Fantasy Football Trading Tips: Why It's Time to Take on Puka Nacua Before It's Too Late, Plus 4 Players to Buy

Creating realistic commercial offers that lead to deal acceptance is always a challenge. Throughout the season, Justin Boone will release his trade value charts for the remainder of the season, which you can use as a guide to help you make decisions and manage your roster. Below, he highlights some of the players you should buy or sell before their value changes in the coming weeks.

Justin Boone Trade Value Charts

Bought

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Broncos

Waddle was disappointing throughout the first month with just one big fantasy performance in a Broncos jersey (8-138-1 in Week 2). He was held to 35 yards or less in the other three games, but managed to salvage his Week 4 stat line with a late touchdown.

Fantasy managers are understandably frustrated, since this was a player selected in the first four rounds who had the promise of being a top-24 pick. Right now, Waddle sits at WR32 in fantasy points per game.

Luckily, a few things are lining up for him moving forward. Teammate Pat Bryant, who has rushed for at least 40 yards three times this season, suffered an ankle injury that could sideline him for several weeks, freeing up more targets for Waddle.

The Broncos also struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the first month against four Super Bowl contenders: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams and 49ers. The Chargers will be a much easier opponent this week. Waddle even had success against them last year, hauling in six catches for 95 yards as a member of the Dolphins.

Denver’s dominant secondary is also dealing with injuries to Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss, which could create higher-scoring game scenarios. If you can get Waddle for WR3 value right now, it’s worth buying cheap.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jaguars

Tuten is not in the low buy category; instead, it should be considered a high buy target as the cap has not yet been reached.

The 23-year-old is the RB16 of the Year, with double-digit fantasy points in three straight games. His role continues to grow after season highs in snaps (59%), touches (19) and scrimmage yards (91) in Week 4. Those numbers could have been even better if his two touchdowns in the game actually counted. Tuten scored on runs of 44 yards and three yards, but both were called back due to holding penalties.

We’re on the verge of a massive Tuten match one of these weeks. He also showed great consistency, exceeding 85 yards in three of the four games. He’s an explosive young guard who dominates the job in one of the best offenses in the league.

Don’t wait for the monster stat line to arrive; see if you can acquire it before that happens.

Breece Hall, RB, Jets

While I don’t expect Hall to return in Week 5, it’s worth checking out if his manager has a losing record and needs immediate help. The uncertainty around Hall’s recovery timetable from his quad injury may leave managers in limbo as losses pile up and they might be willing to part with him at a discount.

Since he wasn’t placed on injured reserve, it would be surprising if he was out for more than a week or two. And remember how good he was before the injury.

Hall passed for 118 yards and a touchdown on 24 touches in the opener, then followed that up with 92 yards on 21 touches in Week 2. The Jets have a pretty favorable schedule the rest of the way, too.

Don’t overreact to last week’s embarrassing outing, where the Bears controlled the game from start to finish and stifled New York’s offense all afternoon. Better days are ahead for the Jets and they will begin when Hall returns to the field. From this point on, he will be a high-end fantasy RB2 with RB1 potential.

So if your team is doing well and you can keep him on your bench until he’s healthy, you should think about making an offer.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Patriots

This one is a little more speculative than usual, but it’s worth checking out in case we get some bad news on Rhamondre Stevenson this week.

Injury analyst Jeff Mueller of Fantasy Points noticed that Stevenson was picked on near the end of the Patriots’ win over the Bills on Sunday. He eventually limped to the edge of the field.

That alone would just be something to watch, but when you combine it with the Pats bringing in veteran Jamaal Williams for a visit, alarm bells start to ring.

Henderson showed last year what he can do in the leadership role. Starting in Week 8, with Stevenson missing three games, Henderson flashed high-end fantasy potential as an RB12 during that stretch, including two games with at least 150 yards and two scores.

This would also be a great time for Henderson to take the reins, as New England’s schedule brightens after opening the season against the run defenses of the Seahawks, Steelers and Jaguars.

I wouldn’t recommend overpaying for Henderson until we know exactly what Stevenson is dealing with, but you may want to consider making a quick trade in case Stevenson’s injury costs him time.

Sell

Puka Nacua, WR, Rams

Trading away a large part of your fantasy team is never an easy decision, but one good game doesn’t erase Nacua’s injury issues. While he returned to play 91% of snaps and racked up 127 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, this situation still seems like it could unravel at any moment.

On the show, FOX’s Erin Andrews reported that Nacua was suffering from a pre-hernia injury. Given his performance in Week 4, it is possible that Nacua can manage the problem and associated pain while continuing to play the remainder of the season.

However, it’s also possible that he could worsen the injury and miss more time or eventually need surgery.

Personally, I don’t want one of the most important pieces on my fantasy roster to carry that kind of risk. If you can capitalize on his great stat line and get WR1 or RB1 value for him, I would do it immediately.

Boone’s Week 5 semi-PPR rankings

Boone’s Complete PPR Rankings

Jeremiah Love, RB, Cardinals

Love appeared to be on a clear path after Week 3, which featured season highs with 26 touches, 109 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on a 64% snap share against the 49ers.

Unfortunately, week 4 left us with more questions than answers. The rookie’s usage is back down to 46% of snaps, 15 touches and just 55 yards from scrimmage.

He sat out at the end of the game and was very candid with reporters in the locker room, suggesting that his pre-season ankle injury isn’t the only thing he’s dealing with and that this will be “the longest year” of his life.

The whole situation leaves an air of uncertainty about Love’s prospects, as it appears he won’t be taking on a heavier workload most weeks. Instead, Tyler Allgeier will remain heavily involved.

The game against the Lions is positive in Week 5, but the Cardinals’ schedule tightens up afterward with the Rams, Broncos, Seahawks, Rams and Chiefs in five of their next six outings.

Arizona also doesn’t have a bye until Week 14, so Love won’t have much time to rest and heal from some of those early-season injuries.

I view Love more as a volatile low-end fantasy RB2, so if you can grab a more stable asset in a trade, it’s time to make that move.

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, 49ers

It’s been incredible to see Samuel reach at least 15 fantasy points in three of his first four games since joining the 49ers this offseason. The 30-year-old is currently WR15 in fppg, but I have doubts about his ability to maintain that level of production.

In addition to the potential age-related decline as the season progresses, we also need to take a close look at how Samuel scored his fantasy points. Three touchdowns have been a big part of his success so far, including an 80-yard catch and ladder he took to the house. Most weeks, when a receiver has (checks his notes) no targets, he is unlikely to come away with 80 yards and a score.

Injuries have also opened the way for Samuel, but Christian Kirk could soon be activated from IR and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling is expected to return down the stretch.

If you want to continue to follow Samuel’s stats at the start of the season and hope that he can continue to drink from the fountain of youth, I won’t stop you. But I’m trading him for younger players who I trust more throughout the season.

Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints

Kamara hasn’t been the same running back over the past two seasons, which shouldn’t shock anyone considering his age. The 31-year-old has lost a step (or two), but that doesn’t mean he can’t take advantage of high-value touches when he gets them.

With Travis Etienne Jr. on IR, Kamara managed seven carries and seven targets Monday night, turning them into 58 yards, five receptions and two touchdowns.

The primetime performance, which made him the RB10 of the week, will surely be his highlight of the season from a fantasy standpoint. Even as a starter, he only played 38% of the snaps. There is no way Kamara can continue like this.

You need to act quickly and package Kamara into a deal with another piece to improve your lineup. His name value combined with Week 4 fantasy points should be enough to attract at least one RB-needy manager to your league.

Gn sports