Fantasy Trade Market: Top Players to Buy, Sell or Hold After NFL Preseason Week 3 (2024)

The 2024 NFL preseason has come and gone. By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, all 32 teams will reduce rosters to 53 players. Fantasy football managers also have some decisions to make before Week 1.

Should you hold on to that preseason standout, or did his performances make you question another player's season outlook?

We'll break it all down on Bleacher Report's fantasy trade market as teams finalize initial 53-man depth charts.

Whether you're ready to contend for a league title, build for the future, or are still on the fence about your squad, we'll help you maneuver the trade market.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

Preseason Week 3: 5 carries, 17 yards, TD; 2 catches, 27 yards

2023 Season: 252 carries, 1005 yards, 6 TDs; 55 catches, 311 yards

In their final preseason game, the Titans rolled out most of their starting offense, minus wideout DeAndre Hopkins who's recovering from a knee injury. Pollard opened the contest on the first drive, and Spears entered the game on the second drive.

As Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke noted, Spears stayed in the game after the Titans pulled their starters.

Don't lose too much sleep if you drafted Spears over Pollard, but the order suggests a possible lean toward Pollard for a slightly heavier workload. Also, remember that Tennessee signed Pollard to a sizeable three-year, $21.8 million contract.

Buy Pollard for: Rhamondre Stevenson, Zamir White, Javonte Williams

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Preseason Week 3: 1 catch, 38 yards

2023 Season: N/A

Thomas recorded at least one reception in all three exhibition games, and all of those plays resulted in 14-plus-yard gains.

Even though the Jaguars signed big-play wideout Gabe Davis, who averages 16.7 yards per reception, Thomas may be a more consistent playmaker.

In five out of 17 weeks last season, Davis finished with zero fantasy points. Thomas, a rookie first-rounder, who can be explosive as a vertical threat and after the catch, should have a higher floor than Davis. He may also be the Jaguars' best all-round receiver.

Here's a bold take: Thomas will outproduce fellow LSU product Malik Nabers in fantasy points this year.

Buy Thomas for: Courtland Sutton, Marquise Brown, DeAndre Hopkins

Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Preseason Week 3: N/A

2023 Season: N/A

We listed Bowers on our first fantasy trade market buy list after Week 1 of the preseason. Since then, the Raiders named Gardner Minshew their starting quarterback, which may scare you off, but the team intends to feature Bowers in the offense.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, "The Raiders have big plans for their first-round pick."

In his evaluation of the Raiders' rookie class, ESPN's Paul Gutierrez wrote about the Raiders' willingness to use multiple tight ends in 12- and 13-personnel groupings.

When you add in the possibility that trade rumors around wideout Davante Adams could heat up if the Raiders have a slow start to the season, Bowers should be a top tight end on your radar. He's currently TE11 in average draft position.

Buy Bowers for: Jake Ferguson, David Njoku, Zack Moss

Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Preseason Week 3: N/A

2023 Season: 183 carries, 794 yards, 5 TDs; 27 catches, 192 yards, 2 TDs

Moss' prospective role in the Bengals' backfield could shrink in the coming days.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. wrote in Chase Brown as Cincinnati's clear-cut starting running back in his most recent 53-man roster projection, a tweak from his previous listing of the backfield pecking order two weeks ago.

Though Dehner expects an "even split" between Moss and Brown, he said the latter has lined up with the first team "lately in camp."

Moreover, Dehner believes the Bengals will add depth to their backfield.

"This would be the spot most likely to receive an addition from the outside. His name is Samaje Perine. He could be on the outs among a crowded running backs group in Denver, and the Bengals could use his depth and instant trust with Burrow. I could see the Bengals waiting for the Denver Broncos to release Perine (due to count $4.5 million against the Broncos' cap), but there's potential for a trade if the Bengals are willing to take on part of his contract. Don't rule out dipping into the waiver wire here, either."

If Perine returns to Cincinnati, primarily as a third-down tailback, Moss won't be much of a factor in the short passing game. The Bengals may trust Perine or another veteran in that role, and Brown is a more explosive playmaker.

Consequently, Moss would have a role limited to an even split on early downs.

