Week 1 Trades

If you made some questionable moves during your draft, it’s not too late! Here are 8 players to trade for or away before Week 1 … in two minutes or less.

Trade For: Davante Adams (LAR)

Davante Adams is 32, but the decline hasn’t hit, and the Rams might be his ideal landing spot. After joining the Jets midseason in 2024, he was the WR9 in points per game and WR5 overall from Week 7 on, even while splitting targets with Garrett Wilson. He moved inside more than ever, racking up 427 slot yards (3rd-most) and 7 TDs during that stretch. In L.A., he takes over where Cooper Kupp saw 63% of his snaps inside and fills the 12 end zone targets left behind by Demarcus Robinson. Puka Nacua’s the WR1, but if he misses time again, Adams is a top-10 fantasy play every week.

Trade Away: Jonathan Taylor (IND) 

Taylor looks like a safe RB1 on paper, but the cracks are showing. He’s missed multiple games in each of the last three seasons, and his ankle issues haven’t gone away. Yes, he exploded at the end of 2024, but 38% of his entire fantasy output came in just the final three games. And over the full season, he ranked 42nd in missed tackle rate and 44th in yards after contact per attempt. He’s still a name-brand asset, but that’s exactly why you can cash out before the market remembers he’s a pure rusher with no receiving floor.

Trade For: Rashee Rice (KC)

Rice is suspended for the first six games, and that’s exactly why he might be the smartest stash in fantasy right now. Before his injury last year, Rice was averaging 6 catches, 72 yards, and was top-3 in both target rate (33%) and yards per route run (3.27). That’s elite usage in a Mahomes offense. Across his last nine full games, he averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game, and when he returns, there’s a real chance he slides right back in as the go-to short-area weapon. You’ll need to plan for the six-week hole, but if your roster can survive until Week 7, Rice could be a league-winning piece down the stretch.

Trade Away: Breece Hall (NYJ)

Breece Hall cost you a 3rd or 4th-round pick this summer… but that doesn’t mean you need to ride it out. He’s two years removed from the ACL, yet his efficiency keeps dipping. He posted just 4.2 yards per carry last year and only ranked 29th in fantasy points per opportunity. The Jets have talked all offseason about using a committee, and Hall even admitted he’s not “their guy” under the new staff. Add in Justin Fields, who rarely checks down, and you’re staring at a backfield with fewer receptions, fewer touchdowns, and more mouths to feed. If someone in your league still sees him as a breakout waiting to happen, let them take the risk.

Trade For: DeVonta Smith (PHI)

DeVonta Smith quietly finished as the WR15 in non-PPR last year, despite ranking outside the top 30 in targets, snaps, and receiving yards. He missed four games, yet still hit a career-high 8 touchdowns and posted his best-ever 2.14 yards per route… elite efficiency in a low-volume offense. The Eagles were the most run-heavy team in the NFL, but if their pass rate ticks up even slightly, Smith’s role as a 100% route participation player makes him a weekly difference-maker. He’s also one AJ Brown injury away from Tee Higgins–level contingent upside, making him a sharp buy before the volume spikes.

Trade Away: Garrett Wilson (NYJ)

Garrett Wilson was a fourth-round pick in most drafts. And most view him as a rock-solid WR2. But he’s now three full seasons into his career without a single top-20 finish in points per game. Despite massive volume (147+ targets every year), he ranks just 80th in yards per target. And now he’s tied to Justin Fields, who brings the second-worst inaccuracy rate to wide receivers in the entire league. Wilson is good enough to earn targets anywhere… but if this offense stays run-heavy and Fields doesn’t evolve, you’ll wish you sold him before the shine wore off.

Trade For: Darnell Mooney (ATL)

Darnell Mooney was one of 2024’s best draft values, finishing as the WR31 with 992 yards and a career-high 1.89 yards per route run. He played 93% of snaps, saw 106 targets, and ranked top-10 in deep targets. And the Falcons added minimal touch competition this offseason. In his only full game with Michael Penix Jr., Mooney posted 5 for 82 on six targets, hinting at what this connection could look like when it clicks. With top-30 upside and spike-week potential, Mooney is a perfect pre-Week 1 trade target if you’re thin at WR.

Trade Away: Cooper Kupp (SEA)

Cooper Kupp’s name still carries weight, but that’s why you should try and flip him. He’s 32, coming off three straight seasons of declining yardage per game, and his explosiveness is gone. Over his final seven games last year (including playoffs), he totaled just 252 yards, and now he’s catching passes from Sam Darnold instead of Matthew Stafford. He ranked 102nd in ESPN’s Open Score and fell outside the top 90 in both yards per target and yards per reception. You might get one last flash, but you’re better off letting someone else bet on it.

Improving your team before Week 1 can lead to massive gains all season long. Know how to treat these guys and keep outsmarting your leaguemates.

Over 12,000 players used this to prep last season. My 2025 Draft Kit is open now, but only a few dozen spots are available this year. I’m keeping it limited so I can give members my full attention.

See you tomorrow,

-Joe