We are heading into Week 7, so it is time to go big when it comes to what moves you should be making to win your fantasy football leagues! Bye weeks, injuries, and so much more come into play at this point in the season. Your draft pick cost doesn’t matter anymore. Usage and what we have seen IN SEASON does. I am doubling down on my bold take from last week, but hang around until the end. We have a BONUS MOVE TO MAKE that we need everyone to act on as soon as possible…for football’s sake.
More than just your standard waiver wire article, 5 Moves to Make will highlight players to watch, cut, and trade for, as well as players you should prioritize before waivers run. It’s your one-stop shop for improving your team week to week. I am excited to bring this article to QB List, and you can look for it EVERY SINGLE TUESDAY MORNING!
Now grab your caffeine, put on your do not disturb Teams and Slack statuses, and let’s get better for Week 3 together.
All data used for this article comes from the Fantasy Points Data Suit.
1. Buy Low on DK Metcalf
Yes, the last two weeks have been a letdown— DK Metcalf hasn’t topped 60 yards in either game, leaving fantasy managers frustrated. But here’s where you can capitalize. Metcalf is primed for a breakout, and the numbers back it up. He’s 12th in the league in Air-Yards share, pulling in 21.5% of Seattle’s targets, and ranking fifth in Expected Fantasy Points per game (18.1). Oh, and did I mention he’s third in the NFL in total targets with 54? All signs point to more opportunities coming his way.
Now, I know the skeptics will point to his Week 6 showing, where he led the NFL in uncatchable air yards. But that’s exactly why you should be buying Metcalf. He had three touchdown opportunities in that game alone, including a 52-yard bomb that was called back due to an illegal shift and another where he barely stepped out of bounds. The upside is there—you’re not trading for a player on the decline, you’re trading for a WR1 due for some positive regression.
On the season, Metcalf is still right behind Nico Collins and Malik Nabers in air yards, which tells me he’s constantly getting downfield opportunities. His luck hasn’t aligned with his talent, and that’s exactly why you need to buy low now. The window to grab him before he goes off is closing fast. Don’t be the manager kicking yourself when he’s back to putting up WR1 numbers.
2. Buy High NOW on these RBs
Now is the time to buy high on players in fantasy football especially running backs. The earlier you buy high the more long-term value you are bringing to your roster. Not only that but in some cases like JK Dobbins they are already past their bye week which gives you an additional week of viability and points.
Dobbins is currently on pace for just under 1,500 yards (1,489) and double-digit touchdowns. He just faced one of the most difficult matchups he will have all season in the Denver Broncos defense and still put up over 100 yards while catching both of his targets. It is important to mention Kimani Vidal after his first NFL performance, where he scored a long touchdown through the air, but he is more of a bench stash than a real problem for Dobbins at this point. In Week 6, Dobbins played 73% of snaps with 25 carries, while also running a route on nearly 50% of passing plays. He is an RB1 until further notice. This week he gets the Cardinals a matchup you will want to exploit if you can make a move before games start. Some players I would consider trading for Dobbins are D’Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard, Mike Evans, or Terry McLaurin.
Tyrone Tracy took another step in Week 6. In his second start of his career, the converted wide receiver played 85% of the snaps and ran a route on over 70% of passing plays. He is the new workhorse in New York. It is fair to be concerned about Devin Singletary’s return and while that may bring him below the 80% snap share number I just mentioned, it shouldn’t have fantasy managers worried. Tracy has two tough matchups coming up so the window is not entirely slammed shut for managers looking to acquire the rookie. In weeks 9 through the end of the fantasy football regular season, Tracy could be a fringe RB1 and that is worth buying now even if he brings some uncertainty in the next few weeks. Some players I would consider trading for Tracy are James Conner, Brian Robinson, Tony Pollard, Darnell Mooney, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and even Deebo Samuel. Samuel admittedly, you may be able to get something more than just Tracy on name value alone.
