Welcome to the Week 10 Edition of Delbarton’s Fantasy Football Corner! This week, I’m going to discuss general trade strategies that are crucial during this time of year if you want to win in the playoffs. If you are likely to clinch a playoff spot, or have already clinched, you are going to want to trade with teams that are in the hunt for a playoff spot. That is, teams that are uncertain whether they will make the playoffs. These teams will be more desperate for wins over the next few weeks and can easily be exploited through lopsided trades. For example, if you possess a player that faces an easy schedule over the next few weeks, but then goes up against top defenses in weeks 14-16, trading this player now is something to consider. Target players that have a favorable schedule during fantasy football playoffs and your team will prosper when it matters most. Now, here is one quarterback to target and one to avoid or deal away.

BUY: Daniel Jones (QB), New York Giants

Although Jones has struggled with turnovers this year, he possesses great upside during fantasy playoffs. From weeks 14 to 16 – the usual weeks of fantasy playoffs – Jones plays the Eagles, Dolphins, and Redskins, who are the 16th, 32nd, and 23rd best pass defenses respectively according to Football Outsiders. The Eagles’ secondary has been very shaky this year, and if Jones has Engram and Shepard at his disposal, I expect the Giants to continue to throw the ball. According to Team Rankings, Big Blue is already 4th in the league in terms of percentage of passing plays (65.5%), and this trend should continue when they play sub-par pass defenses. The Giants have two matchups against the Eagles remaining this year and, in spite of their poor pass defense, Philly has the seventh-best run defense according to Football Outsiders. Thus, one should expect the Giants to continue their trend of passing frequently against Philly. If a team in your league that is fighting for a playoff spot has Jones, they will most likely ask for little in return since he does have a few tough opponents down the line as well as a bye week. 

SELL/AVOID: Aaron Rodgers (QB), Green Bay Packers

If you have Aaron Rodgers, sell him right now while his value is at its acme. While I was very optimistic about Rodgers coming into the season, trading him seems like a very attractive option right now, especially considering the package one could receive for dealing him. Although he plays the Redskins week 14 and will most likely put up great point totals then, Rodgers has to face the Bears and Vikings during fantasy playoffs, two teams he struggled against earlier in the season, recording 12.9 points against Chicago and 14.4 points against the Vikings in their previous matchups. Likewise, Football Outsiders lists the Bears and Vikings as the seventh and eighth-best pass defenses respectively. Although Rodgers provides a decent floor, his ceiling will be very limited in the final two weeks of the fantasy playoffs. Therefore, it is not worth having him on your roster, especially since you could get a king’s ransom in return if you deal him now.