Fantasy Football Trade Market: Week 3

Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

After getting embarrassed in Philadelphia, the Steelers head home to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a forgettable game against the Eagles, as he attempted 44 passes and completed just 55 percent of them. On the season he has six touchdowns and four interceptions. Things are looking up though—Le’Veon Bell returns this week and finally the offense will be complete.

While DeAngelo Williams has filled in admirably, he is no Le’Veon Bell. With Bell in the lineup, the Steelers’ offensive improves dramatically and we should start seeing those 30 points per game that Roethlisberger was aiming for prior to the start of the 2016 season. Outside of his game against the Redskins, Roethlisberger has been very average, but make no mistake—he is one of the best. If you’re struggling at quarterback, now is a great time to acquire him before Pittsburgh’s offense really gets going.

Verdict: BUY. We all know how lethal Pittsburgh’s offensive will be going forward. Big Ben is a top five quarterback for the remainder of the year.

Running Back

LeGarrette Blount, Patriots

What LeGarrette Blount has done over the Patriots’ first three games is nothing short of remarkable. When the team needed him the most, he performed at a peak level. There is little doubt that he is New England’s feature back, but there are going to be some changes on the horizon that give me serious pause. Following Week 4, Tom Brady will make his awaited return to a team that will sit at 4-0 or 3-1. New England couldn’t ask for a better situation. With Brady back under center, the offensive will rely less on Blount and more on the passing game, which focuses around the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback.

Blount has 75 rushing attempts in three games this season with four touchdowns. For perspective, he ran the ball 165 times in 12 games last year. In fact, there were four games in which he had 10 or fewer attempts. Case in point, when Brady returns, the Patriots won’t be forced to rely so heavily on Blount. He still has one week left as the team’s workhorse, but your best chance to move him at his highest value will be right now.

Verdict: SELL. Blount has done a phenomenal job for the Patriots over the first three weeks, but this is strictly a work issue. He carries will drop from roughly 23-25 times per game to around the 12-15 mark.

Eddie Lacy, Patriots

The Packers are off to a fine start this year and what we have mostly seen is a lethal passing game with a little Eddie Lacy sprinkled in. Lacy made 17 rushing attempts during a Week 3 win over the Lions, giving him a total of 45 on the year. He is averaging 5.0 YPC, but has yet to reach the end zone. On the surface, his numbers are just kind of bland, but that can be attribute to Green Bay’s game plan over the first three weeks. I fully expect Lacy to get more involved in the Packers’ offense going forward, so his price will never be cheaper.

Verdict: BUY. Lacy is in good shape, but just hasn’t been very involved in the offense to date. His sagging numbers would allow him to come at a discounted price compared to what his cost will be following Green Bay’s bye week.

Wide Receiver

Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers

It’s likely that Kelvin Benjamin was starting in 70-80 percent of fantasy lineups this past weekend. As many of us know all too well, he laid a big fat goose egg. That’s right, a top 20 wideout completely failed on Sunday. There are reasons for this. First off, Carolina played a stout Minnesota defense. The Vikings managed to rattle Cam Newton into throwing three interceptions while sacking him eight times! Second, Benjamin wasn’t targeted until late in the fourth quarter. He ended up with that lone target, this after being targeted nine and 12 times in his first two games, respectively.

Benjamin is, without question, at the top of the Panthers’ depth chart at wide receiver. One piss poor game isn’t going to change that, but it could change the minds of fantasy owners. If you look for opportunity, this is a good one. With games coming up against the Falcons, Buccaneers, and Saints, Benjamin will be a focal point of the offense again immediately.

Verdict: BUY. Even against the Vikings, no one would have guessed that Benjamin would provide fantasy owners with zero points this past weekend. He has favorable matchups on the horizons and makes for an excellent buy candidate.

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

This one is easy. Big Gronk missed the Patriots’ first two games and then was a nonfactor during last Thursday’s blowout win over the Texans. With Tom Brady returning Week 5 against Cleveland, Gronkowski should immediately find his groove. There has to be many owners skeptical about his health, but I see that as opportunity. If you can acquire the top tight end in football for 75 cents on the dollar, you absolutely have to do it.

Verdict: BUY. For the same reason I recommended selling LeGarrette Blount, I am fully behind making a deal to acquire Gronkowski. Tom Brady makes all of the difference.