Fantasy Trade Market: Top Players to Buy, Sell or Hold After NFL Preseason Week 2 (2024)

Some NFL teams only needed two preseason games to make big decisions on position battles. With only one week of exhibition contests left, you should take a look at the fantasy football trade market and make some moves.

Last week, we suggested that you buy wide receiver Xavier Worthy, right before he racked up 73 scrimmage yards and scored a touchdown against the Detroit Lions.

Remember, you have to stay one step ahead of your competition in the trade market.

This week, we're buying the hype on a rookie quarterback, selling a young running back in a cloudy backfield and holding on to an unproven ball-carrier who could be a league winner.

Bleacher Report's fantasy trade market has something for contenders, tanking teams and managers still trying to sort out their rosters.

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

Preseason Week 2: 8-of-9, 80 yards passing, TD; 12 rushing yards

2023 Season: N/A

Bo Nix looks regular-season-ready. He has certainly outplayed his quarterback competition.

In the Broncos' second preseason game, Zach Wilson completed two out of six passes for 29 yards and a touchdown, but he took a sack for a safety. Jarrett Stidham threw an interception in both of Denver's exhibition outings.

Meanwhile, Nix has gone 23 of 30 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns in preseason play.

Keep in mind that head coach Sean Payton is calling the Broncos offense, which bodes well for Nix. Last season, under Payton, Russell Wilson finished as QB14. He didn't even play in the last two weeks.

As a rookie, Nix will go through growing pains, but he'll be worth it in the long run while attached to Payton. If you're in a two-quarterback or superflex league, get him now before the Broncos officially tab him as their starter.

Buy Nix For: Derek Carr, Bryce Young, Kendre Miller

Jahan Dotson, WR, Washington Commanders

Preseason Week 2: 1 catch, 3 yards

2023 Season: 49 receptions, 518 yards, 4 TDs

You're probably rubbing your eyes to make sure you read that name correctly. Yes, after Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that his team is "in the middle of" a search for a No. 2 wide receiver, Jahan Dotson lands on the buy list.

Despite what Quinn said, Dotson has lined up in the slot, which is a good sign for his outlook in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's offense.

Between 2019 and 2021, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and DeAndre Hopkins all flourished as Kingsbury's primary slot receiver.

Terry McLaurin will be the lead wideout in Washington, but if Dotson's production compares closely to Kirk's, you could have a borderline WR2 on the roster.

Buy Dotson For: Rashid Shaheed, Tyler Lockett, Mike Williams

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Preseason Week 2: N/A

2023 Season: 63 catches, 628 yards, 4 TDs

While wideout Tyler Lockett has dealt with a leg injury, Smith-Njigba has strengthened his rapport with quarterback Geno Smith.

Smith briefly talked about how he built a stronger bond with the second-year wideout via The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar.

"In the offseason, he was hitting me up, we flew down to Miami and got a lot of one-on-one work," Smith said. "When this stuff happens on the field, it's just a result of all the work we put in and all the hard work that he's put in. To see him continue to grow and blossom, that's awesome."

Despite the unknowns with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's system as he transitions from college to the pros, managers should buy the Smith-Njigba hype.

Lockett, who turns 32 in September, is already banged up. He could see a decline in targets as Smith-Njigba blossoms in a breakout year.

Buy Smith-Njigba For: Ladd McConkey, David Njoku, Evan Engram

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Preseason Week 2: 4 carries, 23 yards

2023 Season: 104 carries, 451 yards, TD; 15 receptions, 98 yards

Last season, White recorded 84 carries for 397 yards and a touchdown in place of an injured Josh Jacobs for the final four weeks of the season. He fit the part of a workhorse running back–or so we thought.

The Raiders signed Alexander Mattison, who averaged 11.3 carries per outing last season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Through two preseason games, White has logged 10 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown while Mattison has recorded eight carries for 30 yards.

Moreover, Mattison, Ameer Abdullah and rookie sixth-rounder Dylan Laube have all seen multiple targets in the passing game. White has only been targeted once in the two exhibition outings.

