Looking for ways to sharpen your edge in fantasy football as the season gets tense? Navigating trade targets can be tricky, especially with unexpected injuries and shake-ups across teams. Sometimes the most interesting buys and sells are the ones that make you pause and wonder what’s beneath the surface.
This week’s recommendations highlight a few names that might surprise you and could change your playoff trajectory. Read on to discover which moves could put your fantasy football roster in a better spot heading into the critical final stretch.
Trade Targets to Buy: Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
Darnell Mooney has been hugely disappointing this year, recording just one top-40 finish at the wide receiver position through eight weeks. The receiver hasn’t managed to hit double-digit fantasy points once this season and has been limited to just one reception in half of his games.
That might make this an odd piece of advice, but buy-lows are rarely pretty on the surface. Starting quarterback Michael Penix left the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers early with a knee injury.
That injury is likely to keep him out for at least Week 12 and potentially much longer, with Kirk Cousins the next man up. Mooney averaged over six targets per game with Cousins starting last year, and tallied six top-20 finishes in fantasy.
There is a solid chance that Mooney will be on waivers in your leagues, and if he’s not, he should cost you next to nothing. Certainly don’t go all-out to acquire the receiver, but he’s worth picking up if you have a space for an upside stash on your roster.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
If Mooney isn’t available on waivers, Cedric Tillman almost certainly will be. Again, I’m not a fan of Cleveland’s offense this season, and I’m not convinced that any Browns player will provide much for fantasy in the coming weeks.
Joe Flacco’s success with the Cincinnati Bengals suggests that judging any quarterback on their performances in Cleveland would be harsh. However, I expect Sanders to get an extended opportunity on the field, and I expect him to target his receivers more than Gabriel has in recent weeks.
Tillman is a proven performer in both real life and fantasy football and is working his way back from a significant injury. Tillman has eight across the two games since his return, and tallied 52 receiving yards on Sunday. If you need a spark in your flex spot, the Browns receiver is a low-floor, high-ceiling option that should cost you nothing this week.
Trade Targets to Sell: Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
Betting against a highly drafted, rookie wide receiver in the second half of the season feels wrong. But having backed Bryce Young on multiple occasions this season, I’m all too aware of the volatile nature of the Panthers’ passing attack this season.
I rate Young and McMillan, but there is a boom/bust element to their fantasy production, something that I fully expect to be ironed out in time. Unfortunately, with just three weeks to secure a place in the fantasy playoffs, time is not something fantasy managers have in abundance.
READ MORE: Fantasy Football Buy Low, Sell High In Week 12: Trade Targets Include Sam Darnold, Jaylen Warren, and Darnell Mooney
McMillan has registered three top-13 fantasy finishes this season, but just as many fantasy finishes of WR45 or worse. On the back of a spike week, it might be a good idea to move for a more reliable fantasy asset. It takes several good weeks to win the playoffs, but it only takes one bad one to fall short.
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
Michael Wilson falls firmly into the same bucket as Tucker: backup players who have excelled in a situation that almost certainly won’t last. With Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined, Wilson was targeted a ridiculous 18 times against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.
He caught 15 of those targets for 185 yards, as the Cardinals chased an unlikely comeback. They fell short in that pursuit, but that doesn’t make Wilson’s output any less impressive. There is currently no indication as to whether Harrison will return in Week 12, or even beyond, offering a slight hope of continued production for Wilson.
If you’re unsure of a playoff spot, Wilson’s short-term upside is worth more than you’re likely to get in a trade. However, if you are already in a good place, moving Wilson to a more desperate team for a player who could help you in the playoffs might be a wise move.
