Week 4 of the NFL season is almost behind us with the Monday Night Football doubleheader remaining. Four previously undefeated teams were handed their first losses this week. The most surprising result was the winless New York Giants taking down the Los Angeles Chargers.
Bye weeks start next week, which will push more fantasy football managers to make trades. A common strategy is trading to fill bye week holes. This approach is flawed for many reasons, and it is one you can exploit if managers in your league fall for it.
With that in mind, here are eight players who are good buy and sell candidates in trades as Week 5 approaches.
Week 5 fantasy football players to buy
WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin made his much-anticipated season debut. If you only look at the box score, it was underwhelming with three receptions for 26 yards.
The reason to buy is he was not eased in. He played on nearly every two- and three-receiver set and saw 10 targets, tied for the team lead.
It should not take a veteran like Godwin long to get going again.
WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Still suspended for two more games (three weeks including a bye), now is the time to try to acquire Rice.
It only took one of Patrick Mahomes’ weapons returning, Xavier Worthy, for the Chiefs offense to look significantly better. It will improve even more when Rice returns. You can expect him to quickly regain high-upside WR2 value.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
It has been a rough start for Hockenson, but there are clear signs of a turnaround coming.
His snap share climbed to over 90% for the first time this season. More important, when Minnesota needed to move the ball, Hockenson was the one they leaned on. He consistently got open underneath and in the middle while defenses focused on Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. That role is where he can thrive the rest of the year.
RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Since his Week 1 explosion, Henry has totaled just 115 yards and a touchdown. Managers may already be frustrated with the lack of production from a second-round pick, but this is the perfect time to buy.
The Ravens’ last three games were outliers: a blowout win where Lamar Jackson threw for four touchdowns, a back-and-forth shootout with the Lions and a blowout loss to the Chiefs. None of those game scripts let them feature Henry.
The schedule eases up from here, and Baltimore should get back to leaning on the run … and on Henry.
Week 5 fantasy football players to sell
WR DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
Metcalf makes this list for a second week in a row. If you did not sell him last week, definitely consider it now.
His stat line looks impressive, 126 yards and a touchdown on five targets, but the bigger concern is usage. He has only 22 targets on the season, averaging 5.5 per game.
Take advantage of the fact that one big play inflated his numbers and trade him for a more reliable option.
RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
You could wait for a big game from Kamara before trading him. The problem is that might not come for a while, if it ever does.
Kamara has thrived for years on heavy usage, especially in the passing game. He now has two games with five and six targets and two games with only two targets.
Even more concerning, Kendre Miller is getting more involved each week. In Week 4, he carried the ball a season-high 11 times.
Sell Kamara before the rest of your league realizes Miller is seeing more work.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
If anyone watched Thursday Night Football and got excited thinking Harrison turned a corner, take advantage of that.
What might get forgotten in his fantastic second half was how bad he looked in the first half. Harrison caught one of five targets and bobbled one that led to an interception.
He and Kyler Murray looked out of sync, much like they have all season. Kyler constantly misses him or Harrison runs the wrong route, leading to only a 60% catchable ball rate for his targets.
One angle for your trade argument is that this was the first game without James Conner, so this kind of performance should be more typical going forward.
WR Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Shakir has a touchdown in two consecutive weeks. His score on Sunday was incredible, taking a short screen, breaking three tackles, spinning 360 degrees, and running 43 yards for the score. This gives you leverage for negotiating a trade involving him.
The reason to trade him is the volatility that comes with any of the Bills receivers. Despite Shakir being Josh Allen’s primary option, he has only 20 targets on the season.