Is it a good idea to acquire some cheap but injured studs for the final few weeks? Our Dave Richard shares his take on that and unveils his Trade Value Chart for Week 12.
By Dave Richard
• 8 min read
Our Trade Value Chart is designed to assist you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring league. The values assigned to the players below are strictly a measurement of their Fantasy value heading into the current week. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you might be able to get in return. This list should also provide a glimpse into how we feel about a player for the remainder of the season. This is our final chart for the 2012 season.
The time to make deals is about to wrap up. Before you can be thankful (assuming you live here in the states), you can make one more deal to bolster your lineup. Or, you could be thankful for the deal you did -- or didn't -- make.
Over the past few weeks we've seen some serious injuries pile up. If you avoided this mid-November injury bug, that's great. If not, then as they like to say, it's part of the game. But these injuries can benefit those Fantasy owners with great depth and Fantasy championship aspirations, particularly if they can wait for the hurt superstars to get better. Here are the studs available at a discount headed into the final six weeks of the season.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots ... Nightmare scenario: Gronkowski broke his forearm on a fourth quarter extra-point attempt. Don't waste time questioning why Bill Belichick had Gronk on the kicking team in the first place (he happens to be a heck of a blocker) and instead wonder if he's worth carrying for the rest of the season. Broken bones typically take at least four weeks to heal, which might keep the door open for Gronkowski to be available for the Pats' Week 16 game at Jacksonville. But here's a thought: The Patriots have already taken their time getting Aaron Hernandez ready to play some ball (he might go on Thanksgiving at the Jets), so what would motivate them to get Gronk back on the field before the playoffs? The only thing I could think of is if they start to lose some games and cling to a playoff spot, not clinch the AFC East, then maybe they rush Gronk back. But we shouldn't expect to see him until the last two weeks of the year at the earliest. If you can't wait that long -- maybe you need to win now -- then get whatever you can for him. Just don't expect much since someone would be gambling that he'd be around for the end of the season. If someone drops him in your league, then by all means pick him up.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles ... McCoy's role won't change when he gets over the concussion that saw him get carted off the field against the Redskins. Though he hasn't had many big games (just one with 15-plus points in standard formats), he has had a lot of good performances (eight double-digit weeks). But because we don't know when he'll be back, some of his owners might be inclined to move him for a safer option or two. The Eagles' schedule isn't too tough down the stretch and McCoy should still deliver some nice totals once he returns. He could fetch a quality receiver in trade or a couple of very good starters. And if you do make the move to squeeze someone for McCoy, also make it a point to get his handcuff: Bryce Brown.
Julio Jones, WR, Falcons ... It wasn't good when Jones hurt his ankle in Week 10, and it was a lot worse when he aggravated the injury in Week 11. Now there's no word on just how long he'll be out. That means it's a risk to trade for him since he might rest a week. Also, he hasn't quite lived up to the lofty expectations everyone had for him back in August since he has five double-digit Fantasy point totals through 10 games. The smart owner won't give up too much for Jones -- maybe a good running back and a low-end receiver. But he is worth taking the chance on even though his long-term prognosis is not fully known.
Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders ... DMC is another player in the may-or-may-not play soon category. Coach Dennis Allen said he's "hopeful" to get McFadden back this week but it would be a surprise since he suffered a high-ankle sprain two games ago. Further clouding McFadden's potential is Marcel Reece, who has been a yardage dynamo in place of McFadden. A fullback in position only, Reece has 392 total yards in his last three games thanks to his quality hands and rushing opportunities. There's a pretty good chance McFadden won't always have 20 touches on his plate with Reece's role on the rise, but he should still serve as the Raiders' primary rusher. If this were Week 7 or 8 I'd say this is your last chance to get McFadden on the cheap since he'll be back soon, but the reality is that this is really your last chance to get anyone so it doesn't really apply. McFadden's a good buy-low candidate at the deadline.
Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos ... A fracture in his leg and a torn MCL will put McGahee on the shelf for at least six weeks. With six regular-season games left, you can do the math and figure out that his regular season is pretty much shot. That makes him a candidate for the waiver wire and not someone you should sell the farm (or even the fertilizer) for. However, rookie rusher Ronnie Hillman should have some pretty good potential filling in for McGahee as at least a part-time back. If you can get him off waivers, that's great. But even if you have to give up a little something for him he's worth the gamble since any back in the Denver offense should get the chance to be productive.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers ... Big Ben's injury (shoulder, rib) was scary to read about but it sounds like he'll be fine. He's got a chance to play by Week 13 at Baltimore, which isn't the easiest matchup in the world. Nor is his matchup against the Cowboys in Week 15, but the rest of the slate is not bad, including a juicy home date vs. the Bengals in Week 16. Chances are the owner who has Roethlisberger is mixing and matching his quarterbacks on a week by week basis. If that's the case then trying to pry him away on the cheap could be a tough chore. Getting Roethlisberger from an owner who's starting a Top 5 or 6 quarterback already will be a much easier task and is a must if you're an owner getting by mixing and matching your passers.
A final word to the wise: Handcuff your stud rushers (if you haven't already). Do it now, and maybe even put a premium on getting the backup via trade. Now's the time -- you do not want to be scrambling for Fantasy help a month or a week from now when Fantasy titles are on the cusp of being claimed.
