Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer: Mike Evans Among Trade Value Risers In Week 1

I was never much of a chess player growing up. My dad and brother had the patience for that game. Having to think multiple moves ahead of time with pieces of differing value didn’t hold my interest. Give me a combat simulator or RPG. But now I wish I had paid more attention.

Assessing real-time worth and future cost are the hallmarks of a good fantasy manager. Every game is a data point. Each practice or press conference becomes an item to place on the scales. And Week 1 is no different. At a time when most are taking a “wait and see” approach, we should be re-evaluating our roster for hidden gems or duds. And after just a couple of games, I’ve got a few guys who should be on our radar when it comes to using a fantasy football trade analyzer, as their value is already rising or falling.

Analyzing Potential Fantasy Football Trade Targets In Week 1

Each week, I’ll start with some targets worth trying to acquire in a trade. But before you get confused, trust me, I realize it’s Saturday. And the timing gives us two potential problems.

First, we only have a couple of games to consider. Or, spinning this forward to Week 2 and beyond, just a single contest to add to our thought process. The fear of overreacting and buying into an unsustainable situation would have anyone hesitating to make any deal. But there’s also the time factor.

The majority of our rosters lock tomorrow morning! Trades can take time to negotiate. Plus, we’re in for a slew of football information. The impact of the island games will lose its effect with new data. So, that’s where this piece comes into play. With a short list of options, you’ve got a starting point to attack the next slate come Tuesday. Now, let’s take a quick look back and find who may be worth vying for in a trade.

Fantasy Trade Value Risers

Mike Evans | WR | 49ers

I still need another week or two to get used to seeing Mike Evans in a 49ers uniform. But the 33-year-old WR looked spry in his debut.

Mike Evans first 3 catches with the 49ers all came on 3rd down and all came from the slot pic.twitter.com/aL6GJ1QJVN
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) September 11, 2026

Of course, the haters will give you one of two retorts. Thursday was just one game, or Evans’ hamstring will give out before October (knock on wood). But I’d rather lean into the uncertainty rather than avoid it.

Sure, De’Zhaun Stribling’s injury and likely absence boost the outlook for the former Bucs’ WR1. And seeing Evans not only tie for the team lead in targets (20.6%) but remind us he can still win against a single coverage in the end zone was great. But a shift from his historical usage was what caught my eye.

aDOT: 13.0 (2025), 8.6 (2026, Week 1)
Slot Target Rate: 21.2%, 60.0%

Evans did still primarily line up in his traditional X-receiver position on 87.5% of his snaps. But when he did slide into the slot, Brock Purdy was looking his way. All three of his interior attempts to Evans came on third down, each resulting in a conversion. But even when out wide, his deepest look was 13 air yards. Again, it’s just one game, but if HC Kyle Shanahan is willing to adjust Evans’ deployment to match this stage of his career, availability throughout the season won’t be as hard to envision.

Adjusted Value: Up to a low-end WR2/Tier 3 WR

Rhamondre Stevenson | RB | Patriots

So, here’s the framing for any manager who wants to add Rhamondre Stevenson to their squad.

Rhamondre Stevenson fantasy managers, look awaypic.twitter.com/S6GaUvwPdD
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 10, 2026

New England ran one (1) play from inside Seattle’s five-yard line. Even worse, it took a DPI penalty to get them there. And the cherry on top was OC Josh McDaniels “getting cute” with a TE leak concept to a rookie. The pessimism of a scoreless outing for Stevenson (almost) sells itself. But when you look at his contextualized usage, the picture gets brighter.

Shoutout to Dwain McFarland and the rest of the team here who keep the Utilization Report updated after each set of games. Stevenson is the unquestioned RB1! In fact, before kickoff on Sunday, no rusher had a better workload than the Patriots’ starter. Only Christian McCaffrey had a larger target rate. And at least Stevenson was on the field for the goal-line attempt, indicating runs in future situations should go to him.

Unfortunately, the schedule doesn’t pick up until Week 5 (PIT, at JAX, at BUF). But if the touches continue, I’ll take a floor of double-digit PPR points.

Adjusted Value: Moves into the low-end RB2 ranks until we see what TreVeyon Henderson brings

Michael Mayer | TE | Raiders

Unless something catastrophic happens, Michael Mayer will be on every waiver wire or trade target article by this time next week. But the results will dictate where in the article you’ll find him. In either case, he’s demonstrated enough in the past that I can call my shot now.

