Make These Fantasy Football Trades NOW Before Week 4 (Ep. 2226)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
23 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 29, 2026
Published
Tue, September 29, 2026
6
Player insights
6
Players mentioned
Topics
Aaron JonesDrake MayeJaylen WarrenJosh DownsMalik NabersParker Washington
Player analysis
Player insights
Aaron Jones
NegativeBust23:41
Tara Roberts advises selling Aaron Jones, expressing concern that the 31-year-old running back cannot physically sustain the 80% snap share he has seen over the past two weeks. With a return of a teammate from IR looming and the team's desire for a split backfield, Roberts suggests capitalizing on his current value before his workload inevitably decreases.
Insight pageDrake Maye
NegativeProjection20:07
The source expresses skepticism regarding Drake Maye's potential to improve his performance, suggesting that fantasy managers should trade him away in favor of players with more reliable talent and opportunity.
Insight pageJaylen Warren
NegativeBust28:38
Tara Roberts recommends selling high on Jalen Warren, who has seen a heavy workload due to injury. While acknowledging the potential for him to remain an RB1 if injuries persist, Roberts argues that now is the time to trade him to address other roster needs, as his current high functionality in the Steelers' offense may not be sustainable long-term.
Insight pageJosh Downs
PositiveValue18:36
Tara Roberts recommends buying Josh Downs, noting he is the Colts' WR1 for the foreseeable future. Despite the perception of the team and Daniel Jones, Downs has seen high target volume (9 and 11 targets in the last two games) and has maintained a high floor against tough secondaries. His price remains reasonable, and his schedule is expected to open up, providing more ceiling opportunities.
Insight pageMalik Nabers
PositiveValue8:46
Tara Roberts identifies Malik Nabers as a buy-low candidate. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston and the potential for J.J. McCarthy to start, Nabers remains the clear number one target in the offense. Roberts suggests that fantasy managers might be willing to part with him at a discount due to fear, making it an ideal time to acquire him.
Insight pageParker Washington
PositiveBreakout0:37
Tara Roberts recommends buying Parker Washington now before his schedule opens up and his fantasy volume increases. Despite a tough start to the season for Jacksonville, Washington has been effective and is a clear breakout candidate once Trevor Lawrence can open up the passing game. He is currently ranked WR12 in consensus rest-of-season rankings, but Roberts argues he should be closer to WR8 or WR9.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeartPodcasts. Guaranteed Human. Hello everybody, welcome to Fantasy Pros.
0:04I'm Ryan Warmly, joined as I am every Monday by Tara Roberts.
0:07We are talking some moves to make, this time ahead of Week 4, almost a month into the season, hard to believe.
0:14Reminder for everybody that all of our consensus rankings each week and the tiers can be found at FantasyPros.com.
0:20Slash rankings, you can also check out our consensus rest of season overall rankings.
0:24Those get updated throughout the week, but there are a few of those in there already here as of Monday morning, so
0:30I'll be referencing some of those throughout the episode here.
0:33You've got five moves for us, Tara. Where do you want to start?
0:37Let's start off happy, right? We're going to buy, we're going to go shopping, we're going to buy Parker Washington.
0:43It doesn't have to be a sad buy-low. It can just be buy because maybe you need to do this before it becomes too expensive to get in.
0:52Last week we talked about buying Garrett Wilson before he goes off and what happened?
0:56Yep, went off. Now this is not 100% the exact same situation because I do think we still have some time before
1:03the true go-off scenario happens because we're still in the realm of tough matchups for Jacksonville, but I wanted to go ahead
1:09and just get ahead of this one so that we can start making moves because this is a good time to buy in on Parker Washington.
1:17Not a buy low, but rather just buy before the schedule opens up and we get that aggressive uptick in volume.
1:23We knew the Jags had a sketchy season to start, a sketchy start to the season on their way with Cleveland, Denver,
1:30New England, up Cincinnati next, Philadelphia, Houston, and then their bye week.
1:34After that, everything opens up for the most part with the exception of like a second matchup against Houston.
1:39And thus far, we have yet to see Trevor Lawrence exceed 29 pass attempts.
1:44He is maxed out at 245 pass yards in week one.
1:47So there is more volume to come. And also they've been in lopsided matchups one way or the other blowouts.
1:53So him being effective with touchdowns has really kept this ship alive from a fantasy perspective in terms of the pass game.
