214 rushing yards and 4 TDs. Although he is basically irrelevant in the pass catch game, he is efficient rushing and scores often. He has scored 12 TDs this season in his 13 games played. Harris gets the Jaguars next week who just lets the Jets rush for 273 yards in week 16. Even with a healthy Rhamondre Stevenson, Harris is in a great position to produce in your fantasy playoff game.
PLAYERS TO SELL
Darrell Henderson – Los Angeles Rams
Henderson had 1 rush for 17 yards against the Vikings in week 16. He was active but didn’t make any impact on the game. Instead, Sony Michel ran the ball 27 times for 131 rushing yards and 1 TD. Michel is on another level lately and has made his case as the clear RB1 for the Rams for maybe the rest of the regular season and post season. But in fantasy we get 1 more week and Sony Michel is the guy. Henderson may have injured his knee which makes it even more pivotal that you trade him now if you can. Let someone else (probably your opponent) deal with him and all the worry that comes with it. Sell him cheap as dirt if you’re able to.
Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have been struggling to get wins lately as they have just 1 win this month. The good news is that he has over 40 passing attempts in all of his last 3 games and has rushing upside, but the bad news is he has just 2 TDs (both passing) and 1 INT over the last 3 weeks. Murray gets the Cowboys in week 17 who have been good against opposing QBs this season. You can hope for a shootout, but the way Arizona is playing offensively it is a tall order. I’d sell him sky high if I have another top 10 option.
DeVonta Smith – Philadelphia Eagles
DeVonta Smith came to play against the giants in week 16 where he racked up 5 receptions for 80 receiving yards and a TD on 7 targets. Great performance for the rookie, but we haven’t been able to say that since week 11. Too inconsistent to start him in your fantasy playoff game, especially when he is taking on the Football Team in Washington who Smith just played and recorded just 3 receptions for 40 receiving yards. Take his week 16 performance and use it as a selling point in a trade. Smith is a great athlete but he’s on a team that is leading the NFL in rushing and is competing with mostly Dallas Goedert for targets. Need someone with more volume.
Marvin Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars
If you own Marvin Jones and are about to play for a fantasy football championship, I applaud you. He is usually a TD beast no matter the team or situation each season, but he only has 3 this season. He only had 1 in his rookie season but since then he averaged over 7 TDs each season. Trevor Lawrence is limiting his potential and has 1 passing TD since week 9 began. Unload Jones on someone who knows his TD history and is coming off of an 8 reception and 13 target game. Get what you can for him or take the big risk when he faces the Patriots in week 17.