We saw some interesting performances and some misfires this Sunday in the NFL. 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 5.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
About: When Goff was traded to the Lions as part of the deal that sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams, it almost seemed like he was an afterthought. But he’s been solid in his two years in Detroit and now, in year three, has the team 5-1 and looking toward making a playoff run. He’s played well enough that there’s talk of an extension and a long-term future for what looks like a talented, young Lions team. If you’re rostering Goff, you not only have a player you can use in 2023, but it also looks like he could be startable for a while.
Stock Down: Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
About: Heading into Week 5, there was talk Ridder could be on the hot seat as a starting quarterback. He rallied as the team moved to 3-2. But a bad performance on Sunday, leading to a loss to the Washington Commanders, and a bad exchange with Head Coach Arthur Smith on the sideline could mean his rope as the starter is getting shorter. Ridder hasn’t been able to develop a consistent passing game despite having Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and he’s been turning the ball over. All that is something to watch as the season wears on.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
About: Heading into Week 6, there wasn’t a big difference between Hubbard and Panthers’ starter Miles Sanders. Sanders missed the game due to injury, and Hubbard got a chance to start. He made the most of it, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. After nearly splitting touches in Week 5 and looking sharp in Week 6, Hubbard could be playing his way into a bigger role in Carolina.
Stock Down: Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
About: I love Williams’ talent, and I love the potential opportunity in Denver. He’s looked good when it gets touches, but the Broncos are a true three-headed in Denver, and it’s keeping Williams from being a reliable fantasy play. He has just 190 yards on 48 carries and 51 yards on 11 receptions. That’s not good enough, especially for his talent and draft position. Until he gets more consistent usage, he’s a borderline flex play at best.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
About: There is an opening at receiver for the Chiefs. The question was just who would step up. Through six weeks, it appears the answer is the rookie, Rice. He’s seen 28 targets, catching 21 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Rice continues to grow in his role in the offense and is becoming the solid No. 3 option after Travis Kelce and running back Isaih Pacheco.
Stock Down: Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
About: The Bengals’ offense has been in a funk to start the season, so that doesn’t help. But Higgins, moreso than Ja’Marr Chase, has seen his production slide. In five games, he has just 14 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. That’s not what people are hoping for from a player with a Top 12 upside. Higgins isn’t getting enough volume to keep him in your starting lineup.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
About: After being MIA for the start of the season, Mayer is finally getting involved for the Raiders. In Week 5, he caught two passes for 39 yards. He followed that up in Week 6, seeing six targets and catching five passes for 75 yards. It’s a promising sign for a rookie with talent and possibly a good situation.
Stock Down: Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers
About: Hurst seemed like a solid signing and a potential security blanket for rookie Bryce Young. That seemed to bear fruit in Week 1, as he caught five passes for 41 yards. In the five games since, he has just nine receptions, with three games of only one reception. That’s not good enough to be a weekly play, and Hurst doesn’t seem to have enough of a role to be even a streaming consideration at this point.
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.
