Steelers RB Jaylen Warren Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Fantasy Trade Market: Ripple Effects of Christian McCaffrey, Cooper Kupp Injuries

Maurice Moton

Only two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, fantasy football managers must figure out how to weather a flurry of injuries.

The San Francisco 49ers placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. The Los Angeles Rams did the same with wide receiver Puka Nacua, and they had to finish their Week 2 contest without Cooper Kupp. Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has to get X-rays on his ankle.

If you're 0-2 with one or more of these players on your roster and in need of buy-low targets or looking to sell high to desperate managers who are trying to fill a void, our fantasy trade market can help you put together offers to fulfill your needs.

Buy These Players Now

Lions TE Sam LaPorta Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 2: 9 carries, 42 yards; 2 catches, 19 yards

2024 Season: 11 carries, 49 yards; 4 catches, 32 yards

The Steelers are slowly ramping up Warren's workload as he recovers from a hamstring injury. In Week 2, he nearly tripled his number of touches from the season opener, which indicates that Najee Harris could be in an even timeshare in the backfield going forward.

Last season, Warren finished third on the team in scrimmage yards (1,154) and averaged more yards per touch (5.5) than Harris (4.2). Because of the Steelers' limited options in the passing game, he could become a big part of their aerial attack.

Managers in point-per-reception leagues may only have another week to buy stock in Warren at a low price before he finds himself on the fantasy radar as a weekly RB2 option.

Buy Warren for: Zamir White, Javonte Williams, Antonio Gibson

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

Week 2: 3 catches, 21 yards

2024 Season: 7 catches, 52 yards

When you consider Pittman's three-year, $70 million extension with the Colts, he may be the biggest disappointment among the league's No. 1 wideouts.

Though Anthony Richardson has struggled with his pocket-passing efficiency, throwing for three touchdowns and four interceptions with a 49.1 percent completion rate, he's built a deep-ball connection with Alec Pierce, while the other Colts pass-catchers have picked up the leftovers.

Averaging 10.9 yards per catch, Pittman is more of a chain-mover than a splash playmaker. Still, in his first regular-season game with Richardson, he caught eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.

While it may take some time, Pittman, a big-bodied 6'4", 223-pound target, should be able to get back on pace for his third 1,000-plus-yard campaign in five years.

Buy Pittman for: Jaylen Waddle, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper

Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions

Week 2: 2 catches, 13 yards

2024 Season: 6 catches, 58 yards

The Lions' passing offense has been underwhelming for two weeks. Quarterback Jared Goff has thrown for one touchdown and three interceptions. Consequently, LaPorta has taken the biggest hit among the team's primary targets in production.

After a quiet Week 2 performance, LaPorta's stock market may be available at great value if you're trying to upgrade the tight end spot on your roster.

Last year, LaPorta set the record for catches by a rookie tight end. With the same offensive coordinator and quarterback, he's bound to bounce back in a big way. Buy his stock while he's coming off a two-catch performance.

Buy LaPorta for: Dalton Kincaid, Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce

Sell These Players

Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Week 2: 17 carries, 131 yards, TD

2024 Season: 27 carries, 266 yards, 2 TDs; 4 catches, 4 yards

Can Dobbins sustain this level of production? As the Chargers' lead running back, he's racked up 131-plus yards and a touchdown in back-to-back performances.

Hopefully, Dobbins can stay healthy, but we cannot ignore his extensive injury history.

With Gus Edwards in the backfield mix, the Chargers can shift the backfield workload if they feel the need to preserve Dobbins. Also, with quarterback Justin Herbert potentially limited because of leg injury, the Chargers ball-carriers may find difficult for him to find open lanes as defenders sell out to stop the run.

If you have depth at running back, you can fill a need at wide receiver in a shrewd trade deal.

Sell Dobbins for: Tank Dell, Xavier Worthy, Rashid Shaheed

Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Week 2: 9 carries, 44 yards, TD; 2 catches, 17 yards

2024 Season: 48 carries, 247 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 9 yards

The 49ers have not provided a clear timetable for Christian McCaffrey's return to action or the extent to which he will play.

Of course, if you picked up Mason as a direct replacement for McCaffrey, hold on to him. But if someone in your league with McCaffrey is willing to pay a high price for Mason's stock in a trade deal, take full advantage of his high market value.

Because of McCaffrey's unclear recovery timetable, Mason's stock comes with a steep price tag as he starts in the 49ers backfield.

Sell Mason for: Brian Robinson Jr., Tony Pollard, Najee Harris

Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans

Week 2: 4 catches, 77 yards, TD; 1 carry, 10 yards, TD

2024 Season: 7 catches, 127 yards, TD; 1 carry, 10 yards, TD

As Titans quarterback Will Levis goes through his developmental ups and downs, his pass-catchers will have boom-or-bust weeks.

In Week 2, Ridley scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, but he only caught four passes on a team-leading six targets. Running back Tony Pollard matched him in targets. By the way, wideout DeAndre Hopkins saw an increase in his workload.

Because of Levis' low volume of passing yards (192 yards or fewer in both games), managers should sell Ridley's stock at a high price when his numbers stand out in the box score.

Ridley will have some highs, but he will also have plenty of lows with Levis under center and a mostly healthy pass-catching group around him.

Sell Ridley for: Jayden Reed, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Brian Thomas

Hold These Players for Another Week

Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers

Week 2: 6 carries, 15 yards; 1 catches, 3 yards

2024 Season: 6 carries, 15 yards; 1 catches, 3 yards

While quarterback Jordan Love recovers from a sprained MCL, the Packers will likely employ a run-heavy offense, which is what they did against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Running back Josh Jacobs logged 32 carries for 151 yards.

While Jacobs will carry the majority load on the ground, Lloyd could settle into a role with eight to 10 touches. If the rookie tailback becomes the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, he could eventually have standalone value in PPR leagues.

If you have Lloyd on your roster, keep him on the bench. He could be a decent handcuff running back and low-end flex option by the end of the season.

Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 2: 7 carries, 22 yards

2024 Season: 16 carries, 84 yards; 2 catches, 14 yards

In the offseason, Bucky Irving told reporters he's familiar with offensive coordinator Liam Coen's system.

Through two weeks, Irving has outgained starting running back Rachaad White 84-49 on the ground, though the latter has more carries (25 to 16).

If White doesn't improve on averaging just two yards per carry, the Buccaneers may turn to the more efficient ball-carrier sooner than later.

Noah Brown, WR, Washington Commanders

Week 2: 3 catches, 56 yards

2024 Season: 3 catches, 56 yards

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels isn't stretching the field with his arm, and the Commanders don't have a standout wide receiver.

Pro Bowl wideout Terry McLaurin has eight catches for just 39 yards. Brown eclipsed McLaurin's receiving yards total in his first game with the team.

Washington traded Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles, which opened up a competition for the No. 2 spot at the position. Brown could be the team's big-play receiver. He averaged 17.2 yards per reception with the Houston Texans last year.

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.

   

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