With the NFL trade deadline passing yesterday, and with our FFNUTHANG trade deadline only 10 days away, and on the heels of a huge trade between Haji and Jeff Lin, I decided to put up some trade proposals in this week’s Power Rankings. The trade action this season has been pretty slow: Perhaps it’s because so many teams are bunched together in the standings with just two games separating #3 and #12. Or perhaps implementing Keepers has thrown a wrench into how people value their players. Who knows? But in hopes of getting some trade conversations flowing, I present to you #PowerRankings Trade Proposal Edition!
1. ihatesaquon.theend. (Eric) (6-3) [1]
In the upset of the week, Eric’s team put up the 2nd most points for the week, only to lose to the #HighScore Spider Pigs. He was mad enough about this loss to change his team name using writing mechanics and punctuation likely taught at NC State. His Points For is scary good, though: 100+ points more than the next highest PF. I don’t really see his team slowing down, either. Sure, he’s lacking at WR, but I think he more than makes up for it with his other pieces.
Trade Proposal: Josh Jacobs + Taysom Hill to Jeff Lin for Deebo Samuel
Eric could use an upgrade at WR, and he’d be solid enough at RB with Bijan and Kamara to be able to sacrifice Jacobs to upgrade his WR.
2. Justin Time to Catch Achane (Haji) (3-6) [3]
Haji’s blockbuster trade with Jeff Lin has definitely changed the makeup of his team. Going from Breece to Achane was an upgrade, assuming Achane and Tua can stay healthy. Also, Achane’s keeper value is much better than Breece’s. Giving up Deebo for Kupp was a lateral move - both have high ceilings but both have injury risk with Kupp having a little more downside due to his age. So will giving up Josh Allen for a serviceable Cousins plus the hope that Etienne can have a better 2nd half of the season be worth it for Haji? That’s TBD. Haji wins the trade if Etienne can put up Flex numbers. Jeff wins the trade if Etienne continues to dud. Bigger picture, I think Haji was playing the long game in this one given Achane’s sleeper value. But in the short term, I think Haji’s team actually looks a little better now if everyone can stay healthy.
Trade Proposal: Justin Jefferson + Chuba Hubbard to Gabs for Kenneth Walker III + Brian Thomas Jr
Not that Haji needs to blow his team up any more than he already has, but if Haji’s going to go with a long-term strategy, why not take a shot on Brian Thomas Jr? Kenneth Walker would be a huge upgrade over Chuba at RB2, and while he’d be losing his WR1 in Justin Jefferson, Brian Thomas’s keeper value may be a better deal come draft time next year.
3. Maybabyboo (Laura) (5-4) [5]
Laura’s team has quietly been on a tear the past 5 weeks, securing a 4-game win streak after Week 9. Joe Mixon and D’Andre Swift have been pretty reliable in that 5-game time span, and Chase Brown, James Cook, Darnell Mooney, and Kelce have shown flashes as well. It may be time for her to consider starting Zay Flowers over Waddle, and I might even explore some trades with teams that are RB-starved.
Trade Proposal: James Cook to Luke for Devonta Smith
Laura could use an upgrade at WR, and she has too many RBs to know what to do with. If she can convert some James Cook’s value for a solid WR2 in Devonta Smith, it would be well worth her while to do so.
4. Kraft Mac Salad (Andrew) (5-4) [4]
Andrew’s team continues to look pretty impressive. What’s encouraging is that he’s getting good bench production as well - Xavier Legette will emerge as a top target in Carolina with Diontae and Mingo (LULZ) gone (and with Adam Thielen being old), JSN had a huge game and hopefully can continue on that trajectory, and Rico Dowdle is now clearly Dallas’s best RB as they opted out of acquiring an RB via trade. All Andrew needs is a reliable QB.
Trade Proposal: Terry McLaurin to Tim for Kyler Murray + Davante Adams
McLaurin has been solid, but Andrew needs an upgrade at QB. While Kyler has been up and down, he’d be an upgrade over Stroud or Nix at this point. Kyler’s schedule has been rough to start the season, and it should get better in the back half of the season. Davante Adams is a serviceable WR2, and if his chemistry with Rodgers returns to form, he could enter WR1 territory.
5. Love thy Naber (Jeff Lin) (5-4) [7]
Jeff Lin pulled out a win on the backs of Achane, Kupp, and Cousins - but all three players are no longer on his team after his blockbuster trade with Haji. See Haji’s blurb for my thoughts on the trade. TLDR: If Etienne continues to bust, Jeff wins the trade by getting a big upgrade at QB. I do like that Jeff was able to consolidate his pieces and convert a failing Etienne into some draft capital. I’m a little skeptical about how Breece will do in a seemingly unpredictable Jets offense, but he definitely has as much upside as Achane does. I was just happy to finally see a big trade go through!
Trade Proposal: Deebo Samuel to Eric for Josh Jacobs + Taysom Hill
Sure, Jeff just got Deebo. But picking up Josh Jacobs will give Jeff more RB depth (and provide a strong Flex play), which would go a long way for his team. While Taysom Hill probably isn’t a huge TE upgrade from Pitts, I expect his usage to increase with the Saints offense becoming more and more depleted, so starting him at TE may end up being somewhat of a cheat code.
