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. Week 15 of the 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: Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts
About: This time last week, Rivers was a Hall of Fame semi-finalist, long retired. But Sunday, he started for the Colts. With less than a week of practice and not having played in five seasons, Rivers looked decent. He kept the Colts in the game until the end on the road against the Seahawks. It’s enough to make me think the 44-year-old is worth a pickup as we’re heading through the fantasy playoffs.
Stock Down: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
About: Burrow struggled against the Bills, throwing a couple of big interceptions in the loss. He tossed two more interceptions in a shutout loss to Baltimore. That ended the Bengals’ season and ended the hopes that Burrow could propel them to the playoffs. Worse still, this week he made comments suggesting he’s considering his long-term future, including whether it includes football. If you roster him in dynasty, that’s not what you want to hear. I’m definitely weary as we approach the off-season.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Bill Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
About: It’s been a wild ride for those who roster Bill. He was good enough in the pre-season that the team moved on from Brian Robinson, Jr., but he’s been struggling of late, losing carries to Chris Rodriguez. With Rodriguez hurt on Sunday, Bill had one of his best games. He rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown and looked good. It’s a hopeful sign heading down the stretch of his rookie year.
Stock Down: Breece Hall, New York Jets
About: Hall was banged up this week, which could explain his ceding touches. But it hasn’t been an incredible season for Hall, who is in a contract year. Worse yet, it doesn’t seem like the Jets see him in their plans. That leaves Hall in flux, and leaves those who roster him needing to hedge their bets, hoping he gets a fresh start that maximizes his upside.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Brian Thomas, Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
About: It’s been a rough sophomore year for Thomas. But as the season has progressed, he’s seemingly improved his connection with Trevor Lawrence. On Sunday, that looked like four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. He’s heating up at the right time for those who roster him in the fantasy playoffs.
Stock Down: Marvin Harrison, Jr., Arizona Cardinals
About: Sometimes the best ability is availability. Harrison hasn’t had that much down the stretch. Worse yet, with him out, Michael Wilson has exploded, looking like a better fit in the offense. That gives me pause as we look at Harrison’s potential upside in the offense. That’s not a good position to be in with a player who was a high selection in rookie drafts.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
About: Pitts likely helped some people advance in the first round of the playoffs. He capped a hot stretch with 11 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns. It’s a reminder of why he was viewed as such an exceptional talent before the draft. He’s in a contract year, and it’s not clear he’ll remain trapped in Atlanta. Likely, this hot late-season stretch will help him garner plenty of interest this offseason, which is good news for those who roster him.
Stock Down: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
About: Njoku has been a good contributor for the Browns and in fantasy. He’s on a solid contract, but this hasn’t been a good year. He’s struggled in the offense and with injuries. Worse yet, Harold Fannin, Jr., has become the go-to player in the Browns’ pass offense. All that leaves Njoku with an unclear path to targets moving forward. If you can, I would move him in dynasty.
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.
