NFL Trade Deadline Wrap: Courtland Sutton biggest fantasy winner in wave of deals

The NFL trade deadline used to be the ultimate bait-and-switch; a dud on the calendar. Rumors would fly, but trades would not. In 2018 though, we’re all winners. Teams are more aggressive these days, the deadline was pushed back a few years ago, and we actually have news items to sort through and new fantasy value to figure out.

To the clipboard.

Denver trades Demaryius Thomas to Houston

Denver rookie WR Courtland Sutton was the biggest winner of the day. Simply put, the Thomas deal pushes Sutton into a starting gig. Sutton has two touchdowns and 182 yards over the last four games, playing about two-thirds of the time. Now, he’ll be heavily utilized as a primary player. Not every rookie receiver is ready to contribute in his first season, but Sutton is an exception to the rule.

Thomas’s value stays close to lateral, though he could push forward if he quickly connects with Deshaun Watson. The Texans obviously were in dire need of a receiver after Will Fuller got hurt. Thomas’s first game, coincidentally enough, is against the Broncos in Week 9.

Collateral Tweaks: Watson gains a little bit; Keke Coutee loses a little bit. Also, given how limited Case Keenum is, I’m not investing in a Broncos wideout past Emmanuel Sanders or Sutton.

Detroit deals Golden Tate to Philadelphia

The happiest fantasy players are those tied to Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. Their market shares should go up, perhaps through the Ford Field roof, with Tate’s mouth to feed removed from the offense. Maybe this means Theo Riddick could see a few extra looks, whenever he returns. And if you want to spin it a little forward for Kerryon Johnson, I won’t fight you.

Tate arriving in Philly looks like a strike against Nelson Agholor — the final one. Tate and Agholor aren’t completely miscast as outside receivers, but they do their best work in the slot. You don’t trade for Tate midseason if you don’t plan to use him. When Philly returns from the Week 9 bye — Tate now takes on his second bye week of the year, though acclimation is good — Agholor’s role could fall through the floor. I’ll sign off on anyone dropping Agholor now, even if you don’t have a corresponding add. I’d like Tate more if he stuck in Detroit, but he should be fine with the Eagles; I’ll keep ranking him in the same tier.

Collateral Tweaks: Carson Wentz gets a minor bump up. I’m not adjusting Alshon Jeffery or Zach Ertz, even though Ertz and Tate do so much of their best work in similar areas of the field. Wentz and Ertz have a mind-meld that’s not going away. I like Matthew Stafford an eyelash less. Perhaps T.J. Jones can step into a deep-league role in Detroit.

Green Bay ships Ty Montgomery to Baltimore

The story here again is that the winners are the leftovers. Aaron Jones played a season-high 62 percent of the snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Rams, and now the Packers have one less option in the backfield, assuming Mike McCarthy doesn’t fall in love with another role player. Jones climbs half a tier with these developments.

Montgomery, last seen fumbling in Los Angeles, could become a better version of Buck Allen in Baltimore, though it could take some time to settle in. We don’t sweat too much when a run-first back changes teams midseason, but Montgomery’s best foot is in the passing game. His fantasy value was limited in Green Bay and it probably won’t change much in Baltimore.

Collateral Tweaks: I’m not going to do anything with Alex Collins. He’s a run-first back, the other two Baltimore guys are catch-first backs. I still see a nice buy-low window with Collins.