Fantasy Trade Targets Week 8: See If You Can Steal Bijan

It’s officially time to get serious about refining your fantasy lineup.

We’re seven weeks in. That probably means we’re halfway to the start of your league’s playoffs.

If you’re in good shape, awesome. Let’s try to figure out that spot or two that you can sharpen just enough to complete your championship run. That could be as simple as checking the strength-of-schedule numbers and chasing some ideal fantasy-playoff schedules.

Or maybe you need some help to get there. It’s not even too late to rebound some 2-5 squads, but that rehab will take more than hoping your underperforming stud will finally rebound. (Lookin’ at you — but really your QB — Justin Jefferson.)

That could mean paying up for a higher-caliber target than usual. It might mean selling off a guy who just gave you two straight strong outings. And it might even mean taking some risk to chase ultimate upside.

Check out the options below, updates on our picks from the past two weeks, and your Trade Navigator to find the best fit for your situation.

Week 8 Buys

Week 8 Sells

Buy These Fantasy Trade Targets

This week finds the rare QB “buy.” But first, a much bigger swing.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Let’s acknowledge something first: You might get laughed at for even trying to acquire this guy. If I’m sitting on Robinson, you’d need to overpay me to get him.

But what’s the worse outcome …

• Trying to get Robinson and failing or
• Watching someone else nab Robinson while you’re left thinking, “Crap! I didn’t even know he was available!”

Now let’s get to why you might be able to get him.

Robinson’s Running Cold

Look at the overall numbers, and you might not see it. Atlanta’s lead back sits third among RBs in total PPR points and points per game. But that’s driven by three top-6 fantasy finishes among his first four outings.

The past three weeks have seen Robinson land just 14th, 32nd, and 17th at the position.

He hasn’t scored a TD over that span but has finished a game with just 53 total yards and is coming off a season-worst 3.2 yards per rush against the 49ers.

That trio of games probably doesn’t have too many Robinson managers in full panic mode, especially because his 122 total yards against the 49ers last week marked his fourth-largest total of the season.

But Robinson’s cold streak might have fed into a losing skid for your league mate and created a buying opportunity.

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry About His Outlook

Robinson ranked seventh among RBs in expected PPR  points per game through the first four weeks. That’s down to 16th over the past three contests.

That’s not good. But let’s dig a little deeper.

Robinson has seen a slight dip in target share recently. But the bigger change to his output has been Atlanta passing to score from the red zone instead of running it in lately.

QB Michael Penix Jr. has tossed 5 TDs among nine pass attempts from inside the 10-yard line over the past three games. He attempted only two total throws from that range over his first two starts this year.

If you think the Falcons are just gonna keep throwing in the red zone the rest of the way, then I guess you shouldn’t try to buy into their lead back. I’ll go ahead and bet that the scoring will swing back Robinson’s way.

Here’s Who to Offer

Don’t expect to land Robinson in a 1-for-1 trade unless you’re looking to move a top-shelf WR.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence got a nice boost from his season-high fantasy total before the Week 7 bye. But he sits just a decent QB10 in points per game so far after an inconsistent open to the year.

That production could be headed for a second-half boost.

Schedule Favors Stat Growth

Jacksonville’s schedule through seven weeks ranked 24th for QB scoring, with just two positive matchups and only one of those in the green by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

The path from this week through Week 17, however, jumps to third-best at the position, with only one worrisome spot and a nice set of playoff matchups.

If your league plays three playoff weeks, Lawrence will get a Houston D that already allowed him 4 TD passes, a Dallas D that’s been sixth-friendliest to QB scoring, and then a Washington unit that’s presented the league’s best QB matchup.

Where Have We Seen a Hot Lawrence Second Half Before?

It’s easier to project a big second half for the Jaguars QB because we’ve seen it happen before.

The Jags got their bye in Week 8 last season. From Week 9 on, no QB supplied more fantasy points than Lawrence.

He did so on modest passing volume, averaging 238.7 yards and 2.0 TDs on 30.1 attempts per contest. Lawrence also got a big boost from his 24.6 rushing yards and 0.7 TDs on 5.2 rushing attempts per game over that span.

The rushing hasn’t been there so far this season, with no TDs and 2.8 carries per game. But scrambling drove Lawrence’s 2025 rushing volume, so we don’t need a shift in offensive approach. We just need more scramble opportunities.

