Fantasy Trade Market: Next Year's League Winners to Buy Before the Price Skyrockets

Some fantasy football managers must accept the message: Better luck next year.

So, you're not going to playoffs. You either drafted poorly, or your roster dealt with several injuries that made it nearly impossible to make a run at the postseason.

You still have work to do. Why not start now?

Managers can transform their bottom-tier squad into a 2025 playoff contender with a few trades. Sell your best assets and acquire unheralded talent before they become league winners in 2025.

This week's fantasy trade market will help managers of highly flawed rosters get an early start on their offseason with buy-early targets, priority stocks to sell and players to hold for another week and another season.

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

Week 12: 22-of-37, 221 yards passing, TD, INT; 26 rushing yards

2024 Season: 148-of-226, 1,458 yards passing, 10 TDs, 7 INTs; 33 carries, 286 rushing yards, TD, 4 fumbles lost

Despite the subpar supporting cast around him, Maye has shown franchise quarterback potential. Since the rookie took over the starting position in Week 6, he's completed at least 70 percent of his passes in three of seven starts and thrown for at least 243 yards in three starts.

In all likelihood, the Patriots will go all-in on adding receivers to aid Maye's development. So, 29-year-old tight end Hunter Henry and slot wideout DeMario Douglas won't be his most reliable pass-catchers next season.

Assuming New England adds playmakers, Maye could take a massive second-year leap.

Buy Maye for: Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, Geno Smith

Audric Estime, RB, Denver Broncos

Week 12: 3 carries, 15 yards

2024 Season: 38 carries, 179 yards, TD; 3 catches, 9 yards; fumble lost

In Week 10, we saw what Estime can do as the Broncos' lead running back. He recorded 14 carries for 53 yards. Averaging 4.7 yards per carry with a small sample size, he has an intriguing upside.

Running back Javonte Williams has been inconsistent this season, and the same can be said about his fluctuating workload. He will be a free agent in 2025.

Because of Williams' up-and-down year, Denver may be willing to let him walk in the offseason and feed Estime as its lead ball-carrier with Jaleel McLaughlin in the primary pass-catching role out of the backfield.

Buy Estime for: Nick Chubb, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle

Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills

Week 12: N/A

2024 Season: 22 catches, 417 yards, 3 TDs

Coleman is currently out with a wrist injury and isn't on the fantasy radar, but he has a pathway to a bigger target share in 2025.

Bills wide receivers Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins will be free agents in the offseason. If Buffalo doesn't retain Cooper, who turns 31 in June, Coleman may start the 2025 term as the team's clear-cut No. 1 wideout, with slot receiver Khalil Shakir as the No. 2 option.

A few weeks before Coleman suffered a wrist injury, he logged his first 100-plus-yard receiving performance. While his absence is a bit of a setback, he will eventually have a major bounce back.

Buy Coleman for: Cooper Kupp, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen

Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings

Week 12: 22 carries, 106 yards, TD; 3 catches, 23 yards; fumble lost

2024 Season: 179 carries, 798 yards, 3 TDs; 32 catches, 285 yards, TD; 2 fumbles lost

As Fantasy Life's Ian Hartitz noted on Sunday, Jones has struggled in the red zone this season, but that's not an aberration. He has just seven rushing touchdowns since the 2022 term. He has also seen a drop-off in his receiving touchdowns over the last two years.

Jones will be 30 in December and a free agent in the offseason. As an aging running back with declining scoring production and an uncertain future, he's a prime sell candidate for managers out of playoff contention.

Sell Jones for: Trey Benson, Jaylen Wright, Jonathon Brooks

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Week 12: 8 catches, 60 yards, TD

2024 Season: 55 catches, 548 yards, 5 TDs; 2 carries, 10 yards

Now healthy with the Rams in a push for a playoff spot, Kupp has great value as a high-volume receiver.

However, his drop-off may be on the horizon. His name came up in trade rumors before the November 5 deadline, and he will be 32 in June.

With wide receiver Puka Nacua's rise to stardom, Kupp may be expandable in Los Angeles next offseason. Because of his injury history (missing 17 games since 2022), he's not an easy 2025 fantasy projection, especially if he suits for a new team on the other side of 30.

Sell Kupp for: Brian Thomas Jr., Rome Odunze, Keon Coleman

Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Monday Night Football)

2024 Season: 32 catches, 379 yards, 5 TDs

Managers should look to sell Andrews' stock after his next highly productive outing. With the addition of running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens have shifted to a run-heavy offensive attack, which has impacted the tight end's target share.

Moreover, Andrews doesn't dominate Baltimore's target share as he did in previous campaigns because of emerging wideouts Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

Lastly, the Ravens have a budding tight end in Isaiah Likely, who could see more opportunities in the passing game next year. If you have Andrews on your roster, trade him before his stock plummets even further than it has this year.

Sell Andrews for: Dalton Kincaid, Jake Ferguson, Ja'Tavion Sanders

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers

Week 12: 2 carries, 7 yards

2024 Season: 2 carries, 7 yards

Brooks didn't see much action in his pro debut, but managers should be patient. The Panthers selected him in the second round of the 2024 draft.

Head coach and offensive play-caller Dave Canales likely has a long-term plan for the rookie even though the team signed Chuba Hubbard to a four-year extension weeks ago.

In a two-man backfield with pass-catching duties, Brooks may be a solid RB2 next season.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 12: 1 catch, 11 yards

2024 Season: 11 catches, 120 yards, TD; 2 carries, 28 yards

Partially because of injury, McMillan had a modest stretch of production while starting wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missed time. Though the rookie receiver may need some seasoning before he takes on a bigger role in the Buccaneers' aerial attack, he could be the No. 2 option alongside Evans in 2025.

Godwin will be a free agent in the offseason. The Buccaneers signed Evans to an extension and selected McMillan in the third round of the 2024 draft, which gives them room to move on from Godwin if they don't satisfy his contract demands.

Godwin is out for the remainder of the campaign after undergoing ankle surgery, and he may not play another snap for the Buccaneers. McMillan could make strides in the remaining weeks of the term before a second-year breakout in Tampa Bay.

Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Denver Broncos

Week 12: 3 catches, 44 yards; 2 carries, minus-2 rushing yards

2024 Season: 16 catches, 162 yards, TD; 9 carries, 36 yards

Over the past few weeks, Marvin Mims Jr. has worked his way into the passing-catching action in Denver. In consecutive games, he's racked up at least 44 receiving yards. In Week 11, the second-year wideout recorded his first touchdown reception of the season.

Eventually, he could be a prominent playmaker in three-receiver sets alongside Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele. The Broncos have also utilized him in their run game, which adds to his potential fantasy value.

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.