Player | Value | Player | Value | Player | Value |
Arian Foster, RB, HOU | 36 | Darren McFadden, RB, OAK | 13 | Brandon Myers, TE, OAK | 6 |
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN | 35 | C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF | 12 | Justin Blackmon, WR, JAC | 6 |
Ray Rice, RB, BAL | 32 | Antonio Gates, TE, SD | 11 | Colin Kaepernick, QB, SF | 6 |
Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA | 32 | Fred Jackson, RB, BUF | 11 | Brandon Stokley, WR, DEN | 6 |
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB | 27 | Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL | 11 | Bryce Brown, RB, PHI | 6 |
Doug Martin, RB, TB | 27 | Ryan Mathews, RB, SD | 11 | Greg Jennings, WR, GB | 6 |
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET | 26 | Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE | 10 | Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR | 6 |
A.J. Green, WR, CIN | 26 | Steven Jackson, RB, STL | 10 | Dustin Keller, TE, NYJ | 6 |
Peyton Manning, QB, DEN | 26 | Torrey Smith, WR, BAL | 10 | Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE | 6 |
Drew Brees, QB, NO | 26 | Danny Amendola, WR, STL | 10 | Brandon Lloyd, WR, NE | 5 |
Chris Johnson, RB, TEN | 23 | Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG | 10 | Beanie Wells, RB, ARI | 5 |
Tom Brady, QB, NE | 23 | DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI | 10 | Mark Ingram, RB, NO | 5 |
Jimmy Graham, TE, NO | 22 | DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL | 10 | Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC | 5 |
Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN | 22 | Darren Sproles, RB, NO | 9 | Kenny Britt, WR, TEN | 5 |
Trent Richardson, RB, CLE | 22 | Steve Smith, WR, CAR | 9 | Vick Ballard, RB, IND | 5 |
Stevan Ridley, RB, NE | 21 | Owen Daniels, TE, HOU | 9 | Greg Olsen, TE, CAR | 5 |
Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI | 21 | Carson Palmer, QB, OAK | 9 | Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN | 5 |
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL | 21 | Tony Romo, QB, DAL | 9 | Antonio Brown, WR, PIT | 5 |
Andre Johnson, WR, HOU | 21 | Matt Schaub, QB, HOU | 9 | Brian Hartline, WR, MIA | 5 |
Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS | 20 | Michael Crabtree, WR, SF | 9 | T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND | 4 |
Roddy White, WR, ATL | 20 | Danario Alexander, WR, SD | 9 | 49ers/Bears/Texans DST | 4 |
Frank Gore, RB, SF | 20 | Philip Rivers, QB, SD | 9 | Daniel Thomas, RB, MIA | 4 |
Matthew Stafford, QB, DET | 19 | Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ | 8 | James Starks, RB, GB | 4 |
Randall Cobb, WR, GB | 19 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN | 8 | Santana Moss, WR, WAS | 4 |
Dez Bryant, WR, DAL | 19 | Steve Johnson, WR, BUF | 8 | Andre Roberts, WR, ARI | 4 |
Alfred Morris, RB, WAS | 18 | Lance Moore, WR, NO | 8 | Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS | 4 |
Reggie Wayne, WR, IND | 18 | Cecil Shorts, WR, JAC | 8 | Chris Ivory, RB, NO | 4 |
Vincent Jackson, WR, TB | 18 | Marcel Reece, RB, OAK | 7 | LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, ARI | 4 |
Victor Cruz, WR, NYG | 18 | Andy Dalton, QB, CIN | 7 | Jalen Parmalee, RB, JAC | 4 |
Eric Decker, WR, DEN | 18 | Jason Witten, TE, DAL | 7 | Josh Gordon, WR, CLE | 4 |
Cam Newton, QB, CAR | 17 | Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, OAK | 7 | Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL | 4 |
Jamaal Charles, RB, KC | 17 | Felix Jones, RB, DAL | 7 | Titus Young, WR, DET | 4 |
Julio Jones, WR, ATL | 17 | Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG | 7 | Broncos/Seahawks DST | 3 |
Matt Forte, RB, CHI | 17 | Michael Turner, RB, ATL | 7 | Joe Flacco, QB, BAL | 3 |
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI | 17 | Andre Brown, RB, NYG | 7 | Dwayne Allen, TE, IND | 3 |
Marques Colston, WR, NO | 17 | Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN | 7 | Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET | 3 |
Percy Harvin, WR, MIN | 16 | Vernon Davis, TE, SF | 7 | Scott Chandler, TE, BUF | 3 |
Wes Welker, WR, NE | 16 | Malcom Floyd, WR, SD | 7 | Nate Washington, WR, TEN | 3 |
LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI | 16 | Heath Miller, TE, PIT | 7 | Kendall Wright, WR, TEN | 3 |
Andrew Luck, QB, IND | 15 | James Jones, WR, GB | 7 | Mohamed Sanu, WR, CIN | 3 |
Josh Freeman, QB, TB | 15 | Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI | 7 | Michael Vick, QB, PHI | 2 |
Denarius Moore, WR, OAK | 14 | Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC | 7 | Willis McGahee, RB, DEN | 2 |
Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET | 14 | Reggie Bush, RB, MIA | 6 | Donald Brown, RB, IND | 2 |
Jordy Nelson, WR, GB | 14 | Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT | 6 | Cedric Benson, RB, GB | 2 |
Mike Wallace, WR, PIT | 14 | Jonathan Dwyer, RB, PIT | 6 | Joique Bell, RB, DET | 2 |
Miles Austin, WR, DAL | 14 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT | 6 | Joel Dreessen, TE, DEN | 2 |
Sidney Rice, WR, SEA | 13 | Ronnie Hillman, RB, DEN | 6 | Jeremy Kerley, WR, NYJ | 2 |
Eli Manning, QB, NYG | 13 | Mike Williams, WR, TB | 6 | Julian Edelman, WR, NE | 2 |
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter @CBSFantasyFB . You can also follow Dave at @daverichard and on Facebook .
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