As we're a month into the season, it's time to start changing our pre-draft perceptions while not completely abandoning them. If you happen to be 2-2 or worse, you may be aware of what your team is lacking and recognize potential trading opportunities that could benefit both teams. While trade values are subjective, I found three players who are currently valued near their peak and you may be able to get a little extra depth without losing significant production
This one is challenging because I felt he was underrated his last two seasons and was happy to draft him at his ADP. He has been great when healthy, surpassing 80 yards in three games despite having only six targets in two. But his production is very unlikely to continue throughout the season. Last season (career highs in targets, catches, and yards), he scored a touchdown in only four games. He's averaging 16 yards per target and leads WRs with more than 20 targets; next is Drake London at 14.9. Flowers never reached 11, and last season Xavier Smith led with 12.6. He's currently valued as a WR1; if you can get anywhere near that value, then I would, especially with the uncertainty around Lamar's injury.
Trade for players like: Justin Jefferson, Devonta Smith, Tee Higgins, Christian Watson
Both players are in the top ten for rushing yards and are top-15 RBs in fantasy. It makes sense with Ben Johnson as your head coach, who coached Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit. The team is averaging 196 rushing yards per game, which leads the league, and the last team to surpass 190 yards was the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 with 192. Last season, CHI averaged 144, and Detroit hasn't surpassed 150 as of 2019. When Caleb Williams returns, I expect the offense to pass more, and it depends on where people think the regression will hit more. Swift has 9 more carries than Monangai, but last season had 54. I wouldn't rush to trade away either player, but if someone needs an RB, you can get a pretty penny.
Trade for players like: Breece Hall/Omarion Hampton (Swift) and TreVeyon Henderson/Jadarian Price (Monangai)
He has been impressive as a top-20 WR so far, leading the team in receiving yards on a bottom-three CLE offense in passing yards but is third in targets and fourth in catches. He is averaging 12.9 yards per target and is ahead of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rome Odunze, who are under 12 yards. I anticipate that as the season goes on, defenses will adjust, making him more boom-or-bust, considering the low target share on a low-volume offense. He's perceived as the WR1 on the team, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's the WR2 that's competing with Harold Fannin for targets. I wouldn't expect WR2 value because of the offense, but if you can buy low on a potential WR2/3 with a higher floor, then it makes sense for me.
Trade for players like: Mike Evans, Jameson Williams, Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden III