The trade market in every Fantasy league is starting to heat up. Who might you be able to get on the cheap and who should you be looking to unload? Our Dave Richard surveys the landscape.
By Dave Richard
• 6 min read
Our Trade Value Chart is designed to assist you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring league. The values assigned to the players below are strictly a measurement of their Fantasy value heading into the current week. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you might be able to get in return. This list should also provide a glimpse into how we feel about a player for the remainder of the season.
Sometimes the best time to move in on a player is when he's entering his bye week. For savvy Fantasy owners looking to buy low on elite running back talent, that means it's the right moment to make some offers on Darren McFadden and DeMarco Murray.
Both backs were drafted with the best intentions, but through four games both have been major disappointments. Murray has one touchdown, one game over 100 total yards and three games with 81 total yards or less. McFadden also has one touchdown to go with two games with over 100 total yards and two games with under 50 total yards. Murray has averaged under 3.0 yards per carry twice this season while McFadden's done it three times in four weeks.
A combination of a tough schedule and limited opportunities have hurt both backs. Three of Murray's first four opponents are ranked in the Top 5 in run defense; three of McFadden's first four opponents are Top 10. Murray has two games with over a dozen carries but does have at least 16 total touches per game. McFadden has a pair of games with at least 15 carries but has 16-plus touches in just half of his matchups.
With both teams on the bye, expect some re-tooling that could enhance playing time rather than limit it. In fact in the case of McFadden, Raiders coach Dennis Allen said he isn't married to the zone-blocking scheme that's caused McFadden some of his trouble so far. And the Cowboys' run blocking has nowhere to go but up.
Here's a look at some actual trades made recently on CBSSports.com for both backs:
Darren McFadden for Philip Rivers: Rivers doesn't seem like enough for McFadden. Even if the McFadden owner was loaded with running backs, giving him up for just Rivers comes off as waving the white flag. If McFadden was hurt this trade would make more sense.
Darren McFadden for Robert Griffin III: If you're going to trade McFadden for a quarterback this one is more on par. RG3 is among the elite players in Fantasy but with the quarterback position oversaturated it's hard to get good value for him. McFadden is actually a little bit better than the kind of back an owner should expect for Griffin. And a McFadden owner can feel good about making a move like this judging Griffin's four-game track record.
Darren McFadden for Wes Welker: Welker started the season as a disappointment but has rounded in his old productive self over the last couple of weeks. It still doesn't seem like quite enough for McFadden but as far as need-for-need trades go, it works.
DeMarco Murray for Stevan Ridley and Sam Bradford: This deal works even without Sam Bradford involved, but I get the "sweetening the pot" value Bradford provides. With Brandon Bolden starting to work his way into the Patriots' run game this deal could be viewed as an owner selling high on Ridley while buying low on Murray.
DeMarco Murray and Reggie Wayne for Calvin Johnson: Looks like someone overpaid for Calvin Johnson. Megatron is still considered an elite talent but Wayne's gotten off to a fast start and Murray should come around. It's too much to pay for Calvin but a tremendous haul to give up for him.
DeMarco Murray for Eli Manning and Andre Brown: Selling off Murray could net a pair of players like this. Eli's value is on par with Murray's, and getting Brown in the deal helps.
Darren McFadden for DeMarco Murray: Though we'd rather have McFadden long-term, the trade does work. The owners of both running backs could just be tired of their own guys and could swap if only to have a renewed sense of optimism for their teams.
The bottom line is this: With 12 games left to play both McFadden and Murray still have lots of potential to crash through the 1,500 total-yard barrier with a healthy dose of touchdowns. While both are injury prone, they still have plenty left to offer. If you can get one (or both) of them at their current values you should end up happy.
