We’re through 10 weeks of an 18-week season. Each team has played nine games, and we’re in the home stretch. So far there have been winners and losers, with everyone’s long-term value adjusting along the way. It’s time to take a pause and assess where we’re at as we hit the mid-point in the season. But that’s all part of the challenge of managing your fantasy team. If you play Dynasty, you’re in it for the long haul. Still, it’s a weekly game and you have to ride the ebbs-and-flows and see what it can mean for the trajectory of a player. That’s what the Stock Watch is all about. We watch the games, process the information, and try to forecast where players are headed. After all, getting ahead of the curve is the way to succeed. So, below you’ll find one player that improved their position and one that’s going the wrong way from each position. Use this as a guide as you’re trying to make moves and evaluate your team this week!
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
About: This was a make-or-break season for Hurts, his second full year as a starter. The question was whether he would be THE long-term answer for the Eagles, who went all in to get him a great set of weapons. While the team stumbled a bit on Monday night, the Eagles have been the NFL’s best team during the first half of the season. That’s largely a credit to Hurts, who would be the NFL MVP for me in the first half of the year. He’s sitting as QB3 on the season in fantasy. Hurts has completed more than 67 percent of his passes, for 2,217 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s also added 354 yards rushing and seven more touchdowns. If you snagged Hurts late in a rookie draft, your stock is going to the moon.
Stock Down: Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
About: It’s been a long, hard stretch for Broncos’ fans since Peyton Manning retired after Super Bowl 50. A big part of that struggle has been the lack of a franchise quarterback. When General Manager George Paton traded the farm for Wilson this off-season, it not only made sense but portended a change. Sure, Wilson’s 2021 season wasn’t great, but he needed a fresh start. Turns out it wasn’t all the Seahawks. While Geno Smith is thriving in Seattle and the Seahawks are in first place in the NFC West, the Broncos have the worst, least productive offense in the NFL. Wilson has struggled mightily. Wilson is completing a career-low 57.4 percent of his passes, throwing for seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s QB22. It’s probably something to do with coaching and injuries, but it’s undeniable that Wilson’s long-term value has taken a huge hit.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
About: I know, running backs for the Patriots are always dicey. Still, Stevenson has been impressive so far in 2022. He’s quietly up to RB10 on the year, running well and catching passes. He’s rushed for 618 yards and four touchdowns, and seen 43 targets, catching 35 for 227 yards and a touchdown. All of that has made him an invaluable play, especially for those who took him later in rookie drafts or in the middle rounds of start-up drafts. He looks like he might be on pace to be a bell cow for the Patriots, too, when Damien Harris’ contract expires after the season.
Stock Down: Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
About: The potential for Akers is a Top 12 back—or so the conventional wisdom went before the season. He’s coming off a big injury, but it also seems he’s fallen out with Rams coaches. He was a healthy scratch for a few weeks before the trade deadline, and after failing to find any workable deal, Akers returned to the lineup to limited success. To say his long-term future is murky is an understatement, and with little to show for his three years in the NFL. He has only 804 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 21 career games, an average of 3.8 yards per carry. If you were banking on Akers carrying your team, it’s time to look elsewhere.
Wide Receivers:
Stock Up: Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
About: Could Hill thrive in Miami? Was it his partnership with Patrick Mahomes that made him elite? After 10 weeks, the answer is decidedly no. Hill is WR1 in the NFL. He’s averaging a career-high 114.8 yards per game. He’s seen 106 targets, catching 81 passes for 1,148 yards and four touchdowns. He has been great, and it looks like he’s going to be great for the Miami Dolphins, who look like serious contenders with Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua Tagovailoa.
Stock Down: Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
About: For years those who roster Robinson dreamed of the day he’d be paired with a top-shelf quarterback. When he signed with the Rams, those dreams seemed to be coming true. But be careful what you wish for as the dream regarding Robinson seems to have become a nightmare. Robinson is just WR58 on the season. Sure, the Rams’ offense hasn’t looked good in general, but this is a shocking turn of events. With Cooper Kupp sidelined it’s possible Robinson picks it up but his long-term value has certainly taken a hit through the first part of this season.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
About: The first part of this season was rough. But as the Bears’ offense has started to find itself, Kmet has been a prime target for Justin Fields. So much so that in the past four games, Kmet is TE1, averaging nearly 15 points per game in that period. Kmet is a talented young tight end that seemingly had a Top 12 upside that we haven’t seen realized. He’s starting to get there and for those who invested, that long game is about to pay off.
Stock Down: Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
About: Who? If you’re asking that, it makes sense. When Noah Fant was dealt to the Seahawks this off-season, conventional wisdom seemed to suggest Albert O. was in for a big year. It didn’t happen. Even while Third Round pick Greg Dulcich was on injured reserve, Albert O. looked like an afterthought in his own position. He wasn’t released, and he didn’t get traded, but he isn’t playing. In fact, at this point, I don’t even think he’s worth rostering. It’s a dour turn of events for one of the hottest names of the off-season.
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.
