Buying
Cam Newton
He opened up the season versus the Seattle Seahawks, which boast what is arguably the best defense in the NFL. You shouldn’t have expected him to rack up many fantasy points, but it’s all uphill from here. While he may not be had for a big discount, this may be the cheapest you can get him for.
C.J. Spiller
This guy is a big-play waiting to happen, but he just wasn’t able to break free in the season opener. The touches are there (17 carries & 5 receptions is more than anyone can hope for) and the elite production will follow. If you have him, sit tight. If you're not fortunate enough to have him, you may want to get him now before it’s too late.
Trent Richardson
The second-year back only managed 47 yards on the ground, but the Miami Dolphins' run defense is strong and they’ll be causing problems for plenty opposing running backs this season. While the Browns schedule may be littered with tough matchups, including the AFC North games, Richardson is going to eat this year and the return of Josh Gordon in Week 3 should help clear out the box. You may be able to wait out one more game and let the Week 2 matchup pass by in order to secure the best price for Richardson.
David Wilson
Oh, Andre Brown, what could have been? The buzz could not have been greater for Wilson after Brown found himself on the injured reserve/designated to return list. Wilson even began to receive consideration as a late-first round pick. However, just 7 carries into the season, Wilson’s steam came to a crashing halt after he was benched for not one, but two fumbles. With Brown out of commission, the Giants understand that they need Wilson to get back on track and lead their backfield. The RB1 potential is still there, although it may be delayed for a little longer, and it’s a great time to see what it takes to get the promising, young runner on your team.
Shane Vereen
Don’t rush to acquire him as you don’t want to sacrifice your short term success, but he could payoff in a huge way once he returns from his wrist surgery. 101 yards on 14 carries and 58 more yards on 7 receptions? Yes, please. Stevan Ridley will handle the load in the meantime, but it is possible that Vereen will become the better option in not only PPR leagues, but standard as well when he returns to the field. Vereen was placed on the injured reserve / designated to return list. He will now be out through at least Week 10, but he should be able to return to his RB2 production for the stretch run and fantasy playoffs. If you have the room, don't be afraid to get him for pennies on the dollar or even as a free agent and then stash him on your bench.
Lamar Miller
Yikes. When you average only about one-foot per carry, you probably did not have a good game. The positive news is that he still outnumbered Daniel Thomas in snaps (37 to 33) and touches (11 to 9). Run-blocking, in fact any type of blocking, is not Miami’s strong suit, but Miller still has the ability and there’s only upward to go.
Giovani Bernard
The 5 touches that he received should be his season low. In fact, he racked up more total yards (30) on his 5 touches than BenJarvus Green Ellis did on his 14 touches (29 total yards). He’s still a better dynasty player than redraft, but the talent will lead to an increased workload during this season. The Bengals are matched up with Steelers next week, which may extend the buy low window.
Chris Ivory
After opening the season with just 10 touches, which was eclipsed by Bilal Powell’s 16 touches, his owners are sure to be disappointed. However, the running ability and speed / power combination are both still present. Plus, Tampa Bay’s defense was tops versus the run last season (3.5 YPC). At the moment, he’s still only a two-down back, but he’s the best runner in the Jets’ backfield and should be viewed as a RB3 stash with RB2 upside once he gets going.
Dez Bryant
A 4-catch, 22-yard performance is not what you’d expect from Bryant in a game in which he played 74 of 79 snaps. He did leave the game briefly in the second half after suffering what we now understand to be a mild foot sprain. While he will try to play through any pain, he will likely be somewhat inhibited and his price tag should drop a little further before he’s able to get healthy. Monitor the situation and see if you can get him before his trajectory is pointed back upward.
Mike Wallace
Blanketed by Pro-Bowl CB Joe Haden for much of Week 1, Wallace only merited 5 targets, of which he caught only one ball for 15 yards. While he is still better suited as a WR3 in fantasy, he did begin to click with Ryan Tannehill at the end of the preseason and the Dolphins will look to get him more involved.
Vincent Brown
While Brown only managed to record 4 targets for 2 receptions and 13 yards, he was on the field for 51 of 55 offensive snaps and did salvage his day with a touchdown. He also still remains the best bet to lead the Chargers' receiving corps in catches and it’s a great time to bring him aboard your team.
Selling
Eli Manning
In 12 team leagues, it won’t be easy to get a whole lot of return on a QB2. Nevertheless, trying to trade Little Brother after a 450 yard, 4 touchdown game wouldn’t hurt though. In deeper leagues or 2QB leagues, I'd look to trade him more urgently.