Michael Mayer did have a 9-89 receiving game on 10 targets last year pic.twitter.com/PjLYq3rK8z
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 10, 2026

On the plus side, Mayer gets to host the Dolphins on Sunday. The same defensive unit that gave up the sixth-most PPG to TEs. Even better, Miami stripped away most of their veteran talent in favor of youth as they go through a rebuild. And without much target competition, our projections have Mayer inside the Top 5 from an opportunity standpoint.

Simply put, we’re relying on a strong workload. But if the output exceeds expectations, we’ll need to recalibrate before making a pitch to another manager.

Adjusted Value: Low-end TE1 until we get more news about Bowers

Fallers In Fantasy Football Trade Value

Blake Corum | RB | Rams

After all the offseason hype regarding Blake Corum’s athletic ability, he came right back to the same job he had in 2025.

Corum played one snap in obvious passing situations. Meanwhile, Kyren Williams hogged all of the RB money touches. Matthew Stafford didn’t even look Corum’s way on his three routes. But if you watched the game, I’d like to think there’s more in store for the Rams RB2 down the road.

I love Blake Corum but didn't draft him because Kyren Williams exists lol #NFL #blakecorum pic.twitter.com/iEPHgZEADO
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) September 11, 2026

Before you even mention it, no, I’m not getting into whether or not LA’s travel plans were the right move. I’m an engineer and a weather nerd. Not a somnologist. Even still, it sure looked like Corum had a bit more juice than Williams. The data leans in that direction, too.

Rushing Success Rate (Early Downs): 50.0% (Williams), 50.0% (Corum)
Adj. Yards after Contact per Att.: 2.1, 3.3
Forced Missed Tackle Rate: 0.0%, 10.0%

The Rams’ schedule doesn’t open much either (NYG, at DEN, at PHI), so you’ll have time. But if your bench options are looking bleak, he’ll likely be a cheap add with contingent value.

Romeo Doubs | WR | Patriots

It’s one thing to mess up. But another thing to do it when everyone’s watching. And then all the more difficult to speak on it later. So, I’ll give some grace to Romeo Doubs.

Romeo Doubs had a tough night with a drop and a 42.5 offensive grade pic.twitter.com/qXRiRHonAD
— PFF (@PFF) September 10, 2026

The glass-half-full take is that A.J. Brown’s injury and four-week IR stint will allow Doubs to get more reps with Drake Maye. And at least the former Packer never left the field after Brown exited in the third quarter.

Route Rate: 84.6%
Target Share: 15.0%
Air Yard Share: 40.4%

Remember, we’re working with a partial sample. So, on the one hand, we can look at Doubs being second in targets and first in air yards as a positive. When at least two TEs were on the field, so was he. Maye even looked his way when under duress. But a receiving aDOT of 22.3 air yards is a red flag. Or at the very least, something that should change, with a week to alter the offense to operate without its intended WR1.

As I just mentioned, the Patriots won’t have it easy for the next few weeks. But try to snag him now. This is a time when you have other starters. So after he gets time to get in sync with Maye, he’ll have a run of the Raiders, Jets, Bears, Dolphins, and a revenge game against his former team, for you to reap the benefits.

Jadarian Price | RB | Seahawks

I want to give Jadarian Price some more time. After looking back on Wednesday night, there’s room to grow.

Jadarian Price every touch in his NFL debut

He’s a natural fit in the Seahawks wide zone offense, averaging 5.2 yards/carry Wednesday night. His excellent change-of-direction ability allowed him to make a nice cutback for 12yds on his first ever rep, and it was on from there: pic.twitter.com/HFfHRqBSAy
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 10, 2026

Box score scouts will look at just 12 touches, point to Price’s first-round draft capital, and claim he’s a bust. George Holani had too much of a presence. And there was enough of Brady Russell (FB) or Emanuel Wilson to pull away from the Notre Dame product.

However, Price had the highest route rate of any of Seattle’s RBs and tied for the most targets. And in a situation where the game plan went out the window the moment Sam Darnold hobbled to the locker room, I’ll take it. Plus, if the eye test doesn’t work for you, a comparison between Price and Holani does the third-year RB no favors.

Rushing Success Rate: 50.0% (Price), 25.0% (Holani)
Adj. Yards after Contact per Att.: 4, 2.3
Forced Missed Tackle Rate: 20.0%, 12.5%

The Seahawks have the Cardinals and Commanders on deck. Two run defenses who finished in the Bottom 5 in PPG allowed to RBs. And even though Washington made investments in their pass rush, Price’s speed and power will present problems for their revamped front.