Week 1 is basically a fever dream. You watch a rookie explode for 120 yards and suddenly you’re ready to trade your first-round pick for him. Or worse, your superstar puts up a dud and you're scouring the waiver wire like a panicked conspiracy theorist. This is exactly why the cbs trade value chart week 2 exists. It’s the cold shower the fantasy community needs before someone does something they’ll regret by October.
Dave Richard and the crew at CBS have been doing this for fifteen seasons. They aren't just looking at the box score from Sunday. They’re looking at what’s actually sustainable. Honestly, most managers fail because they treat Week 1 like it's 50% of the season. It’s not. It’s one game.
Why the CBS Trade Value Chart Week 2 is Your Secret Weapon
The beauty of the CBS system is that it’s built on a numerical baseline. You want to know if trading a high-end RB2 for a struggling WR1 is a fair deal? You just look at the numbers. If Player A is a 25 and Player B is a 28, you’ve got a conversation. If there’s a 10-point gap, you’re probably being fleeced.
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This year, they’ve even added 0.5 PPR and 4-point passing TD columns. Finally.
Most people use these charts wrong by trying to match the numbers exactly. Life doesn’t work that way. Neither does fantasy. Dave Richard usually suggests that if you’re the one getting the best player in a 2-for-1 deal, you should be paying about 10% extra in "value points" to account for the roster spot you’re opening up.
Think about it.
The person giving up the superstar is taking on more risk and losing a bench spot. You have to make it worth their while.
The Big Shifts After Week 1
Everyone is talking about Saquon Barkley. After his explosive debut with the Eagles, his value in the cbs trade value chart week 2 shot up by over 8 points in many formats. He’s back in that elite "untouchable" tier. Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey owners are sweating. Even if he’s still the #1 overall value on paper, that calf/Achilles lingering issue has created a "fear discount" in the market.
If you're bold, you're buying CMC right now.
Then there’s the rookie situation. Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton have been the names on everyone’s lips. But the CBS chart is cautious. It values long-term stability. While Hampton showed he can pass-protect (which keeps him on the field), the chart won't vault him over a proven veteran like Breece Hall just because of one good Sunday.
Understanding the "Sell High" Trap
We’ve all seen it. A mid-tier receiver like Emeka Egbuka has a two-touchdown game and suddenly his trade value is inflated. The CBS chart helps you see through the noise. It asks: "Is this guy actually a WR1, or did he just benefit from a weird game script?"
Take Javonte Williams. He had a massive debut for the Cowboys. People are ready to crown him. But smart managers are looking at the cbs trade value chart week 2 and realizing this might be the highest his value ever gets. CBS analysts like Jamey Eisenberg often suggest selling these types of "one-week wonders" to desperate managers who started 0-1.
It’s about leverage.
If you have depth at RB, you can use a riser to fix a hole at TE. Speaking of TEs, the landscape is a mess. Outside of Trey McBride and maybe George Kittle, nobody feels safe. The trade chart reflects this by keeping TE values relatively low compared to the workhorse RBs.
How to Calculate a Fair Trade
- Find your players on the current CBS list.
- Add up the values for both sides of the deal.
- Factor in the "consolidation tax" (add 10% value to the side receiving the single best player).
- Look at the upcoming schedule rankings on SportsLine to break ties.
It’s not just about the raw points. It's about the "rest of season" outlook. The chart is essentially a living document of what a player is worth for the next 16 weeks, not just next Sunday.
Misconceptions About the Rankings
A lot of people think the trade chart is the same as weekly rankings. It’s not. Not even close.
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A player might be ranked as a top-5 start for Week 2 because they’re playing a terrible defense, but their trade value might stay flat because everyone knows it’s a temporary boost. Don't trade for a guy just because he has one "green" matchup on the horizon. Trade for the guy whose underlying metrics—snap count, target share, red zone looks—are elite.
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen still sit at the top of the QB values, but we’re seeing guys like Jayden Daniels climb. Why? Because rushing yards are a cheat code in fantasy. The cbs trade value chart week 2 starts to bake in that floor.
Actionable Next Steps for Week 2
Stop staring at your roster and start looking at everyone else's. Find the manager who just lost their starting RB to an injury. They are in "panic mode." This is when you consult the chart.
Identify a player on your bench who had a "noisy" Week 1—meaning they scored a TD on limited touches. Check their value. If the CBS chart still has them ranked lower than the public perception, ship them off.
Target the underperformers. A.J. Brown or Justin Jefferson had a "quiet" week? That is your window. Their trade value might have dipped by a point or two, but their talent hasn't changed. Use the data, stay calm, and don't let a one-week outlier ruin your season.
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Go look at the chart. Find the gaps. Make the offer.