We saw some interesting performances and even some Toy Story scenes this Sunday in the NFL. We saw great performances and some not-so-great performances. In dynasty, we’re in it for the long haul. That doesn’t mean we can ignore the day-to-day fluctuations. That’s what the Stock Watch is all about. Each week, I look at one player whose stock is on the rise and one whose stock is on the decline at each of the key fantasy positions. Let’s look at some of the big swings from Week 4.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
About: Allen is already great and was already high in your dynasty rankings, but after a Week 1 that saw him turn the ball over plenty, there was some worry he was slipping. The last three weeks, he’s been on a tear. That includes throwing four touchdowns and rushing for another in a 28-point win over Miami. At quarterback, Allen is just about as good as it gets in the NFL right now.
Stock Down: Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
About: The Falcons have a lot of pieces in place that would allow them to be successful. The big swing the team took was at quarterback with Ridder, a Third-Round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. So far, it’s not panning out. The Falcons won the first two games, albeit close, despite middling performances from Ridder. The young quarterback has struggled in the last two games, both losses for the Falcons. On Sunday in London, he tossed a pair of brutal interceptions as the Falcons got blasted by the Jaguars. It’s fair to wonder how long the Falcons will want to ride with Ridder if he keeps on this path.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
About: It’s been a frustrating four weeks for Bears fans. The team is winless, and the offense has lacked direction at times. That’s been particularly true in the backfield. But in Week 4, Herbert seemed to take control. He carried 18 times and rushed for 101 hard-earned yards. He also caught a touchdown. Herbert looks like the best and most motivated back in Chicago’s arsenal and, hopefully, has earned a bigger share of the touches.
Stock Down: Tyler Allgeier, Atanta Falcons
About: Allgeier was a 1,000-yard runner in 2022, and after Week 1 of the 2023 season, he looked like he would be again, adding 75 yards and two touchdowns. He has just 73 yards on 30 carries in the three games since. Bijan Robinson is the more explosive back, and with the number of touches Allgeier is getting, it’s not enough volume to make him a weekly play. He’s little more than depth and a great handcuff. Plan accordingly.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Nico Collins, Houston Texans
About: The 2-2 Texans have been a pleasant surprise. Rookies C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell have been a big part of the team’s success in the passing game, but the No. 1 option has been Collins. He has 22 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s four games. He only has one iffy game this season. Collins is becoming a reliable weekly start and a fun player to watch for this young Texans team.
Stock Down: Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears
About: Four receptions, 51 yards, and a touchdown. That’s Claypool’s total for 2023. This week he shot off his mouth about his role in the offense and was a healthy scratch Sunday. This would make the second team where Claypool has seemingly worn out his welcome after being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers last off-season. Claypool is unplayable, and his long-term future is far from bright.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
About: Ferguson has stepped in as the starter in Dallas and hasn’t missed a beat. He was TE11 through the first three weeks of the season and followed that up with seven receptions for 77 yards in Week 4. Ferguson has become a reliable outlet for the Cowboys and a great option for your fantasy lineup. He didn’t get much pre-season hype but is turning out to be a boon to fantasy players.
Stock Down: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
About: It’s not about the talent but the offense. There are too many mouths to feed for the 49ers. With Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel starring at wide receiver and Christian McCaffrey dominating at running back, there’s not a lot of room for targets and production for Kittle. He saw seven receptions for 90 yards in Week 3, a reminder of what he can do and his talent. But he followed that up with a reception for nine yards in a game where Samuel didn’t play. He had just 10.1 points combined in the first two weeks of the season, too. He’s got talent. He’s got top-five talent. But there are too many weapons in San Francisco, and Kittle is taking a back seat.
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.
