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: tracking week-to-week value shifts to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to moving and acquiring players. Below is one player at each key fantasy position who improved in value and one who saw their value take a hit. Let’s dive in.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
About: Williams was the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but others in his draft class have overshadowed him. Still, his upside is why he went first overall. This year, his Head Coach, Ben Johnson, suggested that he wanted to break the NFL’s single-season point record. On Sunday, Williams backed it up, tossing two touchdowns and rushing for two more as his team scored 59 points. That shows he has overall QB1 upside, too. His stock is soaring.
Stock Down: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
About: Maye had a great 2025 season, finishing as runner-up in the MVP Voting. Despite that, questions persisted about whether he can win big games. The Super Bowl was a blow to his reputation, and Week 1 did little to quell that. Maye threw three costly interceptions, including one in the end zone to seal the three-point loss to Drew Lock. The Patriots have a rough schedule in 2026 and will now be without A.J. Brown for at least a month. It’s fair to wonder if Maye will see his numbers plummet, too.
Running Backs
Stock Up: David Montgomery, Houston Texans
About: Despite steady numbers, Montgomery was always second fiddle to Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. This off-season, he was traded to the Texans, and I thought he had a great chance to be a dominant fantasy asset. While he was going in the RB3/Flex range in drafts as recently as last weekend, Montgomery looked every part the workhorse back on Sunday, posting three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) against the Bills. It’s a sign of good things to come for Montgomery in Houston.
Stock Down: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
About: The red flags have been there for McCaffrey, who had an incredible 2025 season. But he posted a career-high in touches as both a runner and a receiver. In the past, that has been a recipe for disaster for McCaffrey the following season. Perhaps as a reflection of the risk, or as an effort to keep him fresh, the 49ers are now using a steady dose of Kaelon Black, who out-carried McCaffrey 14-10 in the opener. Would it be closer or a more dominant split for McCaffrey if the 49ers were trailing? Perhaps, but it’s worth monitoring as we move forward.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers
About: Coker got off to a slow start in 2025. But by the end, he looked like he could be a force for the Panthers. He backed that up Sunday, exploding in the Panthers’ Week 1 loss to the Bears. He caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. For the price you likely paid to acquire Coker, if he’s going to put up numbers like this, you got a steal!
Stock Down: Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Hunter was an enigma coming out of college. He was famously a two-way player for the University of Colorado, but would that work in the NFL? The Jaguars moved up in the draft to take him second overall with the idea that it would. And he tried that in earnest in 2025. But this season, we already knew Hunter would be the starting corner, with a more limited role on offense. This week, Liam Coen said he didn’t feel pressured to play Hunter on offense every week. He did catch a pass for eight yards Sunday, but he doesn’t look like a regular factor on offense. That means outside of IDP leagues, where you could have a corner with upside, he’s a relative non-factor for fantasy.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: While Arthur Smith ran the offense, Freiermuth looked like just another guy in the tight end room. But at one point, he was an offensive weapon. That period under Smith dampened Freiermuth’s upside and certainly caused his stock to slip. But now Mike McCarthy is running the offense in Pittsburgh, and despite better weapons, Freiermuth looked like a factor in Week 1. He caught five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. It’s a positive sign he might be a bigger part of the game plan in 2026, and it certainly makes him a player to watch.
Stock Down: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
About: Bowers has TE1 upside when available. That last part has been a struggle. He missed time last season, and now, on the cusp of this season, he had a knee procedure that had him out Week 1, possibly longer. It’s a worrying sign—especially when paired with the fact that the other tight end on the roster just got a long and lucrative extension. If Bowers returns to the lineup in Week 2 and puts up monster numbers, it won’t matter. But at this point, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll struggle to stay available, limiting his upside.
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.
