Fantasy football trade targets: Week 8

It's hard to believe we're halfway through the fantasy season. If you're still on the cusp of making the playoffs this year or if you're looking to load up your lineup for a championship run, you need to look at your lineup and think about possible trades you can make.

Last week's column featured Sammy Watkins, Golden Tate and Jerick McKinnon as targets to buy. I also recommended selling a few players including Ahmad Bradshaw. There were hits and misses for Week 7, but I still think Bradshaw is an ideal sell-high candidate.

Here are the players I think you should buy and sell heading into Week 8.

Buy

Giovani Bernard

Week 7 was a nightmare for the Bengals. Bernard rushed for just 17 yards on seven carries, and he actually finished with negative receiving yardage on two receptions. Andy Dalton put his No. 1 back in terrible positions a few times, letting defenders like Vontae Davis tee off on Bernard out of the backfield.

Taking a deeper look at Bernard's stats will give owners more confidence, though. He's averaging 2.90 yards after contact per touch, third-most among all running backs. His PPR finishes among running backs were 13, 2, 7, 32 and 4 leading up to Week 7.

If you look at the Bengals schedule, Bernard sees favorable matchups for most of his remaining games. He faces the Browns, the fifth-most generous team to opposing running backs, twice, including a matchup during the fantasy championship in Week 16.

With all this in mind we have to remember A.J. Green hasn't even been playing in recent weeks. His presence in the offense takes pressure off Bernard and provides more space for him to work.

Eric Decker

Percy Harvin's arrival in New York might be off-putting to some Decker owners, but another weapon in the Jets offense should be welcomed. Decker has been the only reliable receiving target for Geno Smith despite dealing with a hamstring injury through 2014. Now he gets an explosive player in Harvin to create more opportunities going forward.

Decker hasn't posted more than 74 yards receiving in a single game this season. He has just one game with more than five receptions. That's exactly why it's the time to buy him.

When healthy, Decker's numbers have been solid, as he's posted 12-plus points in PPR scoring four times. This week he faces a Bills secondary that's given up 10 touchdown to wide receivers through seven games. Decker looks healthy now and should be a reliable PPR option for the remainder of the year.

Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick and the 49ers looked awful on Sunday night as the offensive line could not give him any time to throw, but the schedule clears up when San Francisco returns from its bye. Kaepernick will face St. Louis, New Orleans, and Washington over those next four weeks, all defenses in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.

His rushing numbers were down in Week 7, but Kaepernick has three games of 50-plus yards rushing in 2014. His ability to create with his legs gives him a decent floor every week, especially with the schedule he has coming up.

If you're looking for a cheap quarterback to fill-in over the next several weeks, Kaepernick is a great option.

Ben Tate

As @ProjectRoto put it on Twitter, one week owners are asking if they should trade Tate for Calvin Johnson, the next they're asking if it's time to drop the Browns starting running back.

If you thought Tate had a favorable matchup in Week 7, look at who's up next. He faces the Raiders (second-worst against running backs) and the Buccaneers (fourth-worst) in Weeks 8 and 9.

I might look to sell Tate after the next two weeks if he can post solid numbers in each, but for now I think he's a great buy-low. He's still the running back in charge in an offense that wants to run the ball.

Other players I like

Julius Thomas: If there is an owner in your league who would actually look to sell Thomas based on his 27-yard performance in Week 7, don't hesitate to acquire him. Peyton Manning likes the feed his targets who are coming off bad weeks. I'm 99 percent positive Thomas scores in Week 8.
Brian Quick: You can probably get him for next-to-nothing right now. Quick's schedule is easier in the coming weeks and he's proven he can be a solid No. 1 target for Austin Davis.
Michael Floyd: He's posted back-to-back touchdowns but he only caught seven passes for 94 yards in the last two games. His ceiling is much higher with Carson Palmer returning to full health.

Sell

Shane Vereen

While I liked what I saw from Vereen without Stevan Ridley in the mix, it's still impossible to predict how this backfield will play out going forward. Bill Belichick is going to change up the workload depending on the matchup/who has the hot hand.

Vereen finished with 17 touches in Week 7, adding two receiving touchdowns to provide a huge stat line for any owner who started him. Vereen was wide open for his 49-yard score, and he also provided red-zone value with a three-yard score as he took advantage of the Jets linebackers.

Even with Ridley playing last year, Vereen showed the same up-and-down production. I like his opportunity going forward, but if I can turn him around for help in an area of need on my roster, I'll take a more consistent player. Owners are likely ready to buy on Vereen as he is the No. 1 back. See what you can gain in return.

Brandin Cooks

Football fans might have been getting ahead of themselves by anointing Cooks the Offensive Rookie of the Year after seeing him light up the Falcons secondary. Unfortunately that monster start against a weak defense didn't foreshadow exactly how 2014 would turn out.

Most rookie wide receivers are volatile, and Cooks is no different. He saw just three targets in Week 7 with Jimmy Graham out of the gameplan. Kenny Stills was more involved in the offense, Marques Colston led in receiving and even Travaris Cadet outperformed Cooks.

His roller coaster ride of fantasy output will give owners a headache every week. There are over 100 wide receivers averaging more yards per catch than Cooks (8.5). The explosive play just isn't showing up, and when he's fighting multiple players for touches, I'd rather sell him and let someone else deal with him.