Fantasy Football Trade Market: Top Players to Buy, Sell & Hold Before 2024 NFL Week 1 (2024)

The 2024 NFL regular season is almost underway. After a few weeks of the preseason, the games will count in the standings and for fantasy football leagues.

This week's fantasy trade market reflects some of the moves teams made before the August 27 roster cutdown deadline.

Now that we know who's on the 53-man rosters, let's get into our buy, sell and hold lists leading into Week 1.

Our weekly fantasy trade market can help managers who are competing for league titles, already looking toward 2025 or still figuring out the direction of their franchises.

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Preseason: 11-of-18, 107 yards passing, INT; 14 rushing yards

2023 Season: 308-of-444, 4,280 yards passing, 31 TDs, 11 INTs

The 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk agreed on an extension to conclude a long offseason of negotiations. With Aiyuk contractually tied to San Francisco for the long haul, Purdy's stock rises ahead of Week 1.

Even though the 49ers had the fewest pass attempts last season, thanks in part to 11 impressive 12-plus-point victories, Purdy still finished within the top five in passing yards (4,280) and touchdowns (31).

San Francisco may not dominate its 2024 schedule as it did in 2023, and the coaching staff might lighten up on running back Christian McCaffrey's workload, which is why it could have been important to retain Aiyuk.

Purdy won't provide the rushing production you want in a Tier 1 quarterback. Still, with a little more passing volume, he could be top-five among signal-callers in fantasy scoring after finishing as QB6 in standard scoring leagues last year.

Buy Purdy for: Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos

Preseason: 10 carries, 47 yards

2023 Season: 76 carries, 410 yards, TD; 31 catches, 160 yards, 2 TDs

While rookie quarterback Bo Nix will garner most of the attention in the Broncos offense, take a look at head coach Sean Payton's track record with running backs. His history suggests you should pick up RB2 on his roster.

Between 2016 and 2020, Payton's top two New Orleans Saints running backs racked up at least 748 scrimmage yards. His backfields featured Mark Ingram II and Tim Hightower, Ingram and Alvin Kamara, and Kamara and Latavius Murray during that five-year stretch.

Last year, Broncos reserve tailbacks Samaje Perine and McLaughlin combined for 1,263 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

Denver released Perine as one of its final cuts. As a result, McLaughlin could see a spike in his touch volume as Javonte Williams' primary backup. Last year, McLaughlin accumulated 570 scrimmage yards and scored three touchdowns.

Buy McLaughlin for: Gus Edwards, Tyler Allgeier, Ty Chandler

Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Preseason: N/A

2023 Season: 71 catches, 761 yards, 5 TDs

The Cowboys made a massive investment in wideout CeeDee Lamb, signing him to a four-year, $136 million extension, but they didn't add a No. 2 wideout to compete with Brandin Cooks and third-year pro Jalen Tolbert, which bodes well for Ferguson.

In 2023, Ferguson finished second on the Cowboys in targets (102), catches (71) and receiving yards (761). Without any new competitors for targets, he could top his receiving numbers from the previous year.

The Cowboys don't have a proven robust running back, which means Dak Prescott may be among the league leaders in passing attempts this year. If so, Ferguson should be talked about as a top-five tight end. Last year, he finished as TE9 and is TE10 in average draft position (ADP).

Buy Ferguson for: David Njoku, Dallas Goedert, Dalton Schultz

Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Preseason: N/A

2023 Season: 228 carries, 1,144 yards, 12 TDs; 32 catches, 206 yards, 3 TDs

After the Rams made their final cuts, head coach Sean McVay revealed that Williams will be the punt returner.

Williams isn't new to return duties—he returned three kicks and a punt last season. But with the Rams giving him return duties on a full-time basis, there's reason to worry about his durability.

In two seasons, Williams has missed 12 games. Still expected to lead the Rams backfield, he's at high risk for injury with more on his plate on special teams.

If you drafted Williams as your RB1, try to swap him out for a more durable running back and add his backup Blake Corum to your roster.

