On a podcast episode a couple weeks ago, I walked through the fantasy ramifications of four potential WR trades involving Jaylen Waddle, Jerry Jeudy, Jakobi Meyers, and Rashid Shaheed. Although the Raiders are the third-most cap-friendly team in 2026, the Dolphins, Browns, and Saints are among the teams with the least flexibility. In other words, they'll have to make tough roster decisions in a few months.
The Jets did things the right way yesterday, cashing out on high-value talent to set themselves up for an impactful rebuild. The 1-15 Dolphins in 2007 took a similar approach, resulting in a division title the following year. They haven't won their division since.
While Miami decided to keep the pricey-yet-talented Waddle, and while Cleveland retained the somewhat-pricey-yet-underutilized Jeudy, Vegas and New Orleans earned nice returns for Meyers and Shaheed. In particular, I was struck by how much Jacksonville gave the Raiders -- a fourth- and sixth-round pick -- for a nearly 29-year-old wideout on an expiring contract. If Hunter returns this season, Meyers presumably would become the #3 WR. Then they'll either have to pay him or let him walk, and their relatively tight cap situation probably means the latter. So that's a lot to give up for a merely "solid" rental.
The fantasy implications seem clear, though plenty could change. The Jags average 6.2 more passes per game compared to the Raiders, probably giving Meyers a clearer path to relevance, at least until Hunter's healthy. Thomas's health is the bigger short-term factor, as I believe Thomas at/near 100% would still be a weekly fantasy starter in this offense.
Shaheed's presence in Seattle will undercut Cooper Kupp or Tory Horton, or possibly both. The timing is interesting in light of Horton's recent two-touchdown performance. Maybe the acquisition signals that Kupp's injury is more serious than reported. I dropped Kupp last week because he was my most expendable player. Now he's even more droppable.
And Sauce Gardner's move to Indianapolis has a ripple effect on rest-of-season WR outlooks. According to NFL.com, this year he hasn't allowed any receiver to catch more than two passes in a game. Had he stayed in New York, this might have significantly harmed Drake London (Week 13), Waddle (Week 14), and other weekly fantasy starters. Instead, managers might brace for diminished production when the Colts face WRs like Rashee Rice (Week 12), Nico Collins (Week 13), and JSN (Week 15).
---
* Today's FF4W podcast, episode 106: "Making Sense of Brian Thomas Jr." -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-for-winners/id1800490745