It’s been a rollercoaster start to the 2024 fantasy football season. Some fantasy stars disappointed expectations, while some written off as draft busts shined when the pressure was high. In the world of fantasy football, there is no middle ground; your week either ends with a win or a loss, so every game counts. The quickest way to improve your roster is simple: make a trade to help out a position of need. Now is the time to make a move if you’re in a hole.
Hopefully, this article can be of some use if you’re on the fence about who to trade away or who to trade for. One thing I’ve learned about fantasy football is that there’s always hope. Even if you’re 0-4, the path to the playoffs can still be within reach. One more thing, 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
Kyler Murray - QB, ARI
Week 4 Stats - 73% Comp.%
142 Pass Yards, 1 Pass TD, 1 Carry, 3 Rush Yards
After a hot start to the season, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray cooled down in Week 4. Arizona chose to lean on the running game to generate offense. The problem for Murray’s fantasy managers is that the Cardinals quarterback only had one rush attempt. The ground game has usually been a huge reason for Murray’s fantasy success, but on Sunday, it simply wasn’t there. This, paired with an underwhelming passing performance, led to a surprisingly poor fantasy day for Murray and the Cardinals.
The bright side is this shouldn’t be a lasting issue for the Cardinals quarterback. Murray had logged at least 45 rushing yards in each of his first three contests, leaving little doubt for a bounce-back in the coming weeks. He also had a season-low mark in passing attempts, so his volume on Sunday was a clear outlier.
Moving forward, Murray remains an elite fantasy quarterback option. His trade price will most likely not be this low for a long time. If you need a quarterback, now may be the time to make a move for one of the most productive in football right now.
Tee Higgins - WR, CIN
Week 4 Stats - 10 Targets
6 Rec, 60 Rec Yards
Tee Higgins played well in his second week since returning from injury. He is still receiving enough volume to be fantasy-relevant and continues to be a vital part of this high-volume Bengals passing attack. His role should continue to expand, and his ceiling will still be extremely high as long as he’s on the field. Higgins is still a bit under the radar because of his slow start to the season after missing the first two games and disappointing statistically in the third.
Higgins is a great trade value right now because the offense’s volume gives him a high floor. Double-digit targets were extremely promising, and he improved in every statistical category from Week 3. The Bengals wideout presents a lot of upside, and Cincinnati should have no problem getting him the ball. Trade for Higgins now before he strings together some strong weeks.
Rome Odunze - WR, CHI
Week 3 Stats - 3 Targets
1 Rec, 10 Rec Yards
Rookies usually don’t hit their stride until late in the season. The same is true in fantasy football. Entering Week 4, Odunze was coming off a very productive week against Indianapolis, in which he scored his first career touchdown. Hopes were high when he matched up against the Rams this week. Unfortunately, Odunze’s targets fell from 11 to 3, and he only logged one reception.
Trading for Odunze is an easy decision. He flashed his insane potential in Week 3, and he is coming off his least productive game of the entire season. Stashing Odunze is a great choice for any fantasy manager who is willing to wait for him to develop into a more startable fantasy asset.
Odunze’s best weeks are certainly ahead of him, and if quarterback Caleb Williams continues to provide a surplus of volume in the passing game, a breakout for Odunze might be closer than it seems. Trade for the rookie before he puts it all together. It may not seem like it, but he has league-winner potential.
Sell High
Chase Brown - RB, CIN
Week 4 Stats - 15 Carries
80 Rush Yards, 2 Rush TDs
3 Targets, 2 Rec, 12 Rec Yards
Bengals running back Chase Brown is a great player. He’s done a lot to earn his role in Cincinnati’s backfield and should continue to contribute going forward. He had a great game against Caroline on Sunday, scoring two touchdowns on the ground.
However, in the world of fantasy football, there are a few reasons why I don’t like Brown’s outlook moving forward. Firstly, the Bengals offense runs through quarterback Joe Burrow and the passing game. This is obvious, considering that Burrow is averaging almost 34 pass attempts per game (tenth-most in the NFL). Cincinnati’s passing attack is strong and just gained even more muscle with the return of star wide receiver Tee Higgins, who already shares the field with superstar wideout Ja’Marr Chase. The offense has always been pass-heavy under head coach Zac Taylor, and that won’t change anytime soon.
The other reason why you should consider trading Zack Moss is the continued production of his running mate, Zack Moss. Through four games, Moss has tallied 48 rush attempts in contrast to Brown’s 29. On Sunday, Moss out-snapped Brown 60% to 40%.
These numbers could shift slightly into Brown’s favor over the rest of the season, but these factors combined still make him a good trade candidate. This backfield is currently split 50/50. I’m not sure if that will change enough for Chase Brown to become more fantasy-relevant.
Michael Pittman Jr - WR, IND
Week 4 Stats - 9 Targets
6 Rec, 113 Rec Yards
Michael Pittman Jr. had his best game of the 2024 season on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, posting his first 100+ receiving-yard performance of the year. For reference, Pittman’s season-high number in that category was 36. So, obviously, this was a breath of fresh air for his fantasy managers.
Unfortunately, it’s time for a reality check. Pittman’s successful outing on Sunday came with Colts backup quarterback Joe Flacco at the helm of the offense. When Anthony Richardson, Indy’s usual starting quarterback, is under center, things haven’t gone as well. Over the last two seasons, during games in which Richardson has played more than 95% of the offensive snaps, Pittman has averaged only four receptions and 40 receiving yards per game.
Those aren’t the most inspiring stats to have with your starting quarterback in the lineup. Richardson’s struggles haven’t resulted in great production for this Colts offense, but more specifically, Michael Pittman Jr. Trade him while his value is high for a more consistent presence at the wide receiver position.
Jerome Ford - RB, CLE
Week 4 Stats - 10 Carries
58 Rush Yards, 7 Targets
7 Rec, 27 Rec Yards
Ford had a very solid week on an otherwise disappointing Browns offense as Cleveland lost to Las Vegas on Sunday. He’s been fairly consistent in his fantasy production through the first four weeks of the NFL season. Not only that, but Ford has registered 14+ opportunities in three out of the first four games of 2024. In any other situation, there would be no real issue with rostering Ford for the rest of the season.
However, clarification of Browns running back Nick Chubb’s timetable to return this season won’t be a mystery for much longer. Cleveland has already opened his practice window, meaning that it won’t be long before Chubb is back on the field. Your league mates may be more willing to accept a trade for Jerome Ford now, while Chubb’s status is still up in the air. But be warned, this situation won’t be a mystery for much longer.
Don’t get me wrong, it will definitely take the superstar running back a few weeks to get back to full strength on the field, so he may start out with a decreased workload. Regardless, whenever Chubb is able to return, his presence is a clear and obvious threat to Jerome Ford’s fantasy value. Trade Ford away to a team in need of a running back while you still have the chance.