1:59And in less than ideal passing scenarios, we have seen Parker Washington with solid performances from a fantasy perspective, but no slate breaking performances.
2:07And if you're on fantasy football Twitter, obviously you've seen the hype, but your league mates might not be seeing the same
2:13hype that we see online every single time that Parker Washington makes a miraculous catch.
2:18So with Jacoby Myers having a nice little breakthrough game as well, this is a good time to buy in on Parker Washington.
2:25And I don't think we've seen the ceiling yet.
2:27And you want him for what is going to happen when Trevor Lawrence can really open things up.
2:33I'm really glad you mentioned him. And it's a great shout because when you first put his name into the show plan
2:39for today, my initial thought was, okay, so we're doing like a real buy high as opposed to a buy low, which
2:46I really like doing because I think that's often the more important skill.
2:50And it's sort of easier to identify a buy low.
2:53It's identifying the right people to buy high on or sell low on.
2:57Conversely, I think he's really smart. But then I went to look at his game log and just kind of, you know,
3:03get his stats in front of me. And it's like, okay, like he's definitely been good and has been getting fun usage
3:10and he scored double digit fantasy points in all three games.
3:13But it hasn't been that mega star breakout from strictly looking at the fantasy points.
3:18And I think that I need to sort of step back and remind myself that the people I talk to every day
3:24in the industry that I'm in isn't the reflective of every league out there.
3:29And so for me, it's like, oh, yeah, Parker Washington is a star.
3:32We all talked about him all summer. He's clearly very good.
3:36Just like said it. Forget it. This guy's amazing.
3:38Like I did a show with Erickson. I think he's in Washington is his wide receiver eight rest of season, I want to say.
3:46And then but then I step back and I have to remind myself like a lot of the people in a lot
3:52of the leagues that I might play in that aren't industry leagues.
3:56It might not be that apparent and that obvious that this, you know, superstar breakout is here.
4:01He was wide receiver 12 in the consensus rest of season rankings.
4:05Even that feels a little low to me based on my expectations.
4:08And like Nico Collins is ahead of him. I don't know what's going to happen, like how long that hamstring stuff is going to linger.
4:16Zay Flowers obviously has looked really good. He's only played like a game and a half this season.
4:21You know, Puka is ahead of him. Like this, you know, groin hip stuff has been confusing.
4:26So like I think there's a real case where something like wide receiver eight or nine does make a lot of sense.
4:33He's not being valued that way in the consensus rankings.
4:36I don't think he's valued that way in more casual sounds, you know, like I'm being dismissive.
4:41But those sorts of leagues where people aren't as hardcore into it and paying that close attention and on fantasy football Twitter
4:48and all that stuff that we are. So I think it's a great shout because I'm not even he's a buy high,
4:54but I don't think he's like a buy super high.
4:57I don't think he's a you have to give up the farm for him.
5:01I think you have to pay up and give give appropriate market value.
5:05But I fully endorse doing that. And I think you're totally right.
5:09It's only going to get better from here. So, yeah, that's a very long winded way of me saying like, I think
5:15this is spot on and I'm glad you picked him.
5:18Love it. Love it. Let's go to the next one here.
5:22Who's the next player to buy? The next one is definitely a buy low.
5:26It is going to be a buy low on Malik neighbors.
5:29This is not an endorsement of J.J. McCarthy in any way, shape or form.
5:33Of course, when I do this, I like to, you know, get ahead and I make these decisions on Sundays.
5:39So my decision to buy low on Malik neighbors happened before the J.J.
5:43McCarthy trade. But if anything, that probably helps lower the cost here.
5:47Looking at Jameis Winston, though, last week was a bad look for Jameis.
5:51The week before was a bad look for Jameis as well.
5:54But I can give excuses as to why he looked bad.
5:57In week two, you're coming in cold against an angry Rams defense that obviously got embarrassed in Australia.
6:03And that was the true version that we saw against the Giants of the Rams defense at its peak form.
6:09Then they had Tennessee, obviously a layup matchup, but a weather issue in that game.
6:13So when we're looking at what Jameis has done, you can make the excuses for why this has been subpar in a rather conservative pass volume.
6:21And that they haven't really had a true lighted up scenario.
6:24Jameis, you know, you could say what you want, but it's not as if it was drastically low completion percentages for him.
6:31Yardage is the issue. And obviously, when we look at the upcoming schedule, that's when things start to get very interesting.
