Buy or Sell? Week 8 Trade Advice

One of the toughest parts of fantasy football to navigate is trading with league-mates. As a result of the unique characteristics of every person in a fantasy football league, it is often difficult to find a strategy for trading players that works for everyone in any situation.

Nevertheless, highlighting the performances of certain players helps to create a starting point for fantasy owners. By knowing who to trade or trade for, fantasy owners are able to have a starting point for any trade negotiations that they have.

Each week, the trade values of certain players rise and fall according to their performances on the field. Let's take a look at some players that fantasy owners may want to consider offloading or trading for after Week 7 of the NFL season.

Buy Low

Mark Ingram (RB, NO)

Despite scoring twice in his comeback performance this season, running back Mark Ingram faltered in his second game back with the team. Ingram finished the team's Week 7 win over the Ravens with 32 rushing yards on 12 carries and 10 yards on two receptions, losing a two-yard touchdown to fellow running back Alvin Kamara in the process. While I made an argument regarding the warning signals for Mark Ingram's workload going forward, it is still perfectly reasonable to assume that Ingram's lack of usage against the Ravens was a product of game-script rather than how the team plans to use him for the rest of the season. In fact, given the fact that Ingram has been used as the team's goal-line back for the majority of his career, now may be the time to buy low on the veteran running back with the hope of significant fantasy returns going forward.

Kenny Golladay (WR, DET)

As one of the Detroit Lions pass-catchers, Kenny Golladay has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2018 season. With at least 74 yards or a touchdown through the first five weeks, Golladay was a fantasy force and certainly earned himself a spot as an entrenched starter for fantasy owners. However, in last week's game, Golladay was only able to haul in two catches for 37 yards as the team gashed the Dolphins on the ground en route to a convincing victory. Golladay looks the part of an elite NFL receiver and should continue to play as such, but fantasy owners who didn't watch his performance may not be aware of how situational his target share was. Therefore, Golladay makes for a great buy-low option coming off of a poor performance following his team bye because of his fantastic floor and ceiling as a wide receiver on a pass-heavy team.

Sell High

Marlon Mack (RB, IND)

After posting 89 rushing yards on 12 carries in Week 6, Marlon Mack looked like he would have a featured role in the team's offense against the Bills in Week 7. The second-year pro certainly delivered on the hype, with 126 rushing yards, 33 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns in a blowout victory over the Buffalo Bills. Mack looks like a truly dangerous running back this season and is the workhorse on the Colts offense (despite the presence of Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines). However, we have to remember that he does play for the Indianapolis Colts, who are in far more negative game-scripts than positive ones. It is likely that this was Mack's ceiling for the season. If you are comfortable assuming a potential loss in upside should Mack continue to play in the manner that he has been playing, now may be the time to trade away the hyped running back for a solid option at any skill position or as part of a package for an elite running back or wide receiver.

Emmanuel Sanders (WR, DEN)

Currently one of the top wide receivers in fantasy football, Emmanuel Sanders has contributed in every phase of the game so far this season. In addition to having 46 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns through the air, Sanders also has 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground as well as 28 passing yards and a touchdown as a thrower. It is clear that this has been a great year for Sanders despite playing on a rather underwhelming Broncos offense. Sanders is the top option for the team in their offense this season, but the Broncos are a difficult offense to rely on for the rest of the season given how the team has been trending. It may be better to trade away Sanders for elite value in a more stable or pass-happy offense while the going is good - before long, his value may have gone away as teams start focusing in on his capabilities as a field-stretching wide receiver.