Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season has come and gone, so it may be time to start making some trades if your team is in either the 0-3 or 1-2 categories. There is still time for many players to break out, but if you’re in a hole early, it isn’t the worst idea to shake things up. It may be hard to know when to give up on a player or when to ship them away via trade, but glory requires boldness of that caliber. If you’re not winning yet, it’s time to step up to the plate and make a move, even if it’s not a big one. Remember, you can’t win a fantasy championship through one player.
However, I’d like to reiterate that if your team isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it. Unless there is a major weakness on your winning squad that has somehow gone unpunished with a loss, it makes sense to hold onto most of your players for now. Be smart. Also, if you have any buy/sell questions that I can’t get to on Reddit or want personalized team advice, click the link below and shoot me a message on Discord.
Buy Low
Brock Bowers - TE, LV
Week 3 Stats - 4 Targets, 3 Rec, 41 Rec Yards
Brock Bowers entered Week 3 with some high-scoring weeks in the rearview mirror and an ideal matchup in front of him. However, the rookie tight end only caught three passes in what turned out to be a disappointing loss for Las Vegas against the lowly Carolina Panthers, who had just turned to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in desperation. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Dalton shined in Week 3, leaving Vegas with a somewhat stunning loss. This was certainly a shock after the Raiders defeated the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 2 thriller.
Bowers had a low-volume week. This is a definite surprise after the former Georgia Bulldog was one of the top tight ends in fantasy football, partly due to an impressive amount of volume, through two weeks. Despite the disappointment, don’t hesitate to buy Brock Bowers.
He is an elite player at a position that can be hard to find solid production at. This could also end up being one of his worst fantasy performances of the season, so if his current manager in your league wants to move on in favor of a big name on your team, make the move. Bowers would be a great addition to any roster. He’s been one of the best tight ends in the NFL, so add him to your team, even though there is still a limited sample size of his game at the professional level.
Rhamondre Stevenson - RB, NE
Week 3 Stats - 6 Carries, 23 Rush Yards
Yep, it was a nightmare scenario for Rhamondre Stevenson fantasy managers on Thursday night. New England had a tough matchup against the Jets defense, and it’s safe to say that they did not rise to the occasion. The offense put up a measly three points on its way to a 21-point loss to New York. Rhamondre Stevenson was not immune to the inefficiency and failure of the Patriots offense. He contributed the team’s only turnover of the night, fumbling on a carry early in the fourth quarter, turning a poor fantasy performance into a devastating one.
Here’s why you should buy into Stevenson’s fantasy stock: this was an outlier in terms of volume for the Patriots running back. He had over 20 carries in both of his first two games this season. The ceiling is obvious, and he’s been one of New England’s top goal-line options for the past few years. After a frankly horrible fantasy performance, Stevenson’s fantasy owners will most likely be looking to trade the running back. Now is your chance to grab a solid RB2 for your fantasy team.
Mike Evans - WR, TB
Week 3 Stats - 3 Targets, 2 Rec, 17 Rec Yards
After a two-touchdown fantasy performance in Week 1, Evans has had a rough few weeks in terms of fantasy scoring. He hasn’t reached the end zone since then and has had poor production overall. A couple of uninspiring weeks from the star wideout could have fantasy managers worried about Evans’ outlook for the rest of the season, and it would be wise to take advantage of this.
He has been remarkably consistent over his long career, and it would be extremely out of the ordinary for Evans to have a long stretch of bad fantasy games at this point. Mike Evans would be a valuable WR2 on almost every single fantasy team and is always a scoring threat in the red zone. Buy the dip here and add Evans after a few underwhelming performances.
Sell High
Amari Cooper - WR, CLE
Week 3 Stats - 12 Targets, 7 Rec, 86 Rec Yards, 2 TDs
Cooper had his first positive week in fantasy football against the Giants on Sunday. He logged a season-high in every receiving statistic, providing fantasy owners with a bit of hope after a bad start to the 2024 fantasy season. A combination of drops from Cooper and poor throws from quarterback Deshaun Watson left the wide receiver without a week with over 20 receiving yards through the first few games. The targets were there, but they weren’t being converted into fantasy points. After posting a stat line including multiple touchdowns on Sunday, Cooper’s fantasy managers may be a bit more optimistic about his fantasy outlook going forward.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to trust Deshaun Watson and the rest of Cleveland’s offense to put Cooper in a positive enough position to deliver on expectations. I expect Cooper’s future fantasy performances to align with Cleveland’s offensive trajectory of inconsistency. Tight end David Njoku will most likely return soon, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been playing well while building a connection with Watson, and star running back Nick Chubb’s return to action adds another question mark to the situation.
The key to success in fantasy football is consistency. After all, it’s win or go home in the fantasy playoffs. Amari Cooper and the Brown’s offense have struggled with consistency so far. Trading Cooper after a great week may be the move if your team is in need of a player with a higher fantasy floor.
Zach Charbonnet - RB, SEA
Week 3 Stats - 18 Carries, 91 Rush Yards, 2 Rush TDs, 4 Targets, 3 Rec, 16 Rec Yards
This entry is fairly uncreative, I’ll admit. Charbonnet is a clear-sell high candidate because his production up to this point is simply unsustainable. He’s gotten many fantasy points from touchdowns, something that will likely change when Kenneth Walker III returns to Seattle’s lineup. On top of this, Charbonnet has been pretty inefficient on the ground, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. While it’s still early in the season, Walker’s efficiency has been significantly better than his fantasy handcuff, Charbonnet.
It also makes sense to trade the running back at the peak of his value to a manager who believes that he’ll be receiving a co-starter in a committee backfield. Now is the time to make a move for an asset that will be a consistent presence on their team’s offense going forward.
DeAndre Hopkins - WR, TEN
Week 3 Stats - 7 Targets, 6 Rec, 73 Rec Yards, 1 Rec TD
DeAndre Hopkins had a refreshingly positive week in fantasy football after posting duds over the first couple weeks of the season. Whispers of a continually nagging MCL injury were seemingly put to rest on Sunday after a strong Week 3 finish for the veteran wide receiver. This same injury could’ve been the reason for Hopkins’ disappointing fantasy start.
The reason behind selling high on Hopkins is the same reasoning that I used for my argument behind selling high on his teammate, Calvin Ridley, in last week’s edition of this article. Tennessee’s offense is too turnover-heavy to produce consistent fantasy value from the wide receiver position. Quarterback Will Levis may be getting closer and closer to hitting the bench, a move that probably wouldn’t cause a huge improvement in this Titans passing offense.
Trading DeAndre Hopkins for an asset in an offensive environment that produces fewer turnovers and more scoring drives would be a wise investment. Hopkins will have several solid games, but you’d be better off with a player you can count on every week.