Week 5 of the fantasy football season tested everyone. It marked the start of NFL bye weeks, and many managers were still reeling from the season-ending injuries to Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill. To make matters worse, Bucky Irving and Trey Benson were surprise additions to the injury list, leaving fantasy managers scrambling for replacements.
Now that Week 5 is in the books, your team’s strengths and weaknesses should be clear. Trading is the best way to fix those weaknesses. The smart approach is to trade from a position of strength, usually depth, to a team that’s struggling in that same area but has depth where you’re thin.
Even if your team sits at 5-0, don’t get too comfortable. Sometimes a hot start can be misleading. A few players might be overperforming. Savvy fantasy managers will recognize that and sell them before the production dips.
To help, here are four players to sell high and four players to buy low as we head into Week 6.
Week 6 fantasy football players to buy
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
T-Mac managers might be getting frustrated with his lack of production and could be ready to move on to someone scoring more points. Take advantage.
McMillan is seeing an elite 27% target share with no fewer than eight targets per game. One issue has been the lack of help around him, but that should change soon with Jalen Coker expected to return this week. That addition should help open up the field and give McMillan more room to make plays.
RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans
The hype around Marks was sky-high after his breakout performance in Week 4. Many believed he had taken over the backfield, but that’s not entirely the case.
In Houston’s shocking blowout win over the Ravens, Marks played more snaps than Nick Chubb but carried the ball four fewer times. He finished with just 24 rushing yards and one target.
Marks may never be the true bell cow, but his talent is undeniable. Trust that will turn into him getting more work in the future. This down week creates a prime buy-low opportunity.
WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
It feels like the Eagles have finally realized they need to lean more on their passing game. Defenses are stacking the box to stop the run, and Philadelphia is adjusting, finally.
The results haven’t fully shown up for Brown yet, but they’re coming. He saw nine targets in Week 4 and 10 more this week. That kind of volume, combined with Brown’s talent, make it only a matter of time before he delivers more fantasy-friendly results.
WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
If the Lamb manager in your league has a losing record, now’s the time to make an offer. Lamb is not guaranteed to return Week 6, which could push his manager to panic and sell low.
There’s no denying Lamb’s elite ability. If you can afford to stash him for a week or two, you’ll be in a great spot when he returns.
Week 6 fantasy football players to sell
RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
Dowdle is coming off one of the best games we’ll see all season, rushing for 206 yards and a touchdown. It’s unlikely he’ll come close to that again.
If someone in your league believes Dowdle has suddenly become the Panthers’ featured back, cash in. At best, he turned what was a 60/40 split with Chuba Hubbard into a 50/50 split once Hubbard returns.
WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Four catches, 114 yards, and a touchdown looks great on paper, but don’t be fooled. Shaheed’s problem has not been corrected. That problem is inconsistency.
Shaheed has three single-digit fantasy games already this season and two double-digit games. This week, it required an 87-yard touchdown to get there. If you’re relying on those long plays for fantasy relevance, disappointment will follow more often than not.
TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Ferguson currently leads all tight ends in targets and sits atop the fantasy rankings at the position. That volume won’t last.
When CeeDee Lamb returns, Ferguson’s target share will dip, making him more volatile week to week. If you can flip him for a tight end with steadier usage, do it before the regression hits.
RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Pollard played around 90% of snaps through the first four weeks, but with Tyjae Spears returning, that dropped to 73% in Week 5 and it’s likely to decline further.
Pollard’s early-season workload produced 328 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him as the RB28 in points per game.
The selling point: even with Spears back, Pollard saw 17 total touches and found the end zone. That makes this the perfect time to move him before his volume shrinks.
