Fantasy Football: 4 Players to Sell High in NFL Week 8

Sell High Candidates at a Glance

• Tony Pollard, RB, Titans
• Tre Tucker, WR, Raiders
• Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets
• Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams

There are plenty of roster decisions that need to be made each week in fantasy football, including potential trades.

On one hand, it can be extremely beneficial to buy-low on a certain player via trade before they see a positive change in usage or experience a breakout performance. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are also players to consider trading away while their value is potentially at its peak.

With last week in the books, which players should we consider selling-high in fantasy football before this week's games take place?

Note: All stats come from Next Gen Stats or Pro Football Focus unless stated otherwise.

Fantasy Football Sell High Candidates

Tony Pollard, RB, Titans

It would be difficult to draw up a better sell-high spot than the one Tony Pollard created in Week 7.

The Tennessee Titans’ running back erupted for 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries against Cleveland, adding three catches for 26 yards. That resulted in a massive 36.5-point performance in PPR formats.

But we shouldn't get too carried away. Prior to that huge outing, Pollard was closer to a cut candidate in fantasy than a locked-in every-week starter. Pollard hadn't reached 14 fantasy points in any of his first six games, and he entered Week 7 with only one touchdown all season.

Tyjae Spears was also unavailable for Sunday's game, helping Pollard pile up 28 total opportunities. Spears' eventual return could take away some work while Tennessee's offensive environment remains a concern. The Titans are 1-6 and haven't consistently created the scoring opportunities Pollard needs to produce RB1 numbers.

Pollard's workload gives him a decent floor, so this isn't a situation where fantasy managers need to dump him for whatever they can get. But after a three-touchdown explosion, his perceived value may be considerably higher than it was a week ago. If another manager is willing to value Pollard as a strong RB2, now is a good time to deal him.

Tre Tucker, WR, Raiders

Tre Tucker has been one of fantasy football's biggest surprises, and his value is soaring after another big outing.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ wideout saw 12 targets against the Rams in Week 7, finishing with 5 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. That followed a 5-catch, 97-yard, 2-touchdown showing in Week 6.

Tucker has now produced 474 receiving yards and four touchdowns through seven games, but the week-to-week production has been much more volatile than those season-long numbers suggest. He's scored at least 20 PPR points three times while finishing below 9 points in four games.

There's also reason to question whether Tucker's recent volume will stick. Despite the recent surge, he has just an 18.5% target share for the season, and Brock Bowers remains the centerpiece of the Raiders' passing attack.

Tucker's big-play ability makes him a player worth rostering, but that's different from believing he's suddenly a dependable weekly WR2. After back-to-back monster performances, his trade value may never be higher.

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets

Omar Cooper has been a revelation since returning to the lineup, but his incredible efficiency makes him an intriguing sell-high candidate.

The rookie caught all five of his targets for 115 yards and a touchdown in Week 7, giving him 11 receptions for 218 yards and two scores over the last two weeks. Those are outstanding numbers, and Cooper has quickly become a significant piece of the New York Jets’ passing attack.

The concern is whether Cooper can continue producing at this level on relatively modest volume.

He has turned 12 targets into 218 yards over the last two weeks, an average of 18.2 yards per target. That's going to be extremely difficult to sustain, especially when Garrett Wilson remains the Jets' No. 1 receiver and the offense isn’t all that good.

None of that means Cooper's breakout is a fluke. He's clearly earned a larger role, and his ability to generate explosive plays gives him an enticing long-term ceiling.

But sell-high decisions are about comparing current market value to likely future production. Cooper's trade value has shot up after consecutive huge performances, and fantasy managers may now view him as an every-week WR2 or WR3. If you can package him with another piece to acquire a more established weekly starter, I'd be willing to capitalize on the hype.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams

Matthew Stafford has been piling up passing touchdowns lately, making this an appealing window to shop the veteran quarterback.

The Los Angeles Rams’ signal-caller has thrown eight touchdowns over his last three games. He followed a 383-yard, three-touchdown performance against Buffalo with two touchdowns against Arizona and three more against Las Vegas in Week 7.

The problem is that Stafford's fantasy ceiling is entirely tied to what he does through the air.

He threw for only 195 yards in Week 7, and despite tossing three touchdowns, he finished with just 17.5 fantasy points. Stafford offers virtually nothing as a runner, so he needs a combination of strong passing volume, yardage, and touchdowns to compete with the dual-threat quarterbacks who can manufacture fantasy points on the ground.

The loss of Davante Adams to a significant hamstring injury doesn't help matters, either. Stafford still has Puka Nacua — who finally seems healthy — and a strong offensive system around him, so he can remain a useful fantasy starter in the right matchups.

But eight passing touchdowns in three games provide a nice selling point. If another manager views Stafford as a set-it-and-forget-it QB1, I'd be willing to trade him and stream the position while upgrading elsewhere on my roster.

Check out our fantasy football buy low running backs article for Week 8.

Fantasy Football Sell-High Candidates FAQ

What does "sell high" mean in fantasy football?

Selling high means trading a player when their perceived fantasy value may be greater than their expected value going forward. This often happens after a player posts a big game, scores multiple touchdowns, or benefits from an unusually favorable matchup.

When should you sell high on a fantasy football player?

The best time to sell high is typically after a strong performance that could be difficult to repeat. Fantasy managers should consider factors such as playing time, touches, targets, touchdown dependency, upcoming matchups, and competition for opportunities before deciding whether a player's production is sustainable.

Should you always trade a sell-high candidate?

No. Identifying someone as a sell-high candidate doesn't necessarily mean you should trade that player at any cost. The goal is to take advantage of elevated trade value, so it makes sense to hold unless another manager is willing to offer what you deem to be a worthwhile return.

What should you look for in a sell-high fantasy football candidate?

Potential sell-high candidates can include players whose fantasy production significantly exceeds their underlying usage. A high touchdown rate, limited snap share, low target volume, declining workload, or an upcoming stretch of difficult matchups can all be reasons to explore a trade.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.