Player | Value | Player | Value | Player | Value |
Arian Foster, RB, HOU | 34 | Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG | 13 | Andrew Luck, QB, IND | 6 |
Ray Rice, RB, BAL | 34 | Greg Jennings, WR, GB | 13 | Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET | 6 |
LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI | 30 | Darren Sproles, RB, NO | 12 | Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR | 6 |
Drew Brees, QB, NO | 25 | Peyton Manning, QB, DEN | 12 | Lance Moore, WR, NO | 6 |
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL | 25 | Steven Jackson, RB, STL | 12 | Jason Witten, TE, DAL | 6 |
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB | 25 | Torrey Smith, WR, BAL | 12 | Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN | 6 |
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC | 25 | Brandon Lloyd, WR, NE | 11 | Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL | 6 |
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET | 25 | Vincent Jackson, WR, TB | 11 | Nate Washington, WR, TEN | 6 |
Tom Brady, QB, NE | 24 | Marques Colston, WR, NO | 11 | Scott Chandler, TE, BUF | 6 |
Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA | 24 | Michael Vick, QB, PHI | 11 | Andy Dalton, QB, CIN | 5 |
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN | 23 | DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI | 11 | Matt Schaub, QB, HOU | 5 |
A.J. Green, WR, CIN | 23 | Steve Smith, WR, CAR | 11 | Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF | 5 |
Jimmy Graham, TE, NO | 21 | Chris Johnson, RB, TEN | 11 | Ben Tate, RB, HOU | 5 |
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE | 21 | Vernon Davis, TE, SF | 10 | Jackie Battle, RB, SD | 5 |
Julio Jones, WR, ATL | 21 | Tony Romo, QB, DAL | 10 | Brent Celek, TE, PHI | 5 |
Jamaal Charles, RB, KC | 19 | Eric Decker, WR, DEN | 10 | Greg Olsen, TE, CAR | 5 |
Trent Richardson, RB, CLE | 19 | Jordy Nelson, WR, GB | 10 | Dennis Pitta, TE, BAL | 5 |
Darren McFadden, RB, OAK | 19 | Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET | 10 | Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, ATL | 5 |
Andre Johnson, WR, HOU | 19 | Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS | 10 | Owen Daniels, TE, HOU | 5 |
Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS | 18 | Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG | 10 | Justin Blackmon, WR, JAC | 4 |
Eli Manning, QB, NYG | 18 | Philip Rivers, QB, SD | 9 | Donnie Avery, WR, IND | 4 |
Frank Gore, RB, SF | 18 | Fred Jackson, RB, BUF | 9 | Fred Davis, TE, WAS | 4 |
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI | 18 | Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL | 9 | Kendall Wright, WR, TEN | 4 |
Percy Harvin, WR, MIN | 18 | Doug Martin, RB, TB | 9 | Heath Miller, TE, PIT | 4 |
Cam Newton, QB, CAR | 17 | Dez Bryant, WR, DAL | 9 | Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ | 4 |
Stevan Ridley, RB, NE | 17 | Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE | 9 | Michael Crabtree, WR, SF | 3 |
Reggie Bush, RB, MIA | 17 | Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI | 9 | Andre Roberts, WR, ARI | 3 |
Victor Cruz, WR, NYG | 17 | Antonio Brown, WR, PIT | 9 | Kendall Hunter, RB, SF | 3 |
Roddy White, WR, ATL | 17 | Michael Turner, RB, ATL | 9 | Mark Ingram, RB, NO | 3 |
Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN | 17 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT | 9 | Andre Brown, RB, NYG | 3 |
Matthew Stafford, QB, DET | 17 | C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF | 9 | Andrew Hawkins, WR, CIN | 3 |
Alfred Morris, RB, WAS | 16 | Joe Flacco, QB, BAL | 8 | Beanie Wells, RB, ARI | 3 |
Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI | 16 | Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT | 8 | Brandon Bolden, RB, NE | 3 |
DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL | 15 | Martellus Bennett, TE, NYG | 8 | Jay Cutler, QB, CHI | 2 |
Matt Forte, RB, CHI | 15 | Antonio Gates, TE, SD | 8 | Carson Palmer, QB, OAK | 2 |
Willis McGahee, RB, DEN | 15 | Ryan Williams, RB, ARI | 8 | Jacob Tamme, TE, DEN | 2 |
Ryan Mathews, RB, SD | 15 | Brian Hartline, WR, MIA | 8 | Pierre Thomas, RB, NO | 2 |
Wes Welker, WR, NE | 15 | Denarius Moore, WR, OAK | 8 | Randall Cobb, WR, GB | 2 |
Mike Wallace, WR, PIT | 15 | Malcom Floyd, WR, SD | 7 | Mike Williams, WR, TB | 2 |
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN | 14 | Danny Amendola, WR, STL | 7 | Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, OAK | 2 |
Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC | 14 | Michael Bush, RB, CHI | 7 | Peyton Hillis, RB, KC | 2 |
Reggie Wayne, WR, IND | 14 | Jermichael Finley, TE, GB | 7 | Christian Ponder, QB, MIN | 2 |
Steve Johnson, WR, BUF | 14 | Donald Brown, RB, IND | 7 | Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ | 2 |
Miles Austin, WR, DAL | 13 | Kenny Britt, WR, TEN | 7 | Brandon LaFell, WR, CAR | 2 |
Cedric Benson, RB, GB | 13 | DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR | 6 | Texans/49ers DST | 2 |
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter @CBSFantasyFB . You can also follow Dave at @daverichard and on Facebook .
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