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Folks, this is a pivotal point in the fantasy football regular season.
While the trade deadline has passed in both Yahoo and CBS leagues, if you play in an ESPN league, you still have some time. The default ESPN trade deadline is set for Wednesday at noon. All trades must be accepted by then.
For those of you that have time to make trades in your league, this section is for you. If not, scroll down until you see some post-deadline free-agent finds.
If you’re looking for a quarterback, names to keep in mind are Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins. All three have favorable schedules down the stretch and their owners likely won’t ask for the house. Drew Brees and Jared Goff are two people I’m looking to trade away. Brees isn’t the top-three lock he was drafted to be and Goff has a tough stretch ahead of him.
Running backs are easier to navigate. There are plenty of options to trade for, but Leonard Fournette, LeSean McCoy and Duke Johnson Jr. stand out. Fournette has a nice playoff schedule, McCoy is due for a bounceback and Johnson is a set-it-and-forget-it flex play. I’d try and trade Carlos Hyde — eventually Matt Breida surpasses him on the depth chart — and Joe Mixon — he’s just been a disappointment — if I can.
Stefon Diggs, Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess are wide receivers I’m targeting. Diggs’ value should be low for a top-10 wideout, Benjamin seems to have a connection with new Bills starting quarterback Nathan Peterman and Devin Funchess is now the No. 1 wideout in Carolina.
Dez Bryant and T.Y. Hilton are guys I’m looking to dump at the deadline. Bryant has a tough schedule and Hilton is too boom-or-bust for my liking.
If you’re desperate for a tight end, Jordan Reed is worth targeting. His owner is probably frustrated with him. You’ll need a backup plan because he’s not fully healthy and is very injury prone.
STOP!!!!!
If you were scrolling down to the free-agent finds, here we are.
Out of the quarterbacks owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN, Yahoo and CBS leagues, Jacoby Brissett and Teddy Bridgewater are the only players I’m interested in. Brissett is already QB13, but has top-10 upside. Bridgewater’s going to start at some point for the Vikings. Jimmy Garoppolo and Paxton Lynch are also interesting. Both could be starting for their respective teams in the near future.
Danny Woodhead, Samaje Perine and Damien Williams add some intrigue from a running backs perspective. Woodhead will be a major player in Baltimore’s passing game once healthy, and Williams is already Miami’s passing down back. Perine will take Rob Kelley’s spot in Washington’s lineup.
Corey Davis, Corey Coleman and Josh Doctson. Grab them. Right now. All three can have big second halves. I’d also scoop up Josh Gordon if he’s still out there.
Tyler Kroft is really the only tight end likely on the waiver wire that I’m interested in.
Time to make that playoff push.
QUARTERBACK
Must have: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
Carr is facing the New England Patriots. They’ve been better as of late, but they still have some major holes in that secondary. Just ask Emmanuel Sanders.
Pass: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Even against a Seahawks defense without Richard Sherman, Ryan isn’t a must-start.
Worth a shot: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why not? It’s the Dolphins.
RUNNING BACK
Must have: Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins
Drake is a top-20 play facing the Bucs. They rank 26th against running backs.
Pass: Alfred Morris, Dallas Cowboys
If you’re starting Morris in place of Ezekiel Elliott, look somewhere else this week. The Eagles are phenomenal against the run.
Worth a shot: Dion Lewis, New England Patriots
Lewis has became the Patriots’ No. 1 running back. Oakland provides a favorable matchup.
WIDE RECEIVER
Must have: DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins
Jay Cutler loves throwing to Parker and the Bucs present an extremely favorable matchup. Parker is a borderline top-10 play.
Pass: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
Nelson isn’t much more than a WR4 while facing a tremendous Baltimore Ravens passing defense.
Worth a shot: Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
You might have been starting Cooper out of desperation lately. You can actually start him with confidence this week.
TIGHT END
Must have: Tyler Kroft, Cincinnati Bengals
The Broncos actually are pretty bad against the tight end.
Pass: Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills
I’m not sure what to expect with Nathan Peterman at the helm.
Worth a shot: Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins
Davis has done a great job filling in for Jordan Reed. That continues on Sunday.