Published Thursday, October 1, 2026, before Steelers-Browns kickoff.

Three weeks in, managers are reacting to small samples, which makes this a good week to trade. Trade Rx reads this week’s buy-low and sell-high columns from FantasyPros, The Fantasy Footballers, Pro Football Network, Roto Street Journal and others, checks each name against snap share, target share and the injury report, then picks five players to buy and five to sell.

Calls are built for half-PPR, with notes where PPR changes the answer. Each player gets a suggested trade price, which is a starting point for an offer, not a rule.

Buy Low

1. Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Week 4: vs. JAX | Price: a WR2/WR3 such as Terry McLaurin

Symptoms: Brown is RB19 and has one touchdown, even though he has handled 15 or more touches in each of his three starts.

Diagnosis: The workload is already there. The Fantasy Footballers have him on 70% of the snaps in every game, and his 34 half-PPR points through three weeks beat his pace from each of the last two seasons (15 and 23). FantasyPros notes he started slowly last year too. Touchdowns are the part of the stat line that swings the most, and they tend to follow a back who gets this many touches.

Consensus check: FantasyPros and The Fantasy Footballers both list him as a buy.

Prescription: Offer a receiver who has scored more than his usage says he should. FantasyPros suggests McLaurin, Jaylen Warren or Denzel Boston as the swap.

2. Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Week 4: at WAS (London, 9:30 a.m. ET) | Price: a WR3 such as Jameson Williams

Symptoms: Downs has 20 targets over the last two games and no touchdowns to show for them.

Diagnosis: He is running a route on about 80% of dropbacks, according to Pro Football Network, and FantasyPros puts his target share at 26%. Alec Pierce is on injured reserve. Washington’s pass defense is one of the softest in the league, the same matchup we flagged for Keenan Allen in Free Agent Triage this week. Allen’s nine targets in Week 3 are the one real threat to Downs’s share.

Consensus check: Near-unanimous. FantasyPros, Pro Football Network and Roto Street Journal all list him.

Prescription: Buy before Sunday morning. The London game kicks off at 6:30 a.m. Pacific, so a big first half will show up in his price before most of the country has finished breakfast. He is worth more in PPR than in standard.

3. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Week 4: vs. TEN | Price: a mid-range WR2

Symptoms: He has been a part-time player since a Week 1 hamstring injury. CBS Sports counted 21 offensive snaps for him in Week 3.

Diagnosis: He produced anyway. The Fantasy Footballers have him at 5 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown on a 29% snap share, then 5 for 84 on 33%. Head coach Jesse Minter told reporters he expects Flowers to carry a full workload against Tennessee. Flowers was limited in Wednesday’s practice, and Yahoo expects him to be close to full go by Sunday.

Consensus check: Backed by The Fantasy Footballers and FantasyPros’ early-week trade column.

Prescription: This is the most time-sensitive buy on the list. If he plays 85% of the snaps against the Titans, his price jumps back to WR1 territory by Monday. Make the offer today and check Friday’s practice report before you finalize.

4. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

Week 4: vs. DET (Sunday night) | Price: two lesser pieces, such as Denzel Boston plus a bench receiver

Symptoms: McMillan has 29.3 fantasy points against 45.6 expected, according to FantasyPros, a gap of 16.3 points.

Diagnosis: FantasyPros has him at 95% route participation in Week 3, five red-zone targets and 295 air yards. Bryce Young leads the league in passing yards, so the ball is moving in Carolina. McMillan’s touchdowns have not caught up with his usage yet.

Consensus check: Thin. FantasyPros is the only major column we read that lists him.

Prescription: Package two depth players for him. Managers who drafted him early are frustrated, and a two-for-one helps them fill a bye week.

5. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 4: at CIN | Price: a low-ceiling RB2 or a depth package

Symptoms: Tuten is RB17 at 13.7 points per game and still shares the backfield with Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Diagnosis: Roto Street Journal has Tuten controlling 59% to 62% of the backfield’s expected fantasy points in each game. He averages 4.7 yards per carry to Rodriguez’s 3.6, and FantasyPros credits him with 15 forced missed tackles.

Consensus check: FantasyPros and Roto Street Journal both list him.

Prescription: Offer a veteran back with a safe role and a low ceiling. Tuten is the cheaper version of the Chase Brown trade.

Sell High

1. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins

Week 4: at MIN | Target return: Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson

Symptoms: Gordon became Miami’s starter when De’Von Achane tore his ACL, and he scored in Week 3.

Diagnosis: We ranked him first in Tuesday’s Free Agent Triage, and he is still the right waiver add. The touchdown hid the efficiency, though. He ran 17 times for 41 yards, which is 2.4 yards per carry. Jaylen Wright is the more explosive back once his foot heals, and Miami visits Minnesota this week, hosts Cincinnati, then has a Week 6 bye.

Consensus check: FantasyPros and Roto Street Journal both list him as a sell.

Prescription: If another manager treats him as a bell cow, take the deal. You paid waiver money for him, so turning him into a starter is a win.

2. Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Week 4: at SEA | Target return: a top-15 receiver

Symptoms: Hampton played 42% of the snaps in Week 3, ran 15 times for 56 yards and did not catch a pass.

