Fantasy: Trading Post - Let Arian Foster carry you into the playoffs

With the fantasy football trade deadline fast approaching and the fantasy playoffs right around the corner, owners looking to improve their teams on the trade market are running low on time.

Here's a look at players worth targeting this week, and others who might be worth selling off. 

Tony Romo

Week 10 line: 20-of-27, 246 yards, 3 TDs

With a bye week to soothe his ailing back, Romo figures to pay major dividends to his owners down the stretch.

While Romo hasn't seen the kind of volume many expected this season, he's set to face a very pass-happy schedule the rest of the way, which could see the Cowboys lean more on their aerial attack to exploit mismatches and give DeMarco Murray some rest.

The Cowboys draw the Giants and Eagles over the next two weeks for those looking to make a playoff push, then get the Bears, Eagles and Colts for the championship run. VERDICT: BUY

Andy Dalton

Week 11 line: 16-of-22, 220 yards, 3 TDs, 12 rushing yards

There's no way owners can feel comfortable dialing up the Red Rocket in the fantasy playoffs.

Dalton bounced back from a dreadful performance Thursday night to play well in New Orleans, but it's that inconsistency that makes the TCU product difficult to trust.

Dalton's slate of games in the fantasy playoffs isn't all that friendly either, with a trip to Cleveland thrown into the mix that makes him completely unusable in Week 14. VERDICT: SELL

Arian Foster

Week 11 line: Inactive

Foster is expected to return to action in Week 12 following a one-week absence, but the uncertainty of his status may afford owners a discount.

While rookie Alfred Blue was able to churn out 156 yards in Foster's stead Sunday, he needed 36 carries to do so. The sixth-round rookie out of LSU is little more than a plodder, so full-time duties will be awaiting Foster upon his return.

Foster should top the priority list of owners in need of a couple wins to qualify for the fantasy playoffs. The Texans draw a pair of cupcake matchups over the next two weeks, with home dates against the Bengals and Titans. VERDICT: BUY

Jonas Gray

Week 11 line: 38 carries, 199 yards, 4 TDs

Those lucky enough to claim Jonas Gray off the waiver wire this week would be wise to turn the Notre Dame product into a usable asset while the going's good.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is known for causing fantasy owners headaches with his curious running back usage, particularly with backs that aren't active in the passing game - Stevan Ridley owners can attest to that.

Gray hadn't run for a touchdown in his career prior to Sunday's breakout contest, but it was clearly in New England's game plan to run the ball down the Colts' throats. While that worked out in a big way for Gray in Week 11, playing him from week to week is no more than a roll of the dice. VERDICT: SELL

DeAndre Hopkins

Week 11 line: 4 receptions, 80 yards, 8 targets

The changing of the guard in Houston is nearly complete, as Hopkins continues to outproduce Andre Johnson.

The Texans carried out a very conservative game plan against the Browns on Sunday, which surely had something to do with having the lead from gun to gun. 

Ryan Mallett didn't light it up, but he didn't trip over his own feet, either. Facing a favorable schedule for passers in the month of December that features a pair of dates with the Jaguars and another against the Colts, Hopkins could finally be ready to break out once and for all. He'll be a mid- to high-end WR2 the rest of the way. VERDICT: BUY

Marques Colston

Week 11 line: 4 receptions, 56 yards, 8 targets

The news of Brandin Cooks's thumb injury had owners rushing to check the availability of ol' reliable Marques Colston.

Colston won a lot of owners their leagues back in his rookie season when he burst onto the scene with tight end eligibility. Since then, he's been hit or miss from year to year, and this has been a year in which he just hasn't been able to provide owners with a consistent level of production.

With Cooks out of the lineup there are going to be some additional targets for Saints wide receivers, but Kenny Stills is still in the picture, and it's more likely Joe Morgan and Nick Toon get the bulk of those looks. With the way Drew Brees likes to spread the ball around, it's hard to see Colston matching the kind of uptick in production some are expecting. VERDICT: SELL

Dwayne Allen

Week 11 line: Injured in second quarter, did not return

While Allen's absence Sunday night led to a career day for Coby Fleener, Allen is the Colts tight end fantasy owners will want on their roster moving forward.

Playing at a notoriously fickle position, Allen has been the model of consistency. Entering Sunday's contest, the Clemson product had brought in a touchdown in seven of nine contests.

With an ankle injury that's been classified as "mild" and may not cause him to miss any additional time, Allen is an attractive trade target. With Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw - recipient of six receiving touchdowns - out of the picture, Allen figures to get an increased workload near the goal line. With owners sweating his ankle injury, the asking price should be low on this touchdown machine. VERDICT: BUY

Coby Fleener

Week 11 line: 7 receptions, 144 yards, 7 targets

Allen's tight-end mate was able to capitalize Sunday night with the tight end looks all to himself.

Fleener brought in each of his seven targets in a game in which the Patriots seemed content to take away T.Y. Hilton and let the rest of the Colts' pass-catchers eat.

Allen isn't expected to miss much, if any, additional time, so the talented duo will have to go back to sharing looks. Fleener has recorded 30 or fewer yards in six of 10 games this season and has failed to reach double digits in fantasy scoring in seven of 10 games, so counting on him to consistently provide double-digit scoring efforts is a fool's errand. VERDICT: SELL