Fantasy managers often channel Jimmy Johnson in making Herschel Walker-caliber deals to improve their fantasy squads. NFL teams are more judicious in their trades, but savvy fantasy managers who get ahead of the curve on these potential NFL trades can get low-cost players whose value can increase dramatically with a new team.

So, which players can get you ahead of this curve? I’ve scoured trade rumors around the NFL ahead of the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline to help identify these candidates. We’ll start with running backs since these players are the prime NFL trade candidates this season.

Tracking The 2025 NFL Trade Deadline Trades

Stay tuned to follow along with all fantasy football-relevant trades in real-time as we lead up to the 2025 deadline on Tuesday, November 4th.

NFL Trade Rumors Ahead of 2025 Deadline

Running Backs

One of my running back grading methods is measuring their workload division rate. 

There are four workload division categories. These are bell cow (where one player gets almost all of the work), lead/alternate (one lead back getting most of the work plus an alternate back getting some work), platoon (a 50/50 split that usually has a 1A and 1B), and running back by committee (of which there are none right now). 

The higher up this workload chart a running back goes, the higher his fantasy value will go.

Now let’s get into the reviews.

Breece Hall, NYJ

The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt thinks a Hall trade could be made at the right price. Hall won't lack for motivation wherever he ends up. He recently told CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, “If y’all don’t want me, that’s your loss. I’ll come back and kill you guys.” Hall also reportedly went to the Jets coaches and asked them to give him the ball more often, a request that resulted in his 20 scrimmage plays against the Bengals in Week 8.

That all sounds great until noting that Hall had a terrific start in 2024 but then fell off notably in the second half of that season. This decline is why Aaron Glenn suggested during the preseason that the Jets might give some of Hall’s work to other backs (moving the Jets from a bell cow to a lead/alternate setup, in other words). This means any NFL team that picks Hall up may want to manage his workload level down the stretch.

• Fantasy spin: Hall has borderline RB1/RB2 value as a bell cow in New York. He can have RB1 value as a lead back in a team with a better offense.
• Move I would make: If you pay the borderline RB1/RB2 price for all, you’ve set the floor value here while still having plenty of upside potential. Go Wayne Brady on this one and make a deal.

Chuba Hubbard, CAR

A Hubbard trade may not seem likely, but you may want to consider trading him for the off chance that happens.

Here’s why. Hubbard may seem like the 1B in the Panthers platoon backfield, but the reality is he is the 1A. For proof, consider that over the past two weeks, Hubbard has a 56 Utilization Score versus Dowdle’s 44 mark. That alone will help you get a potentially strong return on a buy-low trade for Hubbard, but there’s even more upside to this.

Last year was the first college or pro season that Dowdle posted more than 148 scrimmage plays. He’s just not built for lead-back work. Hubbard is. Only eight players generated more scrimmage plays in 2023-24 than Hubbard.

• Fantasy spin: Hubbard will either stay at 1A in the Carolina platoon, move to lead back status with the Panthers, or get a solid workload with a team that has a better offense. All of these are low-cost upside plays.
• Move I would make: Make a good buy-low offer for Hubbard now. 

Alvin Kamara, NO

Kamara ranked in the top five among running backs in the season-ending Utilization Score in each season from 2020 through 2024. That wear and tear is finally catching up to Kamara in his age-30 season. His 73 UR in 2025 ranks 17th and is easily the lowest of his career.

A trade could be a case where less could be more. If Kamara is dealt to a team that will use him as a platoon back or even an alternate back on inside-the-20 plays, his value could improve notably. 

There are two caveats here. The first is that Kamara is currently dealing with an ankle injury. The second is that Kamara has suggested he might just retire and drink a piña colada if the Saints trade him. 

• Fantasy spin: Buyer beware. He may be worth a trade at the right price, but there are many potential downside paths here.
• Move I would make: I tend to avoid downside paths, so the suggestion is to avoid trading for Kamara unless the cost is very low.

Jerome Ford, CLE

Ford is only one season removed from posting four games with 15+ PPR points. That he did this with what was the worst offense in the NFL speaks well to his potential impact. He’s now third on the Browns RB depth chart and thus may be available on the trade market.

• Fantasy spin: Ford may be worth a roster stash in the event he does land on a better offense.
• Move I would make: Stash Ford in 12-team leagues. It’s a toss-up in 10-team leagues as to whether to roster him. Avoid Ford in eight-team leagues.

Wide Receivers

A.J. Brown, PHI

A few weeks ago, Dianna Russini quoted an AFC GM as saying that he thought Howie Roseman would trade Brown if the right deal was offered. Adam Schefter has since reported that the Eagles aren’t likely to trade Brown. That potential trade could also be disrupted by Brown’s hamstring injury that kept him out of the Week 8 game against the Giants.

• Fantasy spin: Since a trade is unlikely, the only consideration is whether to trade for him for his role in the Eagles offense. Given his injury and the hit-miss connection he has with Jalen Hurts right now, trading for Brown doesn’t look to have a lot of upside potential.
• Move I would make: Sit tight unless something changes.

Brian Thomas Jr., JAX

Russini reported that the Jaguars are listening if teams ask if Thomas is available for a trade. That listening may no longer be taking place after head coach Liam Coen said the Jaguars have no plans to trade Thomas. That potential change of heart may have occurred due to Thomas dealing with a shoulder injury that requires him to practice with a harness.

• Fantasy spin: Win-now teams aren’t going to trade for Thomas while he’s dealing with an injury. Fantasy managers would be wise to follow that same mindset.
• Move I would make: Avoid making any trade offers for BTJ unless or until his injury woes clear up.

Jakobi Meyers, LV

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler thinks Meyers has a good chance of being dealt. Meyers ranked 10th among WRs in games of 15+ PPR points in 2023-24 despite the Raiders revolving door at quarterback. Put him on a team with a better quarterback than the interception-prone Geno Smith and Meyers could end up as a very good weekly flex option.

• Fantasy spin: Meyers hasn’t posted 10+ PPR points since Week 2. There’s a downside risk if the Raiders don’t trade him, but at his current trade cost, Meyers is worth that marginal downside.
• Move I would make: Make an offer that is a bit higher than the bottom trade low level. It should land the deal for Meyers while still leaving plenty of margin for error.

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