Week 3 Fantasy Football Trade Targets

I always try to remind people that once the season begins, fantasy football values change throughout the season. Nearly every player in football is affected by this. Fat Joe has a popular meme quote floating around when he says, “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” So that means even players who had high draft value before the season began can have their values change. As we go into Week 3, there are even more players fantasy managers should target whose values have changed over the first two weeks of the season. For Week 3, I have a list of players you may want to get in on whose values are on the lower side but could be poised for a significant return as the fantasy season goes on.

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Fantasy football Trade Targets for NFL Week 3

David Montgomery, RB – HOU

The Houston Texans rushing attack looked amazing in Week 1 vs. BUF with Montgomery tearing through the Bills defense for nearly 29 fantasy points. In Week 2, however, Montgomery came crashing back down to Earth with a 4.4 fantasy performance against the Bengals. David Montgomery only had six carries for 10 yards on the ground and added another 14 through the air. It’s almost as if the Texans forgot they could run the ball. It also makes the lack of volume confusing, as the Texans were without wide receiver Nico Collins for the game. Montgomery’s “up and down” performances make him an interesting target via trade. Some fantasy managers may not be as apprehensive in flipping Montgomery in an effort to sell high on his Week 1 game, while others may want to hold onto him to see what happens next. Check the manager’s temperature to see where they stand and see if you can get a deal going.

George Pickens, WR – DAL

The Cowboys’ number two receiver is off to a slow start, and some fantasy managers are starting to tilt already. Pickens only has 68 yards over the first two games. Meanwhile, Ceedee Lamb has 197 yards over the same span. I don’t think it’s time to panic over Pickens’ minimal production right now, but that doesn’t mean a Pickens owner who’s 0-2 to start the season isn’t going to be. Especially if they are getting heat in their league chats. Pickens still has the potential to bounce back in an offense that boasts a lot of volume. The Cowboys currently rank 10th in pass attempts after two weeks, and Pickens is sure to turn it around as we get deeper into the season. For now, Pickens is a buy-low target heading into Week 3. Take advantage while you can before Pickens goes off.

Quinshon Judkins, RB – CLE

The running back position is still gold in my eyes, and Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is a back that has potential. Over the first two weeks, Judkins is averaging just 2.2 yards per attempt for 54 yards over the first two games. That is not something fantasy managers were looking to see when they drafted him. But what Judkins is seeing more of is work in the passing game. Judkins has seven receptions for 44 yards, seeing an increase from two to five from Weeks 1 to 2 with Dylan Sampson dealing with injuries. With Sampson sidelined, Judkins is proving himself a reliable pass catcher as the Browns offense tries to turn itself around under Deshaun Watson. Running backs are hard to come by, especially in PPR formats. Grabbing Judkins could give rosters a boost as the season goes on, and if Judkins continues to be used in the passing game, that will give him more fantasy value. Judkins’ 8.4 fantasy points are not inspiring right now, but it’s still early, and now is the right time to get him on your rosters.

Rashee Rice, WR – KC

The Chiefs offense looks drastically different than what it was last season. With Kenneth Walker in the fold, the Chiefs are one of the better, if not the best, rushing attack in the league after two weeks. The passing volume is around as the Chiefs rank inside the top 10, but Rice only has a 10.8% target share among the Chiefs wide receivers. Xavier Worthy is commanding a higher target share right now at 17.6%. Rice is still being involved in the passing attack as he finished behind Worthy 7-6 and saw an increase in targets from Week 1 (2 to 6 in Week 2). As the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes continue to get into the groove of things, more targets and a better balance are more likely to happen under OC Eric Bieniemy. For me, Rice is in a similar boat with players like David Montgomery, having one good game and one bad game. Rice should see more targets as we get into the middle of the season, but now is a good chance to trade for him if you can.

