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 help provide you with 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. The pre-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: Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
About: Although it wasn’t a great quarterback class this year, Dart is a player who has looked promising. He had strong performances in all three preseason games. In Superflex, given that Dart was typically going in the Second Round of rookie drafts or later, this could be helpful. Yes, Russell Wilson is the Week 1 starter. But how long does it stay that way? This feels like Drake Maye from last year, a player who’s impressed for a team going nowhere that will find himself in the lineup sooner rather than later. Even better, he has Malik Nabers as a receiver.
Stock Down: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: Rodgers didn’t play in the preseason, and that seems like a negative sign. Yes, Rodgers had decent fantasy numbers in 2024. His team also couldn’t win games and felt like a train wreck. The best thing going for him is a lack of competition and options in Pittsburgh. But with a spotty supporting cast and being on the other side of 40, things aren’t looking great. It’s hard to get optimistic about Rodgers in fantasy this year, too. If you’ve got him, it might be best to sell for whatever you can.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
About: It’s not often a Seventh-Round pick has you excited heading into Week 1 of the regular season. But the Commanders’ ground game is wide open. Yes, Austin Ekeler is there, but he’s aging and hasn’t looked efficient in a few years. With Brian Robinson, Jr., now a San Francisco 49er, Bill looks to have a significant role in the Commanders’ backfield. For a player you could get practically free in rookie drafts, this is considerable value.
Stock Down: Brian Robinson, Jr., San Francisco 49ers
About: It’s a contract year for Robinson, which was always concerning. He’s a player who hasn’t risen above the RB3 level despite essentially being a starter for three years. But now, he’s been dealt to the 49ers as a backup to Christian McCaffrey. This is a significant blow to his value, especially for a player you might have been counting on week-to-week. If McCaffrey misses time, he could still have some value. However, that feels like a big if right now, especially since the 49ers already have other options behind McCaffrey.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: Egbuka was already an interesting prospect. He was typically going in the First Round of rookie drafts based on his promise and upside. However, it appeared to be a crowded receiver room in Tampa Bay, at least as of 2025. That crowd has thinned out. Chris Godwin is unlikely to return until October, and Jalen McMillan is expected to be out for at least 10 weeks. All that vaults Egbuka—who had a spectacular camp—up the depth chart. He looks poised to be this year’s Brian Thomas, Jr., a rookie receiver who breaks out big. For those who snagged him at the back of the First Round, this is looking like a big win.
Stock Down: Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
About: Jennings was one of the better surprises in 2024. Thanks to an injury-depleted offense, Jennings had a career year and finished as WR24. Heading into this season, with Deebo Samuel in Washington and Brandon Aiyuk still recovering, he looked like another great value. But he’s been holding out for a new contract and now has a calf injury that isn’t improving. Instead of potentially being a sleeper, he looks like an IR candidate. With options in San Francisco and the team looking disinclined to offer him a new deal, now might be the time to sell on Jennings.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
About: At this time last year, Hockenson was a question. He was returning from injury, and it wasn’t clear when he’d be back or what role he’d have. Now, he looks like potentially the last man standing. Jordan Addison is suspended, while Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor are already banged up. The Vikings have even looked at potentially bringing Adam Thielen back. All that means that Hockenson is healthy, ready to go, and could be J.J. McCarthy’s best friend early in the season. He’s back to a top-end TE1.
Stock Down: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
About: Johnson got a big free agent deal this offseason and has risen out of the crowd of Saints tight ends, especially with Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill injured and unavailable. All that should make him a Stock Up, right? But the Saints have a crowd at receiver—Chris Olave, Rasheed Shahid, Brandin Cooks, Mason Tipton, and Devaughn Vele all fighting for targets—and a huge question at quarterback. All that leaves Johnson as a player with a vague path to targets at best. That’s not what you’re looking for heading into the fantasy 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.