Sell Williams for: Travis Etienne, James Cook, Isiah Pacheco

Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins

Preseason: 5 carries, 7 yards

2023 Season: 209 carries, 1,012 yards, 18 TDs; 25 catches, 175 yards, 3 TDs

Mostert finished the 2023 season as RB5, but he's due for regression. Last season, he rushed for 1,012 yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns in 15 games.

Before the 2023 term, Mostert had career highs of 891 rushing yards (2022) and eight touchdowns (2019). He also has a noteworthy injury history, missing 25 games between 2020 and 2021.

At 32 years old, Mostert isn't going to keep up his pace from the previous season, especially with two young running backs, De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright, behind him on the depth chart.

Wright, a rookie fourth-rounder, ran well in the preseason, taking 17 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Mostert may lead the Dolphins' backfield, but he will likely lose a significant number of touches to Achane and Wright. The latter two may be more active in the short passing game.

Sell Mostert for: Jaylen Warren, Chase Brown, Jonathan Brooks

Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Preseason: N/A

2023 Season: 59 catches, 592 yards, 3 TDs

The Eagles hired experienced offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to replace Brian Johnson, who called plays for the first time in his pro coaching career last season.

Though Philadelphia's offense should operate more efficiently than it did in 2023, Goedert may not see a boost in his receiving numbers.

This offseason, the Eagles signed Saquon Barkley, a potential three-down workhorse running back with 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns in six seasons, and acquired wideout Jahan Dotson, who's a 2022 first-rounder with upside.

Behind wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the Eagles' pass-catching pecking order, Goedert already had a limited fantasy ceiling. He could struggle to make an impact week to week with Barkley and Dotson on the roster.

Sell Goedert for: Jake Ferguson, Brock Bowers, Luke Musgrave

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers

Preseason: 1 carry, 8 yards

2023 Season: N/A

The Packers placed AJ Dillon on season-ending injured reserve. Josh Jacobs is the clear leader of their backfield, though Lloyd could push Emanuel Wilson for the RB2 spot.

As an undrafted rookie, Wilson made the Packers' roster last year. He logged 14 carries for 85 yards and tacked on four catches for 23 yards. For now, Wilson has the edge over Lloyd because of his familiarity with the offense. Yet Lloyd's third-round draft status likely means the Packers could eventually ease him into the primary backup position.

Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury in the Packers' first preseason game, but the team didn't place him on injured reserve, so he could battle for a viable role early in the season.

Antonio Gibson, RB, New England Patriots

Preseason: 11 carries, 29 yards, 2 catches, 26 yards

2023 Season: 65 carries, 265 yards, TD; 48 catches, 389 yards, 2 TDs

The Patriots won't field an electric offense with journeyman Jacoby Brissett under center, no clear-cut lead receiver and major questions along the offensive line.

However, Gibson may benefit from this situation.

In his review of the Patriots roster, The Athletic's Chad Graff wrote about Gibson's prospective role in the offense.

"The Patriots are going to run a ton of screen passes, which is part of why they added Gibson," Graff wrote.

Because of questionable pass protection, Alex Van Pelt may have to be conservative on passing downs with short passes and screens. If so, Gibson could lead the team in scrimmage yards.

Gibson, a former collegiate wide receiver, racked up more receiving yards than rushing yards last year. He's hauled in 172 passes for 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons.

Before you write off the Patriots' skill players, hold on to Gibson if you have him. This year, he could be a low-end RB2 or high-end flex option in point-per-reception leagues.

Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Denver Broncos

Preseason: 2 catches, 17 yards, TD

2023 Season: 22 catches, 377 yards, TD; 9 carries, 30 yards

The Broncos will start rookie quarterback Bo Nix, which may cause you to hesitate on moves for their wide receivers.

While we expect Courtland Sutton to be Denver's lead wideout, Mims has a pathway to a breakout season if Nix posts respectable passing numbers.

Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post highlighted Mims as someone who could have an expanded role after he caught 22 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown and made the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a returner last season.

Averaging 17.1 yards per reception in his rookie year, Mims could be the big-play receiver who opens up the Broncos' passing attack in 2024.

2024 NFL preseason statistics are provided by CBS Sports.

Fantasy scoring statistics are courtesy of FantasyPros.

Looking for more insight to prep for your draft or make some tough roster decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.

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