Happy Monday and welcome back to my weekly trade HUB article. I hope your weekend was full of football and full of fantasy points. Mike Hubbard Jr here, ready as always to help you with trade suggestions that can help your chances of winning your fantasy league. Follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) for all things fantasy football. Feel free to tweet me or message me with any comments or questions you might have regarding fantasy football.
Week 13 is ending tonight with a MNF matchup between the 4-8 Saints and the 5-6 Buccaneers. The line favors the home team Bucs by 3 points with an over/under of 41. This seems like a rather easy game for the Bucs, but it seems like the Saints always put up a fight against Brady and the Bucs. Brady beat the Saints earlier this year by a score 20-10. Jameis Winston threw 3 INTs, and the Bucs defense sacked him 6 times. This game means a lot more to Tampa who is somehow a division leader in position to make the playoffs. I think Brady should be able to handle the Saints at home tonight, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Saints make it difficult. The over/under of 41 is very low but I think I prefer the under. My prediction is a Bucs victory by a score of 23-13.
Make sure you’re aware if or when your league has a trade deadline. Try to sell and/or buy players with strategy and the use of your persuasion and negotiation skills. Here are some players to buy and sell before week 14 begins. Like I always say, one trade could be the difference in winning or losing your fantasy football league.
PLAYERS TO BUY
Ezekiel Elliot – Dallas Cowboys
Elliot is starting to look like the Zeke that ate up defenses in the past. He has scored in 5 consecutive games he has played in, and the Dallas offense is rolling. Tony Pollard has been better in fantasy this year, but both are extremely productive. I would use the fact that Pollard is getting a lot of touches and has been great to try to persuade Elliot’s owner that he is trade worthy. If you can buy Elliot (preferably lower than expected) you will be in good hands, especially come playoff time. Zeke’s remaining games are all good matchups for the big RB.
George Kittle – San Francisco 49ers
We all know Kittle is one of the best TEs in the league, right up there with Kelce and Andrews. He is coming off an off game where he caught 2 of 3 targets for 22 receiving yards. 3 of his last 4 game resulted in 3 catches or less and under 30 yards in those 3. Kittle has the goods and can perform with or without Jimmy G. Jimmy is done for the season, but Brock Purdy didn’t look too bad. Go buy Kittle low given his low scoring recently and the fact that he will have a new QB to get targets from. I like Kittles chances of helping your team make it through the playoffs.
TJ Hockenson – Minnesota Vikings
Hock has been great with his new team the Vikings. He has 4+ receptions in all but 1 of his games with Minnesota. He has 70+ yards twice and scored a TD. His week 13 performance was rather pedestrian catching 4 of 6 targets for 33 receiving yards. He should continue to get looks and cash in opportunities for you in the playoffs if you can acquire him. He gets a mouthwatering matchup next week against his former team the Lions and will be a top 5 TE rest of season. If you can buy him don’t hesitate.
PLAYERS TO SELL
Zonovan Knight – New York Jets
Knight had another good game in the absence of Michael Carter. Knight got 15 carries compared to 4 for Robinson and 1 for Ty Johnson. He turned those carries into 90 rushing yards, and then contributed to the passing game catching all 5 of his targets for 28 receiving yards. It seems he will be active in this offense even when Carter returns, so now is a great time to sell. Carter will most likely take the RB1 role back from Knight limiting Zonovan at least a little. Jets take on Buffalo’s defense next week making it even more tempting to sell him high after his back-to-back good games.
Christian Watson – Green Bay Packers
Watson is on fire!! If you own him, I can understand not wanting to get rid of him but think about that Packer fan in your league or someone desperate for a starting WR. The sky could be the limit for this rookie who has scored a total of 8 TDs in his last 4 games. 7 receiving and 1 rushing. You could get an RB1 or WR1 or even a TE1 if you play your cards right. Watson could definitely be a league winner, but he has a BYE this weekend and if you are struggling to make the playoffs and are in a must win situation, unload Watson, and get a week 14 player primed for greatness.
Drake London – Atlanta Falcons
London tied his season high in targets in week 13 with 12. He caught 6 of those targets which is his 2nd most receptions in a game in his rookie season and his 95 receiving yards are a new high for him. London is a talented WR on an average at best offense. He may have had good numbers yesterday, but it was against the Steelers whose defense can’t defend WRs. The Falcons are also now on their BYE week, so it makes trading him more valuable to your team. Drake does have 4 TDs this season, but the Atlanta offense has scored just 17 points or less in 4 of their last 5 games. If you can sell London, I say do it.