There is a light at the end of the fantasy tunnel that is the 2019 season. The playoffs are approaching rapidly. Trade deadlines are coming up. If you have a great record (7-3 or better), try to acquire players that have good playoff matchups. If you’re close to .500, you need to focus on winning now. Finally, if you have a poor record (3-7 or worse), it might be time to throw in the towel and capitalize on future assets (2020 draft picks, etc.). This week, we’ll primarily focus on players with good playoff schedules. Check out Ryan Weisse’s recent article on 2019 Fantasy Playoff Schedules for color-coded charts and more!
As always, the following players represent my personal trade targets and trade ammo pieces. It always helps to test the waters for player value, but don’t force trades folks! Happy trading.
Targets
Phillip Lindsay, RB Broncos
Lindsay has been a peculiar player this season. He has been essentially splitting work with Royce Freeman but has been more productive. Lindsay is the RB17 on the season (avg pts/g) and has put up double-digit fantasy points four out of the last five weeks. He has a juicy playoff schedule that features the worst (Chiefs) and second-worst (Lions) defenses in terms of fantasy points given up to opposing RB. Lindsay is a nice RB2 / flex piece rest of the season (ROS). Meanwhile, the Lindsay owner in your league may be looking to sell him due to unknowns with the new QB and concerns about the timeshare with Royce Freeman.
David Montgomery, RB Bears
Montgomery got off to a shaky start but now has the volume we were hoping for when the season started. Montgomery has touched the ball 16+ times each of the past three weeks, following the New Orleans matchup where coach Nagy claimed that he’s not stupid and they plan to run the ball more. Montgomery is a bit risky due to the low point scoring Bears offense (ranked 27th), but he has been getting the volume to support solid production. As Andy, Mike, and Jason say – opportunity is king. David Mopportunity has a nice playoff schedule, and you might be able to buy him low after a poor Week 10 performance.
T.Y. Hilton, WR Colts
T.Y. Hilton is a great trade target for risk-takers who have a great record. He’s been injured and off the field since Week 8. However, Hilton has been sneaky productive this season and will contribute for you if he and Jacoby Brissett can get back on the field. The owner might be frustrated with his injury, especially if they have a losing record. Hilton is a good stash for the playoffs and like the others, he has a good playoff schedule.
Greg Olsen, TE Panthers
The tight end landscape is gross. Olsen is a middling TE with a good playoff schedule. It’s worth floating out an offer for Olsen – maybe a low-end WR2 for Olsen + WR3 in return?
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Ammo
Marlon Mack, RB Colts
Mack has a tough playoff schedule. I wouldn’t recommend trading him for pennies on the dollar, but your league mates might not be aware of his tough schedule. You could try to trade Mack for something like Jordan Howard plus. Don’t panic with Mack, but test the waters.
Damien Williams, RB Chiefs
Few players have been more polarizing than Damien Williams this season. His stock has gone up, down, sideways, and back down again more than any other player in 2019. He finally has the starting role on an explosive Chiefs offense. He also has a miserably tough playoff schedule (@NE, DEN, @CHI). Damien Williams will be admittedly hard to move because he’s a risky player, but it’s worth trying. I have Williams in the TFFB Writers league and will be trying to move him before this article is published (wish me luck). It’s going to take an immense amount of courage to actually play him Week 14 against the Patriots (in Foxborough).
Robert Woods, WR Rams
Woods has been a disappointment this season, but he has double-digit points in two of the last three weeks. Woods might be hard to move, but it’s not going to get any easier once your league mates figure out how challenging his playoff schedule will be (SEA, @DAL, @SF). Try to move Woods for WR2 value, if possible.