6. 第六 (Abraham) (4-5) [2]
Abraham’s team sustained some major injuries in Olave’s concussion and Drake London’s hip. I’d expect Olave to be out for a bit, and London’s situation still seems up in the air. Add the fact that Jordan Love has been less than stellar, and Keon Coleman also got injured, Abraham’s short-term outlook appears to be a bit shaky.
Trade Proposal: Jahmyr Gibbs + Drake London to Jeff Chen for David Montgomery + Nico Collins
Abraham needs an upgrade at WR, and Nico would provide just that. He’d sacrifice the upside of Gibbs for Montgomery, but I could see it playing out to his favor, especially if Nico returns to form after his injury.
7. I am not sacko! (Jeff Chen) (4-5) [6]
This week was a down week for Jeff Chen with DK Metcalf and Mike Evans still out and Kittle on bye. Jeff should see improvement with Nico Collins healthy (hopefully not this week for my team’s sake) and Joe Burrow may be starting to feel some kind of groove. Once DK and Mike Evans return to health, Jeff’s team could be very scary.
Trade Proposal: David Montgomery + Nico Collins to Abraham for Jahmyr Gibbs + Drake London
While Jeff probably won’t give up Nico, or trade at all for that matter, getting the upside of Gibbs would be a huge step forward. Sure, Montgomery has been a good RB option, but Gibbs has the youth and definitely has a higher ceiling. If London stays healthy, he potentially has a high ceiling as well.
8. Unicorn QueenZ (Tim) (7-2) [8]
I won’t deny that luck plays a big part of Fantasy Football, but I also won’t deny the fact that I AM #1 RIGHT NOW. That’s really all I had to say because I feel like every week I’m just trying to piece together some semblance of a team that will hopefully get lucky again and get me another win.
Trade Proposal: Kyler Murray + Davante Adams to Andrew for Terry McLaurin
I like the prospect of a Jayden Daniels + McLaurin stack. Having Brian Robinson makes me too reliant on the Commanders offense, but they’ve looked good, so I’ll take the risk. Kyler hasn’t done much on my bench anyways, so I’d be glad to get an upgrade at WR.
9. Spider Pig (Luke) (4-5) [12]
Way to go Luke! Mahomes finally has a good game for fantasy, Saquon continues to impress and dazzle with his backwards hurdle, Courtland Sutton exploded, Austin Ekeler was the main benefactor of my Brian Robinson sacrifice, and all the stars aligned for Luke to get #HighScore in Week 9. Can his team continue this production? Likely not. But it definitely provides a much-needed morale boost for someone who is just playing FF so he can have fun with friends.
Trade Proposal: Devonta Smith + Najee Harris to Laura for James Cook + Darnell Mooney
Luke probably has less incentive than Laura to make my proposed trade for Laura happen, but I could see it going through if he added Najee Harris in return for Darnell Mooney, perhaps? Luke isn’t strong at RB outside of Saquon, but if he were to lose Devonta Smith, he’d be thin at WR as well, so getting another WR in return would make this trade a little more acceptable.
10. Run It Back! (Gabs) (5-4) [10]
Gabs pulled out the win this week, but I’m still not sure if this Rodgers-Wilson thing is real or a mirage. If it’s real, then Gabs’s team should continue winning - I would expect Jonathan Taylor and Brian Thomas, Jr to bounce back, and Kenneth Walker and Brock Bowers to continue to produce. I just think it’s probably more of a mirage.
Trade Proposal: Kenneth Walker III + Brian Thomas Jr to Haji for Justin Jefferson + Chuba Hubbard
Getting Justin Jefferson is probably not a likely outcome, but Gabs has a lot of youth on his roster that he can try to leverage to teams that are already looking towards next year - one of those teams possibly being Haji’s. Brian Thomas Jr, Brock Bowers, Bucky Irving, and Tyrone Tracy Jr just to name a handful. Whether he’s willing to trade them is another story.
11. Terrific Tortoises (David) (3-6) [9]
Fantasy Football has not been kind to David this year. At least CMC is expected to return in Week 10, DeAndre Hopkins looked good in Week 9 with the Chiefs, Jalen Hurts has been great, and Tony Pollard has been surprisingly productive. That doesn’t help David’s morale though, sitting at 11th place and being 11th in Points For, but I do think there is a glimmer of hope for the future.
Trade Proposal: DeAndre Hopkins + Christian McCaffery to Aaron for Tyreek Hill + James Conner
I know David has waited all this time for CMC to finally return, but perhaps he can still get the most value out of CMC before he actually plays. I have no idea how CMC will look or how he’ll be used - it could be RB1 production, or it could be very limited. But David could use some reliable help at RB and an upgrade at WR. This trade would provide both.
12. choubacca (Aaron) (3-6) [11]
After an impressive Week 9 performance, Aaron’s team has fallen back to reality. With Dak now on IR, not only does Aaron lose a QB, but CeeDee’s production will also take a hit. Good thing Aaron has Baker Mayfield, who has been playing better than Dak anyways. Cade Otton has also been on a hot streak, but in spite of that, Aaron seems to have a bunch of FF JAGs, which unfortunately isn’t a recipe for success.
Trade Proposal: Tyreek Hill + James Conner to David for DeAndre Hopkins + Christian McCaffery
This is the kind of risk Aaron needs to take to have a hope of getting out of Sacko. CMC has the potential to be a league-winning RB. DeAndre Hopkins has shown he still has the skills needed to produce. Sure, losing Tyreek and Conner would be a big blow, but it’s not like they’ve been winning him all that many games.