The Trade Exchange – Final Edition
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

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It’s Week 11 and it’s the eleventh hour. You get one last crack here as the 11/16 trade deadline approaches. It’s time to try making some big last minute moves to solidify your roster for the stretch run.

Pull up your league page. Consider your team needs and peruse this list. Make a bunch of eleventh hour offers. Teams facing must-win scenarios this week are your best bets. Also, players that are on bye during this most critical of weeks are favorable targets that can be had at a discount.

Wide Receivers:

Hakeem Nicks, WR New York Giants
He cracked 7 points for the first time in eight weeks. Nicks scored exactly 7.5 fantasy points in Week 10. Now he is on bye. Look for a Nicks owner who needs help this week, his owner may finally be willing to deal him. I’m thinking Steve Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Cecil Shorts territory to an owner who can’t fade the Nicks bye. Throw in a Chris Ivory to sweeten the deal.

Miles Austin, WR Dallas Cowboys
Austin is still the receiver to own in Dallas. The Cowboys are about to make a run in a shaky division and Miles will be a big part of it. He’s averaged 5 ppg the last two weeks so this is a good time to strike. Austin is usually a 12 point play. Could you do something for Michael Turner or a Mikel LeShoure / Benjarvus Green-Ellis type of deal?

Dwayne Bowe, WR Kansas City Chiefs
It’s like I said last week, Dwayne Bowe is going to give you a bunch of six pointers but he’s poised to sprinkle in a couple of vintage performances down the stretch. Bowe would be a great WR3 or Flex pick up. I’d still go Green-Ellis here or someone in the Steven Jackson range. If I needed a receiver this week, I’d go as far as trading a concussed Fred Jackson for him.

Running Backs:

LeSean McCoy, RB Philadelphia Eagles
It seems like he’s had a bad season. The truth is Shady has only scored single digit fantasy points one time this year, and that was a respectable 8 points. His two year reliability was his preseason allure, it’s the basis of his fantasy value. McCoy has delivered in a sneakily unfulfilling way. I doubt his owners are that loyal to him at this point. The quarterback change in Philly may also drive some fear in the marketplace. I believe McCoy is going to get more involved. Could you trade Willis McGahee plus a little bit? Maybe you can package Reggie Bush and Mikel LeShoure? Heck, I might even do Reggie Bush and Michael Turner if I have the depth to swing it.

Chris Johnson, RB Tennessee Titans
His owners might have the bye-week blues. Look into this. You probably won’t get a huge discount because Johnson looks really good. That’s good news though. What you may find instead is a motivated seller that wouldn’t be otherwise. You’re going to have to pony up something legitimate here. I’d probably go as high as Ryan Mathews.

Willis McGahee, RB Denver Broncos
A low-end RB1 or high-end RB2, McGahee has been solid all year long. Back to back 7 pointers make a desirable price tag. I always like buying stock in Peyton Manning and the Broncos have a great fantasy schedule ahead. Can you swing a Reggie Bush or Michael Turner plus Dwayne Bowe type of deal?

Ryan Mathews, RB San Diego Chargers
Outside of one game he has been an eight point guy. I’d love to pick him up as a RB2 or Flex play down the stretch. Dump somebody like DeSean Jackson or Larry Fitzgerald for him.

Marshawn Lynch, RB Seattle Seahawks
Beastmode hibernates this week. What a pickup this could be from a desperate owner. If I could absorb his bye, I would pony up Ryan Mathews or Willis McGahee. His schedule is a little tricky down the stretch but I’m not too worried.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB New York Giants
He’s on bye and now he’s having neck issues. What do we always know about Bradshaw? He is constantly injured. I expect him and the Giants to pick it up big time after the bye. Make a move for Bradshaw as a super-flex play.

Michael Turner, RB Atlanta Falcons
Three games of 6 points or less in his last four outings. Turner’s 1 pointer last week has to have him in the doghouse. The truth is, he is only one game removed from a 16 point effort. Last week was good news / bad news. He got a ton of cracks at the goal line but he couldn’t convert any of them. Turner is very touchdown dependent and has to score when he has the chance. He would be a great flex play or even a serviceable RB2 down the stretch. A good trade here would be Jonathan Stewart plus Lance Moore.

Reggie Bush, RB Miami Dolphins
His circumstances are different than Turner’s but I view him in the same light. I’m definitely troubled by his limited rushing attempts.

Fred Jackson, RB Buffalo Bills
Now we dive into a bunch of injury guys. Jackson is concussed. C.J. Spiller is probably going to come in and light it up. All of this puts Jackson’s long-term value in flux. It was already dwindling in the committee approach. I would ship a player in the Brandon Lloyd category for a buy and a hold on Jackson.

Darren McFadden, RB Oakland Raiders
Who knows when he is coming back? It sounds like it will be sooner than later, but we’ve all done this drill before. It hurts, and a lot of owners cannot afford to roster him anymore as their playoff chances are in peril. Don’t expect McFadden to achieve RB1 status upon his return, but you can’t exactly hate 25 touches/game and a great schedule out of an explosive player down the stretch. I think this is a good buy-low. I’m trying to unload Bills wideout Steve Johnson here.

DeMarco Murray, RB Dallas Cowboys
Nothing more needs to be said. He is riskier than McFadden because sprained feet are trickier than sprained chicken ankles. I’m going under Steve Johnson here. Maybe you package two fringe flex plays in an offer to a Murray owner. If he does come back, Murray could be a nice spark at the end of the year. There is a chance you don’t get anything in return in this one. MJD’s injury originally seemed more severe than Murray’s and his team is much worse, but you will want to take a look at him as well if you have the depth to afford it.

Pierre Thomas, RB New Orleans
Ok, he’s not injured. It just seemed like it last week. It’s hard to recommend Thomas as anything more than a desperation play. You may be just as well suited picking up a receiver with upside off of your waiver wire. If you specifically need some running back depth, Thomas’ value is rock bottom. He still gets the majority of the snaps in the Saints backfield and any week could be his week. I’d try offering a bag of peanuts or a couple of wooden nickels.