Brian Thomas Jr. to the Patriots, Jonathan Taylor to the Vikings and more trades we'd love to see for fantasy football

Think about how much work goes into a fantasy football trade. We plug offers into trade analyzers. We scroll through other leagues’ deals looking for a framework that might fit. We go back and forth with the other manager for days. And even after we hit accept, there’s a little voice wondering if the league chat is about to roast us.Now imagine doing that as an actual NFL GM.Salary caps. Draft capital. A fan base and a local media market ready to grade every move before the ink dries. I’ll stick with my group chat, thanks.Luckily, we don’t have to worry about any of that today. With the NFL Trade Deadline next Tuesday and after playing couch coach on Sunday, let’s sit back and play armchair GM. No cap sheets, no press conferences. Just the deals that would make our fantasy lives a little easier. Here are five trades I’d love to see before the deadline.Brian Thomas Jr. to the PatriotsAll right, let me inject some reality into the situation as you scoff at my idea. The odds of the Jaguars helping to improve a team in the same conference with a 71% shot at the playoffs are about as good as me getting more than five wins in the Yahoo Expert League. But Jacksonville has at least been having fun with giving credence to letting one of their young WRs go via trade.Brian Thomas Jr. starts the scoring in Jacksonville!INDvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/TSkI5R33VG— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2026I’m putting the following two bits of information in the “probably (definitely) doesn’t matter” category. First, the Jaguars’ ‘Weapons’-themed Halloween post. All of the primary skill players got a space on the poster — even LeQuint Allen Jr. Everyone but Brian Thomas Jr. But then, the third-year WR co-led the Jaguars in targets on Sunday before the game got out of hand. (Windhorst fingers) Why would Jacksonville do that?But seriously, Thomas’ decline since ’24 has been due to his fit within the offense. Trevor Lawrence is targeting the middle of the field at the sixth-highest rate of all starters. Through eight weeks, Thomas has three targets on patterns over the middle. The same problem existed last year, too (6 of 48 catches on crossing routes). Thomas’ superpower has been downfield and outside the numbers. In ’25, he had the same amount of yards as Parker Washington on throws of 15 or more air yards. Jacksonville has plenty of (better) options for Lawrence. New England could use at least another.#Patriots QB Drake Maye absolutely launched the post on the Kyle Williams touchdown after sliding up to avoid pressure. Air distance of 46.9 yards. Wish we had the MPH. pic.twitter.com/XFMPJF4OKO— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) November 2, 2026Since the schedule opened up for the Patriots in Week 4, Drake Maye is averaging 9.1 air yards per attempt. Only Jordan Love is throwing farther. But despite throwing to Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism, Maye is fourth in completion rate on downfield throws. Romeo Doubs is out until at least Week 12, Hunter Henry sustained a foot injury on Sunday and A.J. Brown’s ankle and knee injuries have made him more of a liability than an asset. The schedule won’t shield them from tough defenses forever. If they want to make another run at the Super Bowl, they’ll need another receiver to keep the offense on schedule.Josh Downs to the BengalsPlease tell me you’re not surprised that I’d want a Josh-Downs-caliber WR in orange and black. Admittedly, Downs looked like he went to the Cam Newton School of Fumble Recoveries on Sunday. But a southeastern, 110-mile change of scenery would do him some good. Besides, his utility to a passing attack like the Bengals’ is easy to see.How do you think Josh Downs could potentially fit in the Steelers offense? pic.twitter.com/sk62DD8dPQ— PorterLessBurgh (@PortersBurgh) October 28, 2026Downs has lined up in the slot on 54.5% of his snaps with an aDOT of 9.3 air yards. Daniel Jones’ avg. time to throw on passes to Downs has been 2.55 seconds. Joe Burrow has been firing the ball at 2.57 seconds post-snap and targeting the intermediate area of the field (11th in air yards per att.). On third down alone, Downs’ 13 catches have resulted in series conversions. But adding Indy’s slot guy isn’t just about how he helps No. 9. He’d also put No. 1 in better situations.(Ja’Marr Chase) Yards per Route Run: 2.30 (from the outside), 1.45 (from the slot)First Downs per Route Run: 11.6%, 7.7%Explosive Play Rate: 20.9%, 16.7%Chase’s TD against the Titans started with him from the perimeter. In fact, all of his touchdown catches have come from the outside. While we enjoy the layup looks, Chase has been more efficient when taking on boundary coverage. And if Cincinnati can add a reliable slot receiver to the mix, its offense will add a much-needed element to their passing game.Jonathan Taylor to the VikingsI’ll eat the chalk on Jonathan Taylor heading north. It’s in the same vein as the Bengals adding to their receiver corps. The strength of Minnesota’s offense isn’t through Kyler Murray. That (Viking) ship has sailed. But, for as much blame as we should lay at his feet, Murray still needed an average of 8.2 yards on his 10 third-down dropbacks. And some of that stems from the help, or lack thereof, he got from the running game.Here are all nine Jordan Mason carries against Detroit.Gaints of 10, 1, -2, 2, 29 (called back), 11, -5, 2, 1What stands out? pic.twitter.com/2VmLUUm3Q2— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 2, 2026To be honest, I don’t disagree with Will