Even if we don’t get a rebound there, we’re looking at a QB who has significantly increased his completion rate vs. last year (60.9% to 65.2%) and generated a second straight large boost in passing-TD rate.

Lawrence will have trouble getting back to the top of the position without the rushing points, but the combo of efficient passing, plentiful receiving options, and a soft schedule should at least make him an easy QB1.

Here’s Who to Offer

These are sample players. Head to your Trade Navigator for personalized trade building.

• Lead with: Tony Pollard (plus a QB if needed)
• Move to: Bryce Young (likely with a player added to each side)
• Settle for: Jayden Daniels

Travis Etienne, RB, New Orleans Saints

It’s bound to be easier to sell off RBs than to acquire RB help right now (especially if you don’t succeed in pursuing Robinson). That’s why we might need to get a little creative and/or take on a little risk.

Such is the case with Etienne.

Know What You’re Targeting Here

The Saints hit a Week 8 bye, which obviously means you’ll find no immediate help if you get Etienne. But their Week 9 return will mark the first week that he’s eligible to come off IR.

Etienne hasn’t played since Week 3 because of a hamstring injury, and his absence has helped leave the New Orleans backfield in rough shape. Saints RBs are averaging just 3.4 yards per rush for the season, and Etienne holds one of just four double-digit PPR scores for the backfield through seven games.

But the situation’s probably better than those numbers indicate.

Saints RBs rank a decent 19th in PPR points per game, while the team ranks a not-awful 20th in expected points added per rushing play, according to Sumer Sports. That’s two spots ahead of the Lions and just one behind the Bears.

Alvin Kamara posted double-digit PPR lines in three of the past four games, thanks to some TD fortune and good receiving volume.

How Much Does Kamara Threaten Etienne’s Role?

The short answer here: We won’t really know until after Etienne’s back on the field.

We’ve gotten just two full games of the former Jaguar with New Orleans. Kamara missed Week 1 but returned to log more touches than Etienne in the Week 2 win over the Ravens. That’s worrisome.

But check what he did with those touches …

• 9 carries for 15 yards (1.7 yards per rush)
• 5 catches for 7 yards on 6 targets (1.4 yards per catch)

For the season, Kamara ranks 64th in rush yards over expected per attempt among 67 RBs with 20+ carries. He ranks a much stronger ninth in yards per route among 48 RBs who have drawn 20+ targets. But Kamara ranks just 31st among that group in yards after catch per reception and 41st in the percentage of his targets that have come by design.

Etienne sits 29th in that category, posting a 16.7% vs. Kamara’s 7.7%. In the lone full game they’ve shared so far, Etienne ran 13 routes to Kamara’s nine and played nearly twice as many snaps in total (37-20).

Etienne also sits well ahead of Kamara in RYOE per attempt: minus-0.32 to minus-1.46.

Combine all that with New Orleans paying Etienne $12 million a year in free agency this past offseason, and we should assume he’ll claim the backfield lead upon his return.

How strong a lead the younger back will wrest is the question, but that uncertainty should also help to keep his price down.

Backfield Questions Mask Significant Upside

You might be wondering why we should bother buying into such an unclear backfield. Fair question. The answer: Because the offense has improved vs. last year and presents scoring opportunity.

Check out this year’s rankings vs. last year’s in some key categories (first two via Sumer Sports):

The Saints have notably been held to 13 by the Vikings and 10 by the Steelers (in France), a pair of predictably tough matchups. They’ve scored at least 24 in each of their other five outings, averaging 27.8 across those contests.

This team can score. And the remaining schedule holds just one defense that ranks higher than 14th in EPA per play (the Bucs in Week 15).

The lead back in an offense with the capacity to average 27.8 points per game carries significant upside, and that should be Etienne as soon as he’s ready.

If you get him now and he’s back to full strength for Week 9, he’ll get a Cleveland defense that just allowed Tony Pollard the biggest fantasy line of his career. After that comes a Carolina D that’s been fifth-most friendly to RB scoring.

Keep the Risk in Mind as You Deal, Though

Now that I’ve built the upside case, let me undercut it just a bit.

Etienne’s no lock to help your fantasy team the rest of the way. Hamstring injuries can be tricky and recur, and it’s possible the Saints continue to spread work around the backfield more than we’d like.

We’re making offers for Etienne now because there’s enticing upside and the chance that his price is low. But if you find the Etienne manager in your league unwilling to deal now that the return’s in sight, don’t pay too much trying to force it.