6:37The upcoming schedule is Arizona, Washington and New Orleans.
6:40I find it hard to believe that the plan is to immediately throw J.J.
6:44McCarthy into play a player who has not played a full NFL season in a new system to start, has not been
6:51able to gain the rapport with any of his weapons.
6:54So this is brand new. I do not think in any way, shape or form they're going to throw him out here
7:00immediately unless something goes completely sideways with Jameis Winston.
7:03We've got to remember Jackson Dart is done for the season, right?
7:07So this is not just a play for right now.
7:10This is a play for long term. So they've got to give him some time to adjust.
7:15And the main remaining schedule, if they do have to make that flip to J.J.
7:19McCarthy starting, the remaining schedule is overall average. No real issue.
7:23The playoff schedule is overall friendly. Jameis can get hot and the number one target is very clearly Malik neighbors or perhaps
7:29Harbaugh might have the Harbaugh's in general. Maybe that's the secret sauce.
7:33This Harbaugh's for J.J. McCarthy will bring him to success.
7:36Fantasy managers, because of the situation, the ambiguity with the quarterback situation might be willing to just part ways at a very
7:42low price because they're scared and they just want to get out.
7:46At the end of the day, Malik neighbors is the number one target in this offense.
7:51That is not a question. I like Isaiah likely, but the wide receiver with the most upside here is very clearly neighbors.
7:57So you're buying low into a, you know, ambiguous situation.
8:00But if you don't have to spend that much, that's okay.
8:04Do you have any examples of what you think you would maybe need to spend to get somebody like neighbors?
8:10It's so tricky because he's so talented. He had the injury stuff.
8:13Nobody really knows what to make of the quarterback situation right now.
8:17I think like you, like you said, the, the reputation of this quarterback room is largely quite negative right now.
8:23So there is that ambiguity. What do you think is an appropriate price to go trade for neighbors at the moment?
8:29So I think we are in a running back crisis right now.
8:33So if you drafted well at running back, you are solid and perhaps you have a, um, and this is, this will sound crazy, right?
8:40Uh, but again, you got to remember there are a wide variety of leagues and people that are desperate at running backs.
8:47So I think you could shoot as crazy as trying to upsell a Jalen Warren, or perhaps your league, you need something of actual value.
8:54Maybe you don't need a Chuba Hubbard in your starting lineup and you go sell a Chuba Hubbard, perhaps a David Montgomery as well.
9:02So I think tilting a running back and trying to pursue that high end, high target volume for Malik neighbors could be a good route.
9:09If you've got the running backs to spare. Just quickly on the giants too.
9:13Do you think that McCarthy is going like we were talking on the tailgate earlier, actually when this news broke and we
9:20were trying to pinpoint when we thought he would start.
9:23We kind of thought week five against the commanders.
9:26He's played well against them before when he was Minnesota, obviously not that he had many very good games, but that was one of them.
9:33We kind of looked at that as maybe when he would start not quite this week, but sorry, next week.
9:39If that's the case, do you see him like basically starting the rest of the season?
9:44Or do you think this will be like, Hey, it's a couple of games to, you know, sort of audition.
9:50And then we'll see from there. Maybe it goes back to James.
9:54Maybe it's something else. Do you think this will kind of be his starting job this year and see, Hey, like giants.
10:00If he's bad, we get a high pick. And if he's good, then awesome.
10:04We can trade him. What do you think? I think it's a back and forth because obviously they're optimistic and they're probably
10:11looking within their division and saying, okay, we've got the leeway.
10:14If we can get this ship somewhat on track to push within our own division, because there's a lot of question marks
10:21right around like, you know, literally everybody, but except one team.
10:24So perhaps if we can get our defense strong, push forward and just right, you know, keep this, the ship steady, then maybe we can be competitive.
10:32So I think there won't be this long-term dedication to, we have to make it work with JJ McCarthy.
10:38I think you give it a go. If Jamis comes out and lays another egg against Arizona, because that should be a much more friendlier matchup, right?
10:46They have dealing with injuries and their secondary as well.
10:49So if he comes out in Arizona and does well, you know, hey, we're going to keep him maybe through the bye week.
10:56We give JJ some extra time. They've got, you know, a Houston on the schedule coming up.
11:01So maybe you hold until there's a little bit easier.
11:04Or if Jamis comes out, yeah, you could see him as early as Washington, but I don't think there's going to be any loyalty.
