Fantasy Football RB & QB Trade Advice: Players to Buy, Sell & Hold Before Week 5 (Ep. 2243)
Ryan Wormeli and Andrew Erickson break down the fantasy football QB and RB trade market ahead of Week 5, spotlighting buy-low running backs like Ashton Jeanty and DeAndre Swift while urging managers to sell J.K. Dobbins and Bucky Irving before their value craters further. They also debate buying Jordan Love despite Green Bay's shaky offensive line, and run through several buy/sell/hold trios at running back including Henderson/Monangai/Jones and Allen/Charbonnet/Corum.
This Week 5 FantasyPros buy/sell episode (QB and RB edition, with a Monday Night Football recap up top) centers on one theme: in a season where elite running back talent is scarce, hosts Ryan Weisse and Andrew Erickson argue managers should aggressively target top-15 RBs showing efficiency warts but elite volume, while shipping out touchdown-dependent or role-compromised backs before the market catches on.
The arguments
Brian Robinson Jr. is the best handcuff-plus in fantasy, and Atlanta's passing attack is must-roster across the board. Erickson notes Atlanta has scored roughly 80 points in two games with Michael Penix at QB versus 16 without him, and Robinson has been a steady complementary back who can be flexed even with Bijan healthy — both finished as top-eight RBs in Week 4's 45-24 win. Both hosts flag Kyle Pitts as unstartable despite a season-best game, since the broadcast showed him glued to the sideline, while Drake London is an elite weekly start with Penix under center.
Ashton Jeanty is this week's top buy, a bet on touchdown regression rather than a changed outlook. Erickson built the case: fifth-most carries in the league (78), zero rushing touchdowns despite seven goal-line carries, and a 15% target share with strong snap counts (84% and 67% the last two weeks), all pointing to an offense (Kirk Cousins has 11 TDs through four games) that will eventually get him into the end zone. Weisse backs the efficiency-improvement thesis given Las Vegas's offensive line gains, and both agree a wide-receiver-for-Jeanty package makes sense since he's a top-10 rest-of-season RB that's uncharacteristically available.
DeAndre Swift is a second buy target, with the fumble/benching creating an artificial discount. Weisse argues Ben Johnson won't abandon Swift over one turnover, pointing to steady touch totals across four games and a long-term schedule (five soft matchups before a brutal late-season stretch). Erickson agrees, noting Kyle Monangai's thumb injury likely pushes work back to Swift regardless, and both frame this as buying into an elite Bears rushing offense that produces against any opponent.
J.K. Dobbins is a clear sell-low, with hosts split only on timing. Erickson cites second-worst rushing success rate (26%), no game over 49 rushing yards, a season-low 31% snap share, and almost no role in the passing game, concluding the injury history has eaten into his explosiveness. Weisse agrees but raises whether to hold for a potential Sean Payton play-calling takeover; Erickson counters that Dobbins' durability makes him unlikely to still be the lead back whenever that happens, so both land on selling now or after a garbage-time touchdown bump.
Bucky Irving is a sell despite top-20 rest-of-season ranking because the Buccaneers offense is broken. Weisse highlights declining efficiency (sub-4 YPC in two straight weeks, including against Green Bay), zero passing-game role the last week, and Sean Tucker now vulturing red-zone carries. Both agree the best play is trading him to a running-back-needy manager rather than holding for a Baker Mayfield return that carries its own uncertainty.
Jordan Love is a buy on schedule and offensive environment, but the offensive line is the one disqualifying risk. Erickson likes Green Bay's upcoming slate (Bears, Lions, Panthers) and an offense now totally dependent on Love throwing to Watson, Golden, and Kraft with the run game nonfunctional and Micah Parsons out until November. Weisse pushes back hard, calling the Packers' line "inoperable" and warning that a collapsing line is historically the fastest way to tank every fantasy asset in an offense, tempering his endorsement of Love specifically (though not of Golden/Watson).
What it means for your roster
- Claim/start Brian Robinson Jr. in all formats; he's flex-viable even with Bijan healthy and the top handcuff in fantasy.