Here’s Who to Offer

These are sample players. Head to your Trade Navigator for personalized trade building.

How Do Last Week’s ‘Buys’ Look?

Let’s look back at our Trade Target recommendations from the past two weeks and see how we’d treat those players now …

Week 7 Report

• A.J. Brown appears set on making this season a disaster, adding knee trouble to the mix this week. Pause any “buy” pursuit on him while we see what’s up here.
• Emeka Egbuka’s missed Week 7 won’t raise his price, but the 43 points Tampa Bay hung on the Panthers in Baker Mayfield’s return (even though he contributed little to it) certainly doesn’t hurt the outlook.

Week 6 Report 

• Colston Loveland has gone 6-65-1 and 7-69-1 in the two games since Caleb Williams returned. This is what we’ve been waiting for and why we included him twice as a buy before this span.
• Breece Hall made his first Wednesday practice this week since the Week 3 quad injury. That doesn’t guarantee he’ll return this week, but it sure helps.

Sell These Players

We’re selling a pair of RBs for the second straight week, sandwiching a fake stud.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

Is the Pollard “sell” call obvious this week? Yes. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it.

Here’s the key: Everyone, probably even your most gullible league mate, knows that Pollard is not about to keep running through opponents the way he just did the Browns. So if you try to sell him as a monster who just awoke from hibernation, you’re probably gonna fail. And you might even annoy some friends along the way.

But if you instead try to pitch Pollard like a guy who basically sucked for six weeks before throwing open an unexpected sell window, you just might enhance your team.

Don’t Forget How Bad Pollard Was Before Week 7

Pollard just delivered the third-largest non-PPR score and fifth-largest PPR total for any RB this season. It’s the largest single-week score he’s ever posted and the first time he has reached 30 fantasy points in a week since 2022 (with the Cowboys).

Even with that, he still sits just 22nd among RBs in PPR points per game this season. Remove the Cleveland game and he’d sit 44th.

This is a bench player who got lucky in Week 7. Even Pollard’s usage has just been OK. He entered Sunday ranked 25th among RBs in expected PPR points per game, despite owning Tennessee’s rushing.

Pollard’s been OK, ranking 25th in rush yards over expected per attempt despite sitting just 37th in yards before contact per attempt. But a dearth of receiving opportunities — 11 catches on 16 targets through seven games — and the Titans’ garbage offense will continue to hold him back.

Keep Your Ask in Check

Your best shot at selling off Pollard will obviously start with targeting an RB-needy team, but it should also include not over-reaching with what you request in return.

Our numbers say the market values Pollard at RB34 in PPR right now. I’d start by aiming higher than that, however. You could, for example, try Pollard for Etienne or Jeremiyah Love straight up. Both RBs have missed multiple weeks and beat Pollard on fantasy upside the rest of the way.

You could also take a run at a Tier 5 or Tier 6 WR from the market value page on our PPR trade value chart. Some highlights from those ranges:

Or play around with potential trade packages in your Trade Navigator if you’d prefer not to pursue the 1-for-1 route.

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets

Cooper might look like the WR version of Pollard, but he presents a couple of key differences.

For one, he has now produced big numbers in each of his two full games this season, after returning from a four-game high-ankle sprain.

Further, he’s a rookie. So it’s easier for a potential buyer to tell themselves the story that this is simply a first-round pick breaking out and ready to help the rest of the way.

Here’s why you shouldn’t believe that.

Regression’s Coming Swiftly for Cooper

The Jets rookie has caught 11 of 12 targets (91.7%) at 19.8 yards per catch over his two games back. If you think he’s going to stay near either of those numbers the rest of the way, then hang on to him. But you’ll wind up disappointed.

Among 74 WRs with 20+ targets this year, two guys hold catch rates of 80% or better: Kalif Raymond and Jaylin Noel. Among 121 WRs with 10+ targets, they rank 109th and 82nd in average depth of target, both behind Cooper by more than a yard.

Why did I jump to that stat? Because the further down the field your targets travel, the more difficult they are to complete (on average). Cooper, by the way, sits just 65th among that group in aDOT. So his 11.1-yard average isn’t even likely to continue supporting such a high YPC rate.

Cooper does rank a decent 34th in route share and 26th in target share over his two full outings. But both numbers dipped with Adonai Mitchell’s Week 7 return.

