Players to target in fantasy football trades before the deadline, as well as some players you should be starting this weekend.

A quick one from me this week, as I’m currently away visiting family. It’s trade deadline week for many fantasy football leagues though, so I couldn’t not sneak away to give my takes on the players to target in last-minute trades.

After that, I’ll make the case for a few players that I think can lead you to a W in fantasy this weekend, particularly from the flex spot.

I’ll also be posting my NFL week 11 betting preview, for those that are looking for some betting inspiration going into the weekend. You can subscribe to email notifications or follow me on X or LinkedIn to avoid missing out on any of my three weekly articles moving forward.

Deadline Trade Targets

Rhamondre Stevenson (New England)

The RB21 in half-ppr, Stevenson has been boom/bust this year, with three weeks outside the top 40 at the position, as well as five weeks inside the top 10.

Moving forward though, four of Stevenson’s remaining six games of the fantasy season are against bottom-half defenses in terms of fantasy points allowed/game to running backs, and three of those defenses are bottom 10.

Stevenson, though not cheap, should be perfectly attainable in a trade, but, as always, it’ll depend on the strength in depth of the two rosters involved.

Marvin Harrison Jr (Arizona)

These next two players have been mentioned in these articles in previous weeks, but I’m doubling down.

I’ve never understood fantasy analysts that post things like “the 10 must-have receivers in fantasy right now” or “8 running backs I’m not leaving drafts without”. I mean surely you’re leaving without a few of them, right?

It always sounds great to offer a plethora of options, but at what point are you just hedging?

Marvin Harrison was definitely a buy-low when I recommended him last week, but I still consider him a buy-low after his WR13 (half-ppr) finish in week 10.

Five of Harrison’s last six games of the fantasy season are against bottom-half defenses in passing yards allowed/game this season, with the one remaining game being against the Patriots, who are 16th in that stat.

Add to all that, that rookie wide receivers tend to improve significantly in the second half of the season, particularly after their bye week, and I expect Harrison to be a WR1 over the remainder of the season.

Christian Watson (Green Bay)

Still only 51% rostered according to FantasyPros, you may not even need to trade for Christian Watson. If you do though, you should face very little resistance.

Watson has, however, led the Packers in targets in their last two games, after overcoming a lingering ankle injury. With Jordan Love struggling with an injury of his own though, Watson has yet to make good on my week 9 buy-low recommendation.

Coming off their bye-week, Love has been practicing in full ahead of their game against the Bears. This has all the markings of a break-out week for Watson, who continues to be targeted on deep balls as well as in and around the end-zone.

Players To Start In Week 11

Jaylen Warren (Pittsburgh)

I’ve campaigned all season long to sit any running back that faces the Ravens this year, and for good reason.

Teams adapt though, and last weeks match-up between Baltimore and Cincinnati was as good an example as any. Through the first nine weeks of the season, Chase Brown had averaged 2.88 targets/game for the Bengals, in week 10 though, he was targeted 11 times.

Aside from Rachaad White, Brown had more half-ppr points in week 10 than any other running back has scored in full-ppr against the Ravens this year. White, another receiving back, tallied 71 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air against Baltimore in week seven.

The way to get your running backs involved against Baltimore is through the air, and the league is beginning to realize that.

The receiving back for Pittsburgh is unquestionably Jaylen Warren, who also saw his season-high in carries against Washington last weekend. If Pittsburgh are to have success this Sunday, they’ll need to get Warren involved.

An RB2 in week 10, I see Warren as more of a flex play this weekend, but can serve as your RB2 if bye weeks have you in a tough spot.

Update: Warren missed practice on Thursday, so make sure to monitor that situation if you’re planning to play him. If he misses the game, Cordarrelle Patterson should assume the pass-catching roll, is available in 98.9% of leagues (per FantasyPros) and would also be flex-worthy should you need him.

Nick Chubb

The fanfare surrounding Nick Chubb‘s long-awaited return to the field has quietened a little as he gets back up to speed after what was a potentially career-ending knee injury.

Coming off a bye week, after being limited to a 35% snap-share in a blowout loss to the Chargers in week nine, Chubb will no-doubt look to make a statement against the Saints this weekend.

And the Saints may be powerless to stop him doing just that.

New Orleans gave up 5.7 rushing yards/attempt against Atlanta last week, which was third-worst of any team in week 10. Over the season, they have allowed 141 rushing yards/game, which is the sixth-most in the NFL.

The Saints snapped a 7-game losing streak last weekend, but this should be a much friendlier game-script for the Browns, allowing Chubb a much better opportunity to accumulate yards.

Chubb should be a worthwhile flex play this weekend, with strong touchdown potential.

Ladd McConkey (LA Chargers)

Ladd McConkey currently has the tenth-highest yards/target of any receiver with 54+ targets this year.

Having said that, 2 receptions in week ten probably doesn’t get the mouth watering the way it might for a player of McConkey’s obvious talent.

But last weeks opponent, the Tennessee Titans, have been the stingiest pass defense in the NFL this season, allowing the league’s lowest passing yards/game.

The Bengals, however, have allowed the league’s tenth-most passing yards/game this year and, alongside their high-scoring offense, provide a brilliant opportunity for opposing receivers in fantasy.

Justin Herbert attempted only 18 passes in week 10, the lowest of his career when playing 100% of offensive snaps. He will no-doubt be forced to use his impressive arm far more this Sunday, to keep up with a high-flying Bengals offense.

If you’re needing a higher risk/reward player this weekend, I would also have no problem throwing in Quentin Johnston, though McConkey has the much higher floor.

In this article, McConkey and Christian Watson are fairly inter-changeable. McConkey has a very friendly schedule going forwards and could easily be considered a buy-low, whilst Watson is a player that I am starting wherever I have him this weekend.

That’s it for this one, I’ll be posting my betting preview for this weekend’s games later today, before switching off for the week.

In-depth stats from Pro Football Focus.