Another week in the NFL and fantasy players’ books, we’re inching ever closer to the post-season. For most, the playoffs begin in Week 15. If you’re in contention, this is the time to put down the hammer. If you’re not, well, it might be time to look toward the future. As dynasty players, we’re in it for the long haul. Each week provides pieces of information adding to a player’s value, giving shrewd managers a chance to get ahead of the curve. That’s what the Stock Watch is all about.
As will be the case throughout the season, I’ll be taking stock of what we’ve learned each week. I’ll be offering one player per position—QB, RB, WR, and TE—who improved their stock and one who saw their stock slip. For those trying to win now and those playing the long game, it’s crucial to pounce at the right time. So, without further ado, here’s Week 10 of the Dynasty Stock Watch.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
About: There will be a lot of questions this off-season for the Raiders, but one that seems to be settling itself is Carr. For years the question has been whether he’s a franchise quarterback. Jon Gruden seemed to have great faith in Carr, and this season he has shown his ability to lead a team and perform well despite a myriad of off-field distractions. Carr has the Raiders at 6-5, in contention for the AFC West and playoffs. And he’s done it being one of the most solid quarterbacks on the field and for fantasy. He’s QB14 on the season, having thrown for 3,414 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games. Both those marks put him in range to challenge his career highs (4,103 yards in 2020 and 32 TDs in 2015). He’s been a great Superflex asset and could be an affordable option to acquire moving forward, even for a team likely to re-make itself this off-season.
Stock Down: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
About: Tannehill was a great story when he came to the Titans and re-booted his career, leading the Titans to back-to-back playoff births and earning a contract as the team’s franchise quarterback. The Titans have suffered a rash of injuries in 2021 and saw skill position players depart the past few seasons. Tannehill currently has Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, and Julio Jones on IR. The Titans are 8-4 and still in first place, but this stretch run has made clear that this offense runs through Henry. Tannehill is still QB13 on the season, but since Henry was lost, he’s thrown for just 772 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions. It raises questions about whether he’s a quarterback to build a fantasy franchise around.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: It’s been a roller-coaster for those that roster Fournette the past few seasons. After being a surprise pre-season release for the Jaguars in 2020, Fournette found a soft landing in Tampa Bay. While he showed his ability in a strong playoff run, Fournette wasn’t a huge factor in the regular season for the Buccaneers. That’s changed in 2021, where he’s been a focal point of the Tampa Bay offense. He’s RB5 through 12 weeks, having rushed for 621 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 51 receptions for 354 yards and a touchdown. Fournette signed a one-year, low-money deal to return to the Buccaneers in 2021. Now he seems set up for a big free agent off-season in 2022, which could provide some good long-term value for those that roster him. We’ve seen the running back market volatile in the past, but Fournette’s performance should give him a shot at being a feature back next season, whether in Tampa Bay or elsewhere.
Stock Down: Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills
About: When Moss was taken in the Third Round of the 2020 NFL Draft, it was with some excitement about what he might offer the Bills’ offense. Moss struggled with injuries and didn’t regularly contribute as a rookie, though he did sometimes show flashes. Heading into 2021, it seemed like Moss was poised to take a more significant role in the backfield. A Week 1 healthy scratch was enough to give those who roster him pause, but eventually, he got an opportunity. He didn’t make the most of it. After seeing just 13 carries for 38 yards in Weeks 9 through 11 combined, Moss was made a healthy scratch in Week 12 in favor of Matt Breida. That will likely continue the rest of the season, barring injury. That’s a grim sign for those that snagged Moss in rookie drafts hoping for a reliable fantasy contributor. It might be time to cut our losses.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
About: While Ja’Marr Chase has made the biggest splashes this season, Waddle may have developed into the most consistent rookie receiver. Waddle has 77 receptions for 759 yards and four touchdowns through 12 games. He’s been a big part of the resurgence of the Dolphins offense and currently sits as WR10 on the season. Those that took Waddle in rookie drafts this off-season have to be feeling good about their return on investment, as he looks like a solid target for years to come.
Stock Down: Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders
About: Much like the term fetch, it might be time to stop trying to make Bryan Edwards happen. The second-year receiver has been a fantasy darling since he was drafted, but he’s just never found a consistent role in the Raiders’ offense. When Henry Ruggs was released earlier this year, it seemed to create more opportunity, but that hasn’t played out on the field. Edwards has seen more than four targets only three times in 2021, none since Ruggs’ departure. He saw zero targets against the Bengals and only one target against the Cowboys in a game where his quarterback threw for more than 300 yards and the team scored 36 points. It’s not happening.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
About: Knox has been a big part of the Bills’ offense. Knox has seen 13 targets in the past two weeks, catching nine passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Despite missing a few games due to injury, Knox already has a career-high in receptions (31), yards (415), and touchdowns (7) with six games left to go. Given the volume of the offense and the structure, Knox looks like a potential TE1 if he remains with Josh Allen in Buffalo, music to the ears of those who took him in 2019 rookie drafts or acquired him in the off-season.
Stock Down: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
About: This was year three of waiting for the Higbee breakout season, and the wait continues. With Gerald Everett in Seattle, it seemed like the volume would finally break Higbee’s way. It hasn’t happened. As has been the case his whole career, he gets targets at times, but his workload isn’t consistent enough to make him a reliable starter, even on a high-volume Rams offense missing Robert Woods. He’s TE17 on the season, which simply isn’t good enough for those that hoped he’d be a weekly start at the position.
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.
