The NFL Season is here, but we’ve been in it all year long. As Dynasty players, the season never really ends. But keeping up with the fluctuations week-to-week can give you an advantage. That’s the point of the stock watch—to process what we see on the field and apply it to players whose value is rising and whose value is taking a hit. Those fluctuations can help guide your management decisions as you shape your Dynasty roster for the long haul. Week 6 of the season is in the books. Let’s look at what we learned. We’ll look at one player at QB, RB, WR, and TE whose value improved, and one whose value took a hit. Let’s dive in.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
About: Maye has been hot of late. In Week 5, he helped guide the Patriots to a huge win over the Bills in Buffalo. On Sunday, he put up three passing touchdowns as the Patriots moved to 4-2 with a win over the Saints. He entered Week 6 as QB7 on the season, which is likely to rise. While Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Caleb Williams have gotten more headlines, Maye is quietly making the case he might be the class of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Stock Down: Justin Fields, New York Jets
About: For those of us who have been Fields defenders, this season was meant to be redemption as he got a shot to be the guy for the Jets. It started reasonably well with a strong showing in Week 1, but Fields has struggled to develop as a quarterback. The Jets are the league’s only winless team, and Fields was held to 49 yards passing while taking nine sacks Sunday in London. It’s not looking pretty. While he’s been OK for fantasy, it’s hard to imagine him remaining a long-term starter with these performances.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Vidal was swept out as part of the roster overhaul at running back for the Chargers. He was released in pre-season but came back as part of the Practice Squad. Still, he didn’t figure to be much a part of the Chargers’ in-season attack. But with Najee Harris on IR with an Achilles injury and Omarion Hampton joining him for at least four weeks, Vidal got the call-up to the roster and made a huge impact on Sunday. He rushed for 124 yards, averaging nearly seven yards per carry, and caught three passes, including a touchdown. He looks like a good option for fantasy and for the Chargers’ backfield.
Stock Down: Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
About: Tracy was a fun surprise in the 2024 season. A late-round pick, he entered the season as the nominal starter. We didn’t see a lot from him early as the Giants struggled. When he went out with an injury, Cam Skattebo stepped in. While Skattebo scored three rushing touchdowns Thursday night, Tracy managed just six yards on four carries. He has ceded the backfield, and it looks like he’s ceded any meaningful role for fantasy.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Brian Thomas, Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
About: It was rough for Thomas early. While he was still getting targets, he wasn’t turning them into much. But he’s been getting back on track of late, rounding back into the target he was for the Jaguars and scoring force he was in fantasy in 2024. He has 17 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown in the past three games. It’s an encouraging turn that should give confidence to his fantasy managers.
Stock Down: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
About: We’ve seen it before—talented wide receivers that burn out after a few successful seasons and need to change teams. Could Brown be the latest? It certainly seems to be tracking that way. His performance on the field has been up-and-down, and his disposition off-field has been nothing short of a distraction. Now there are rumblings that Brown could be traded before the deadline. This is something to watch for fantasy managers as it might solidify his value, taking a hit for the 2025 season.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Once again, the Chargers’ talented rookie tight end stepped up. Sunday, during a come-from-behind win over the Dolphins, Gadsden saw eight targets. He caught seven passes for 68 yards. He looks like the most talented option at tight end for the Chargers and should have worked himself into a bigger role in the future. That’s a boon to those who snagged him late in rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: On Sunday, the Steelers had four tight ends get targets and receptions. Of those four, Freiermuth was the least productive. He saw just one target, catching it for 11 yards. Three other tight ends combined for seven receptions, 92 yards, and a touchdown on 10 targets. It’s a grim sign for Freiermuth going forward. If you can find a taker, I’d sell him. If not, be sure you have other options at tight end.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network
