An underrated skill in fantasy football is being able to ruthlessly self-scout your own teams. Nothing can sink a contending team faster than shipping off its only depth, while nothing can ensure a last-place team finishes in last than sitting pat and just hoping things get better.
Before Week 8, look at your team's schedule, the schedules of the other teams around you in the standings and your last 3-5 weeks of scoring position by position. Feel confident in a playoff berth? Spend all your fantasy time buying low on a future contributor. If you take a hard look and realize the goal is going to be to try to not get last, you need to sell your one or two stars high for multiple starters in return. Heading into November, there are few other paths. Waiting around doesn't help.
Reminder that the Saints, Giants, 49ers and Texans are on bye this week. Here are 10 fantasy football trade targets for Week 8:
Week 8 fantasy football players to buy
RB Tony Pollard, Titans
We'll start with an obvious one, as Pollard just ripped off three touchdowns and 129 rushing yards for his best game of the 2026 season against the Browns. But in the prior six games, he had scored one total touchdown without topping 80 rushing yards in a single contest. The current Pollard manager might think that they are selling high. So if you explore this, it's a bet on the Titans trading Pollard to a contender at some point over the next two weeks.
WR Garrett Wilson, Jets
Wilson was a buy last week and I'm not budging in Week 8 despite the emergence of rookie Omar Cooper Jr. and the consistent incompetence that is the New York Jets. Wilson is one of the best WRs in the league and if someone is selling for less than WR1 prices, you should pounce before his next five against the Raiders, Chiefs, Bills, Chargers and Dolphins.
WR Jordan Watkins, 49ers
The 2025 fourth round pick was invisible as a rookie but has looked promising in 2026, and just pulled in 56 yards on three catches while being inches away from a touchdown in Week 7. Someone has to play wide receiver for San Francisco, right?
TE Tyler Higbee, Rams
It seems like Los Angeles is going to lean into its tight end room while Davante Adams is out. Even though Davis Allen caught two touchdowns in Week 7, Higbee leads Rams tight ends in snaps and routes and should be cheap to acquire. They also have the Chargers, Commanders and Cardinals over the next three weeks.
QB Justin Herbert, Chargers
I can't believe I'm typing this, and this is only a bet you make if you can get Herbert back essentially for free ... but he could've worked on things over the Chargers' bye and be playable in Week 8 against the Rams. If the offense sputters again, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is almost definitely getting fired, which could be good for Herbert. So this could be the last buy low window – if that even exists – this year. But again, only if you can buy for pennies.
WR Antonio Williams, Commanders
I always like trying to buy unproven players coming out of the bye. The rookie should be Jayden Daniels' No. 2 option in the passing game behind veteran Stefon Diggs, who has already missed time this year, and Washington's defense looks like it's going to keep giving up a lot of points.
More: 32 things we learned in NFL Week 7: As trade deadline nears, so do showcase opportunities
Week 8 fantasy football players to sell
WR Matthew Golden, Packers
The second-year wideout is outplaying his ADP, but the former Texas Longhorn also leads the NFL in drops and has turned 69 targets into just 34 catches. Over the last four games of the fantasy season, when it's, wait for it, colder than it is in October, Green Bay plays three home games and at Chicago. Two of those games are at night. Let someone else bet that Golden's hands get better as the weather gets worse.
RB Cam Skattebo, Giants
It's always nice to make a bye week someone else's problem, but even if the Giants were playing in Week 8, it would be a good time to sell Skattebo. He put his head down for 124 rushing yards and a touchdown in a win against the Texans and also pulled up early on a long run in OT with a hamstring injury. A report on Monday, Oct. 26 said that the second-year RB avoided a major injury, but Skattebo isn't exactly a picture of health. You can let another manager handle the ups and downs.
RB Woody Marks, Texans
Hand up – Marks led the buy list in both Week 6 and Week 7, so I'm not rushing to make this move. But Marks scored under 10 fantasy points in each of the last two weeks, David Montgomery could be returning soon and Houston is officially much better at throwing the ball than running it. Marks should be a good flex option the rest of the season, so only sell if you're getting a return of a RB2 or better.
QB Tyler Shough, Saints
Shough is easy to root for and plays hard. However, he also has broken bones in his non-throwing hand and then banged up the throwing one in the Saints' loss to the Steelers in Paris. New Orleans is 2-5 and a person who throws a football can only sustain so many hand injuries.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football buy, sell: 10 trade candidates for Week 8