It’s never too early to start thinking about making trades to improve your fantasy football team. And while overreacting to Week 1 results is usually not a wise decision, there were some developments in several NFL teams’ openers that could be a harbinger of things to come the rest of the way.
So let’s try to sort out what could turn out to be some early buying and selling opportunities for fantasy managers.
OPENING STATEMENTS: 32 things we learned from NFL’s Week 1 games
These players saw their fantasy values increase or decrease most based on their performances in Week 1:
Fantasy football buy candidates
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Fantasy football sell candidates
RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars: Etienne was expected to be the bellcow for the Jaguars, but a devastating fumble thrust backup Tank Bigsby into action, and he racked up 73 yards on 12 carries (6.1 ypc). Conversely, Etienne averaged less than four yards per tote. It’s a backfield situation worth following closely.
RB Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins: Mostert led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, and he was tied for the league lead with 21 total scores. That was 2023, this is 2024, and he debuted with just six rushes for nine yards, while adding two receptions for 10 yards. Not only did RB De’Von Achane outproduce him, but journeyman RB Jeff Wilson Jr. did, too.
TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans: The offseason acquisitions of WR Stefon Diggs and RB Joe Mixon upgraded what was already an excellent Texans passing attack. Schultz appears to be hurt most by the new additions, making him a TE2 at best.