With two weeks of football in the books, our data sample has now doubled in size. But it’s important to remember that so much can and will change throughout the season. While impactful, these two weeks don’t tell the full story, and it’s important not to overreact. What we can do is react and take advantage of panicked fantasy managers with some winning fantasy football trades.
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Fantasy Football Week 3 Buy Trade Targets
George Pickens (WR, PIT)
No player has been unluckier through the first two weeks than George Pickens. He’s had multiple big plays called back by ticky-tack penalties in both weeks! Pickens finished Week 1 with six catches for 85 yards, and his day could’ve been much bigger. He had a 36-yard catch called back due to a questionable offensive pass interference call and another 41-yard catch was overturned. This was all while being shadowed by one of the best cornerbacks in the league in A.J. Terrell.
Week 2 was also a brutal matchup for Pickens, going against another one of the league’s best corners in Patrick Surtain II, but that didn’t stop him. It may have seemed like it with the box score, but Pickens had a 51-yard catch (a spectacular throw by Justin Fields) called back due to a slight holding penalty. He also had a six-yard TD called back because of an OPI call and drew a 39-yard DPI call on Surtain.
A game that ended with just two catches for 29 yards was far better than the box score would indicate. Pickens ranks No. 9 in yards per route run among wide receivers according to Pro Football Focus, while ranking No. 2 in separation score according to Fantasy Points. We know both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson can support top-end wide receivers. The big games are on the way. Swap guys like Calvin Ridley, Zay Flowers, and D.J. Moore for Pickens.
Chris Olave (WR, NO)
This Saints offense is humming, and Chris Olave is arguably the most talented player on it. However, his production hasn’t caught up yet. Olave saw a 38% target share and came up just inches shy of scoring a touchdown in Week 2 as the Saints thrashed the Cowboys 44-19. Who is just behind George Pickens at No. 3 in Fantasy Points’ separation score? Chris Olave. The Saints have blown out their opponents through the first two weeks and haven’t thrown much in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Saints fans, they aren’t going to win by 25+ points every week. Olave should still be viewed as a top-15 wide receiver option. All of the names listed above can be inserted here as a swap for Chris Olave.
Zack Moss (RB, CIN)
It’s been a rough start to the year for Moss, but there is plenty of reason for optimism. He’s played 65-percent and 80-percent of the Bengals’ snaps while facing two stout run defenses. The Patriots are allowing the No. 2-fewest rushing yards of any team through two weeks, and the Chiefs have held opposing running backs to 57 rushing yards per game this season. Meanwhile, Moss has handled 75-percent of the Bengals running back carries this season and 63-percent of the running back targets. The Bengals’ schedule opens up quite nicely going forward, with matchups against the Commanders and the Panthers, two of the worst defenses in the league. The Bengals have historically started slow in the Joe Burrow era. This year seems to be no different. It shouldn’t take much to acquire Moss as he wasn’t highly touted or an exciting draft pick.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Sell Trade Targets
Calvin Ridley (WR, TEN)
Ridley finished Week 2 as the WR5 on the back of a two-touchdown performance. Ridley caught a miracle of a 40-yard touchdown from Will Levis late into the third quarter that nearly doubled his point total on the week. Will Levis continues to sling the rock without a care in the world, which can be good for Ridley’s fantasy value, but there is room to move up here.
Ridley saw just a 21% target share this week and was held under five catches for the second week in a row. If you can flip him for the receivers listed above or a guy like Jameson Williams, you’ll probably be thanking yourself later.
Jaylen Waddle (WR, MIA)
Tua Tagovailoa has been placed on IR, and Jaylen Waddle takes the biggest hit amongst Dolphins’ weapons. In four career games without Tua, Waddle has averaged just 10.7 PPR points per game, an almost 50-percent difference from the 15.3 points that he averages when Tua plays. If you can cash in on his name value and flip him for the guys listed above, now is the time to do it.
Kyren Williams (RB, LAR)
Yes, Kyren Williams was a buy for me last week. It may seem reactionary to do a full 180 and have him as a sell just one week later. However, things have changed. The injury bug hit the Rams hard in 2024, with three of their offensive lineman injured and their two-star receivers out for multiple weeks. Kyren continues to show encouraging usage, but his efficiency is struggling. The Rams have the 28th best run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus, and Kyren is certainly feeling it with his 2.5 yards per carry on the season. Fortunately, he’s scored in both games this season and may have enough value to swap for a guy like Josh Jacobs or Joe Mixon if a smaller ancillary piece is added.
While it can be frustrating when your studs underperform (especially when it’s multiple weeks in a row), it’s important to keep a level head and remind yourself that it’s a long season. Go out there and see if you can catch someone on tilt and improve your fantasy team before these guys show their true colors. Happy trading.
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