The season’s first two weeks saw Mitchell rank 43rd among all WRs in route rate (74.7%) and 18th in target share (23.1%), and he has historically fared well at drawing targets when on the field.

Mitchell returned at lower rates, and perhaps Cooper has showed enough to remain ahead of him. But the Jets also might just be ramping him back up after Mitchell missed four games with a finger injury. Either way, Mitchell’s return at least cuts into Cooper’s playing time and opportunities.

And although Garrett Wilson has totaled just 9 targets and 6 catches over the past two weeks, he remains the Jets’ top wideout. He’s not likely to finish most weeks trailing Cooper in opportunities.

This is Your Sell-High Moment

So if we’re expecting declines in opportunity, efficiency, and perhaps playing time, then Cooper’s tumble could be extreme vs. how he has scored the past two weeks. The rookie checked in sixth and ninth among WRs in PPR points in those contests.

For the season, the Jets’ offense ranks:

• 26th in pass attempts per game
• 21st in yards
• 19th in TDs
• 23rd in total yards per game
• and 27th in scoring

Not the kind of unit likely to commonly support multiple worthwhile fantasy pass catchers.

Here’s Who to Target

Here are some sample players to seek in return. Make sure to base your trade proposals on your team’s needs and values that make sense for your format.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns

The other side of that Cleveland-Tennessee matchup featured some RB fortune as well.

Quinshon Judkins landed third at the position in PPR scoring for the week on the strength of a 17-96-2 rushing line, with an 8-yard catch sprinkled on.

Here’s why it’s time to sell.

Judkins Has Stunk on the Ground This Year

The 5.6 yards per carry Cleveland’s lead back averaged against the doughy-soft Titans defense was out of character.

Judkins entered Sunday’s contest averaging just 3.0 yards per rush this season, with no single game higher than 3.9. He had also scored just one total TD through five appearances, for an offense that still ranks just 28th in scoring after matching a season-high 27 points.

That’s an inefficient runner in a bad offense (also 27th in expected points added per play), never a combo you want to chase at your starting RB slot.

And there’s room for Judkins to get even worse.

Receiving Production’s in Peril … and It Matters

Through the first six weeks, Judkins ranked ninth among RBs in expected PPR points per game from receiving. Among 75 RBs who ran at least 20 routes over that span, Judkins ranked 10th in actual PPR points per route.

As Jared pointed out in this week’s usage article, Judkins’ 5.6 receiving points per game before Sunday accounted for 49.6% of his total production.

Why’s all that matter? Because Dylan Sampson returned from IR to endanger those receiving opportunities.

Judkins drew a 13.5% target share across his first five games. That dropped to 2.9% against the Titans, while Sampson beat him in routes (15-9) and targets (3-1).

It’s one game, and basically Sampson’s first of the year. He made it through only two special-teams snaps before leading the opener with a knee injury. But Sampson also beat Judkins in targets, catches, and yards per catch (8.2 to 6.6) last year, when both were rookies.

There’s reason to believe he’ll remain the backfield receiving leader, and that would damage both the floor and ceiling for Judkins.

Here’s Who to Target

Here are some sample players to seek in return. Make sure to base your trade proposals on your team’s needs and values that make sense for your format.

• Aim for: A.J. Brown
• Accept: D.J. Moore
• Settle for: Travis Etienne (plus a player)

How Do Last Week’s ‘Sells’ Look?

Let’s look back at our sell recommendations from the past two weeks and how we’d treat those players now …

Week 7 Report

• Nothing changed with the outlook on Chuba Hubbard. He merely endured a difficult outing against a Bucs defense that’s proved tougher than expected in a game that found the Panthers thoroughly dominated.
• Ashton Jeanty did his thing again, rushing for basically nothing (8 carries, 15 yards) while making his day completely on the receiving side (8-61-1 on 8 targets). He did see a playing-time rebound, at least, indicating that foot’s healthier. Still an iffy profile, especially with a potential QB change in the near future.

Week 6 Report 

• Oh man. Jameson Williams comes off two straight 2-TD games to face a league-best Vikings defense. This is a SELL moment.
• Jaylen Warren racked up 137 total yards in Week 7, which is a good total even after you convert from francs to dollars. He scored no TDs, though, while watching Rico Dowdle beat him in routes. That’s the sneaky negative stuff that makes him a potential sell rather than a comfy hold. As ever, though, make sure you’re getting enough in return.