There was a lot of buzz about several offensive skill players getting moved at the NFL trade deadline earlier this week. Turns out, only four wide receivers were moved and no running backs got dealt.
The Bengals already made the biggest boost to their fantasy assets in early October by trading for Joe Flacco, flipping the fortunes of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown in Cincinnati toward resembling what they could have been with healthy Joe Burrow.
But based on what happened and what didn't happen by Nov. 4, here's the good and bad of the fantasy football fallout.
↕️ Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Half-PPR Cheat Sheet
Fantasy winners & losers from NFL trade deadline
Winner: Sam Darnold
Darnold has ascended to QB15 on average for the season with big passing efforts in three of the past four games, including ripping the Commanders downfield in Week 9.
He's back in the groove for Klint Kubiak's offense and got another speedy big-play weapon who knows the system in Rashid Shaheed. The Seahawks are opening up the passing game more to be more effective and Shaheed only adds to that.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers was attached to getting many wide receivers to help the Steelers' big dropoff after DK Metcalf but Pittsburgh chose to sit pat.
Rodgers is the QB20 through Week 9 and still not much more than a deep matchup-based streamer or superflex play.
Winner: Jakobi Meyers
Meyers needed to leave the Raiders as he had fallen out of favor with his new QB Geno Smith, who first preferred Tre Tucker at wideout and then went nuts again for tight end Brock Bowers immediately upon his return.
Meyers is still a solid big slot receiver with good hands and the injury-riddled Jaguars need him to be busy for Trevor Lawrence right away.
Loser: Brian Thomas Jr.
The Meyers addition to go with Parker Washington's elevation into the starting lineup last week in the wake of Travis Hunter's troubling knee injury means that Thomas' ankle sprain will still cause him to miss time.
Winner: Kareem Hunt
The Chiefs didn't make a move to get a running back and didn't need to do so with the reliable Hunt there to do whatever's needed to help Patrick Mahomes, including his rushing and receivng prowees in the red zone.
Hunt will keep his key role after the bye with Isiah Pacheco hurting.
Loser: Breece Hall
The Jeta aren't the worst RB2 team for Hall, as he's been the average RB19 through Week 9 in half-point PPR. But take away his massive Week 8 and he's outside of the top 25 at the position. Hall needs a smash matchup such as the Bengals to come through in this limited offense with Justin Fields. He didn't get a chance to be the front-runner for a contender and now has to contend with growing work for Isaiah Davis, too.
📋 LINEUP TIPS: Week 10 Start 'Em Sit 'Em
Winner: Chris Olave
Olave needs to get going with rookie starting QB Tyler Shough. Spencer Rattler went nuts targeting Olave for limited results. Shough, with his big arm, was set to click more with Shaheed and already has developed a connection with tight end Juwan Johnson.
Now, Olave will eat up some more high-leverage intermediate-to-deep targets for Shough with Brandin Cooks being the second-best wideout.
Loser: Tory Horton
Horton, the dynamic big-play rookie from Colorado State, has flashed when givne the opportunity to play well off Jaxon Smith-Njigba with Cooper Kupp creeping toeward the end.
Now it will be more of the JSN-Shaheed show with Horton not getting a real spike in targets.
Winner: Brock Bowers
Despite a mild TNF performance, Bowers crushed it in his first game back, dominating the Jaguars with Smith finding him all over the field.
There always has been a No. 1 receiver in Las Vegas this season, and he is definitely it. Meyers' departure at least more emphatically clears the way.
Loser: Isaiah Likely
Likely sneakily was healthiest to be his busiest against the Dolphins with 3 catches for 60 yards on 4 targets. Mark Andrews, however, scored twice on 2 catches for 22 yards in that same Week 9 game.
There were huge rumors about Andrews leaving Baltimore at the deadline. Instead, this remains a frustrating two-tight end siutation for fantasy while also keeping things intact for Lamar Jackson.
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