11:11You could see it back and forth. I think you have one more player to buy, Tara.
11:16I do. I have a bye on Josh Downs.
11:19See, we're doing the happy buys this time. I think there is still value here, despite the ample amount of targets that
11:26are going his way because of the perception of the Colts.
11:29It always helps. And the perception of Daniel Jones.
11:32You get a nice little Daniel Jones discount in there because he's been rather mediocre up to this point.
11:37We can acknowledge that. It's not as if he's thriving.
11:40Clearly not a whole ton of running. But hey, the offense has to push forward and it pushes forward with him at
11:47the helm with the combination of Jonathan Taylor. They just got their first win and it has to push forward because they've got a defensive issue.
11:55The defense is struggling. So there is volume to be had here.
11:58The price is reasonable for Downs because of those issues that you have with the teams.
12:03And he is the foreseeable wide receiver. He's the wide receiver one for the foreseeable future, which quite frankly might be the entire season.
12:10We don't know what is going to happen ultimately with the Alex Pierce, Alex Pierce injury.
12:15This is something that is a recurring issue. You already had surgery.
12:19So is, are you going to try and play through it?
12:22Are you going to work through it? If this team is a clear loser and they're struggling and they continue to lose
12:29games and this is just a defunct season and they have to rethink everything because all the moves they made just didn't quite work.
12:36At what point do we really see him? So it's possible that Downs is the first look in this offense moving forward.
12:43Uh, he has had a subpar week one. Obviously Daniel Jones was getting back into it, but the past two weeks have
12:49been high target games with nine targets, 11 targets resulting in just over 70 yards in each game.
12:55So very nice volume, but no real like massive breakout.
12:58So when you're looking at it from just a fantasy perspective, not the actual game.
13:02So he's a guy that is essentially producing very high floor games against two very tough secondaries in Kansas City and Houston
13:09for all the issues that Houston has had. It's still a difficult matchup.
13:13So for him to come out and produce like this in terms of the targets and the receptions.
13:18Wonderful. The schedule is going to open up. It's going to provide more opportunities for ceiling games and then we can buy
13:25him now before the true upside actually hits. Where is he ranked for your rest of season?
13:30He is wide receiver 32 in the early consensus after this week.
13:33For me, he is wide receiver 30. Okay. Wide receiver 30.
13:37All right. Yeah, that makes sense. He's always just been a player that I've liked.
13:41So I have to find myself not being overly enthusiastic about him because I'm like, oh, am I just biased because I
13:48just want to see him do well because I've always liked him.
13:51So I'm hoping that there's a real breakout to come this season for fantasy.
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14:17That's fantasy pros dot com slash markets. All right, Tara, give us a sell.
14:21Yeah, let's get to the sells. They're not as fun as the buys.
14:25We're going to sell on Aaron Jones. Hear me out on the sells because they always, you know, they get people going,
14:32but I just don't see how this man physically holds up with the workload demand that they are putting on him for the past two weeks.
14:40He has been on the field upwards of 80 percent of snaps.
14:43He is a 31 year old running back. Love him.
14:46He's a former Packers fan. So I love him.
14:49But he's a 31 year old running back who has not been used traditionally in this capacity.
14:54He is coming off a season where he had 150 touches played 12 games.
14:58None of them went over a 71 percent snap count.
15:01That was a high, high moment for him. Ideally, they want this to be a split backfield.
15:06Right. But they can't unfortunately here with the injury and you can't predict injuries for players.
15:11Right. But you can hedge your bets. And you were selling high on a guy that you probably did not intend to
15:18be your RB one anyway, who physically cannot handle the level of workload that is being asked of him.
15:23And still has a running back that is lurking on IR that will return in the near future.
15:29So, yeah, selling Aaron Jones is a valid move.
15:32And again, we've just had so many unfortunate injuries at running back.
15:35This is now the time to try and make a move on those guys.
15:39And if you've got these guys that you, you know, hey, you can start them because they're adding value to your fantasy
15:46lineup, but you don't necessarily need them. Make a move and pivot to another position of need for you to better your roster.
15:53Jordan Mason had 15 carries in a touchdown in week one.
15:56This was never meant to be a sole Aaron Jones backfield.
15:59And unfortunately, he's just the only back on roster that they can trust right now.
16:04So we're inching closer and closer to a bye week and Jordan Mason's return.
16:08You could argue like, hey, the upcoming matchups, you've got some good ones.
