While we’re only a couple of weeks into the NFL season, fantasy football managers could already be inclined to shake up their rosters.
The 2024 season is already shaping up to be a wild one, as several high-profile players have underperformed or suffered significant injuries, while some unexpected names have emerged as impactful contributors.
As a result, you could have the opportunity to capitalize on a star’s struggles or a less-talented player’s strong start through the trade market. With that in mind, here are four players you should consider either buying low or selling high on entering Week 3.
Buy low
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Aiyuk, a fourth-round pick in most fantasy drafts, has disappointed to begin 2024, averaging just 6.6 PPR points per game, the 63rd-most among wideouts. Despite the lackluster production, it’s not all that surprising that Aiyuk has struggled. After all, he missed training camp and San Francisco’s three preseason games due to his heated contract negotiations with the team.
With more practice and game reps under his belt, Aiyuk should return to being the high-end WR2 we’ve come to expect from him. Over the next few games, however, Aiyuk could emerge as a weekly top-12 wide receiver. San Francisco, which already entered the season without reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles), will now be without wideout Deebo Samuel (calf) for the next few weeks.
Now that Samuel — the WR11 overall — is sidelined, Aiyuk should become the focal point of a 49ers passing attack that should still remain one of the best in the NFL. San Francisco’s upcoming schedule also provides plenty of optimism that Aiyuk could make an instant impact if you were to acquire him. Over the next three games, the 49ers will face the Rams, Patriots and Cardinals, all of whom rank inside the top 13 in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers.
RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
The 2022 NFL rushing champion has been productive to begin his Packers tenure, but his fantasy output hasn’t been particularly impressive. Jacobs has posted 12.4 and 13.1 PPR points, respectively, over his first two games, rushing for 235 yards on an efficient 4.9 yards per carry.
The reason Jacobs has been underwhelming in fantasy is primarily due to his lack of touchdowns. Not only does Jacobs have the most rushing yards without a touchdown this season, but he’s also one of two top-27 running backs in PPR scoring formats who hasn’t found the end zone. Expect this to change, especially once QB Jordan Love returns from his knee injury, which could be as soon as this Sunday’s road matchup against the Titans, considering he practiced on Wednesday.
Sell high
RB J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
Dobbins, who missed all but one game in 2023 due to a torn Achilles, has quickly emerged as one of the biggest steals in fantasy drafts. Through two games, the former Raven has rushed for a league-leading 266 yards and two touchdowns, which ranks him as the RB4 overall in PPR scoring formats.
Even so, while he’s been stellar, it’s hard to imagine Dobbins will continue to average 21.5 PPR points per game or 9.9 yards per carry much longer. Aside from the fact that Dobbins has an extensive injury history, the 25-year-old is in a timeshare with Gus Edwards and has even received fewer carries than his backfield mate in each of Los Angeles‘ two games.
With a matchup against a stout Steelers defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (22.2) slated for Sunday, this could be the perfect time to capitalize on Dobbins’ value.
WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Hill isn’t necessarily a must-sell. In fact, he could be worth acquiring, depending on your current record and the state of your roster. However, if your fantasy team is either 0-2, has a gauntlet of a schedule on the horizon or is simply lacking talent overall, it could make sense to trade him.
On Tuesday, Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve after the 26-year-old suffered the third concussion of his NFL career during last week’s loss to Buffalo. Tagovailoa will be out until Week 8, meaning 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson is penciled in as Miami’s new starter for the next four games, if not longer.
Although Hill enjoyed a 100-yard outing in one of Thompson’s three starts during the 2022 season, his usage with the backup quarterback in the lineup is concerning. According to Draft Shark’s Jared Smola, Hill averaged nine targets, 5.3 receptions and 46.3 receiving yards across Thompson’s 2022 starts and didn’t score a touchdown. Hill should still put together some decent weeks with Thompson at quarterback, though his ceiling and floor are undoubtedly lower for the foreseeable future.
