Fantasy Sell High: 3 Players to Sell High in Fantasy Football Entering Week 9

Sell High Candidates at a Glance

• Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers
• Tony Pollard, RB, Titans
• Jameson Williams, WR, Lions

Not every strong fantasy performance is a sign that a player's value is about to keep climbing. Sometimes, a big workload or touchdown spike creates the perfect opportunity to move a player while his trade value is at its peak.

These three players have all produced recently, but there are reasons to believe their current fantasy production could be difficult to sustain.

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.

Sell High Candidates in Fantasy Football

Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving is coming off a massive 170-yard, one-touchdown performance, but this may be the perfect time to sell high.

Irving has 147 carries for 728 yards and five touchdowns through eight games, along with 18 receptions for 78 yards and another score. He’s been good, and he’s been an excellent draft-day value.

But the biggest concern is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t run a 1995 high school offense forever. They’ll have to throw the ball more often moving forward after attempting just three passes in Week 8, a game played in heavy rain in which Tampa Bay ran 56 times.

With Baker Mayfield and the passing game likely to be more involved moving forward, Irving's opportunity to replicate his recent rushing volume will be much smaller, particularly against game scripts that don't allow Tampa Bay to lean exclusively on the ground game.

Irving remains a very good player, but his current trade value is high enough that I'd explore what I could get in return.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard has exploded over the last two games, rushing for 246 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry in that span. He posted 129 yards and three touchdowns against Cleveland before following that up with 117 yards and two scores against Cincinnati, pushing his season total to 595 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

The problem is that Pollard scored only once in his first six games, so expecting him to continue producing at this level is unrealistic — especially in a meh offense — and the Tennessee Titans have a Week 9 bye before facing Jacksonville in Week 10.

Tyjae Spears also remains a factor whenever he returns from his knee injury, with Tennessee previously using both backs and viewing Spears.

Pollard is absolutely worth holding if the trade offers aren't strong, but his recent touchdown binge gives fantasy managers an opportunity to see if someone will pay for the recent ceiling.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

Jameson Williams has been excellent lately, but his recent touchdown production creates a sell-high opportunity.

Williams has 27 catches for 437 yards and five touchdowns through seven games, including 161 yards and three touchdowns over his last two games. He has also seen 44 targets this season, but five of his six touchdowns have come in just his last three games, making his current scoring pace difficult to maintain.

The Detroit Lions have plenty of offensive weapons, and Williams' value is being driven heavily by explosive plays and touchdowns rather than a dominant target volume.

He's a legitimate big-play threat, but he’s always been volatile week to week due to the type of routes he runs and how many mouths there are to feed in Detroit. If another manager values him like a consistent WR1/high-end WR2 because of the recent production, I'd be willing to move him for a more stable asset.

Who are the best fantasy football buy low players?

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.