Welcome back Nerds! The fantasy football season has reached its breaking point, and Week 8 is when contenders separate from pretenders. Injuries, bye weeks, and unexpected breakouts have turned the trade market into pure chaos—and opportunity. Whether you’re pushing for a playoff berth, trying to salvage your season, or starting to build for next year, this Week 8 Fantasy Football Trade Advice column is your roadmap to buying low, selling high, and timing the market before league deadlines hit. The right move this week could define your entire 2025 season.
The Week 7 Trade Advice helped managers identify players to buy for rebuilding and contending teams—the Week 8 Waiver Wire helps you find hidden value.
Players to Trade For | Week 8 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
Sam Darnold | Seahawks | Week 8 Quarterback Buy Low Target
If you are searching for a QB2, look no further than Sam Darnold. While he did not have the best performance on Monday Night Football against the Houston Texans, Darnold has quietly produced an outstanding season. Darnold goes into his bye week before having upcoming games against Washington, Arizona, and Tennessee. At 28-years old, the price to obtain Darnold is also reasonable. I prefer Darnold over Tua Tagovailoa or Bryce Young. I also recently mentioned Kyler Murray as a sell candidate, and I would love to tier down to Sam Darnold and add a player or early pick instead of Murray.
Tez Johnson | Buccaneers | Week 8 Wide Receiver Trade Target for Contenders
After the news that Mike Evans will likely miss the season due to a broken collarbone, fantasy managers are looking for possible replacements for Evans. You can look no further than his teammate, Tez Johnson. Johnson has the opportunity to step into the WR3 role with the uncertainty of Jalen McMillan’s return in 2025. Most managers plucked Johnson off the waiver wire, so the price to acquire him could be attainable for a 3rd round pick.
Dalton Schultz | Texans | Week 8 Tight End Buy Low for Mid-Tier Teams
Full disclaimer, Dalton Schultz is a short-term buy for those teams in the middle of the pack or on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. If you need help at tight end, Schultz has quietly seen at least six targets in each of his last four games. With the uncertainty of Christian Kirk and Nico Collins moving forward, Schultz will have the opportunity for more targets. Start negotiations off with a 2026 3rd round pick for Schultz.
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Players to Trade Away | Week 8 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
Spencer Rattler | Saints | Week 8 Quarterback Sell High Candidate for Rebuilders
Last week, I highlighted Justin Fields as a trade away candidate due to my concerns of his poor play and eventual benching. While Spencer Rattler has not performed as bad as Fields, his play has not resulted in wins for the Saints. Head Coach Kellen Moore is now starting to field questions from the media whether a quarterback change is looming. While Moore has dismissed those questions, at 1-6 it begs the question when New Orleans will want to turn Tyler Shough who New Orleans used a 2nd Round pick on in the 2025 NFL Draft. While I would hope for a 2nd round pick for Rattler, I believe the more logical trade would be a 3rd round pick.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Commanders | Week 8 Running Back Trade Away Recommendation
On a recent episode of the Dynasty Nerds Podcast, Rich highlighted Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a sell. Croskey-Merritt or “Bill” is currently 32nd in FPPG with 10.1 while not offering much as a pass catcher with only 7 receptions on the season. Depending on when your rookie drafts occured you may have only spent a 5th round rookie pick on him. Croskey-Merritt still holds (multiple?) 2nd round draft pick value in terms of finding a trade partner.
Kendrick Bourne | 49ers | Week 8 WR Sell Candidate Before Value Drops
After back-to-back explosive performances where Kendrick Bourne finished as the WR6 and WR11 overall, Bourne has come back to earth. Bourne will continue to see his production drop with George Kittle returning and Ricky Pearsall’s eventual return on the horizon. Put Bourne on the trading block and see what comes your way. Some fantasy managers may not be as savvy as you, and you could pick up a late draft pick for Bourne.
| Player | Team | Position | Trade Recommendation | Reason | Ideal Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold | Seahawks | QB | Buy Low | Soft post-bye schedule vs. WAS, ARI, TEN; QB2 upside | Contenders needing stability |
| Tez Johnson | Buccaneers | WR | Buy Low | Mike Evans’ injury opens WR3 opportunity | Contenders replacing Evans |
| Dalton Schultz | Texans | TE | Buy Low (Short-Term) | 6+ targets in four straight games | Mid-tier teams chasing playoffs |
| Spencer Rattler | Saints | QB | Sell High | Poor team record; possible bench risk | Rebuilders or QB-rich teams |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Commanders | RB | Sell High | Limited receiving role; inflated value | Rebuilders seeking draft picks |
| Kendrick Bourne | 49ers | WR | Sell High | Regression after hot streak; target competition returning | All formats before value drops |
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FAQ | Week 8 Fantasy Football Trade Advice
Q1: Who are the best players to buy low in Week 8 fantasy football?
A: Sam Darnold, Tez Johnson, and Dalton Schultz are undervalued entering Week 8 based on consistent target share, soft upcoming schedules, and short-term opportunity spikes.
Q2: Who should fantasy managers sell high before Week 9?
A: Spencer Rattler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Kendrick Bourne are ideal sell-high players whose current production likely exceeds sustainable usage or long-term role security.
Q3: Should contenders and rebuilders have different trade targets?
A: Yes. Contenders should focus on short-term production from veterans like Dalton Schultz, while rebuilders should move veterans for draft capital or younger upside players like Tez Johnson.
Q4: Which starting players can I get for a 3rd-round rookie pick as a contender?
A: In most leagues, you can target depth starters like Tez Johnson or Dalton Schultz. A 3rd-round rookie pick can usually net a reliable WR3 or TE2 who can help during bye weeks.
Q5: When are most leagues’ trade deadlines?
A: Most fantasy football leagues close trades around Week 13 or Week 14, just before the playoffs. However, some dynasty formats have no trade deadline at all—especially among Dynasty Nerds and true fantasy football degenerates.
Q6: Who is likely to take over for Mike Evans now that he’s out for the season with a broken collarbone?
A: Tez Johnson should see the largest boost in opportunity for the Buccaneers (outside of Emeka Egbuka), stepping into an expanded role alongside Chris Godwin while Jalen McMillan’s status remains uncertain.