3. Sell D’Andre Swift (Before WK 7 OR after WK 9)
Swift has been on something of a tear his last three games posting 257 rushing yards and 147 receiving yards while catching all 13 of his targets and finding the endzone in all three games. The good doesn’t stop there, as he has a bye week in Week 7, but after that, he faces two run-friendly defenses in the Washington Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals. So why are we selling? The answer is, we’ve seen this before with Swift. Just last season while playing for the Eagles, Swift had a strong stretch of games in Weeks 2 through 6 where he was a locked and loaded RB1, but from Week 7 on he only landed inside the top 20 running backs three times (11 total games). Not only that but surprisingly the Bears offense is 11th in pass rate over expected. Swift has been primarily taking advantage of bad teams and that is not something I want to bank on in the second half of the season.
It is important to read the whole take here. The idea for Swift is that you trade him before this week gaining an extra week of production for a player who would otherwise be on your bench in Week 7 OR capitalize on another strong two performances and then cash out even bigger. Both are viable options and the route you take may be based on what kind of trades your league is looking to make. Let the trades come to you and don’t settle for just anyone in return. Some players I would trade Swift for are Jahmyr Gibbs, Dobbins, Metcalf, Tee Higgins, Brock Bowers, and Travis Kelce (you can get more than just Kelce).
4. Buy in on the Short Kings – Josh Downs and Demario Douglas
Josh Downs continues to have a strong season since returning from injury. Currently, Downs ranks third in first downs per route run behind just Collins and Chris Godwin and just ahead of Nabers. Since his return, he has yet to fall below a 27% target share. He has averaged 10 targets and 72 yards over his last three games and has cemented himself as not just an elite route runner with vice-grip hands but also one of the best slot wide receivers in fantasy football. The only real question at this point is, what will happen when Anthony Richardson reclaims his starting job. It is that uncertainty that fantasy managers should capitalize on. I am not ignoring that it will likely limit Downs to some degree but he has been seeing alpha usage in Richardson’s absence and I am willing to gamble on that as we approach the halfway point of the fantasy regular season.
Demario Douglas has seen 30 targets over the last four weeks. He has seen a nearly 30% first-read share since Week 3 and over 22% of targets. The usage is trending right for Douglas. Not only that but Drake Maye has taken over in New England and in his first start threw for more touchdowns than Jacoby Brissett had all season. The arrow is pointing straight up for the Patriots pass catchers and it is looking more and more likely that Douglas will continue to lead this team in targets. Ja’Lynn Polk gets an honorable mention of course but he has not been able to make the impact that many, including myself, were expecting. If you are rostering Douglas hold on tight even if you see a dip in production from his Week 6 breakout performance. If you aren’t, then you should be willing to spend 15-18% of your FAAB on him this week depending on team need (rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues).
5. Bijan Robinson vs. David Montgomery
I said last week that you should trade Bijan Robinson for David Montgomery, and a week later, I haven’t budged from that thought. Both players have run-friendly schedules, but from Week 9 on, I would not be surprised to see Montgomery score more fantasy points than Robinson outright. I am going to spend most of my time on Montgomery, as anyone with a pulse knows the highlights for Robinson. I know it feels blasphemous even to entertain the thought, but if you look closer, you see just how incredible Montgomery has been for the Lions. When diving into his production this season, Montgomery is one of only two players who has scored a touchdown in every game this season, the other being Derrick Henry. He is on pace for over 1,500 yards and an insane 20 touchdowns this season while only playing over 50% of snaps. The Lions have the best offensive line in the NFL, and while Gibbs will always get him, the two inhabit very different roles on the offense. Finally, if that doesn’t get you excited, Montgomery has already had his bye week, so he has one more game of value than Bijan, which could be crucial for your fantasy playoff push.
Bonus Move to Make: Start a letter-writing campaign to the Cleveland Browns, letting them know it’s okay to bench Deshaun Watson. It’s crab legs season.