Darren McFadden
His owners can breathe a sigh of relief now that he survived through one game. His YPC of 2.82 picked right up where he left off last season, but he did manage to reach the end zone. You’re playing with fire by having him on your roster. I’d hope he can string together a decent game in Week 2 versus the Jaguars and then look to ship the risk involved with him elsewhere.
Andre Roberts
With Larry Fitzgerald ahead of him and Michael Floyd next to him, week-to-week consistency will be hard to come by. Roberts managed to grab 8 of his 9 targets for 97 yards in Week 1, but that catch percentage is unsustainable and this will be one of his better games in 2013.
Hakeem Nicks & Brandon Myers
Manning was able to distribute 450 yards and 4 touchdowns around in Week 1, which led to strong production from a bunch of Giants receivers. Nicks has proven untrustworthy over his career in terms of staying healthy and I’m all about minimizing risk. Coming off a 5-catch, 114-yard game, he should return some decent value. As for Myers, his 7 catches, 66 yards and 1 touchdown isn’t incredible, but that’s a damn good week for him. He still remains a TE2 and trade him if you can.
Brian Hartline
Picking up where he and Tannehill left off in 2012, Hartline was targeted a team-high 14 times and totaled 9 receptions, 114 yards and 1 touchdown. With Haden covering Wallace and a non-existent running game, the offense flowed towards Hartline this past week. Also, most of his production (5-70-1) came while he was matched up versus Buster Skrine. There likely won’t be a lot of suitors for his services, but he’s bound to fall back to Earth as a WR4. You might as well put him on the trading block now if you do have him.
Julius Thomas
The darling breakout of Thursday Night Football should be added in every league. He played all 74 snaps in Week 1 en route to 5 catches, 110 yards and two touchdowns. The problem with him is that Peyton Manning won’t be passing for 462 yards and 7 touchdowns too often. Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker are cemented above him in the pecking order, while Eric Decker will also demand his fair share of targets. Barring an injury to one of them, it’s best to capitalize on his value right now before the reality of inconsistency sets in.
Waiver pickups
Terrelle Pryor
The Raiders are simply lacking talent on their roster and Pryor’s legs are the best weapon they have. You can expect this offense to run at full bore throughout each game as they try to hang with their opponents, which creates an opportunity for plenty of fantasy points. There will be inconsistency week-to-week, but he’s a solid QB2 type in fantasy that you can spot start from time to time.
Joique Bell
The Detroit Lions' offense continues to crank out fantasy production. Bell is in line for sustained value throughout this season as Reggie Bush’s sidekick and short-yardage back. Last season, Mikel Leshoure punched in 9 touchdowns in 14 games. Not only is Bell a better runner than Leshoure, but he has the added dimension of being a strong receiver. Bell should be viewed as a flex play that is capable of 10+ total touchdowns with increased value in PPR leagues.
Da'Rel Scott
Is he worth a picking up? If you have the roster spot, then sure, pick him up and see what happens. However, Tom Coughlin is determined to get Wilson back on track. When you add in the fact that the Giants are working out other running backs, a substantial role for Scott doesn’t look very likely.
Julian Edelman
This is only a short-term fix. With Gronkowski still absent and Vereen out for a few weeks, Edelman is line for an increased work-load. Mix in the Questionable tags for Danny Amendola and Zach Sudfeld, Edelman could be a very effective option in the present sense. Pick him up, maybe use him for a couple weeks, watch his value rise, and then send him packing for whatever you can get before the cavalry arrives.
Rueben Randle
As far as handcuff wide receivers go, Randle ranks among the best of them. While he did manage to reach 101 yards on five receptions, he’s best suited on your bench until the injury bug strikes either Victor Cruz or more likely, Nicks. With a move up the depth chart and hierarchy, Randle would be considered a WR3.
gronk watch
Rob Gronkowski
One week has passed and his return is even closer. It’s likely that he does not suit up for the game versus the Jets on Thursday, but a Week 3 return is a strong possibility. The window to trade for him is still cracked open and he’s one of the rare fantasy assets that are nearly irreplaceable. If his owner is reeling from a Week 1 loss, you may be able to capitalize on their frustrations and take an injured player off of their hands.
You can find me on Twitter, @KyleWachtel, where I’d be happy to answer any of your questions