Sell Moss for: Chase Brown, Devin Singletary, Gus Edwards

Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Preseason Week 3: N/A

2023 Season: 79 catches, 894 yards, 5 TDs

Lockett sat out in the preseason while nursing a leg injury, but that's not why his stock could plummet by mid-September.

Last week, we told you to take the buzz around Jaxon Smith-Njigba seriously because his time with Smith during the offseason could lead to a breakout campaign. This past weekend, we saw their rapport in game action.

In Week 3 of the preseason, quarterback Geno Smith completed a couple of passes for 32 yards to Smith-Njigba.

Smith-Nijba's rise in Ryan Grubb's offense could mean fewer opportunities for Lockett, who finished 24th in targets (122) last season.

Sell Lockett for: Xavier Legette, Adonai Mitchell, Ja'Lynn Polk

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Preseason Week 3: N/A

2023 Season: 32 catches, 308 yards, 2 TDs

Because of the Steelers' thin receiver corps, you would think Freiermuth has a pathway to a bounce-back campaign after finishing with career lows in catches and receiving yards last year.

Don't count on it.

For one, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith typically operates a run-heavy offense, so barring a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, George Pickens may be the only pass-catcher on the roster with consistent fantasy appeal.

Secondly, The Athletic's Mike DeFabo noted that Smith won't feature a particular tight end in 12- and 13-personnel groupings, like the Las Vegas Raiders might do with Brock Bowers.

"The Steelers will often have two or three tight ends on the field at the same time, so it will be important to have different body types and playing styles here," DeFabo wrote.

As a tight ends coach and offensive coordinator, Smith has worked with MyCole Pruitt for the last six seasons. Don't be surprised if Pruitt does enough, specifically in the red zone, to annoy anyone who rosters Freiermuth.

Sell Freiermuth for: Joshua Palmer, Darnell Mooney, Tyler Conklin

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

Preseason Week 3: 12-of-20, 126 yards passing, 17 rushing yards

2023 Season: N/A

Going into Week 3 of the preseason, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo provided an update on the team's quarterback battle between journeyman Jacoby Brissett and Maye.

"It's still a competition, and Jacoby is still QB1," Mayo told reporters.

The Patriots experienced a bit of a scare in their final exhibition game when Brissett took a big hit. He suffered a shoulder injury and didn't return for a second drive.

Maye took over the offense on the second drive and went 13 of 20 passing for 126 yards and a touchdown for the game.

Though the Patriots should think twice about starting a rookie behind a subpar offensive line, Brissett's injury may speed up the team's decision to roll with Maye.

Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Commanders

Preseason Week 3: N/A

2023 Season: 12 catches, 168 yards, TD

The Washington Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles, which opens up some targets for lesser-known names on the depth chart.

ESPN's John Keim doesn't think rookie third-rounder Luke McCaffrey stood out to earn more opportunities in the passing game.

"He has not emerged as an obvious top-four wideout to open the season," Keim wrote in his rookie evaluations.

Managers should focus on Brown, whom head coach Dan Quinn praised after the Commanders' first exhibition game.

"One, I thought you've seen some big plays from Dyami through this training camp. There's actually some in the spring that got my attention, to say okay what's there? And his ability to get on top of people and stay. He's got size, he's got length, so there's actually a good play in the one-on-ones that transferred into the game to go…"

In Week 1 of the preseason against the New York Jets, Brown hauled in a 42-yard pass from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels on the first drive. We could see a lot more of that deep-ball connection in the regular season, but wait another week in case Washington adds a wideout before its final roster cuts.

Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants

Preseason Week 3: N/A

2023 Season: N/A

Throughout training camp, the New York Giants had an open competition at tight end after Darren Waller announced his retirement.

Though Johnson missed practices while on the physically unable to perform list, he may have flashed enough to carve out an immediate role in the passing game.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, "The Giants believe Johnson can be a factor in his rookie season."

Someone other than rookie wideout Malik Nabers has to provide a spark in the aerial attack if the Giants want to consistently score through the air. At 6'6", 264 pounds, with 4.57-second speed, Johnson can exploit mismatches against slower linebackers and smaller safeties.

Keep an eye on the Giants' depth chart in the coming days.

Looking for more insight to prep for your draft or make some tough roster decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.