In preparation for Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, here's a look at five players who could be on the move, and whose value would improve as a result.
Fantasy managers who own these five trade candidates would benefit greatly from a deal, while others may want to try acquiring their services ahead of time.
Martavis Bryant, WR, Steelers
The most prominent case of "will they or won't they" over the last couple weeks has been Bryant, who continues to seek a trade via social media only to be shot down by head coach Mike Tomlin.
Rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster has essentially surpassed Bryant on the Steelers' depth chart, outperforming him in terms of touchdowns and catch rate (and celebrations). Meanwhile, the third-year receiver (Bryant missed all of 2016 due to suspension) has caught just 18 of a modest 36 targets through seven games.
Signed at an extremely reasonable $705,000 for 2018 on the final year of his rookie deal, Bryant will be very appealing for NFL teams looking to compete in the next two years. The Steelers will just need to decide how they value him for that same window.
Ideal landing spot: Detroit Lions
Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
The 49ers will need to assess how Hyde, an unrestricted free agent at season's end, will fit into their ongoing rebuild. Rookie Matt Breida has impressed at times this season, and comes much cheaper for the next several years.
Based solely off performance, Hyde would stick with the team that drafted him 57th overall in 2014, as he's averaged 4.3 yards per carry and has racked up four touchdowns this season on one of the league's lowest-scoring teams. He's performing at a career-best rate in the passing game, too.
A clear every-down back, Hyde should certainly entice teams competing in 2017 that may also want to re-sign him. Moving to a higher-scoring offense would vault Hyde's fantasy value into the game's elite.
Ideal landing spot: Washington Redskins
Dwayne Allen, TE, Patriots
Allen's been targeted just six times on the season and not once in the past three weeks. As the Patriots' No. 2 tight end, he was expected to have limited fantasy upside in season-long leagues but the right matchups should've created some daily fantasy appeal.
This hasn't been the case, even in the one game Rob Gronkowski was forced to miss due to injury.
Allen's been used primarily as a blocker, receiving an inadequate Pro Football Focus grade of just 40.6. He had six touchdowns with the Indianapolis Colts last season and could be a major asset for any number of teams struggling in the red zone.
Ideal landing spot: Atlanta Falcons
Tyrell Williams, WR, Chargers
While there hasn't been a public trade request from Williams or any indication the Chargers are looking to move him, he's received a total of just six targets over the past three weeks and is the Chargers' lowest-graded qualified wide receiver, according to Pro Football Focus.
Teams in need of receiving help may have an easier time acquiring Williams than Bryant, as Williams will be a restricted free agent at the end of the current season and doesn't come with the off-field issues that have plagued Bryant.
For now, he's on pace for totals well below his breakout 2016 season in terms of receptions, targets, yards, and touchdowns. The debut of rookie Mike Williams has crowded the Chargers' receiving corps and they need help in other areas.
Ideal landing spot: Kansas City Chiefs
Sam Bradford, QB, Vikings
Certainly the least likely real-life move on this list, Bradford has been sidelined by injury ever since dazzling in the Vikings' season opener.
And with Teddy Bridgewater on the brink of his anticipated return, a healthy Bradford would be left as the Vikings' backup as he enters free agency after this season. The Vikings would surely like to recoup some of the lofty price they paid to acquire him from the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2016 season.
With an abundance of teams in playoff contention and in need of a quarterback, there are plenty of potential landing spots where Bradford would quickly re-establish himself as a weekly fantasy starter.
Ideal landing spot: Denver Broncos
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
