The NFL trade deadline is coming fast. In fact, it arrives next week and, while fantasy football managers might not be too interested yet, they should be paying attention to all the latest moves.
Hey, Joe Flacco is back with the New York Jets! Rejoice!
OK, but seriously, the Philadelphia Eagles-Arizona Cardinals trade of tight ends was certainly relevant in our world. There should be more moves on the horizon, and even though fantasy managers in most leagues have another month to trade before their own deadline, it hardly means one should wait that long. Make those trades for immediate help now!
Here is the latest version of the end-of-season rankings and trade index as we get ready for Week 8! The season goes quickly! Good luck trading!
Quarterback
Rankings changes
First of all, it is not time to panic about Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. Yes, Sunday was a rather rough day, but it really was his first bad statistical day of 2021, despite all the interceptions. The difference between, say, him and Justin Herbert, Tom Brady and Dak Prescott? Mahomes has 219 rushing yards.
As for Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow, we did promise he would move up if he shredded the Baltimore Ravens defense -- and he did just that. Who leaves the top 10? Well, Matthew Stafford was the top quarterback of the week. Aaron Rodgers? Prescott? Perhaps you see the problem. Burrow moves up in the overall rankings, but not at his position.
Daniel Jones, Tua Tagovailoa and Carson Wentz (reluctantly) all move up as well. Sam Darnold is out of QB2 range. We also welcome Flacco and his former teammate Gardner Minshew II to the rankings!
Trade for
Burrow, for one. Unlike at running back, where we cannot find 20 reasonable names for the top 20, there are more than 10 standout quarterbacks for QB1 duty. Burrow is among them.
As for Mahomes, yes, now is the perfect time to trade for this statistical monster, coming off one of his worst games as a pro. Things will improve.
Get Seattle's Russell Wilson, too. He cannot return soon enough after Geno Smith's Monday night debacle.
The 49ers have to turn things over to rookie Trey Lance soon, when he is healthy. I mean, how can they not? He is not going to struggle the way Justin Fields is in Chicago. There's much better coaching in San Francisco.
Be cautious trading for
The only reason the Eagles have a top-10 quarterback for fantasy is because Jalen Hurts runs. However, his throwing is subpar. Could Philadelphia, surely looking at drafting a quarterback next season, sit Hurts for Minshew? It seems more than possible, so do not trade for Hurts!
I do not see trading for Tagovailoa or Wentz as a viable move in fantasy, at least not with their injury histories. Seattle's Wilson is the dividing line for me on QB1 options for the second half.
Running back
Rankings changes
There's no change among the top options, but Detroit Lions pass-catcher D'Andre Swift, much like Burrow, is forcing his way into the top 10. Frankly, his usage mirrors that of New Orleans Saints standout Alvin Kamara. It's good to see a little RB1 depth for once. Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Leonard Fournette might deserve inclusion as well.
Washington starter Antonio Gibson is trending the other way, and the Atlanta Falcons' Mike Davis is now out of RB3 discussion.
The Eagles' Miles Sanders is out with an ankle injury, and was already one of the odder disappointments at the position. Kenneth Gainwell moves up, but if the Eagles do not run, it might not matter.
Trade for
It took me a while, but the Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson, good old No. 84 for his team, is looking like a safe RB2. It still looks odd watching a running back with that uniform number!
Arizona's running backs (James Conner, Chase Edmonds) are back in play as RB2 options again.
It might be a wise time to see if the Nick Chubb manager in your league is panicking because of D'Ernest Johnson. Do not trade for Johnson.
I led with it here, but rookies Javonte Williams and Michael Carter both looked good catching passes in Week 7.
Be cautious trading for
I remain concerned that the Panthers and Giants (not trending toward the playoffs) will hardly rush back Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley, respectively. It might be a while before we see either of them again.
Chicago Bears rookie Khalil Herbert looks good, but David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen -- do not forget about him! -- both remain on the mend.
It's always something with Las Vegas Raiders starter Josh Jacobs. He belongs in this section even when healthy.
Wide receiver
Rankings changes
I'm not sure what else can be said about the great Bengals rookie Ja'Marr Chase. My colleagues Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft discussed his ascension into WR1 territory. I followed suit in these rankings.
It's good to see a healthy A.J. Brown of the Titans dominating defenses. Sunday night's receiving stars Deebo Samuel (49ers) and Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts) really need better QB play, but they move up anyway.
Speaking of rough QB play, the Bears' Allen Robinson II just cannot overcome this mess. At least he remains a WR4.
The Panthers' Robby Anderson leaves the rankings. Perhaps P.J. Walker can aid him. The Saints' Marquez Callaway is out, too. Enough already!
Trade for
As with Mahomes, and even as I exercised caution on him only a week ago, now does seem like a wise time to at least see if the Tyreek Hill investor in your league is willing to "un-invest" for a nice value price.
The bye week is also a good time to check in on Bills, Chargers, Cowboys and Vikings wide receivers. How odd to have six NFL teams sitting out Week 7 but only two teams in Week 8.
Be cautious trading for
The Saints' Michael Thomas could have been back by now. It is dangerous trading for someone who might still be weeks away, and in this case his name accelerates his price.
In addition, the risk involved with Samuel and Pittman is clear. Their quarterbacks are, at best, iffy.
Tight end
Rankings changes
Who is the No. 2 tight end? I debated this one longer than it deserved, but decided to promote Falcons rookie Kyle Pitts and Ravens veteran Mark Andrews above injured Raider Darren Waller. Waller has failed to catch more than five passes in any game since Week 1.
Miami's Mike Gesicki and Detroit's T.J. Hockenson constitute their own next tier.
Former teammates Dallas Goedert (Eagles) and Zach Ertz (Cardinals) -- the word "former" is key -- each push into the top 10, while injured Dawson Knox (Bills) leaves.
The list of tight ends worthy of trading for extended this week into everyone in the current top 10.