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Wednesday, November 4, 2020
The NFL trade deadline came and went with a whimper Tuesday, but there's still time to re-make your roster with a big deal — Dave Richard's Trade Values Chart can obviously help — and to kick off today's newsletter, I want to show off one of our subscriber's absolutely brilliant trade. I mean, this trade is almost diabolical, but it highlights exactly what you should be looking to do to pull off a landscape-altering move for your team. 
I'll let Jason explain it:
Another manager had Aaron Rodgers starting and Lamar Jackson riding the bench, and he just lost Myles Gaskin and has all the Chiefs RBs, which meant he would have no RB for Week 10.  I decided it was time to say, "Hello," to the little bunny and swooped in like a hawk for the kill. After a brief negotiation I traded Justin Jackson for Lamar Jackson. I still have Aaron Jones, James Robinson, Josh Jacobs, and Zack Moss. Score?
100%. A+. High score. It's not just the upgrade to Lamar Jackson at a moment when his trade value might never be lower, and it's not just moving Justin Jackson coming off one of his most promising games of the season when he's still stuck in a backfield split with little predictability — though to be clear, I applaud both aspects. What really makes this trade sing is the way Jason identified a hole on his opponent's roster and exploited it perfectly. 
I pulled off something similar in a keeper league last week, when I noticed a 3-4 team was about to go into basically a do-or-die game with Rex Burkhead as a starting running back. I offered him Giovani Bernard for his first-round pick in our rookie draft next season, and he accepted. I got a potential multi-year contributor for what will likely be one week of Bernard and about $12 in FAB. 
When you're looking to make a trade, your goal shouldn't be to rip the other manager off, to be clear. Your goal should be to make your team as good as it can be while getting the other manager to hit accept. But, if you're shrewd, you can make sure it's more of a win for you than for the other person.
I'm answering more of your trade questions in today's mailbag — email me at Chris.Towers@CBSInteractive.com with the subject line "Ask FFT" for any lineup, trade, or other help with your Fantasy roster — but first, here's the news from around the NFL Tuesday you might have missed as you get set for Week 9. Plus, Heath Cummings' Week 9 preview for QB, RB, WR and TE will give you everything you need to be ready to set your lineup, and make sure you read about what Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard and Heath Cummings think about your biggest questions heading into Week 9 from yesterday's newsletter.
Here are the top news items you need to know about from Tuesday, beginning with an injury that took us all by surprise
  • Myles Gaskin has a sprained MCL and will likely miss three weeks; the Dolphins traded for DeAndre Washington, who will join a backfield that will likely feature Matt Breida in a lead role with Jordan Howard handling short yardage and obvious running situations. Breida is the best option if you need to start one, but it wouldn't shock me if Washington was the guy we're chasing on waivers in Week 10
  • The Packers are likely down to Tyler Ervin and practice-squad-er Dexter Williams for Week 9, unless Aaron Jones makes an unexpected return from his quad injury Thursday. Williams is probably the best option if you need one, but Breida is better. 
  • The 49ers are down to JaMycal Hasty and Jerick McKinnon, as Tevin Coleman (knee) has also been ruled out for Thursday night. Hasty and McKinnon are both solid starts against a pretty bad Packers run defense. 
  • Andy Dalton (reserve/COVID-19) will not start for the Cowboys, and Ben DiNucci probably won't either. It will be either Garrett Gilbert or Cooper Rush against the Steelers DST, which … yikes. Ezekiel Elliott might be the only Cowboy you want to start, and even he's most like a middling No. 2 RB at this point. 
  • Bruce Arians wouldn't commit to how much Antonio Brown would play in his debut against the Saints. "It could be 10 plays, it could be 35 plays," he said. "I wouldn't anticipate 60 plays, for sure, but we'll just see how it goes." Brown is probably too risky to trust in his debut, especially if Chris Godwin (finger) makes his way back to the lineup.
  • The trade deadline was a dud. In addition to the Dolphins acquiring Washington, the only move you need to know about is Isaiah Ford getting traded to the Patriots, as he could step in as their starting slot guy with Julian Edelman recovering from knee surgery. The Packers were reportedly in on Will Fuller, but ultimately didn't pull the trigger, making Allen Lazard the likely No. 2 WR when he returns from IR — perhaps as soon as Week 9. 
