Fantasy should start in NFL Week 9
In a special Halloween episode, Joe Rivera and Jacob Kaminker talk about things to go into Week 9 of NFL fantasy football.
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Fans often dream of their favorite teams making big moves to boost their Super Bowl chances at the NFL trade deadline.
But in reality, there are rarely many moves that are consequential for the NFL’s version of the event.
While the other major North American sports leagues — MLB, NBA and NHL — all tend to see a lot of movement among star players, the NFL’s dealings are relatively light. Sure, their volume has increased over the years, but most of the NFL’s blockbuster trades happen during the offseason.
There are several reasons why this is the case. The main ones are that draft capital is extremely valuable in building an NFL roster and that it is difficult for players to quickly adapt to new schemes during the football season.
However, NFL teams remain willing to make deals on a smaller scale before the deadline. This will result in a few players trading teams before Week 10 in trades that seem more realistic rather than dramatic.
With that in mind, here’s a look at seven trades that could realistically happen before the 2025 NFL trade deadline on November 4.
Maybe NFL fans hope it’s one A.G. Brown, Chris Olave or Jaylen Waddle Trading takes place before the deadline. In fact, Shahid may be the player most likely to be traded widely, with the veteran speedster playing in the final year of his contract with the Saints.
The Broncos should be interested in adding Shaheed to their offense. The team’s receiving room got a boost from the emergence Troy Franklinbut Marvin Mims Jr He hasn’t been as consistent as he was in 2024. That could prompt Denver to add more deep speed to their big-bodied receiver room, and Shahid would complement that. Courtland Sutton Franklin enjoys his ability to expand the field.
Shahid never overlapped with Sean Payton in New Orleans, but he played in Pete Carmichael Jr.’s offense for two seasons with the Saints. Carmichael is now the Broncos’ top offensive assistant.
Saints TE trade Taysom Hill To the Broncos
Here’s another trade the Saints and Broncos could consider. The Saints just signed the 41-year-old Mercedes Lewis To the practice squad because they are thin at tight end. Could that prompt Sean Payton to acquire his former do-it-all weapon to provide depth at the position?
Hill is 35 years old and has a torn ACL. He’s not as explosive as he was before the injury — he has just 20 receiving yards on 14 touches this season — but his unique skills as a passer, runner and receiver will give Payton an interesting weapon he can work with in the Broncos’ already potent offense.
The Saints aren’t likely to ask much from the veteran. It’s just a question of whether the Broncos are willing to pay the remainder of the final year of Hill’s four-year, $40 million deal with the Saints.
Dolphin trade DE Matthew Judon To the 49ers
Bradley Chubb and Jaylan Phillips They have drawn attention as high-end trade targets the Dolphins may try to offload. However, it may be easier for Miami to offload the 33-year-old Judon, who has a much cheaper deal and could serve as an experienced depth player on a playoff team.
The 49ers are in desperate need of help on the edge after the loss Nick Bosa (rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament) for this season. They traded for the former Patriots second-round pick Keon White But they could still use a quality starter given the injuries they’ve suffered at center.
San Francisco could try to pry Chubb or Phillips away from the Dolphins, but Judon would be the easier and cheaper alternative to consider. Perhaps they would appreciate the addition of his experience after adding upside for White in a trade with the Patriots.
Brown RB trade Jerome Ford To the patriots
ESPN Mike Reese Running back is one of the “most likely” areas the Patriots will target before the trade deadline. It’s easy to understand why. Antonio Gibson Out for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Rehammond Stevenson He’s dealing with a toe injury and Mike Vrabel doesn’t seem to have full confidence in the second-round rookie Trevion Henderson In a major role.
Who can the Patriots target? Maybe they can convince the Panthers to part ways with the pending free agent Rico Doodleor the Giants move on from the veteran Tony Pollard. However, they will likely still be stuck shopping for old backups.
Ford averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry during his NFL career and caught 102 passes in 52 games. He’s currently just a third baseman with the Browns, so the Patriots could get him cheap and install him as a veteran depth piece who can help take the pressure off Henderson.
Jones lost his starting job with the Bears to an undrafted rookie Theo Benedet. Ben Johnson also has a rookie second-round pick Ozzie Trabello on the roster, so it’s hard to imagine Jones will find a big role with the Bears long-term.
There are often no dealings with high-level start-up experience available in the commercial market. Jones has racked up 44 points at left tackle and will provide top-tier swing tackle depth for the Chargers, who have dealt with several injuries at the tackle position and could find a starting role for Jones immediately.
Carson Wentz He will miss the rest of the season due to a left shoulder injury. This leaves the Vikings with little experience at quarterback, as well J. J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer He will enter Week 9 having combined for just two starts in the NFL.
This could lead to the Vikings buying Wilson at a low price. It won’t be the same as cementing him as a starter, but it will provide McCarthy with a veteran sounding board as he looks to establish himself as Minnesota’s starting quarterback of the future.
The Giants would have to be willing to part with Wilson on the cheap, and the Vikings would only have to take a prorated version of the 36-year-old quarterback’s $2 million salary for the 2025 season.
Saints LB trade Demario Davis To the Steelers
It’s no secret that the Steelers need help bolstering their defense. Pittsburgh has already been traded Kyle Dugger To strengthen his weakness at safety, adding another linebacker with Patrick Quinn and Payton Wilson Playing inconsistently would be reasonable.
Davis is 36 years old, but he is still playing at a high level, and is ranked as Focus on professional football“The 11th running back heading into Week 9. He fits the Steelers’ all-around approach with the 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgersso they shouldn’t be afraid to make the 2019 first-team All-Pro backing up the middle of their shortstop unit.
