By SCOTT FELTS
Fantasy drafts are over. Rosters are set. Now comes the real edge: the preseason trade market. While most managers are still celebrating their “league-winning” picks, the smartest ones are already shopping for value.
These under-the-radar stats offer a clear shopping list. These are not random hot takes. They are concrete, situation-driven numbers that point to players whose current price does not match their upside.
Here are the players you should be targeting right now, grouped by position and ranked by how actionable the data feels.
Running Backs Worth Buying
Chase Brown, Bengals: Averaged 19.3 PPG in games without Jake Browning at QB last year — top-5 RB production. QB Joe Burrow is back and the Bengals’ backfield is less crowded this season.
Cam Skattebo, Giants: Posted 19.1 PPG in the six games he played 25% or more of the snaps as a rookie. That is starter-level efficiency in limited opportunity. Volume is coming. Buy before the rest of your league managers notice.
Aaron Jones, Vikings: Kyler Murray led the league in check-down rate (short dump passes to the RB) last season. Jones will be the clear beneficiary and is being treated like a fading veteran. He is one of the purest value plays on the board.
Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs: Andy Reid uses workhorse backs when he has them. The Chiefs paid him to be that guy. The workload projection is elite; the draft capital and ADP are not.
Breece Hall, Jets: He has a career average of 19.1 PPG in games with 5 or more targets. His receiving role raises his floor. Managers who only remember the injuries he’s had will sell too low.
Jadarian Price, Seahawks: Easiest schedule among all RBs in 2026. Schedule strength is real. Pair him with any volume producing back and you have a strong 1-2 punch all season.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends to Target
Davante Adams, Rams: Led the league with 26 end-zone targets last season (nine more than second place). The Rams added a ton on defense (including an un-retiring Aaron Donald on Sunday) but no WR depth. Adams remains a pure red-zone/touchdown monster.
Tee Higgins, Bengals: A 17.4 PPG average with Joe Burrow over the last two seasons. That is WR1 production when the quarterback is healthy. Buy the discount that always seems to exist just because he’s not Chase.
Emeka Egbuka, Bucs: Had the third-most points ever by a WR through his first five games. Averaged a 33% target share without Mike Evans who is now in San Francisco. Injuries impacted his rookie year; the talent and role did not.
Rome Odunze, Bears: Was the WR12 before breaking his foot in Week 8. His trajectory was clear. A healthy Odunze is a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside.
Christian Watson, Green Bay: Averaged over 13 PPG on just 73% of snaps. He just got paid in the offseason like a 90%+ route runner. Efficiency plus increased opportunity is a classic breakout formula.
Drake London, Falcons: 24.5 PPG over his last six games with Michael Penix Jr. under center. The chemistry is already proven. London is a locked-in WR1 if the sample continues.
AJ Brown, Patriots: Averaged over 20 PPG as an Eagle in games with 8+ targets. That is the volume expectation in New England from Drake Maye.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay: Ranked first among all WRs and TEs in YAC per reception. Was pacing for 1,100+ yards and 14 TDs across seven healthy games. The Packers finally have a true difference-maker at tight end.
Isaiah Likely, Giants: 12 PPG average in games without Mark Andrews over the last three seasons. Likely is now in New York and away from Andrews.
Quarterbacks with Quiet Upside
Justin Herbert, Chargers: He quietly had the second-most rushing yards of any QB last season. The offensive line is healthy and Mike McDaniel is the new OC. Dual-threat Herbert in a more creative scheme is way underpriced.
Brock Purdy, Niners: Top-12 in fantasy points per dropback every year as a starter, top-5 in three of four seasons. Efficiency does not lie. Purdy remains a quiet QB1.
How to Actually Make the Trades
Most managers will not move these players for pure depth. Package a slightly higher-drafted but riskier name with a bench piece and then make your offer. Or you can wait until the first injury scare hits and strike while emotion is high.
The common theme across all these points is the same: last year’s sample (or the limited healthy sample) already showed elite efficiency or volume. The market has not fully adjusted.
Chase Brown, Skattebo, Adams, Higgins, London, Kraft, and Herbert stand out as the highest-conviction buys. The rest are strong secondary targets depending on your roster construction.
The window is open. Most leagues will not start moving pieces until Week 3 or 4. Get ahead of the rest of your league.
Still need a kicker or a defense? Check out Scott’s rankings for those positions.
Don’t set your lineup until you read Scott’s weekly “Sit Start Snipe” feature, which returns next Tuesday!