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 you gain 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 who is taking a hit. Those fluctuations can help guide your management decisions as you shape your Dynasty roster for the long haul.
Week 1 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: Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
About: There was a lot of talk about Carr this off-season. Some wondered how long he had left, and some even wondered if rookie Spencer Rattler would take his job. That could still happen, but for Week 1, at least, Carr looked dominant. It helped to open at home against the Panthers, but Carr led the Saints to a 47-10 victory. He threw for just 200 yards but tossed three big touchdowns and helped sink the Panthers early. He was probably on your bench in many leagues if you roster him, but that performance shows he has at least QB2 value for contenders making a run that might be thin at the position.
Stock Down: Daniel Jones, New York Giants
About: Jones had a good year in 2022 that led to a long-term extension. Then he had a bad year in 2023 that ended in injury. The Giants bet big on Jones again in 2024. Brian Daboll took over play calling, and the team acquired Malik Nabers to give him a No. 1 receiver. It didn’t help. Week 1 at home against the Vikings, Jones completed over 50 percent of his passes for 186 yards and two interceptions. He added six carries for 15 yards. Any hope he’d be in QB2 range is quickly going out the window, as is his Dynasty value.
Running Backs
Stock Up: J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
About: The question about Dobbins has never been his talent—it’s been his health. He couldn’t stay on the field for the Ravens, who eventually moved on. Now, he’s part of the mix for the Chargers, and the question was what role he would have. While Gus Edwards struggled, Dobbins looked good in Week 1. He caught three passes for only four yards but showed his burst on the ground. He rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown in just ten carries, including a 61-yard scamper. There are still questions about his health, but with that burst, he’s showing tremendous upside against the low cost to get him this off-season.
Stock Down: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
About: It was already going to be a tough road for Hubbard with the Panthers drafting Jonathon Brooks. While Brooks is on PUP right now, recovering from an injury suffered in college, Hubbard had a chance to help cement a starting role in a new offense. Week 1 didn’t go well. He rushed six times for 14 yards. Meanwhile, Miles Sanders, somewhat left for dead this off-season, ran five times for 22 yards. Sure, neither was great. However, the split in carries and the lack of production are poor signs for Hubbard and his long-term future.
Wide Receivers:
Stock Up: Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys
About: Cooks is kind of the forgotten man. He wasn’t hot to start in 2023, but he finished better than you remember. From Week 10 on, he finished as WR14, scoring about 14 points per game. Cooks picked up right where he left off in Week 1, catching four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. He added a carry for five yards, posting 14.5 PPR points. Cooks is an under-rated and under-the-radar player who has found a way to thrive as the No. 2 option behind CeeDee Lamb. That’s a good pull for your fantasy team.
Stock Down: Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
About: It raised a few eyebrows when Johnson—ostensibly his team’s No. 1 receiver—was traded for a cornerback this off-season. That left the Steelers incredibly thin at receiver, but they didn’t seem to bat an eye. The theory was Johnson could be the No. 1 for the Panthers, upgrading the room. Through Week 1, that looks like a poor bet. Not only did Bryce Young still look lost at quarterback, but Johnson managed just two receptions for 19 yards on six targets. He finished behind Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jonathan Mingo as the fourth most productive receiver for the Panthers. That’s a grim sign for those hoping Johnson will be a solid play this season.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
About: Likely has long had talent but has been trapped behind Mark Andrews in the Ravens’ tight end room. Turns out, the Ravens might have found an answer for that. On Thursday night, Likely essentially served as WR2 for the team, lining up with Andrews on the field. And he thrived, catching nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. And it could have been more! Likely is a start each week and is a player whose value is ascending. Your time has arrived if you’ve been rostering him for a while.
Stock Down: Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
About: Would Musgrave or Tucker Kraft be the play for the Packers? We’ve wondered that since the two were drafted in 2023. In the rookie season, both seemed to split time and were equally productive while in. That seems to have changed in Week 1. Kraft caught two passes for 37 yards. That doesn’t light the world on fire, but it is a lot better than the zero receptions for Musgrave. In addition, Kraft was on the field for 64 snaps, while Musgrave saw just 17 snaps. That’s a grim sign for those hoping the Third-Round pick would be a viable TE option in fantasy.
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.
