As I’m writing this, NFL teams are scrambling to finalize trades, and when waivers go through tomorrow, fantasy owners will be scrambling to find the biggest beneficiaries. I can’t help you with what happens at the deadline, but I can tell you that the trade deadline is a great time to cash in on players that get traded. When a player gets traded, they build hype, and fantasy owners get excited. For example, Amari Cooper might be great for the rest of the season, or he could be on the waiver wire next week. If you have a shady player like that, now might be the time to trade them away while the hype still exists.
Quarterback – Ryan Fitzpatrick
The magic is back, and I’m ready to hop on board already. It isn’t that important who’s under center in Tampa Bay because they will be playing from behind all season because of their 1-ply defense. (They can’t cover anything, and they can’t stop the runs.) Ryan Fitzpatrick loves to play football, and he loves to throw the ball really far with few or no consequences. The Bucs play the Panthers this week, but I’m still willing to go with the magic with full confidence. Derek Carr is streamable this week as well. Oakland plays away at San Francisco.
Running Back – Jalen Richard
Oakland has effectively dumped their entire season down the drain. That being said, you can start Jalen Richard because the Raiders have no one else to use. Richard leads the team in receptions this year and is second in targets. Oakland plays against San Francisco, so the game could be one of the few competitive matchups the Raiders have left, and I expect Richard to be a great play in PPR leagues. Devontae Booker is a deep play you could start this week, but only if Royce Freeman misses time again. The Broncos play at home against Houston.
Wide Receiver – DJ Moore
Against the Ravens in Week 8, DJ Moore recorded career high in both catches and yards with 5 catches and 90 receiving yards. While this is mostly because fellow wideout Torrey Smith didn’t play, I think the Panthers are going to use their first-round pick a lot more moving forward. Carolina plays against Tampa Bay this week, so I would start Moore and shoot for the moon this week. I also like Chris Godwin in this same matchup, who will be receiving passes from Fitzpatrick instead of Jameis Winston.
Tight End – Kyle Rudolph
Rudolph has been disappointing all season, but that’s because Kirk Cousins has been relying heavily on his wide receivers. This matchup could be different, however, as the Vikings play against the Lions. The Lions have a pretty good secondary, so Rudolph might have better 1-on-1 matchups during the game. Also, on a more superstitious note, I believe Rudolph is due for a touchdown. He’s only scored two touchdowns and hasn’t scored since Week 3. In a deeper league, I would roll out Ed Dickson of the Seahawks as a touchdown-or-bust play. Seattle plays at home against the Chargers on Sunday.