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 and 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 5 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: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
About: Williams had a rough start to the season. Though the Bears won in Week 1, he threw for less than 100 yards. In Week 2, under a lot of pressure, he crumbled in a turnover-plagued game that had some wondering if he was the guy. Quietly, the Bears are now 3-2 and Williams has gotten it going. He’s thrown five touchdowns against just two interceptions the past three games, going over 300 yards twice including in Sunday’s win. The Bears are starting to put it together, which is good for Williams and good for those who roster him in fantasy.
Stock Down: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
About: Coming into the season, there were questions about Watson’s durability and availability. He’s stayed healthy and started all five games. Now, the questions are about his ability. He’s yet to hit 200 yards in any game, completing less than 60 percent of his passes. The Browns are 1-4 and their offense appears stuck in the mud. Kevin Stefanski says he’s sticking with Watson—for now—but he has no place in your lineup.
Running Backs:
Stock Up: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
About: It’s been a slow start for the Bengals, who are just 1-4 on the season. Part of that slow start has been the play in the backfield. But the past few weeks, Brown has sprung to life. He had 72 yards rushing in Week 3, 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns in Week 4 and led the group with 46 yards on the ground, catching a touchdown pass in Week 5. For those that have held him hoping for a spot starter, Brown is catching fire at the right time.
Stock Down: Breece Hall, New York Jets
About: We love Hall’s talent and potential, but he’s been in a bit of a funk. He has just 27 yards rushing the past two weeks, and just over 200 on the season. Now, he’s ceding both carries and targets to Braelon Allen. Hall is capable of being a PPR monster, but he’s in a time split and not producing right now. That’s a tough break for fantasy managers given the current injury climate.
Wide Receivers:
Stock Up: Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
About: After some fallow years in Chicago with Justin Fields, Mooney has found a new lease on life in Atlanta with Kirk Cousins. On Thursday night, he caught nine passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 24 receptions for 330 yards, proving to be one of the more reliable fantasy assets in the Falcons’ offense. He has eight or more PPR points in each of the last four games and has been a boon to those who picked him up this off-season.
Stock Down: Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
About: Doubs is already fighting for targets in a loaded offense. Now, he’s sitting out practice and earning a suspension from his team. That’s all bad. His 12 receptions for 169 yards in four games isn’t inspiring, either. Doubs could well be playing himself into the Packers’ doghouse and on to your bench.
Tight Ends:
Stock Up: Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
About: The Jets’ offense has been a bit of a mess, and a bit of an enigma. But one of the bright spots the past three weeks has been Conklin. He’s got 15 receptions the past three games, showing he’s becoming an outlet and a target leader in this offense. At a position that’s been rough this season, Conklin is shaping up to be a good play.
Stock Down: Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Sometimes the best ability is availability, and Engram hasn’t had it this season. He had one reception for two yards in Week 1 and hasn’t been in the lineup since. He could have a big role coming back, but the Jaguars have gotten development and production from Brenton Strange the past four weeks, meaning his path to consistent targets even when healthy is murky. For those rostering him, it’s time to have a backup plan.
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.
