The Wolf on Fantasy Football Street is back with his Week 8 Sell High & Buy Low’s in the world of the National Football League.
By Ryan Reynolds
If you are not familiar with how Sell High & Buy Low works, it is basically a rough guide on which players to trade and which players are worth a look.
Sell High
Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver A.J. Green
I own Green in one of my fantasy leagues, and let me tell you this, Green’s production this year has been disappointing.
He has only scored in the single digits twice and he averages between three to six receptions per game, and since he matches up against the opposing team’s number one corner, he does not bust out big plays like he used to.
Now let me tell you he is a perfect candidate to sell high on. The Bengals offense has been soaring this year behind quarterback Andy Dalton’s spectacular play. Here is the catch though, the Bengals offense has so many weapons this year it leaves Green’s potential production unknown. They have two solid running backs in Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, tight end Tyler Eifert, and a healthy Marvin Jones.
Green still remains as Dalton’s number one option and top target in the redzone; I just would not rely on him to put up big points when needed. Green is a household name, in a thriving offense, and could possibly put up big numbers any game of the season.
If you are an owner looking for consistent play, Green is not a player for you and I would try and shop him for other needed positions.
Sell High
New Orleans Saints Running Back Mark Ingram
The 2010 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama is having a very productive season. New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has had five games finishing with ten plus points all while splitting carries with two other running backs in Khiry Robinson and C.J. Spiller.
Ingram has been one of the most productive running backs this fantasy football season, so why would I sell high on him? Well simply because he is splitting carries with Robinson and Spiller. It looks as if Ingram is the man to drive the ball down to the goaline and Robinson is the finisher, which is not helpful in touchdown based leagues.
As for PPR leagues, Ingram also is not getting receptions because Spiller is their receiving back. Over the course of the next three weeks, the Saints match up against the New York Giants, the Tennessee Titans, and the Washington Redskins. All three teams are a lot better at defending the run, thus, hurting Ingram’s potential production. Although Ingram is still a top ten running back in my eyes, I would sell high if someone was to make a solid offer.
Sell High
Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald
Did someone say fountain of youth?
The thirty-two year old wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals has looked to have rekindled his career under the likes of head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer.
Larry Fitzgerald has not seen this much fantasy production in a long time. He is averaging 13 points per game while also averaging between three to six receptions. Fitzgerald caught the eyes of many back on Week 3 scoring three touchdowns and burning a poor Chicago Bears secondary for 112 yards on only eight receptions. Since then, Fitzgerald’s production has been on a steady decline. The emergence of young wide receiver John Brown and running back Chris Johnson has been the main cause of the drop in production.
The Cardinals schedule after their Week 9 BYE does not look to good for Fitzgerald owners. The Cardinals have to face the Seattle Seahawks twice, a solid Cincinnati Bengals secondary, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and the St. Louis Rams. It is safe to say, trade Larry Fitzgerald now before it is to late.
Buy Low
Kansas City Chiefs Running Back Charcandrick West
Charcan.. what?
The young running back with the unusual name is starting to be a usual face in the backfield for the Kansas City Chiefs. Charcandrick West, the 24-year old from Abilene Christian is starting to make a name for himself filling in as Jamal Charles replacement. In Week 7, West carried the ball twenty-two times, racking up 110 yards and found the endzone once against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Chiefs, and quarterback Alex Smith, are known for not taking shots and protecting the football, thus, making West a very intriguing target to acquire. West looks to be the number one guy for the Chiefs as back up running back Knile Davis only carried the ball once in the 23-13 victory over the Steelers. This week, the Chiefs match up against a soft Detroit Lions defense that have surrendered 23.3 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields, offering a high ceiling and a heavy usage of West. He is owned in 83.1 percent of leagues, so pick him up if you can. If you find that West is owned in your league, I would go ahead and spark up some offers.
Buy Low
New York Jets Wide Receiver Eric Decker
The New York Jets are having a surprising phenomenal season. Their defense is stout and their offense is coming together with Ryan Fitzpatrick in charge.
Wide Receiver Eric Decker is a major sleeper to me. He is not the No. 1 wide receiver for the Jets which makes him the go-to wideout in games against teams with Pro Bowl corners, and teams only really strategize around stopping wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Chris Ivory.
This puts Decker in a perfect sleeper position. Decker has produced nine or more fantasy points in every game he has played this season and he has reached the endzone in every game except Week 7. Decker is a solid and consistent wide receiver and he is owned in 87.4 percent of leagues. With the J-E-T-S flying high, Decker is a perfect buy low option for owners looking for a consistent receiver to fill either a WR2 or Flex slot.
Buy Low
Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs
The rookie out of Maryland is starting to open the eyes of fantasy owners. Stefon Diggs has posted big numbers in three straight games and he is now looking like quarterback Teddy Bridgwater’s go-to target. Diggs has produced back-to-back 100 plus yard games while reaching the endzone once during their Week 7 shootout with the Detroit Lions.
He has the speed to turn any pass into a long touchdown and he is only owned in 67.6 percent of fantasy leagues. The overall ceiling and fantasy potential for Diggs is high which is why I have him as a buy low option for the rest of the season.
And that is all The Wolf on Fantasy Street has for Week 8. Stay tuned for next week as we break down more fantasy football.