Week 11 of the fantasy season brought more exciting and frustrating outcomes. In lieu of Joe Mixon, we got three touchdowns from Samjae Perine. But the good news is Week 12 features no bye weeks. That doesn’t mean we won’t have injuries and other challenges. 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: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
About: This year began with people suspecting that it would be the swan song for Tannehill in Tennessee. Many, myself included, thought the Titans would struggle to win games, too. Instead, the team is 7-3 and Tannehill has been a steady and calming presence in the lineup. Despite a variety of injuries and a complete turnover of receiving options, Tannehill has made it work. That’s also thanks to great rushing from Derrick Henry and likely a credit to Head Coach Mike Vrabel, but it’s fair to believe the Titans could well run it back with Tannehill in 2023. That’s especially true since Malik Willis looked far from ready in his two starts while Tannehill was out. Tannehill is 6-2 as a starter this season, and while his stats aren’t incredible, he’s been a winner. He’s now 33-15 as a starter for the Titans, who appear to be tracking for a fourth straight playoff berth with him at the helm.
Stock Down: Zach Wilson, New York Jets
About: Yes, the Jets are 6-3. Yes, if the playoffs started today the team would be in there. But there are still plenty of questions about Wilson. Those questions got much louder on Sunday as the Jets put up just three points in a 10-3 loss to the New England Patriots. He was just 9-for-22 for 77 yards on Sunday. For the season, he’s completing just 55.3 percent of his passes. Those aren’t the numbers you’re looking for from a franchise quarterback—especially one with Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, and Tyler Conklin at his disposal. The Jets’ offense was being carried, largely, by Breece Hall. Now, that’s not an option. It’s all on Wilson and it isn’t looking promising.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
About: The rookie running back impressed in Training Camp and the preseason and has steadily risen through the ranks with the Chiefs. Now, he’s the starter and he’s taking to the job. He’s had 31 carries for 189 yards in the past two games. He averaged more than five yards per carry in Week 10 and more than seven yards per carry against the Chargers on Sunday night. Pacheco is running hard and looking more confident in his role, all of which is a great sign for those that got Pacheco late in rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Michael Carter, New York Jets
About: It’s been a roller coaster with Carter and the Jets. At the start of the off-season, it looked like he was a solid starting option. Then the Jets drafted Hall. During Training Camp, reports were Carter was still going to have a big role, and while he contributed, it was clear Hall was the top option. When Hall got injured, it seemed like Carter’s time to shine once again. And yet, in the three games since Hall was lost for the season, Carter has just 121 yards rushing, six receptions for 33 yards, and two touchdowns. Not exactly the kind of production that had been hoped for when Hall was lost. It’s fair to wonder what his long-term value and week-to-week value is going forward. Sadly, the sell window has likely slammed shut.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
About: The Chargers have struggled to get weapons this season. Keenan Allen has missed plenty of time, and even Mike Williams and Gerald Everett have missed games. There to help carry the load is Palmer, a second-year receiver out of Tennessee who has taken a step forward. That’s been especially true the past few weeks. In two of his last three games, Palmer has seen at least ten targets, catching eight for 106 yards. The second of those came against the Chiefs in a game where both Allen and Williams were on the field, and where Palmer scored two touchdowns. He has seen 68 targets so far, up from 49 all of his rookie season. He’s caught 45 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns. Palmer is rounding into a reliable potential weapon for the Chargers, a good boost in value for a player that went in the third or fourth round of rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
About: Dotson began with a flourish. He scored four touchdowns in the first four weeks and looked like he had incredible chemistry with Carson Wentz. Then Dotson went out with injury, and soon Wentz followed. Since Week 4, Dotson has appeared in two games, seeing just three targets and catching two passes for 27 yards. While the touchdowns helped boost his fantasy production, he’s seen just 25 targets, catching 14 passes for 179 yards all season. There is still potential, but Dotson is running a distant third at receiver behind Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel and finds himself in an offense that has plenty of options and not incredibly high volume. That leaves him with potential but without a reliable path to being a starting option at the moment.
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.
