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Fantasy keep, drop, trade: What to do Saquon Barkley, Ladd McConkey and more
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- Fantasy keep, drop, trade: What to do Saquon Barkley, Ladd McConkey and more
The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly told teams they have no interest in trading away Saquon Barkley. That means if he's slotted into your fantasy football roster, you should consider doing what Nick Siranni won't.
Barkley has been a link in a long chain of disappointments for an Eagles team that's freefallen from 2-0 to 2-6. Jalen Hurts is out for the season, but the offense seemed lost well before he succumbed to blood clots. The offensive line is a mess. The downfield passing game is inconsistent. A first year offensive coordinator has failed to make this team anything greater than -- or even the same size as -- its collection of parts.
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That puts a hobbled Barkley firmly in trading territory for owners who can find buyers who appreciate name value and the feeling they're buying low on a player who can still be a superstar. That latter part feels increasingly unlikely in 2026, especially if he's stuck with Tanner McKee and playcaller Sean Mannion in eastern Pennsylvania.
He's not the only big name fantasy stud who has underwhelmed. How long is too long to hang on to a top fantasy draft pick who's been decidedly underwhelming. When does name value merely represent sunk costs? And, most importantly, how do you chase away the regret that comes with watching one of your guys thrive on someone else's roster as you sink to the bottom of the league?
We can't really help with that last one, but we can try and shed some light on the first two questions. In this week's hold, drop, trade we'll break down some players you might have invested a high value draft pick or pricy waiver wire bid in, only to be let down by inconsistent performances and single-digit scores.
I'm joined by our resident fantasy expert and Rhode Island Scumbag Mike "Yaj" Boyajian to talk about six players who've been either uneven or straight up disappointing this fall. Who should you keep? Who should you bench? And who should you trade or drop?
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Hopefully we can clear things up for you.
RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Oct 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Christian: Trade. The Eagles say they aren't trading Barkley. With their postseason hopes fading, that means he could be shut down right around the time the fantasy playoffs roll around. The former 2,000-yard rusher had a brutal performance Sunday night (2.3 yards per carry, -21 rushing yards over expected ) and between Jalen Hurts' absence and a brutal offensive line, even average run defenses have figured out how to slow him down.
Factor in Sean Mannion's overmatched playcalling as a first year OC and Barkley can go. Find someone who thinks they're buying low on a star. Let them brag when he has 150 yards in Week 11. Then get smug about it when he's shut down right as the fantasy playoffs begin.
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Yaj: Trade. It's a minefield out there with reliable running backs. There will definitely be a needy manager who will jump at the chance to grab a RB that was a consensus top 24 pick. He's going to continue to get his opportunities. The problem is the team he's getting them with. The Eagles are a mess. Let someone else take on the weekly headache.
RB David Montgomery, Houston Texans
Christian: Drop. I don't think anyone is going to trade for him. He's scored 45.5 fantasy points this season and nearly two-thirds of them came in Week 1. The Texans' offensive line is a mess and the disintegration of their defense means he's not even a viable volume play for a team in constant need of comebacks.
Yaj: Drop.You can't trade him because no one wants a plodder that has to fall into the end zone to have any semblance of value. You also don't want to start a guy with a weekly ceiling of nine points.
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WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
Christian: Hold. I understand my faith in the Chargers is misguided. I understand Mike McDaniel is anathema to Los Angeles' playmaking corps. He's got McConkey running deeper routes when that's not his game and the LA offensive line can't hold up long enough to let Justin Herbert execute his square peg playbook. But SOMEONE has to catch passes for a team that's going to be trailing across the final 10 weeks of the season. His 32 routes in Week 8 were a season high and made him the most dangerous arrow in Jim Harbaugh's feeble quiver.
Yaj: Hold.Although 2024 McConkey seems like a fever dream, he's still a very talented individual capable of being a difference maker week to week. Unfortunately, he's tied to one of the grossest offenses in the NFL, and that isn't going to change anytime soon.
Still, Justin Herbert needs a go-to in this "offense." Ladd is the man. You won't recoup anything close to his draft value, so play him and pray to the fantasy gods that he can make chicken salad out of this chicken [expletive] offense.
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WR KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns
Christian: Hold and keep starting. Deshaun Watson loves throwing short passes – just look at how many targets Dylan Sampson got out of the backfield in Week 8, a game the Browns trailed by multiple scores across the second half. Somehow, that hasn't translated to the rookie first round pick, who led the FBS in yards after catch in 2025 and has 185 yards after catch – and 33 yards after catch over expected (YACOE) in 2026.
After breaking out in Week 7, he turned a career-high 41 routes into… four targets vs. Pittsburgh's top six passing defense. Even Watson must be able to figure out the easy button in this offense, especially with one of the league's worst rushing attacks flanking him.
Yaj: Hold.KC has been prone to some lean target weeks and his stat line has suffered accordingly. He's definitely a player to keep starting, considering the Pittsburgh pass defense may be the best he will see for the rest of the season. I think he bounces back in a big way next week against New Orleans.
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WR Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers
Christian: Hold and bench. Bernard has crashed back to earth, but there's useful data in his numbers. Mostly that he's been targeted just 4.7 yards downfield as a rookie . That's not great from a yardage standpoint, but it will pay off in terms of volume when you've got a quarterback who really, really does not like getting hit and no longer has the mobility to escape the pocket regularly.
On a related note, Aaron Rodgers turns 43 in December, when cold Pittsburgh winters will turn his hamstrings into old Charleston Chews. He's been winging shots downfield more in 2026 than he did last fall, but one big hit could bring him back to a quick-throw offense.
Yaj: Hold, but bench. He's still the apple of Aaron's eye, but you can't reliably use him right now. Oddly enough, it seems that Rico Dowdle's return to the lineup has eaten away at Bernard's production. It's an interesting development, but both operate close to the line of scrimmage so it sort of makes sense.
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Either way, Rodgers has taken a liking to Bernard. That's reason enough to hold onto him. However, if things change out of the bye, we need to have a conversation.
WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Christian: Try to trade, don't feel bad about dropping. Bucky Irving is dealing and the Bucs aren't super invested in passing the ball at the moment. Even when they were early in the season, Godwin's 16.3 percent target share is a career low. His air yards per target are 3.9, also a career worst, which means even when he's getting the ball he's not putting up big numbers. Things will turn around in Tampa with Mayfield healthy again and drier weather in the future, but Boyz II Men might be on the jukebox for Godwin's career as a reliable fantasy star.
Yaj: Drop. It seems as though Godwin's days as a useful fantasy asset for the masses is all but over. He hasn't topped 9.1 PPR points all season, and has yet to score a touchdown. The Bucs face off against Chicago (who have been GREAT against opposing WR1s) in Week 9, then have a bye in Week 10.
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At this point, I'm playing the wire and making moves for the future at Godwin's expense. This season, the Buccaneers focus has very clearly been Emeka Egbuka and the run game, and that's about it.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fantasy keep, drop, trade: What to do Saquon Barkley, Ladd McConkey and more