16:12Miami, right? And then, you know, hey, Miami and then sell high.
16:16But again, you're getting closer to the bye week.
16:18So how much value are you going to be able to dangle out there as a little carrot?
16:24It's fine. I was going to say like on the one hand, I'm like, maybe you wait until after the Miami game, try and get one more big.
16:32Like I because I you'd have to imagine he'll probably have a big game against Miami.
16:37But on the other hand, that could maybe be the piece that helps you trade him is hey, I'm going to give him to you.
16:44And if you give me something a little better in return, you'll even give you the Miami week with him and give him to you now.
16:52And so that I could see kind of going both ways in terms of maybe you wait a week to sell or
16:59you say, hey, like if you're the other managers in your league are sharp and kind of are paying attention to stuff like that.
17:06Say, all right, listen, like you want the Dolphins week?
17:09I'll give it to you. But you got to pay up for it if you're desperate.
17:14So I think that's a good one, too. One more player here, Tara.
17:18We're going to also try to sell high on Jalen Warren, another player that has come into a hefty workload due to injury.
17:25And I know the rebuttal for this one. Obviously, there's multiple rebuttals that you can make like, you know, hey, if Rico Dowdle's injury is serious, right?
17:33Because we don't know. Maybe it's a little bit more serious.
17:36Like we have more of a realistic thought process in terms of timeline for Jordan Mason.
17:41But with Rico Dowdle, there's probably a little bit of ambiguity there.
17:44So what if you sell off Jalen Warren and this injury continues for Dowdle and Jalen Warren becomes an unquestioned RB1 on a weekly basis?
17:52And then also you could rebut that, hey, no one's going to buy Jalen Warren based off one performance.
17:58Again, running backs are dropping like flies. So if you're going to make a move, now is the time to do it.
18:04And you likely didn't draft Warren to be your RB2.
18:07And if you did, then this doesn't apply to you.
18:10But if you have depth at running back and you need help at another position, you can absolutely shop him around and
18:17put your team in a better position to succeed.
18:20Because there are buyers out there. There are people that are willing to risk a Jalen Warren performance.
18:25And maybe they think that Aaron Rodgers is finally coming around and this is a good version.
18:30And, you know, hey, upcoming schedule overall. Maybe it's not so bad.
18:34So, yeah, there's a legitimate reason. And I would rather sell high on Jalen Warren in the hopes that this high functionality
18:40that we are seeing out of the Steelers offense is not actually what is going to be moving forward.
18:46And this, again, it is not a desperation move.
18:49You don't absolutely have to do it because the schedule ahead isn't really daunting.
18:53But it's an opportunity for you to get ahead at another position.
18:57He is two spots in consensus rest of season rankings ahead of Jadarian Price.
19:01Would you trade Warren for Price and just take an upside swing on that?
19:05Or does that make you too nervous? That makes me too nervous.
19:09I couldn't do it just because at least with Warren, he has the trust of his team.
19:14So I could argue, you know, hey, if Dowdle goes, maybe he comes back this week and then he goes down in a month.
19:21And again, I have the same upside of all the carries to Jalen Warren.
19:25But we have seen that Jadarian Price doesn't technically have that upside.
19:29So I love him and the talent, the fumbles and just I don't think it's right.
19:33But sadly, I don't know if we should trade into that situation where they are fighting to the nail not to play.
19:40On the other hand, maybe Mike McDonald learned like, oh, sitting him for having a fumble is a bad thing because we lost the game.
19:48Not having an explosive running back on the field.
19:50What about on the other side? So Jalen Warren, RB23, consensus.
19:54Price is to RB25. Right ahead of Jalen Warren is Travion Henderson at RB22.
19:58Is that a tree you'd be interested in? And that's a roller coaster, but there's obviously like a degree of talent there.
20:04And, you know, the schedule lightens up a lot.
20:07And you would think Drake May would eventually start playing a little bit better.
20:11You would think? I don't know. Fingers crossed. But I'm with you 100% that I'd rather trade out to a better talent
20:18opportunity because I know when 20 touches goes his way, I know exactly what he can do.
20:23So, yeah, for sure. 100%. I would make that trade out.
20:26We'll go ahead and wrap things up there right at the 20-minute mark.
20:30Thanks, everybody, for checking out this short form episode for Tara.
20:33I'm Ryan Warmly. We'll see you again next time.
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