Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart
Our Trade Value Chart is designed to assist you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring league. The values assigned to the players below are strictly a measurement of their Fantasy value heading into the current week. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you might be able to get in return. This list should also provide a glimpse into how we feel about a player for the remainder of the season.
Sometimes the best time to move in on a player is when he's entering his bye week. For savvy Fantasy owners looking to buy low on elite running back talent, that means it's the right moment to make some offers on Darren McFadden and DeMarco Murray.
Both backs were drafted with the best intentions, but through four games both have been major disappointments. Murray has one touchdown, one game over 100 total yards and three games with 81 total yards or less. McFadden also has one touchdown to go with two games with over 100 total yards and two games with under 50 total yards. Murray has averaged under 3.0 yards per carry twice this season while McFadden's done it three times in four weeks.
A combination of a tough schedule and limited opportunities have hurt both backs. Three of Murray's first four opponents are ranked in the Top 5 in run defense; three of McFadden's first four opponents are Top 10. Murray has two games with over a dozen carries but does have at least 16 total touches per game. McFadden has a pair of games with at least 15 carries but has 16-plus touches in just half of his matchups.
With both teams on the bye, expect some re-tooling that could enhance playing time rather than limit it. In fact in the case of McFadden, Raiders coach Dennis Allen said he isn't married to the zone-blocking scheme that's caused McFadden some of his trouble so far. And the Cowboys' run blocking has nowhere to go but up.
Here's a look at some actual trades made recently on CBSSports.com for both backs:
Darren McFadden for Philip Rivers: Rivers doesn't seem like enough for McFadden. Even if the McFadden owner was loaded with running backs, giving him up for just Rivers comes off as waving the white flag. If McFadden was hurt this trade would make more sense.
Darren McFadden for Robert Griffin III: If you're going to trade McFadden for a quarterback this one is more on par. RG3 is among the elite players in Fantasy but with the quarterback position oversaturated it's hard to get good value for him. McFadden is actually a little bit better than the kind of back an owner should expect for Griffin. And a McFadden owner can feel good about making a move like this judging Griffin's four-game track record.
Darren McFadden for Wes Welker: Welker started the season as a disappointment but has rounded in his old productive self over the last couple of weeks. It still doesn't seem like quite enough for McFadden but as far as need-for-need trades go, it works.
DeMarco Murray for Stevan Ridley and Sam Bradford: This deal works even without Sam Bradford involved, but I get the "sweetening the pot" value Bradford provides. With Brandon Bolden starting to work his way into the Patriots' run game this deal could be viewed as an owner selling high on Ridley while buying low on Murray.
DeMarco Murray and Reggie Wayne for Calvin Johnson: Looks like someone overpaid for Calvin Johnson. Megatron is still considered an elite talent but Wayne's gotten off to a fast start and Murray should come around. It's too much to pay for Calvin but a tremendous haul to give up for him.
DeMarco Murray for Eli Manning and Andre Brown: Selling off Murray could net a pair of players like this. Eli's value is on par with Murray's, and getting Brown in the deal helps.
Darren McFadden for DeMarco Murray: Though we'd rather have McFadden long-term, the trade does work. The owners of both running backs could just be tired of their own guys and could swap if only to have a renewed sense of optimism for their teams.
The bottom line is this: With 12 games left to play both McFadden and Murray still have lots of potential to crash through the 1,500 total-yard barrier with a healthy dose of touchdowns. While both are injury prone, they still have plenty left to offer. If you can get one (or both) of them at their current values you should end up happy.
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