Diagnosis: He has 193 yards on 50 carries this season. Keaton Mitchell’s snaps rose from 17 to 26 last week, and Mitchell has been the more efficient runner. The next three games are at Seattle, home against Denver and at Kansas City.

Consensus check: FantasyPros and Pro Football Network both list him.

Prescription: His draft price still carries weight in trade talks. Sell before the timeshare is obvious to everyone in your league.

3. Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Week 4: vs. MIA | Target return: a similar RB plus an asset, or a young receiver

Symptoms: Jones has handled a big workload, and his fantasy totals look good.

Diagnosis: Roto Street Journal has him at minus-20.1 rushing yards over expectation, with only 5.9% of his carries going for 10 or more yards. Minnesota signed Devin Neal to lighten his load, and Jordan Mason is projected to return in Week 7. With Justin Jefferson likely out this week (see The MRI), Jones could have one more big game against Miami.

Consensus check: FantasyPros and Roto Street Journal both list him.

Prescription: Sell now or right after Sunday. His value drops when Mason comes back.

4. Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 4: vs. GB | Target return: Bhayshul Tuten, or a WR2 such as Davante Adams

Symptoms: Irving draws a good Week 4 matchup against Green Bay, and Yahoo’s start/sit column lists it among the best of the week for running backs.

Diagnosis: Baker Mayfield dislocated his throwing thumb and will miss at least three weeks, according to NFL.com. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels starts in his place after going 0-for-3 with an interception in relief. Expect defenses to crowd the line against Tampa Bay until Mayfield returns, around Week 7 at the earliest. Irving was also limited in practice this week with a glute injury.

Consensus check: FantasyPros lists him as a sell.

Prescription: Start him Sunday and shop him Monday if he produces. If someone offers fair value today, take it.

5. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Week 4: vs. DEN | Target return: Trevor Lawrence plus Josh Downs

Symptoms: Purdy has 789 passing yards and nine touchdowns through three weeks, plus 91 rushing yards and a rushing score.

Diagnosis: Nobody keeps up a 50-touchdown pace. Denver and Seattle are both on the upcoming schedule, and Mike Evans is day-to-day with a rib strain.

Consensus check: Split. FantasyPros’ Week 4 buy/sell column says sell, while its early-week trade column called him a buy based on his strong finish to 2025. We side with selling, because a QB4 price with tough defenses ahead is the best return you will get.

Prescription: In single-QB leagues, quarterbacks are easy to replace. FantasyPros’ suggested deal of Trevor Lawrence plus Josh Downs gets you a starting QB and one of our top buys.

Where the Doctor Disagrees

Drake London, WR, Falcons: FantasyPros says sell after his 9-catch, 194-yard game against Green Bay. We told you to buy him last Thursday in The Buy-Low Prescription because Michael Penix Jr. was back, and that game is why. Hold him unless someone pays a top-five WR price.

Malik Nabers, WR, Giants: Roto Street Journal and Pro Football Network both say sell. He has 12 catches for 96 yards, and Jameis Winston’s average target depth in Week 3 was 0.8 yards. Selling now gets you a fraction of his draft cost, so we would hold and wait for a quarterback change.

Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers: Roto Street Journal and Pro Football Network call him a buy after he played 90% of the snaps and ran for 127 yards in Week 3. FantasyPros uses him as the piece you give up to get Chase Brown. We side with the buyers, but Warren plays at Cleveland tonight, so any deal has to be done before 5:15 p.m. Pacific.

Week 4 Trade Rx Chart

Move	Player	Pos/Team	Week 4	Consensus	Why now
Buy	Chase Brown	RB, CIN	vs. JAX	Backed	70% snaps, one TD
Buy	Josh Downs	WR, IND	at WAS	Near-unanimous	26% target share, Pierce on IR
Buy	Zay Flowers	WR, BAL	vs. TEN	Backed	Full workload expected
Buy	Tetairoa McMillan	WR, CAR	vs. DET	Thin	16 points below expected
Buy	Bhayshul Tuten	RB, JAX	at CIN	Backed	Leads backfield in efficiency
Sell	Ollie Gordon II	RB, MIA	at MIN	Backed	2.4 yards per carry
Sell	Omarion Hampton	RB, LAC	at SEA	Backed	42% snaps, Mitchell rising
Sell	Aaron Jones	RB, MIN	vs. MIA	Backed	Mason back around Week 7
Sell	Bucky Irving	RB, TB	vs. GB	Thin	Mayfield out 3+ weeks
Sell	Brock Purdy	QB, SF	vs. DEN	Split	Nine TDs, tough schedule ahead

Quick Answers

Who is the best buy-low trade target for Week 4? Chase Brown. He has played 70% of Cincinnati’s snaps in every game and has only one touchdown to show for it.

Who should I sell high in Week 4? Ollie Gordon II, if another manager values him as a starter. He scored in Week 3 but averaged 2.4 yards per carry.

Should I sell Drake London after his 194-yard game? No. Penix’s return fixed the problem that held him back, so hold him unless you get a top-five receiver in return.

About Trade Rx

Trade Rx publishes every Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific during the season, after waivers clear and before Thursday Night Football. For this week’s free agents, see Free Agent Triage. For status updates through Sunday, check the Injury Report, and for the defenses to target, read Defensive Diagnosis.