As we head into Thanksgiving week, many of you will be very busy. Family, friends, travel and shopping will be at the forefront of most people’s minds, which means fantasy football often gets pushed to the back burner.
However, this is still a crucial stretch for your team. With just a couple weeks before the fantasy playoffs, this is one of the final chances you have to make meaningful improvements to your roster.
There are reasons to trade, whether you still have work to do to make the playoffs or are already in. You may need a short-term boost to get there, or you can take a more long-term approach if your spot is secure.
These eight players are not necessarily one-size-fits-all buy or sell options. Instead, they fit best for teams in the scenarios outlined above.
Fantasy football players to buy in Week 13
RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
If you are locked into the playoffs, acquiring Jacobs could be a league-winning move. He was reportedly close to playing this week but ultimately could not get on the field.
There is still a chance he is not active for Week 13, especially with it being a short week as the Packers play the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
If you have both the record and the depth to handle a week without Jacobs, then this is absolutely a move worth making.
RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another running back dealing with an injury. Reports say Irving is expected to return in Week 13, but it feels like we’ve been hearing that for weeks, so it’s hard to know for sure.
It might be tough to pry him away from the manager who has stashed him this long, but if you can, do it. Because of the risk that he doesn’t return in Week 13, and the risk of reinjury, you should already have a strong roster that can absorb the loss if things don’t go as expected.
If you can handle the risk, the payoff is obvious. Irving is one of the best fantasy running backs when healthy. If you need the reminder, over the first four weeks he averaged 18 PPR points per game, good for eighth-best at the position.
TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Warren’s star has dimmed a bit since his blazing start to the season. After scoring in three straight games from Weeks 5–7, he has now gone four straight without finding the end zone.
The volume is still elite for a tight end, and that is exactly what you want on your roster heading into the playoffs.
Week 13 might be tough with a matchup against the Texans’ elite defense. However, much like the two running backs on this list, if your team can absorb the difficult week, the rest of the schedule sets up nicely for Warren to finish the season strong.
QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow nearly returned in Week 12, so the expectation is he will play on Thanksgiving night against the Ravens.
The right scenario needs to be in place for this trade to be possible. The manager who has Burrow must also have another strong quarterback, likely someone in the top six or seven. If they do, try to acquire Burrow for your playoff run. If they are unwilling to move him and you need a quarterback upgrade, shift your focus to their other option instead.
Fantasy football players to sell in Week 13
WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
London is a player you should be looking to move, no matter your playoff scenario.
He is dealing with an injury. While there is some optimism he could return in Week 13, other reports suggest the knee may be a longer-term issue.
Even if he does return, Kirk Cousins will be his quarterback. His splits with Cousins vs. Michael Penix Jr. are not favorable. London scores on average of 4.6 fewer PPR points per game with Cousins compared to Penix.
This is not a “sell at all costs” situation, but if you are offered a solid player in return, that should be an easy decision to make.
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
There is one last week when teams will be on bye in the NFL: Week 14, the final week of the regular season in most fantasy football leagues. One of the teams on bye is the Patriots.
If you need wins, moving players who cannot help you achieve that can sometimes be necessary. It might feel like you are “losing” the trade, but if it helps you reach the playoffs, then it is worth it. And you never know what could happen once you get there.
Henry is coming off one of his best games of the season, catching seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. This only helps your cause to sell him.
WR DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
Moore has been mostly underwhelming this year, but he scored twice in Week 12. That looks impressive, but a concern is he was not on the field as much as usual. Most managers will not realize this.
The other concern for Moore, and for any Bears offensive player, is their upcoming schedule. They face the Eagles, Packers (twice), Browns and 49ers. Only the Niners in Week 17 present a favorable matchup.
A selling point for Moore is that Rome Odunze has underperformed lately compared to his early-season successs. This should result in Moore seeing more consistent targets, much like Sunday, which contributed to his two scores.
WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
At this point, it is time to sell all Vikings players if anyone will take them. Even the great Justin Jefferson.
Outside of Week 13 against the Seahawks, the schedule was supposed to favor the Vikings’ skill players. At this point, it doesn’t matter, and there is one clear reason: QB J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy looks, for lack of a better word, terrible, and it seems to get worse with each game. This week, he couldn’t top 100 passing yards and has now thrown seven interceptions over the last four games. That’s Justin Fields–level bad.
Trading a player of Jefferson’s caliber is tough to stomach, but how many weeks in a row have you endured disappointing results? Make him someone else’s problem. His name alone should fetch a solid return.