Commissioner’s Corner: Buy Low & Sell High Fantasy Players

As we gear up for Week 7 of the NFL and fantasy football seasons, owners are continually looking to make changes to better their teams and create that championship caliber roster. If you’re looking for some buy low and sell high player opportunities this week, we have you covered!

Buy Low

Puka Nacua had an off day in Week 6, but it’s worth noting it was an unusual game with fewer pass attempts from Matthew Stafford. The Rams passing game still heavily relies on Nacua and Cooper Kupp. A favorable Week 7 matchup against the Steelers makes Nacua a strong trade target. Pittsburgh’s defense has struggled against wide receivers this season, so grab him now before his value rebounds on Sunday.

The running back landscape in 2023 has been a rollercoaster of injuries and shared backfields. Amid the chaos, Tony Pollard shines as a true workhorse, ranking fourth in touches and second in carries inside the 10-yard line among NFL running backs. However, his recent sub-50 rushing yards streak, lack of touchdowns since Week 1, and a Week 7 bye make him a trade target. Rest assured, Pollard’s talent and workload will soon lead to a resurgence. Dallas’ upcoming schedule, including matchups against Seattle, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit, promises more scoring opportunities for Pollard down the road.

Bijan Robinson, despite his talent, is currently in a unique buying window. He’s had underwhelming fantasy performances lately and no rushing touchdowns in 2023. To improve Atlanta’s odds, they should give Robinson more opportunities as he outperforms Tyler Allgeier in yards per carry. Be patient; the rushing touchdowns will come, as Robinson and Alexander Mattison share this stat.

Sell High

After a lackluster stretch from Weeks 3-5 (recording only 15.6 combined fantasy points), Rhamondre Stevenson showed signs of life in Week 6, notching 18 points against a weak Raiders run defense. However, his limited 10 carries and Ezekiel Elliott’s involvement remain concerning. The Patriots’ offense has struggled, leading to Stevenson’s inconsistency in fantasy. With the current demand for running backs due to injuries and six teams on bye, now’s the perfect time to trade Stevenson at an inflated value.

A trade proposal: Bundle Stevenson with a low-end WR2 like George Pickens for Tony Pollard, who has a bye week.

In Pittsburgh’s last game before their bye, George Pickens impressed with a career-high 130 receiving yards, earning 26.6 fantasy points. He’s undoubtedly talented but hindered by the Steelers’ struggling offense, ranked 30th in yards and 27th in passing. Additionally, Diontae Johnson’s return will likely reduce Pickens’ opportunities. While he may have a few more strong games ahead, his fantasy output is set to remain inconsistent.

Kyle Pitts recently achieved a rare feat with back-to-back strong fantasy performances, scoring 15.7 points in Week 5 and 14.3 points in Week 6, along with his first touchdown of the season. However, his history suggests this success might be short-lived. In the 16 games he played since the start of the 2022 season, Pitts had a consistent pattern of recording five or fewer receptions in 15 of 16 games, having three or fewer receptions in 11 games, accumulating fewer than 50 receiving yards in 13 of those contests, and scoring just three touchdowns in total over this period. Expecting Pitts to outperform other average tight ends throughout the season is unlikely. Trading him for an upgrade at another position and streaming the tight end spot might be a more strategic move.

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