play1:04How Olave proved to be a top-20 fantasy WR in Week 7Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down Chris Olave’s fantasy production in the Saints’ Week 7 loss.
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Matt BowenCloseMatt BowenESPN WriterMatt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.Follow on XJeremy FowlerCloseJeremy Fowlersenior NFL national reporterJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.Follow on XOct 22, 2025, 06:15 AM ET
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How Olave proved to be a top-20 fantasy WR in Week 7Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down Chris Olave’s fantasy production in the Saints’ Week 7 loss.
Should Brian Daboll return as Giants coach next season?Jeff Saturday weighs in on whether Brian Daboll should be the Giants’ coach next season after their loss to the Broncos.
Jeff Saturday weighs in on whether Brian Daboll should be the Giants’ coach next season after their loss to the Broncos.
The 2025 NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away (Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. ET), making this a good time to assess the league’s top trade candidates. Who could switch teams, and more importantly, who are the best players who might actually be available?
To get a sense of the market, NFL analyst Matt Bowen and national NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler worked together to build a comprehensive list of the 25 best possible trade candidates based on what each player could bring to a new team.
The buzz: Hendrickson would be far and away the most attractive trade target if Cincinnati entertains a deal. However, a team source told ESPN, as reported Oct. 14 that the Bengals have no plans to trade the former All-Pro. The interest will be there regardless, and San Francisco in particular considers Hendrickson an ideal fit. The Bengals’ record is 3-4 and the team is in the thick of the AFC North race, all the more reason to keep its best defensive player. — Fowler
Predicted chance of getting traded: 20% Team fits: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts
The buzz: This is a similar situation to Hendrickson; the team does not plan to trade the player but interest is there. While Miami could be tempted to trade players due to its 1-6 record, Waddle is a building block on offense, and he’s due $36.1 million in cash over 2025-26 — reasonable in today’s high-end receiver market. Multiple league execs expect the Dolphins’ no-trade stance to stand barring a surprise. — Fowler
The tape: A rapid accelerator with explosive-play ability, Waddle fits best in a system that schemes catch-and-run targets (crossers, in-breakers, screens) and vertical throws. Over his career in Miami, 16.8% of Waddle’s receptions have gone for 20 or more yards, while he produced 38.6% of his total receiving yardage after the catch. He has 405 yards and three TDs this season. — Bowen
The buzz: Hall is pacing for 1,000-plus rushing yards in a contract year and could be a focus for multiple teams seeking tailback help. He has said publicly he wants to stay with the Jets, and the injury to backup Braelon Allen could prompt the Jets to keep him. The Jets value him as a key contributor if they can somehow turn the season around. But with New York sitting at 0-7, moving players could be inevitable. — Fowler
Predicted chance of getting traded: 35% Team fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans
The buzz: Multiple league execs have Woolen earmarked as a strong trade candidate leading into the deadline. “They’ve been wanting to move him for a while,” one executive said. “He doesn’t fit what [Mike Macdonald] wants to do.” Woolen would be best served going to a team that can utilize his man-coverage traits. One potential hurdle to a deal: Seattle’s other starting corner, Devon Witherspoon, has had a difficult time staying healthy this season. — Fowler
The tape: A fourth-year pro with a 6-foot-4 frame and elite speed, Woolen has 11 interceptions and 30 pass breakups in his career. Inconsistent tackling and lapses in eye discipline have prevented him from reaching his ceiling, but Woolen has the physical traits to help a defense majoring in man coverage. — Bowen
Predicted chance of getting traded: 50% Team fits: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The tape: At 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds, Meyers is a physical route runner who is willing to work the heavy traffic areas of the field, and he can separate from man coverage. He had 87 receptions for 1,027 yards in 2024 and can elevate a passing game in need of an intermediate target. — Bowen
Predicted chance of getting traded: 35% Team fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New England Patriots
The tape: Andrews’ play speed has declined, but he can still operate underneath, using his coverage awareness to make himself available to the QB. Plus, Andrews can be schemed on seams and wheel routes. Andrews has 21 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns this season. — Bowen
Predicted chance of getting traded: 20% Team fits: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys
The tape: Olave is a vertical glider with the route traits to win on in-breakers and unders. He has caught 44 passes for 440 yards and three touchdowns this season, and he has 13 career TDs. The availability concerns on Olave have to be discussed, but when healthy, he provides three-level production in the route tree. — Bowen
Predicted chance of getting traded: 20% Team fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants
How Olave proved to be a top-20 fantasy WR in Week 7
Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down Chris Olave’s fantasy production in the Saints’ Week 7 loss.
