3 players to target based on favorable late-season schedules, and 3 more to avoid due to brutal-looking slates during the fantasy playoffs.

In most fantasy football leagues, the trade deadline is rapidly approaching. That means if you want to pull off a splashy midseason acquisition to set you up for a run at the title, you must do it soon. 

When determining the players to target or put on the trading block in your fantasy league, it’s important to keep the late-season schedule in mind – particularly Weeks 15-17, which is when most leagues will stage their playoffs. It’s awfully helpful to know which players have a favorable (on paper) schedule during the fantasy playoffs and which ones have a brutal-looking final stretch. We now have eight weeks of data informing us which matchups to exploit and which ones to avoid.

With all of that said, here are three players to target based on their late-season schedules, followed by three to avoid due to their brutal-looking slates during the fantasy playoffs.

Players To Target 

RB James Conner, Arizona Cardinals 

Weeks 15-17: vs. New England, at Carolina, at L.A. Rams

This season, Conner has carried the ball 129 times for 557 rushing yards (eighth-most in the NFL). While many teams utilize a committee approach, Arizona is leaning on Conner as a true lead back, as he has 18 or more carries in five games this season. Assuming he’s healthy and still has the same workload down the stretch, it’s very possible that Conner will be an RB1 – and potentially even the RB1 – over the final three weeks of the season. 

His fantasy playoffs are a running back’s dream. First, he faces the Patriots, who are among the worst in conceding fantasy points to opposing running backs. Against New England, RBs are averaging 121.3 rushing yards per game and 1.3 rushing TDs (both fourth-most in the NFL). Then, Conner gets the Panthers, who are allowing the most rushing yards (154.6) and most rushing touchdowns (1.8) per game. 

Finally, he will play the Rams, who are allowing the ninth-most rushing yards per game (139.1). Conner knows their vulnerabilities as well as anyone: In Week 2, he torched them for 122 yards and a TD on 21 carries.

TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Weeks 15-17: at Philadelphia, at Baltimore, vs. Kansas City

The tight end position has been frustrating for most fantasy managers this season, as many supposed top-tier talents have disappointed, and it’s been difficult to find consistent options each week.

 Freiermuth is currently the TE14 in PPR, so he shouldn't be too expensive to acquire, and he could absolutely dominate during the final two weeks of the fantasy playoffs, because tight ends have been torching the Ravens and Chiefs all season. 

Kansas City is allowing the most yards to tight ends per game (80.9), while Baltimore is allowing the second-most (75.5). Tight ends are averaging seven receptions against the Chiefs (most in the NFL) and 6.3 receptions against the Ravens (second-most). The Eagles are a tough matchup, but if you can advance beyond Week 15 or are in line to secure a bye, Freiermuth could be an unexpected X-factor.

RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Weeks 15-17: at L.A. Chargers, at Dallas, vs. Carolina

Irving is clearly the best running back in this backfield, and it’s becoming more and more obvious every week. While head coach Todd Bowles has referred to Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker as a “three-headed monster,” Tucker has barely played as of late and Irving is the RB to own going forward given his usage and effectiveness. Acquiring Irving just based on his talent is smart, but he becomes even more appealing when you realize that Tampa Bay faces the NFL’s two worst run defenses in Weeks 16 and 17.

The Panthers and Cowboys are both allowing 154.6 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL. Also, Carolina is allowing 1.8 rushing touchdowns per game (most in the NFL), while Dallas is allowing 1.7 (second-most). Irving could have a field day over the final two weeks of the season, especially if his workload has expanded by then. 

As for the Chargers, they are a harder matchup on the ground, allowing just 112 rushing yards per game (11th-best in the NFL). That said, they do allow 5.4 RB receptions per game (sixth-most in the NFL), so Irving could still have a productive day against them since he’s a great pass-catching back who just had a season-high seven receptions in the Bucs’ first game since losing Chris Godwin to a season-ending ankle injury.

Players To Sell

RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Weeks 15-17: at Philadelphia, at Baltimore, vs. Kansas City

While the Chiefs and Ravens have been among the worst teams at slowing down tight ends, they have been outstanding at stopping the run, which doesn’t bode well for Harris down the stretch. In fact, they are currently the two best run defenses.

Baltimore is allowing just 69.9 rushing yards per game, which is by far the fewest in the NFL. No other team is even holding opponents below 80 rushing yards per game, but Kansas City is close, allowing just 82.3 (second-best) and 0.6 rushing touchdowns per game (tied for fifth-best).

But it doesn’t stop there: the Eagles have a tough run defense too! Philly allows 107 rushing yards per game (eighth-best) and 0.6 rushing TDs per game.

As if that wasn’t enough reason to jump ship on Harris, Jaylen Warren is finally healthy and earning more touches lately. By the time the fantasy playoffs hit, it’s possible that this will be a greater timeshare, making Harris even less of an appealing option with your season on the line. 

On the heels of his third straight 100-yard effort, Harris is an immediate sell-high candidate if you have the depth and desire to make it happen.

RB Joe Mixon, Houston Texans 

Weeks 15-17: vs. Miami, at Kansas City, vs. Baltimore

Mixon has been incredible this season, averaging 22.4 PPR points per game – No. 1 among all running backs. That's right, we're advocating that you trade the current RB1 before your deadline hits. The chief reason for that suggestion is that his end-of-season schedule is absolutely brutal. 

Just like Harris, Mixon will face the top-two run defenses in the league during the two most important weeks of your fantasy season (the Dolphins in Week 15, however, should not provide much resistance). His value has never been higher after three straight weeks in which he's scored at least 23 PPR points, and the injuries to Houston’s wide receivers mean he could be leaned on just as heavily going forward. Should you elect to sell high now or in the next couple of weeks, you’ll be able to get back a serious haul. 

WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals 

Weeks 15-17: at Tennessee, vs. Cleveland, vs. Denver

During the fantasy championship, Higgins has to face the Broncos, who are currently allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. Denver is giving up just 0.5 receiving touchdowns per game to WRs (fewest in the NFL) and 121.1 receiving yards per game to WRs (sixth-fewest). 

Higgins will also have to play the Titans, who are also stingy against opposing wide receivers. Tennessee, its putrid record aside, is giving up the third-fewest yards to WRs (110.8) and the eighth-fewest touchdowns per game to WRs (0.7).

It’s true that the same warning goes for Ja’Marr Chase, but he’s a bit more matchup-proof than Higgins (although if you’ve been weighing whether to trade Chase for whatever reason, perhaps this adds to the calculus). 

It’s worth noting, too, that the Colts will also face the Broncos and Titans over their final three games (at Denver in Week 15 and vs. Tennessee in Week 16), so this is something to keep in mind when evaluating Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs.

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