Week 13 wasn’t kind to quarterbacks. Neither was Week 12. And now, for Week 14, we’re getting six teams on a bye. All that can leave you scratching your head, 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: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
About: Usually, the only time you talk about Mr. Irrelevant, the final pick in the NFL Draft, is on the last day of the draft. But things are different for Purdy, who made the 49ers as the No. 3 quarterback and now finds himself as the starter for a team that’s seemingly bound for the playoffs. It’s quite the turn of events for the former Iowa State product. He was forced into action Sunday when Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot, ending his season. Purdy went 25-for-37 for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the 49ers’ win over the Miami Dolphins. He now has an incredible opportunity with a loaded 49ers team. He should be a top pick on waivers if he’s not already rostered.
Stock Down: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
About: The knock on Jimmy G. has never been his performance on the field—it’s been his ability to stay on the field. That seemed to be a factor in the 49ers’ decision to mortgage the future to move up and draft Trey Lance. While the Lance pick hasn’t worked out incredibly so far, it cast doubt on Jimmy’s long-term future. This season started rough, with the 49ers seemingly moving on. When they couldn’t find a deal—and Lance was lost for the season—Jimmy returned to a starting role. Now, with his foot injury, his time with the 49ers could well be at an end. He’s reached two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl with the 49ers, but his long-term future is murky at best. For those who roster Jimmy G., it’s time to have a plan B.
Running Backs
Stock Up: A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
About: It’s fair to say this season hasn’t gone as expected for the Packers. At 5-8, the team is still something of a long shot to make the playoffs heading into a bye week. There are plenty of hard questions coming in the off-season, including what to do about veteran Aaron Jones, who commands a large contract. The recent play of Dillon isn’t making those questions any easier. In a tough loss to the Eagles, Dillon rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while he took the lead in a win over the Bears on Sunday, carrying 18 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Dillon looks to have the talent and ability to lead the backfield, and if the Packers move to re-shape their roster this off-season as expected, he could find himself the lead back and focus of the offense.
Stock Down: Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
About: In 2021, Patterson was a revelation. He finished as RB9 and was a potential league winner for those that snagged him. Coming into the 2022 season, many expected a similar performance. This season, he’s just RB32, averaging 12 points per game. That’s not terrible, but likely a blow to those who hoped for another RB2 season. But it’s even more striking of late. Since Week 9, Patterson is averaging just 9.9 points per game. With the Falcons re-shaping their offense and finding a capable back in rookie Tyler Allgeier, it looks like the production window for Patterson is closing. That makes this potentially the last time to sell for those who are hoping for a strong closing stretch.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
About: The Seahawks have defied expectations in many ways this season, no more so than the pass offense. Geno Smith has been solid, and as the team cruises toward a playoff berth, he looks like a player that could get a longer-term contract. He’s also gotten some great work from his receivers, including Lockett. With the quarterback position in flux, many were cautious about the Seahawks’ receivers, with most favoring D.K. Metcalf. Metcalf has been a solid WR15 this season, but Lockett has been even better. Through 13 weeks, he sits as WR10. He has 66 receptions for 837 yards and seven touchdowns. For those that held Lockett, he’s become a reliable weekly play or potential trade bait for those looking to move toward a rebuild.
Stock Down: Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans
About: For years, Cooks has been the overlooked receiver, a player that doesn’t get a lot of pre-season hype but just quietly produces. That’s come despite frequently changing teams, quarterbacks, and offensive schemes. But, in 2022, it appears the magic has run out. It’s been a dreadful season for the Texans, which are in the midst of a rebuild. And Cooks hasn’t escaped getting caught in that. He currently sits as WR49, averaging just over 10 points per game. He has 44 receptions for 520 yards and just one touchdown. Could it turn around in 2023 if the Texans find a franchise quarterback? Possibly, but it’s tough to be on Cooks’ long-term production.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
About: As a fan of the team, I feel I can confidently say that this season has been a dumpster fire for the Broncos. The offense has been woeful, and Russell Wilson has tailed off. But, one of the few bright spots is Dulcich, a rookie tight end from UCLA that made his debut in Week 6. He’s made his presence felt on the field. He’s currently TE10 on the season on a points-per-game basis and has been a reliable breath of fresh air at a position that’s been particularly difficult to rely on in 2022. Going forward, he has Top 12 potential, which is a great find for dynasty players that snagged him late in rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
About: Tight end is a tough position to rely upon, even when you think you’ve found a potential weekly starter. Higbee had plenty of potential in the Rams’ offense. And yet, even with Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson out of the lineup, he’s not a player you can count on for production. He’s TE16 on the season, but that masks a true boom-or-bust quality. Higbee has four games with five or more receptions, accounting for much of his scoring. But there are games where he’s also not involved at all. In fact, in Week 12, he didn’t see a single target. That could be somewhat overlooked in 2022 because of the difficulties the Rams’ offense has had in general, but this has been something of a recurring pattern for Higbee throughout his tenure with the Rams. He’s not a bad rotational player, but he’s not a Top 12 fantasy option, either.
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.
