After one week of NFL action, fantasy managers are left to wonder what performances are real and which are a fluke. As always, week one brings many surprises that ultimately shake the fantasy market. Here are three fantasy football trade targets to acquire before it’s too late.
While Puka Nakua served as the standout receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in week one, Davante Adams showed signs of being a serious asset. The two receivers dominated the target share; Adams saw eight targets alongside Nakua’s 11. No other receiver on the team saw more than two.
As we’ve seen before, Sean McVay is not afraid to hypercondense the passing offense into only a couple of players. What was once Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods may very well now be Nakua and Adams.
Adams stands out as a trade target for several reasons. His lack of production on a high market share will likely go unnoticed by most managers after only one week of play. Throughout his career, Adams has consistently been a go-to red zone target for whatever quarterback he plays alongside.
In six of his 11 seasons playing at the professional level, he’s put up double-digit touchdowns. In three of the five seasons he didn’t, he was sidelined for at least three weeks. Look for Adams to finish the year as a top-24 recover if he can stay healthy.
Ben Johnson’s first week as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears left fans feeling as they usually do, hopeful but heartbroken. With a plethora of weapons at his disposal, Johnson appeared to focus on Odunze in week one. Leading the team in both targets and receptions, he managed to finish as the WR21.
While he may not have dominated the target share in Chicago, Odunze stood as a consistent touchdown threat. Caleb Williams missed him for a deep touchdown on a post route on the first drive of the game before he managed to cash one in later in the game. While his ceiling may not be the highest, it’s worth poking around to try to trade a team’s WR3 for the Chicago sophomore.
Despite a lackluster debut with the Dallas Cowboys, George Pickens served as the clear WR2 in week one. He played on 92% of snaps on what appeared to be a high-volume passing offense. Many fantasy managers will naturally be left disappointed with his performance as he only managed to haul in three catches for 30 yards. Do not be fooled, Pickens could still serve as a fantasy sleeper in 2025.
It’s easy to forget the fact that the team was facing one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer in the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the tall task, quarterback Dak Prescott looked fantastic. The quarterback play, Pickens’ involvement, and the team tendencies combine to create a recipe that’s bound for fantasy success.
The offense as a whole was extremely reliant on the passing game. Rushing only 22 times in comparison to their 34 attempts through the air. The team clearly looks to get the job done via the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Pickens naturally serves as the second greatest beneficiary behind Ceedee Lamb. While the perception of Pickens as a fantasy asset may have dropped after his first game playing with Prescott, his ceiling remains the same.
It can be hard to decipher which moves are worth making after just one week of fantasy football action. Instead of trading for players who impressed in week one, seek out those who underperformed. Better off buying stocks when they’re low.
*The statistics used in this article are provided by ESPN and fantasypros.
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