- Target Ashton Jeanty in trades, offering a wide receiver or WR-heavy package; hosts view him as a top-10 asset facing a temporary efficiency/touchdown drought.
- Buy DeAndre Swift now, especially if you're 3-1 or 4-0 and can stash him for a soft late-season Bears schedule; a receiver for Swift is a reasonable offer.
- Sell J.K. Dobbins and Bucky Irving before their price drops further — target running-back-needy opponents (bye-week desperate managers) for maximum return rather than holding on hope (Sean Payton, Baker Mayfield returns).
- Hold Kyle Monangai, hold Braylon Allen, and treat Travion Henderson as a buy (even Aaron Jones-for-Henderson is reasonable); sell Aaron Jones now given Jordan Mason's Week 7 return looming.
- Avoid overcommitting to Jordan Love as a QB1 play despite the plus schedule — the Packers' offensive line issues cap upside even in good matchups; stick to buying Golden/Watson over Love himself if skeptical.
“It's a handcuff with benefits, right?” — Ryan Wormeli
Players in this episode
→ Dominant on the ground with Penix at QB but his receiving usage has nearly disappeared (only 4 targets in two games), a trend hosts expect to partially reverse in more contested games.
→ Expected to see a heavy workload if Huntley starts, but efficiency could suffer against a stacked box since Atlanta will focus on stopping the run.
↑ Lackluster touchdown production masks strong snap share and receiving work; hosts view him as a buy-low bet on positive touchdown regression and target him as the top RB buy of the week.
↓ Confusing, fluctuating usage (reduced snaps in Week 4 with a vague explanation) has hosts split—Erickson suggests selling him for Jeanty, Wormeli still values his talent/name highly.
↑ Nearly 100 receiving yards on just 20 pass attempts shows elite chemistry with Penix, making him an elite fantasy starter in this offense.
→ Floated as a potential trade piece to acquire Jeanty, but hosts decided it would be too bold given his touchdown-heavy production versus Jeanty's scoring drought.
↓ Volume remains but efficiency and target share have collapsed in a broken Tampa Bay offense; Sean Tucker is stealing red-zone work, making Irving a sell-high target to a running back-needy team.
↑ Continues to be underutilized behind Rhamondre Stevenson in high-value touches, but hosts view him as a buy given his talent and Stevenson's apparent late-game knee issue.
↑ Despite a costly fumble and apparent benching, Swift still led Chicago backs in touches and is expected to retain the lead role once Kyle Monangai's thumb injury resolves; viewed as a strong long-term buy given the Bears' run-heavy, easy late-season schedule.
→ Dealing with a thumb injury but still viewed as the clear backup with Ben Johnson's trust; hosts rate him a hold rather than a buy or sell.
↑ Viewed as a buy due to contingent upside behind Kyren Williams despite a quieter couple of weeks.
↓ Inefficient all season (26% success rate, under 49 rushing yards every game, season-low 31% snap share) and not involved in the passing game; hosts call him a clear sell-low before his role erodes further.
↑ Erickson likes buying Love given a shootout-friendly upcoming schedule (Bears, Lions, Panthers) and heavy reliance on the passing game, though Wormeli worries the offensive line issues cap his ceiling.
↓ Role remains nearly nonexistent (benched for stretches, only one snap in one game) despite a season-best game; hosts say he still can't be trusted for fantasy starts.
↑ Called one of the best handcuffs in fantasy, leading all RBs in EPA/carry over the last two weeks and flex-worthy even before Michael Penix's return; must be rostered everywhere.
↓ His workhorse role is seen as unsustainable once Jordan Mason returns (as early as Week 7), making him a sell-high candidate now.
↓ Coming back from a season-ending injury into a crowded backfield (Price, Mixon, Walker-types); hosts suggest selling into the hype before he returns to the field.
→ Posted a 94% snap share in a game where the Jets only ran 32 plays; hosts call him a hold, arguing the poor box score stats shouldn't be held against his elite workhorse role.
↓ Hosts doubt he can replicate Lamar Jackson's fit with new OC Todd Monken, calling him only a capable backup who gives a punchers chance against Atlanta.