The buzz: Phillips and teammate Bradley Chubb have circulated in trade rumors. Multiple teams I spoke with believe that Phillips would hold more value than Chubb due to upside. A string of injuries stalled his rising star status, but he’s working his way back. But there’s this: Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said last week that any Dolphins trade rumors are “baseless, currently.” — Fowler
The tape: Injuries have reduced Phillips’ explosiveness and range. But he has the physical tools that teams look for on the edge. With his long 6-foot-5 frame, Phillips can play as both an edge setter and pocket disruptor. He has 25 sacks and 117 pressures over his five-year career. — Bowen
Predicted chance of getting traded: 30% Team fits: Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions
The buzz: This would be a surprise but is still one to watch. The Saints don’t want to trade Taylor but would consider it if they receive a strong offer. He is on the radar of a few teams. Taylor is a 2026 free agent who figures to earn a big pay day, and it’s worth noting that the Saints have a young core of defensive backs that they like in Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley and Jonas Sanker. — Fowler
The tape: Taylor’s versatility and urgent play style shows on the tape. He has the speed to cover on the perimeter, but he can also play a disruptive role in the slot. In four years with the Saints, Taylor has six sacks, three INTs and 36 pass breakups. — Bowen
The buzz: The Jets are not desperate to trade Johnson; good edge rushers are hard to find, and his $13.4 million salary for 2026 (a fifth-year option) is reasonable. But my sense after asking around is that New York would be more willing to part with Johnson than Will McDonald IV if it made any move at the position. Macdonald is in the third year of his rookie deal, whereas Johnson is in his fourth. And Johnson has garnered a bit of interest thus far. — Fowler
The tape: An Achilles injury forced Johnson to miss 15 games in 2024, and he had to sit for three earlier this season with an ankle issue. But when healthy, he has the strength and the lower-body quickness to attack the pocket. Johnson had his best numbers in 2023 (pre-Achilles injury) when he totaled 7.5 sacks and 16 pressures. — Bowen
The buzz: The Bengals are going younger at linebacker, relegating Wilson to a reserve role in favor of rookie Barrett Carter despite Wilson’s status as a team captain. Teams I’ve talked to believe the Bengals are open to dealing Wilson, whose base salary is $5.4 million this season. Next year, Wilson has a base of $6 million. — Fowler
The tape: Wilson is a three-down defender with the coverage instincts and range to impact the pass defense. He has 11 interceptions and 11 pass breakups over his career, plus he has averaged seven tackles per game during his five-plus seasons. Wilson would be an upgrade for multiple teams in the middle of the defense. — Bowen
Predicted chance of getting traded: 60% Team fits: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts
The tape: The splash plays are missing from Carter’s tape, but he has the play strength and competitiveness to operate in the slot. A willing run defender, Carter can cut off the ball on the edges, and he has the foot quickness to match/carry in space. Playing in his fifth pro season, Carter has two interceptions and 21 pass breakups over his career. — Bowen
The buzz: The Titans are open to trading players who are in the last year of a contract and are not in the franchise’s long-term plans. Key fits that mold. And if pass-rush-hunting teams strike out on big names, Key is a serviceable alternative. The Titans just lost rookie pass rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo for significant time due to a fractured leg, so they might need to keep Key to offset attrition. — Fowler