Dynasty is a year-round game. We’re always watching the latest news and tracking player movement, looking to stay ahead of the crowd and gain an edge. While we play the long game, week-to-week performances can drive long-term shifts or offer clues about future value. That’s what the Stock Watch is all about: keeping up with week-to-week value shifts to try and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to moving and acquiring players. Below is one player at each of the key fantasy positions who improved their value and one who saw their value take a hit. Let’s dive in.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh for 2026, but what about beyond that? Rodgers has said this is his final season, creating an opening in the future. Allar, a late-round Draft Pick in 2026 who played at Penn State, made his case to be the QB2 in 2026 and a quarterback of the future in the team’s 28-9 win over the Packers. He went 10-for-13 for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Mason Rudolph and Will Howard also had fine nights, but Allar led in yardage and added the touchdowns. He’s worth monitoring this pre-season.
Stock Down: Cooper Rush, Atlanta Falcons
About: Once-upon-a-time, Rush was a hot backup that had potential starter promise. He had a couple of solid years filling in for Dak Prescott and earning a big contract with the Baltimore Ravens last off-season. When called upon by the Ravens, it was a disaster. He quickly found himself a free agent, with the Falcons calling as Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa deal with injuries. In the preseason opener, while Tua started and played a few series, Rush got most of the first half. He showed that he’s still not ready for Primetime, tossing two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, as the Falcons fell down 24-0 at the half. Rush isn’t the answer, whether or not Tua and Penix miss time.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Kaytron Allen, Washington Commanders
About: The Commanders’ backfield is a bit wide open. The team has second-year man Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who led the backfield last year, and added veterans like Rachaad White and Jerome Ford. Still, it’s something of an open committee. Into that conversation comes Allen, the rookie who rushed 23 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. It’s pre-season; it wasn’t an efficient performance, and Croskey-Merritt and White didn’t play, but it’s still a promising sign that the rookie is involved. He’s worth a deep league stash as we move through the pre-season.
Stock Down: Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
About: The rookie back suffered an ankle injury to kick-start the pre-season. The team won’t commit to a timeline or even clarify if it’s a high ankle sprain, as has been reported. That’s the type of injury that can linger and diminish the effectiveness of a player for weeks or months. With the Cardinals already having a deep backfield group, that could make them even more hesitant to rush Love back to the field. All that adds up to a murky situation at best in 2026 for a player that went at the top of rookie drafts and likely is a lynchpin of some fantasy backfields.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: De’zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers
About: It raised some eyebrows when the 49ers took Stribling at the top of the Second Round of the 2026 NFL Draft. But he showed in Week 1 that he has potential in the offense. While Brandon Aiyuk is off somewhere and Ricky Pearsall is injured, again, there’s an opening for Stribling along with veterans Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel. Stribling was solid in his 49ers’ debut, catching seven passes for 63 yards. It’s a promising start for the rookie.
Stock Down: Jordan Tyson, New Orleans Saints
About: Many of us liked Jordan’s potential in New Orleans with Kellen Moore. But durability was a concern. Still, Tyson frequently went among the Top 5 picks in rookie drafts. If he was your top pick, you’re going to be waiting a bit. He already has a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for two months—into the regular season. It’s an inauspicious start for Tyson and the Saints.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Will Mallory, Indianapolis Colts
About: Let’s not go crazy. On a team that rosters Tyler Warren, no other tight end is going to get a great target share. But seeing Mallory, once an intriguing prospect with upside, catching six passes for 80 yards in the preseason opener was interesting. It indicates he could have an edge to make the roster, and if that happens, anything is possible. He’s a potential deep league stash—or your deep league stash that might be worth holding on the roster.
Stock Down: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers
About: This isn’t so much what happened on the field as what didn’t happen on the field, leading to a move off the field. Since being drafted, Sanders has been a trendy upside stash. He has receiving talent and the Panthers have a need. But the team signing veteran Darren Waller is another nail in the coffin for Sanders’s potential. It makes the room even more crowded and suggests the team doesn’t have much confidence in Sanders to step up and make an impact on the field.
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.