Aaron Jones, RB – MIN

If you’re looking for a running back for the short term, Aaron Jones might be your guy. With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Jones now serves as the Vikings’ lead back for the time being. Jones, at 33, posted a 100 yards rushing against the Bears in Week 2. With Kyler Murray back at quarterback, the offense for the Vikings could improve. Adding Jones’ knack as a pass catcher will also help his value for a few more games. Jones is a running back that has RB2 value right now and at minimum flex appeal once Mason returns to the lineup. For now, he shouldn’t be expensive to get. Jones did pop up on the injury report this week with a knee injury, but it seems to be more “soreness” than anything else due to the large workload. Jones was back at practice this week heading into Week 3’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Check out all of our Week 3 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings | MOP Rankings

Brian Thomas Jr., WR – JAX

I’m not giving up on Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr so I’m not panicking him just yet. While his body of work isn’t the best right now as he averages seven fantasy points per game, Thomas Jr. is still being involved in the offense. Thomas Jr. is averaging six targets per game with a 23.1% target share amongst the Jaguars receivers. Second only to Parker Washington. Thomas Jr. saw nine targets in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, so his target share is still promising. If he can get on the same page with Trevor Lawrence, Thomas Jr. will be able to shine in the Jaguars offense even more. Getting him on your roster may be easier than some of the other receivers on this week’s list. You might even be able to do a WR for WR in order to get him.

Tucker Kraft, TE – GB

With WR Jayden Reed (neck) expected to miss time, Tucker Kraft should be in line to see more targets as one of Jordan Love’s more reliable pass catchers. Kraft saw eight targets against the Green Bay Packers in Thursday Night Football, and that could be just the beginning to more work if Reed doesn’t return this season. Kraft already has 17 targets so far this season, so his workload is promising.

Ladd McConkey, WR – LAC

The Chargers offense looks discombobulated right now, but the one constant player on the team is Ladd McConkey. McConkey is averaging nearly 13 fantasy points per game over the first two games. But McConkey struggled in Week 2, scoring just 6.5 fantasy points against the Raiders. That game could be blamed on McConkey playing through a rib injury or the Chargers offense continuing to struggle out of the gate. Whatever you want to point to, McConkey is still one of the most stable pieces in that offense. McConkey’s low-scoring game and rib injury could be enough to make a owner sell. Inquiring about McConkey to see if he’s available could work out in the long run.

Javonte Williams, RB – DAL

Another player that has a “tail of two stories” going right now is Javonte Williams. Williams was able to put up a nice game against the Giants, scoring 24 fantasy points. Williams, like a few others on this list, came crashing back down to Earth with a bummer game in Week 2. Scoring just eight fantasy points vs. WAS opened the door for speculation that the Cowboys run game has a few issues to work out. Missing Tyler Smith (thumb) for the first four games of the season can do that. But Williams is one of the featured pieces of the offense, so he’ll have more opportunities to put together better games. Williams may cost a bit more to get in a trade as he’s one of the few bell cow backs in the league right now. But Williams is worth the price to add to your roster.

Puka Nacua, WR – LAR

The Puka Nacua situation is certainly frustrating to be a part of. Nacua continues to miss practice and games with a hip injury and is expected to miss Week 3. We know what Nacua is capable of once he gets on the field, but the question becomes, “when?” Nacua averaged over 23.4 fantasy points last season, and he still has Matthew Stafford targeting him this season, so not much has changed outside of his health. Hopefully, Puka Nacua returns in Week 4 after having nearly two weeks to rest and recover. But this is also the perfect opportunity to strike while the iron is hot. Trading for Nacua is risky because we don’t know enough about what’s going on with him and his injury or how long it will affect him throughout the season. But with his value at an all-time low, you should at least try to get him while you can.

Saquon Barkley, RB – PHI

The Eagles running back is struggling out of the gate, and fantasy managers are having to deal with the lackluster performances. Barkley currently ranks as the RB43, per Fantasydata.com, and scoring just 12 fantasy points over two games is a bit frustrating for owners who spent a second- or third-round pick to get him. Barkley is also dealing with a stinger in his shoulder but is expected to play in Week 3, per several reports. Barkley is also one of the Eagles’ featured weapons in their offense and should continue to have a chance at volume and opportunity. Barkley needs to be used more in the passing game as he only has four targets over two games. But the Eagles are also installing a new offense, so growing pains are to be expected. This is the perfect time to nab Barkley while his value has him outside the top 25 among fantasy running backs.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!