Four weeks into the NFL season, it may be time to start looking into fantasy football trades.
Whether you’re 0-4 and looking for a shot in the arm, or you’re 4-0 and trying to prey on the desperate teams, there is a large enough sample size to start some serious conversations about how to move forward. Injuries have left plenty of managers short-handed, as have disappointing starts from some notable stars.
Fantasy football trades are always tough to get across the finish line, so it could take a while for a deal to come together. Before Week 5 gets underway, it’s time to take stock of where certain players of note stand — like A.J. Brown, Drake London, Brian Thomas Jr. and Ja’Marr Chase. DraftKings is here to break down who could be worth moving, with Los Angeles Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey up next.
Ladd McConkey Fantasy Value
The No. 34 overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft broke onto the scene as a rookie, racking up 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 catches and 112 targets. McConkey was Justin Herbert’s security blanket, accounting for a team-high 52 first downs. That combination of volume and efficiency made McConkey a consensus third-round pick and top-12 wideout heading into his sophomore fantasy campaign.
McConkey was serviceable in Week 1, reeling in six of nine targets for 74 yards. He started to fall off in Week 2, though, only recording 48 yards while catching all five of his targets. In Week 3, he notched four catches and 41 yards on seven targets. McConkey bottomed out in Week 4, despite a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Giants. He only had one reception on six targets, going for 11 yards. Through nearly a quarter of the season, McConkey has yet to find the end zone.
Herbert has been productive without leaning on McConkey, instead looking to Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen. Johnston was a factor during McConkey’s rookie season, but he has taken a leap forward in terms of consistency in 2025. Allen, meanwhile, returned to Los Angeles after one year with the Chicago Bears. It hasn’t taken him long to recapture his chemistry with Herbert, as he leads the team with 15 first downs.
McConkey has an 18.8% target share, down from 22.8% in 2024. Herbert’s passer rating when throwing his way has also dropped from 123.0 to 62.9 year-over-year. He is currently ranked as WR51, averaging 8.4 PPR fantasy points per game. He ranks No. 43 among receivers in expected fantasy points, per ESPN, so the underlying numbers aren’t on his side either.
Should I trade Ladd McConkey?
Before Week 4, McConkey was playing just well enough that his value was probably only a tick below where it was on draft day. Now, he has dropped several tiers. Moving off of McConkey at this point would constitute selling low, which is never an ideal situation to be in.
If you have the cushion and patience to wait a week and hope McConkey puts up double-digits against the Washington Commanders, that alone would make him a much easier asset to move.
After all, McConkey started relatively slow in 2024 as well, only averaging 10.4 PPR fantasy points per game through Week 7. Outside of the two touchdowns he had at that point in the season, the rest of his per-game numbers from that stretch are nearly identical to his production now. Then, across his final 10 appearances last year, McConkey averaged 17.6 PPR fantasy points per game. Just one good game could be enough to pitch another team on buying another second-half breakout.
But in reality, McConkey isn’t going to be the top-30 player you drafted him to be. Johnston’s big-play prowess, Allen’s resurgence, Rashawn Slater’s season-ending knee surgery and Joe Alt’s ankle sprain make it hard to see McConkey replicating what he did in 2024, when he finished as WR11.
What trade package could Ladd McConkey fetch?
McConkey is being viewed as a fringe top-25 receiver in fantasy at this point, putting him around the same value as Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel Sr., Michael Pittman Jr. and Xavier Worthy. Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Harrison Jr. are hovering around that camp, as well. A one-for-one swap for any of those could be palatable enough to accept. Basically, McConkey should be able to net you a startable FLEX even if you pull the trigger now.
Holding off a week could bump McConkey up to the top of that tier, though, all while other stars continue to trend down. If McConkey shows life and either A.J. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr. keep struggling, a deal based around them might be on the table. In short, there could be an opportunity to turn a sell low into a buy low, depending on other fantasy owners’ roster situations.
With CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill and Malik Nabers all hurt, WR-needy teams could flip a running back for McConkey. At the moment, Chuba Hubbard, Jordan Mason or Chase Brown would be the players to target. If the narrative changes in the days ahead, maybe the door opens for Alvin Kamara or Javonte Williams.
