Fantasy Football Week 2: Buy Low, Sell High

Through two weeks of the NFL season, overreactions are at an all-time high while premature disappointment is a close second. I want to look at some early fantasy football performances and offer suggestions on players you should consider trading for while their stock is low, and players you should try to trade while their stock is high.

Fantasy Football – Sell High

Melvin Gordon

• Melvin Gordon is fourth among running backs (ESPN Standard Scoring), but his three touchdowns are a big reason why. This is a guy who couldn’t find the end zone once in his rookie year, so his early touchdown production is a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners. If you have him, though, you have to begin to worry about whether or not that type of production can last. The Chargers have been great offensively through two weeks, but I’m not too confident Gordon will continue to score 1.5 touchdowns per game. Gordon has been good, but you can probably get the most in return by trading him now whether than later, when his touchdown production may be down.

LeGarrette Blount

• Blount has been fantastic through two weeks, mostly because the Patriots are feeding him the rock. He has 51 carries, 193 yards and two touchdowns so far, but when Tom Brady comes back those numbers presumably will decline dramatically. The Patriots throw the ball heavily with Brady, and their running back situation is one that has been historically unstable and unpredictable. Blount is killing right now, sell him while you can get the most in return.

Willie Snead

• Snead is dominating in the Saints offense, but I’m not too confident that his production can keep up at this level. Through two games, Snead is third in fantasy scoring among wide receivers with 14 catches, 226 yards and two touchdowns. He’s been incredibly efficient, and I may be too low on him. But the fact of the matter is that Drew Brees and the Saints have a number of receivers to throw to, and rookie Michael Thomas is still learning the ropes. I like Thomas as a guy to improve as the season progresses, and Snead’s elite production will become an average to above average one.

Mike Wallace

• Wallace is 6th among wide receivers in fantasy scoring, but he only has seven (!) catches. Three of the seven were big touchdown catches, and that’s a big reason his production has been so high. Wallace hasn’t been the “reliable” receiver owners have hoped in the past, so I’m banking on that trend to continue while Baltimore waits on Breshad Perriman to become their number one guy. I would sell Wallace high while you can.

Matt Ryan

• Ryan leads all scorers with 51 fantasy points through two weeks, but I am willing to bet the bank he won’t even finish as a top five quarterback by season’s end. He’s played against two defenses — the Bucs and Raiders — who have let up a ton of points so far this season. Ryan was available on most waiver wires after week one, now he can be a useful piece in a big trade. Get rid of him for the most in return while you can.

Fantasy Football – Buy Low

Lamar Miller

• Miller was on everyone’s list to break out this season, but he’s under performed in his first two games (by fantasy standards). He only has 20 points through two games, but he’s been force-fed the ball. He has 53 carries already, which is second in the league only behind Deangelo Williams. For Miller, the touchdowns will come as the Texans are posing as a pass-heavy team with the emergence of Will Fuller alongside stud receiver Deandre Hopkins. I would buy Miller while he’s at his lowest; once the touchdowns come, he’ll be right up there in the top five among running backs.

Ezekiel Elliott

• Elliott is another guy who has disappointed thus far, and his two touchdowns have saved his fantasy owners (and Cowboys fans) from freaking out entirely. Elliott certainly has underperformed, but the guy has only played two NFL games; he needs some time to adjust to the speed of the game. I think he will, and he’s still playing behind the best offensive line in football. If he cleans up his fumbles (two last week), Elliott will continue to carry the load in Dallas. The production will come, buy him low while you can.

Jeremy Hill

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• Hill has disappointed fantasy owners this year, but he’s had two really tough matchups to start the season (New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers). He’s not a guy you want to give up a whole lot for, but I don’t think you’ll have to give up much at all. Once his schedule opens up after this week’s matchup against Denver, he should put up some better numbers. If you’re weak at running back, Hill is a guy who commands goal line snaps in Cinci and can turn his season around once he goes up against some weaker run defenses.

Alshon Jeffery

• Jeffery only has 19 fantasy points in two weeks, but he would have more if Jay Cutler didn’t underthrow him on Monday Night Football in the first quarter. He was wide open for a touchdown, but was tackled at the five because of the bad throw. Cutler is gone and Brian Hoyer is in, but that should only help your case if you’re trying to trade for Jeffery. Hoyer can still chuck it, and Jeffery is still in his contract season. The touchdowns will come, and you should try to grab Jeffery while his stock isn’t as high as I assume it will be later in the season.

Odell Beckham Jr.

• OBJ has definitely under performed, but so has the Giants offense. Trust me, it will get going, and so will their stud receiver. Beckham only has 15 points through two weeks, but he dropped a couple passes that he would usually make nine out of 10 times. I doubt owners are willing to part ways, but maybe the emergence of rookie Sterling Shepard will help your case. Try to buy low on Beckham, the big plays are coming in New York sooner than later.

Jordan Reed

• Reed only has 13 points in two games, but Kirk Cousins has been brutal in Washington. I think he’ll eventually figure it out, but either way, Reed’s production should only increase as the season progresses. I would buy him low while you have the chance; Washington is 0-2 and everybody is down on their offense.

Next: FanDuel NFL QB Picks Week 3

Best of luck this week in your fantasy match up and stay with us at Fantasy CPR all season long to help take you to a fantasy football title!