Fantasy Trade Market: Top Players to Buy, Sell or Hold After NFL Preseason Week 1
August 12, 2024Fantasy Trade Market: Top Players to Buy, Sell or Hold After NFL Preseason Week 1
We are one week into the NFL preseason which means fantasy football managers are starting to get a clearer picture of their team's strengths, weaknesses and how to address both on the trade market.
While watching these exhibition games, managers should take note of offensive rotations and rookies who might be in line for big roles.
We'll highlight the biggest fantasy takeaways, stock market style.
Every week, we will take a look at players to buy, sell and hold for at least another week in an effort to help you manage your roster portfolio whether you're contending for a league championship or building for the future.
Buy These Players Now
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears
Preseason Week 1: 9 carries, 31 yards
2023 Season: 132 carries, 611 yards, 2 TDs; 20 catches, 134 yards, TD
In the Chicago Bears' second preseason game, D'Andre Swift shared touches with Khalil Herbrt on the first drive as part of the starting group. Herbert handled carries on early downs and on 3rd-and-1.
Roschon Johnson, who has missed practice because of an injury, didn't play in the game. He'll likely be a factor in the Bears' backfield rotation. That said, Herbert led the team's running backs in rushing last season, and he's been an early-down ball-carrier for the last three campaigns.
Swift missed 10 games in his first three terms with the Detroit Lions before handling a massive workload as the Philadelphia Eagles' lead tailback in 2023. The Bears may limit his touch volume to increase the probability that he stays healthy for most of the season.
Buy Herbert for: Roschon Johnson, AJ Dillon, Ray Davis
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Preseason Week 1: N/A
2023 Season: N/A
The Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver pecking order has a lot of moving parts.
According to NFL Insider James Palmer, the Chiefs expect the league to suspend Rashee Rice for his involvement in a March car accident. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Marquise Brown's status for Kansas City's season opener is uncertain after he suffered a shoulder injury in the team's first preseason game.
With question marks around Rice and Brown, managers should buy Worthy as a safe option to be the No. 2 target behind Travis Kelce in the Chiefs' passing offense. He's a rookie first-rounder who's generated some buzz at camp. Plus, his ability to stretch the field can open up Kansas City's deep-ball attack with Patrick Mahomes under center.
Buy Worthy for: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Keon Coleman, Ladd McConkey
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Preseason Week 1: 2 catches, 25 yards
2023 Season: N/A
Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy didn't waste time getting Bowers involved in the team's first exhibition contest. The rookie first-rounder caught two passes from Aidan O'Connell. When Bowers left the game with most of the starters, the backup tight ends saw targets from Gardner Minshew.
Under Getsy, Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet became a primary red-zone target and posted career highs in receptions (73) and receiving yards (719) last season.
As the lead tight end for the Raiders, Bowers could post low-end TE1 numbers with O'Connell or Minshew under center.
Buy Bowers for: Jake Ferguson, Evan Engram, David Njoku
Sell These Players
Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans
Preseason Week 1: N/A
2023 Season: 107 catches, 1,183 yards, 8 TDs
The Houston Texans made a big splash in the offseason when they acquired 2020 All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills. In this case, managers should be careful about chasing players in offseason headlines.
Diggs will join Nico Collins, who had a breakout 2023 campaign and then signed a three-year extension, and Tank Dell to form an enticing wide receiver trio.
In the Texans' second preseason game, quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Dell on a 34-yard touchdown pass, which shows the tandem could pick up where they left off before the wideout suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
Collins and Dell have an established rapport with Stroud, and they're both on the rise. Don't be surprised that Diggs sees a notable decline in target share compared to his years as the Bills' go-to pass-catcher.
Sell Diggs For: DeVonta Smith, Drake London, Amari Cooper
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Preseason Week 1: N/A
2023 Season: 59 catches, 674 yards, 8 TDs
Don't get caught holding shares of Romeo Doubs as Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love continues to build a rapport with Dontayvion Wicks.
In the Packers' first preseason game, Love connected with Wicks on a 65-yard touchdown pass. Wicks, who finished second on the team in yards per reception last year, could see an uptick from his 47 percent snap count in the previous term.
Doubs led the Packers in targets (96) and tied Jayden Reed for most touchdowns (eight) on the team last season. However, his target share will probably drop if the Packers' pass-catching group stays healthy, particularly Christian Watson who missed eight games in 2023.
With Watson, Reed, Doubs and Wicks, the Packers have a deep wide receiver corps. Based on yards per reception, Doubs is the least explosive wideout of the group, averaging 10.9 yards per catch. Among Green Bay's receivers, Doubs is most dependent on a high target volume to stay in the WR2/WR3 range.
Sell Doubs For: Rico Dowdle, Joshua Palmer, Jameson Williams
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Preseason Week 1: 1 catch, 26 yards
2023 Season: 73 catches, 719 yards, 6 TDs
In the Chicago Bears' second preseason game, Cole Kmet caught a 26-yard pass from Caleb Williams, but he shared some of the starting tight end snaps with Gerald Everett.
Everett could be heavily involved in the Bears offense, enough to cap Kmet's receiving production for the 2024 campaign even if Williams has a spectacular rookie year.
Everett and Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron have a working relationship that goes back to their time with the Los Angeles Rams between 2017 and 2020. In 2021, Everett followed Waldron to the Seattle Seahawks. They're reunited again in Chicago.
Though Kmet posted career highs in catches and receiving yards last year under the previous coaching regime, he may be in a timeshare for the starting role with Everett, who's well-versed in Waldron's system.
Sell Kmet For: J.K. Dobbins, Pat Freiermuth, Zach Charbonnet
Hold These Players for Another Week
Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Preseason Week 1: 5-of-6, 67 yards passing, 2 rushing yards
2023 Season: 227-of-370, 2,562 yards passing, 16 TDs, 9 INTs; 657 rushing yards, 4 TDs
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin caught everyone's attention when he said that the team's quarterback battle is "very much a competition." Tomlin also told reporters that what happens "in stadium" (preseason) carries more weight than the practices.
As Russell Wilson nurses a calf injury, Fields has made a case to win the starting job. After a strong showing in several training camp practices, he put together a solid preseason performance minus a couple of botched snaps.
If Fields beats out Wilson for the position, he's clearly a fantasy QB1 because of his rushing ability. With 40 career games on his resume, Fields has 19 top-10 weekly finishes in overall fantasy scoring.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Preseason Week 1: 5 carries, 10 yards, 1 catch, 0 yards
2023 Season: 44 carries, 179 yards; 14 catches, 156 yards, TD
The Cincinnati Bengals' starting running back position seems unclear and because Zack Moss is dealing with an illness, the team's first preseason game didn't provide any clarity.
Chase Brown started the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He didn't have an eventful outing, though his availability likely helped his push for the lead role.
Brown is a popular handcuff option who has upside because of his big-play and pass-catching abilities. Managers should hold off another week before going into full buy-now mode on his stock.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
Preseason Week 1: 5 carries, 26 yards
2023 Season: N/A
Don't be fooled by the box score numbers of the New York Giants' Week 1 preseason game. Yes, Eric Gray racked up 98 yards and scored two touchdowns from scrimmage, but he entered the contest after Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Because Tracy started the contest, managers should view him as the primary backup to spell Devin Singletary. His stat line doesn't jump off the screen, though he did have a couple of runs that showed his ability to pick up yardage without clean blocks and make a big play when the offensive line creates a lane for him.
The Giants offense will need explosive plays, and Tracy can provide that in a complementary role.
Advanced fantasy football statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.