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 18 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: Riley Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
About: Leonard was the backup to Daniel Jones most of the season, but when Jones went down with a season-ending injury, the Colts turned to Philip Rivers. That led them to a 0-3 stretch that knocked them out of the playoffs. Leonard got the start in Week 18, putting up 30 points and taking the Houston Texans to the brink. Leonard threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, adding one more rushing touchdown. He looked solid, like he might have been a better option over the previous three weeks.
Stock Down: Quinn Ewers, Miami Dolphins
About: After deciding to sit Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins gave Ewers a three-game trial. While Ewers was 1-2 as a starter, the time on the field wasn’t overly impressive. He threw for just 622 yards, three touchdowns, and had three interceptions. Ewers does not look like the answer at quarterback and might not even be the Dolphins’ QB2 in 2026. If you were holding him in dynasty, he’s probably droppable.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Audric Estime, New Orleans Saints
About: Estime started the season out of the final roster for the Denver Broncos. He ended it making a strong showing when given a chance by the New Orleans Saints. He rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown, catching six passes over the final two games. It wasn’t an incredible showing, but it’s enough to make him an interesting stash heading into the off-season.
Stock Down: Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
About: Dowdle started the season as a backup, but quickly emerged as a force in the Panthers’ backfield. Almost just as quietly, he faded down the stretch. While he hit some of his incentives, Dowdle finished with just 10 yards rushing in the Panthers’ season finale. Though he has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, he’s a free agent again. It’s unclear where he’ll land in 2026, and whether he can pull off the feat a third time.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
About: It hasn’t been a great season for Jefferson, given the quarterback situation for the Vikings. But in the season finale, he showed a glimmer of hope for the future. He caught eight passes for 101 yards and finished with another 1,000-yard season. The Vikings are likely to add competition to the quarterback room in 2026, but it also looks like Jefferson is developing some chemistry with J.J. McCarthy. All those are hopeful signs for those who have him on the roster.
Stock Down: Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
About: This isn’t about what Diggs has done on the field. He developed into a solid target for Drake Maye throughout most of 2025. But he’s getting older and has passed his prime as a receiver. All that makes his off-field distractions, which have continued throughout the season, more of a cause for concern. The latest criminal charges are just the latest in a string of off-field stories. All that has me weary of Diggs this off-season. If you can find a buyer, I’d move him.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: When the season was on the line, and all their playmakers were healthy, the Buccaneers featured Otton. He finished with seven receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown on a team-high nine targets. It was an uneven season for Otton, but his involvement in the team’s Week 18 win is a promising sign heading into 2026.
Stock Down: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
About: Kelce hasn’t made a final decision about his future, but it’s trending toward retirement. Even if he’s back, his ability to score at a high level has fallen off and isn’t likely to bounce back. If you rostered Kelce, ideally, it was to make one last run. He won’t have value in the trade market, but if you were relying on him, it’s time to make other plans.
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.