Trade Mailbag
  • Ja: I've struggled with injuries to some of my top players — including Aaron Jones and Chris Godwin. I have two excellent QBs (Tom Brady and Justin Herbert) and want to flip one of them, plus Antonio Brown for James Conner and Ben Roethlisberger (to be my backup). Would you do it? 
Getting Ben doesn't change my view of this trade one bit: I love it. As bye weeks start to pass, I don't really see much reason to have a backup QB if you trust your starter, and I trust both Brady and Herbert at this point. Sure, it's possible Herbert will falter — he is a rookie, after all — but I love the offense and the weapons around him, plus he's already had his bye. I would be fine doing either version of this trade, though I think I would prefer to hang on to Brady, all other things being equal. Roethlisberger's Week 13 matchup against Washington shouldn't scare you off, and you can drop him after that. 
  • Thomas: I've been offered the following trade. I think it is fair, but I've been told it isn't: Alvin Kamara for Keenan Allen, Josh Jacobs, Leonard Fournette.
Not only do I think that trade is fair, I think you probably win that trade. It's always tough when you're giving up the best player in the deal — especially when that player is the best player in Fantasy — but in this instance, you're getting a No. 1 WR, a No. 1 RB and a nice wild card at RB. If you're going to move Kamara, that's the way to do it, especially since both Allen and Jacobs have already had their bye. 
Tim: Trade Ezekiel Elliott for Kareem Hunt
We talked about Elliott trades in the biggest questions survey, and I mentioned names like James Robinson and Chris Carson as who I would be looking to move Elliott for — but that was a best-case scenario kind of thing. In all likelihood, you'll have to settle for less, which is why I'm generally opposed to the idea of moving Zeke right now. This is a fine offer, as I view both as No. 2 RB moving forward, but with Nick Chubb coming back soon, the upside on the Hunt side is blunted. 
  • Joey: I want to make an offer for Keenan Allen. My Antonio Gibson and Will Fuller for his Allen?
If you're in a situation where you have a good record and want to consolidate your strengths, trading depth for stars who will be in your lineup every week, I really like it. Allen will be that, and it's entirely conceivable Gibson could be your No. 3 RB and Fuller could be your No. 3 WR. If losing both Gibson and Fuller creates a hole you'll be scrambling to fill every week, I wouldn't do it, but I get the feeling that isn't the case here.  
With the Jaguars turning to Jake Luton to start against the Texans, in the wake of Gardner Minshew's thumb injury, we've now seen QB changes for the Dolphins, Chargers, Cowboys, Bears, 49ers and Washington this season. Stability hasn't been a feature for any position in 2020. 
  • Injuries: Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), Andy Dalton (reserve/COVID-19), Gardner Minshew (thumb)
  • Number to know: 9.5 -- Drew Lock leads all passers in air yards per attempt.
  • Matchup that matters: Drew Lock at Atlanta — You have to give Lock this: He's been pretty fearless despite suffering a shoulder injury. He'll take shots down the field, usually with Tim Patrick when healthy, but Jerry Jeudy got his opportunities last week. There's big upside here against the defense allowing the most points to opposing quarterbacks. 
Consensus Top 12
  1. Patrick Mahomes
  2. Russell Wilson
  3. Aaron Rodgers
  4. Justin Herbert
  5. Josh Allen
  6. Lamar Jackson
  7. Tom Brady
  8. Ryan Tannehill
  9. Derek Carr
  10. Matt Ryan
  11. Teddy Bridgewater
  12. Matthew Stafford
The injury report is once again going to play a big role in how running back breaks down in Week 9. If Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde remain sidelined, DeeJay Dallas will be a viable starting option; if Devonta Freeman is out, Wayne Gallman will be, too. And Mark Ingram's injury seems likely to push Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins into lineups everywhere. 
  • Injuries: Aaron Jones (calf), Chris Carson (foot), Kenyan Drake (ankle), Christian McCaffrey (ankle), Jonathan Taylor (ankle), Myles Gaskin (knee), Jamaal Williams (illness), Miles Sanders (knee), Joe Mixon (foot), Austin Ekeler (hamstring), Raheem Mostert (ankle), Nick Chubb (knee), Darrell Henderson (thigh), Devonta Freeman (ankle), Mark Ingram (ankle), Sony Michel (illness), Tevin Coleman (knee), Carlos Hyde (hamstring), Jeff Wilson (ankle) and A.J. Dillon (illness)
  • Number to know: 29 -- David Montgomery has 29 targets since Week 4; only Alvin Kamara has more in that stretch. 
