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 4 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: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
About: Maye entered the week as QB6 on the season. He finished Week 4 with two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown as the Patriots scored 42 points. Maye is taking a step up in his second year. Pre-season, I predicted he would finish as a QB1 because I liked the offense and the potential around him. Through four weeks, he looks like he’s well on his way.
Stock Down: Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
About: Ward was the No. 1 overall pick, but that’s not a guarantee of success. So far, it hasn’t been pretty for Ward or the Titans. The team is 0-4, Ward is completing less than 50 percent of his passes and has thrown for just 723 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s a bad bet in fantasy and looks like he could be a bad bet overall, barring a substantial turnaround.
Running Backs:
Stock Up: Woody Marks, Houston Texans
About: The Texans are without Joe Mixon, and it has made an impact on their running game. Veteran Nick Chubb began the season as the lead back, and he’s still in the mix, but it’s rookie Marks who looks like the better option in the backfield. He had a fantastic Week 4, leading the team with 69 yards rushing and a touchdown, catching four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. If you snagged him late in drafts, he’s looking more like a flex-worthy option.
Stock Down: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
About: The cliff comes for every running back. Sometimes it’s the age cliff. Sometimes it’s due to usage. We’ve waited to see when it would hit Henry, but through Week 1 of this season, it seemed he was immune. But a funny thing happened to end Week 1, as Henry finished an amazing game with a crippling fumble. He’s fumbled three times already this season—losing two big ones that cost his team the game. He’s also failed to run for more than 50 yards in three of the four games this season. While he still had a fantastic Week 1 and has three rushing touchdowns, it doesn’t look like the same old Henry. It might be time to look at moving him before it’s too late.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Early in the season, it was easy to write off what Johnston is doing as a good game. But it’s been four weeks, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Johnston has at least three receptions and 70 yards in each game and has added four touchdowns. He looks increasingly like the Chargers’ receiver you want to roster. The breakout is real.
Stock Down: Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
About: Ward isn’t the only one on the Titans’ offense that’s struggling. Ridley has seen 24 targets in four games, which isn’t bad volume. He has just 10 receptions for 141 yards to show for it. While he might be the best receiver on the roster, this offense is a mess. Ridley isn’t a good bet for your fantasy lineup at this point.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
About: Tremble is taking a step up this season as a target for Bryce Young and the Panthers. It hasn’t been a good season for the team, as they have started 1-3. But Tremble is producing for fantasy, with 11 receptions in four games, including seven and a touchdown the past two weeks. He’s coming on and becoming relevant for fantasy players.
Stock Down: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
About: The standout from Michigan was the first tight end taken in the NFL Draft. He hasn’t looked like a good bet in fantasy lineups. He’s seen just six targets in four games, including none on Sunday. And he’s caught just three passes for 43 yards. The talent is there, but he doesn’t have a role on an offense that remains something of a mess. He shouldn’t be in your lineup.
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.