Ragatz’s (perceived) sentiment. I’m not sure what more Jordan Mason could do on his early-down opportunities. But when six of eight totes go for two or fewer yards, explanations matter less. And let’s say Taylor gets a chance to run behind the same offensive line. At least from looking at his per-touch metrics to date, there’s a solid chance he’d get a bit more on his touches.Adj. Yards After Contact per Att. (on early downs): 3.42 (Taylor), 2.65 (Mason)Rushing Success Rate: 38.7%, 34.8%Forced Missed Tackle Rate: 12.1%, 17.4%Outside of making a couple of extra guys miss, Mason has been as advertised: good, just needs volume. Meanwhile, before the Colts put a “For Sale” sign outside of Lucas Oil Stadium, Taylor was one of eight RBs with more than 500 rushing yards on early downs. Accordingly, Jones’ average distance to the sticks on third down was 7.3 yards.Maybe HC Kevin O’Connell has some magic left in his playcalling to get Murray comfortable. But the defense can still cause havoc, and a better run game can take pressure off Murray. And if the price is as steep as the reports indicate, Minnesota wouldn’t be crazy for paying it.George Pickens to the SeahawksI wasn’t hip to the idea of George Pickens leaving Dallas until a few things happened within a span of about 24 hours. The first two went down this past Sunday. George Pickens running to the locker room before the game is over in Dallas. 👀 #Steelers#NFLpic.twitter.com/Z1QRLzHat9— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) November 2, 2026Seeing Pickens already halfway to his car before the Cardinals kicked the winning FG should also go in the “probably (definitely) doesn’t matter” bucket. It’s not his first negative reaction to a loss. However, couple that with a usage shift over his last few games, and there might be more to the story.Target Share: 19% (Weeks 6-8), 24% (Weeks 1-3)Air Yard Share: 26%, 33%Play-Action Target Rate: 16%, 29%While Dak Prescott and Pickens didn’t start where they left off in’25, at least the strong WR2 role was still there. Along with a bevy of intermediate routes off play-action (which increases receiver efficiency), Pickens was, at worst, a slight overpay. Now, he has Ryan Flournoy (at 5.7 targets per game over his last three) siphoning targets away. Along with being on a team with an outside shot at the playoffs, Pickens’ job has somehow diminished and gotten more volatile. Fortunately, after Monday night, there’s a clear team in the hunt that could use a WR2.Cam Lewis delivers a devastating legal hit to Tory Horton!That's some old school NFL type of power. pic.twitter.com/UIERoXZqVu— The Goal Line Grind (@theGLgrind) November 3, 2026Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught six passes for 118 yards and a score. The rest of the Seahawks’ WRs totaled 33 yards on four catches. Now, I get it. We’re asking too much of Tory Horton and Cooper Kupp. I’m sure Rashid Shaheed’s return will set things right. But before we toss the idea of adding Pickens aside, let’s take a look at Shaheed’s season to date.Target Rate: 14.4%, 53rd (out of 57 qualifiers – min. 25 targets)YPRR: 1.20, 49th Explosive Play Rate: 35th Shaheed had only earned two more targets than Kupp before getting injured. And he had fewer yards. While I enjoy watching the JSN Show each week, a lesser running game only puts more of the onus on Sam Darnold to keep the offense moving. Pulling Pickens into the fold would be the ideal complement in both fantasy and real life. Adonai Mitchell to the ChiefsThinking back to my Bengals pick for a trade above, Tony Pollard is actually the likelier option. Tyjae Spears’ injury has given Tennessee the runway to feature Pollard over the last couple of weeks, and it’s worked out well. The former Cowboys even notched his second straight 100-yard game against Cincinnati on its home turf. There’s no better way to get a sense of a player’s talent than a live audition.And the Jets have a similar opportunity this weekend. Adonai Mitchell set a new career high with 142 receiving yards, topping his previous best of 102.7 REC, 142 REC YDS, 1 TD vs RaidersAcquired in the Sauce Gardner trade, Mitchell is showing serious potential in New York. pic.twitter.com/djWO4vT8Ik— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) November 1, 2026Adonai Mitchell came back from injury and stole the show in New Jersey. After a Mason Taylor and Omar Cooper Jr. week, Mitchell relegated those two to role players as he put up the most yards of any Jets pass-catcher in a single game since Week 15 of 2024. But it’s not just about his total in the box score. His on-field deployment should interest any team looking for a downfield threat. Yes, Mitchell’s touchdown catch came on a go route. But Geno Smith connected with Mitchell on multiple timing routes to the outside, along with a deep crossing route for an explosive. He has the size and speed to not only be a downfield threat, but to create separation at the snap. That’s something the Chiefs sorely need.Xavier Worthy was kinda cookin' a couple times in this game. pic.twitter.com/K9UH5flNyF— Daniel Harms (@InHarmsWay19) November 2, 2026One-game sample caveat, but against the Broncos, the Chiefs’ WRs caught 10 of 11 targets for 62 yards and a score on throws of 10 air yards or shorter. Essentially, the Rashee Rice special. Anything past that resulted in two catches for 24 yards. Actually, Patrick Mahomes doesn’t have a TD completion to a WR on an intermediate or deep threat since Week 4. Kansas City balanced the offense with Kenneth Walker III. But with its deficiencies at WR, Sunday’s result should be a lesson in becoming a one-dimensional offense that it doesn’t want to relearn in January.