If you drafted White with the thought that he's going to see a workload similar to the last four weeks of the previous term, sell him now. He may have only handled that many touches because the Raiders didn't have a reliable third-string ball-carrier.

Now, Las Vegas can dilute the running back workload with Mattison on early downs and Abdullah and/or Laube on passing downs.

Sell White For: Tony Pollard, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson Jr.

Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears

Preseason Week 2: N/A

2023 Season: 108 catches, 1,243 yards, 7 TDs

While you shouldn't overreact to quarterback Caleb Williams' 45-yard pass to Rome Odunze against the Cincinnati Bengals, understand we could see more of that one-two combination in the regular season.

Though some parts of the fantasy football community saw Allen as a buy for dynasty league managers early in the offseason, you cannot ignore his injury history at 32 years old. Allen has missed 11 games over the last two seasons, and he's no longer the definitive No. 1 target in his team's offense.

DJ Moore is coming off his most productive season, and Odunze, the ninth overall pick in this year's draft, will likely have a growing connection with Williams as the season progresses.

Lastly, on a one-year deal, Allen faces some career uncertainties beyond the 2024 campaign.

Sell Allen For: Xavier Worthy, Jayden Reed, Tank Dell

David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns

Preseason Week 2: N/A

2023 Season: 81 catches, 882 yards, 6 TDs

Going back to the 2022 season, Njoku hasn't racked up more than 59 receiving yards with Deshaun Watson under center. Over the last two years, he's had his most productive games with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Joe Flacco.

Flacco signed with the Indianapolis Colts, and Watson hasn't played well since Cleveland acquired him from the Houston Texans. In 12 games with the Browns, he has thrown for 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 59.8 percent completion rate.

Furthermore, Cleveland acquired wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and signed him to a three-year, $52.5 million extension. He may command the second-most targets for a low-end passing attack.

Njoku isn't going to thrive in these circ*mstances. Yet he's TE9 in PPR leagues.

Sell Njoku For: Jake Ferguson, Keon Coleman, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

Preseason Week 2: N/A

2023 Season: 149-of-255, 1,808 yards passing, 8 TDs, 4 INTs; 57 rushing yards, TD

In the Tennessee Titans' preseason opener, Levis took the field for two drives, completing four out of five passes for 35 yards. The Titans rested their starters last week, but we'll see Levis along with the first-stringers in the team's final exhibition outing.

Levis mostly struggled after his impressive pro debut against the Atlanta Falcons and battled injuries late in the previous season. He's a wild-card commodity with a first-time play-caller in head coach Brian Callahan and a veteran-laden receiver group that includes Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd.

Callahan expects Hopkins to be ready for the season opener, which is a good sign for the passing offense and particularly Levis.

Though the Titans will likely hold Hopkins out until Week 1, keep a close eye on Levis in the preseason finale.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Preseason Week 2: 10 carries, 37 yards; 3 catches, 19 yards

2023 Season: 50 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 6 yards

Bigsby looks like he's ready to cut into Travis Etienne's workload. He ran well in the first two weeks of the preseason, registering four receptions for 18 yards in addition to 13 carries for 65 yards.

For now, Bigsby has likely fended off D'Ernest Johnson and rookie fifth-rounder Keilan Robinson for the primary backup role. His involvement in the passing game is an added plus for PPR leagues.

If you have Bigsby, hold on to him for another week in hopes that he finishes the preseason on a strong note.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Preseason Week 2: N/A

2023 Season: 89 carries, 361 yards, 2 TDs; 17 catches, 144 yards, 2 TDs

We haven't seen much of the Cowboys' top two running backs in the preseason, Ezekiel Elliott hasn't taken a snap. Dowdle logged three carries for 14 yards in the first exhibition game, and the team rested him last week.

As the younger and potentially more explosive playmaker, Dowdle is a better pickup than Elliott.

Nonetheless, Elliott is listed as the starter on the depth chart, and the Cowboys could add a veteran ball-carrier before Week 1.

If you're hoping for some clarity in the Cowboys backfield, hold on to Dowdle for another week.

Advanced fantasy football statistics are provided by FantasyPros.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.