  • Matchup that matters: Jonathan Taylor/Jordan Wilkins/Nyheim Hines vs. Baltimore — The Ravens allow just 12.7 Fantasy points per game to running backs this season. The Colts create more opportunities for their running backs than most teams, but if this is going to be a three-way split, it might be a situation where you don't want to start any of them.  
Consensus Top 24
  1. Alvin Kamara
  2. Dalvin Cook
  3. Derrick Henry
  4. Jamaal Williams
  5. Ezekiel Elliott
  6. Josh Jacobs
  7. James Conner
  8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
  9. Jonathan Taylor
  10. Myles Gaskin
  11. Todd Gurley
  12. Melvin Gordon
  13. D'Andre Swift
  14. Mike Davis
  15. Leonard Fournette
  16. David Montgomery
  17. Ronald Jones
  18. J.K. Dobbins
  19. DeeJay Dallas
  20. Le'Veon Bell
  21. Justin Jackson
  22. Zack Moss
  23. Devin Singletary
  24. Damien Harris
The storyline we're all interested in following this week is the return of Antonio Brown and what that means for the Buccaneers passing game. If he plays a significant role from Week 9 on, will there be enough room for Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski to be must-start options — especially if Tom Brady keeps throwing to his running backs, as he surely will? 
  • Injuries: Calvin Ridley (foot), Kenny Golladay (hip), Chris Gowdin (finger), Michael Thomas (ankle), Jamison Crowder (groin), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Emmanuel Sanders (illness), T.Y. Hilton (groin), Sammy Watkins (hamstring), Tim Patrick (hamstring), Allen Lazard (abdomen), N'Keal Harry (concussion), DeSean Jackson (ankle), Alshon Jeffery (foot) and Breshad Perriman (concussion)
  • Number to know: 4 -- Four different players have led the Steelers in targets this season. JuJu Smith-Schuster still isn't one of them.
  • Matchup that matters: Cole Beasley/John Brown vs. Seattle — The Seahawks have routinely been involved in shootouts, and there's been plenty of room for multiple wide receivers to stand out against them. Stefon Diggs might lead the NFL in targets, but Beasley and Brown both have plenty of Fantasy potential in this one.  
Consensus Top 24
  1. Davante Adams
  2. Tyler Lockett
  3. Keenan Allen
  4. Julio Jones
  5. DK Metcalf
  6. A.J. Brown
  7. Allen Robinson
  8. Tyreek Hill
  9. Stefon Diggs
  10. Mike Evans
  11. Adam Thielen
  12. Robby Anderson
  13. D.J. Moore
  14. Brandon Aiyuk
  15. Justin Jefferson
  16. Amari Cooper
  17. Kenny Golladay
  18. Calvin Ridley
  19. JuJu Smith-Schuster
  20. Cole Beasley
  21. Diontae Johnson
  22. Corey Davis
  23. Sterling Shepard
  24. Scott Miller
It's going to be tough to survive the loss of George Kittle, but you have no choice but to move forward without him. Your top options are either Jordan Reed (if he comes off IR) or Ross Dwelley, or Jimmy Graham or Logan Thomas. In each case, you're probably just hoping for a touchdown, but it's not a bad bet for any of them. 
  • Injuries: George Kittle (foot), Zach Ertz (ankle), Austin Hooper (appendix), Jordan Reed (knee), Jordan Akins (ankle), Dawson Knox (illness) and Tyler Eifert (neck)
  • Number to know: 13.4 -- PPR Fantasy points per game for T.J. Hockenson in games Kenny Golladay has missed or left early. 
  • Matchup that matters: Noah Fant at Atlanta — The Falcons pass defense has been a disaster all season, and it allows the most Fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Fant has 16 targets in two games since returning from his ankle injury, and should be viewed as a must-start option.
Consensus Top 12
  1. Travis Kelce
  2. Darren Waller
  3. Mark Andrews
  4. Hunter Henry
  5. Rob Gronkowski
  6. Noah Fant
  7. T.J. Hockenson
  8. Jared Cook
  9. Jonnu Smith
  10. Hayden Hurst
  11. Jimmy Graham
  12. George Kittle
 
 
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