Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Buy-Low Candidates at Every Position

Fantasy trades can be hard to pull off because every owner wants to ensure that they are coming out ahead. The risk of making a move only to see the guy you acquired get hurt or the guy you sent away have big performances is enough to push many owners away from aggressive moves. They are more willing to live and die with their draft and waiver moves rather than possibly benefit another owner.

Using a tool like our trade analyzer is one way to measure a potential move and see if the numbers are in your favor. It's also something you can take to another owner and show them to prove that a move could be beneficial to both teams; having something from an outside source is real, tangible evidence.

Let's look at one player at each offensive fantasy position who is worth targeting in a trade after the first month of the season. Most stats are from NFL.com, and fantasy points and rankings are from FantasyPros.

Use FantasySP's trade value chart to identify overvalued and undervalued players and help determine if potential trades play out in your favor!

Quarterback

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

It has been a rough start for Maye, who has thrown seven interceptions and lost two fumbles (with five total fumbles) through four games. He had just 18 interceptions in 30 games through his first two seasons but is on pace for around 30 picks after one month. He likely won't continue at such a high rate, but it's impossible to ignore his struggles so far.

Maye was fantasy QB2 last year and drafted as a weekly fantasy starter this season. He ranks outside the top 20 at the position after four games and was also below that mark in each of the first three weeks before leading all QBs in scoring in Week 4. So, does that mean he's back?

Maye's owners are likely skeptical, and that brings opportunity for anyone looking to pounce and steal the third-year passer at a discount. After tougher matchups upcoming against the Raiders and Jets the next two weeks, Maye will get softer defenses in the Bears, Dolphins, and Lions in three of the following four weeks.

There are likely better days ahead for Maye, as the turnovers will lessen and matchups will improve. That doesn't mean he'll necessarily reach QB2 status again, but there will be much better weeks. With so many quarterbacks able to score fantasy points, it's best not to overpay, but if you can get Maye for a flex-level running back or WR3-type player, it might be worth trading from surplus to get a guy who will outplay what he has done so far.

Running Back

Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals

After being taken with the third overall pick, it made sense to think that Love would immediately be thrust into the unquestioned top role in Arizona, making him a fantasy star. The Cardinals also signed veteran Tyler Allgeier, though, and Love suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason, so he hasn't started as hot as some owners would have hoped.

That doesn't mean he has been bad, as Love has racked up 259 total yards and two touchdowns, but Love owners could be a little anxious, especially as he is dealing with another ankle injury right now, though he is expected to play in Week 5.

This would be a blockbuster trade; you're not going to get Love cheap. He could possibly be had after starting just good, not great, sitting close to RB20 in all formats. As he gets more reps under his belt, Love might start taking more of the bulk, especially if he gets fully healthy. He has led the way already, carrying it 55 times versus 32 for Allgeier, but there is room for even more.

While it won't be easy, prying Love away from his current owner could be a huge upside play if you're willing to part with another very good player and take a risk. Dealing from strength, such as giving up a good receiver, is a worthy venture if you could use another possible top-line talent.

Wide Receiver

A.J. Brown, New England Patriots

I didn't come into this exercise planning to pick two players from the same team, but Brown and Maye have intrinsically linked fantasy outlooks. After suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 1, Brown went on IR and is eligible to return in Week 6.

There are no reports that he is sure to be back at that time, and we don't know what he will look like upon his return; high-ankle sprains have shown to hamper players through entire seasons in the past. Still, this is a high-level receiver when he is at full speed, and Brown will step into a clear WR1 spot around a lot of decent role players in the wide receiving corps.

We talked about the good matchups coming up for the Patriots, and that could start right as Brown is stepping back into the lineup. Coming back to face Chicago, Miami, and Detroit would offer him a chance to hit the ground running upon his return and make him an instant fantasy contributor again.

There's plenty of uncertainty with a guy returning from a weeks-long injury, so I wouldn't pay full price for Brown. If you have an extra quarterback or tight end on your bench that you can package with a middling receiver, though, and your league-mate has multiple roster needs, you might be able to steal a top-line fantasy player at a discount if you're willing to show a little patience.

Tight End

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Loveland started the year ice cold statistically, catching just one pass for three yards in the first two weeks. The past two games have been better, with four catches for 31 yards then six for 57, but this hasn't been the year many owners hoped for after Loveland shined as a rookie.

While Caleb Williams' uncertain status brings a little worry, Loveland has been better without Williams on the field this year, so I wouldn't let that be a determining factor. We've seen Loveland at his best, and that player is a top five fantasy tight end if he can put it all together consistently.

Sitting outside the top 30 tight ends in both standard and PPR, Loveland's owners are surely anxious. If you don't have a weekly starter at TE, you might be able to get Loveland at a discount compared to his draft status. There are surely better times ahead, and if you have an extra RB or WR burning a hole on your bench, it might be worth floating out a trade offer to see if you can get a player who is almost certain to perform better from here on out.