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 7.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
About: After getting a new deal this off-season, Jackson wanted to come out and show he’d taken a step forward this season. He came into Week 7 as QB7, doing it with his arm and his legs. On Sunday, he showed MVP form. He threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball around, and rushed for a touchdown as the Ravens beat the 5-1 Detroit Lions 38-6. If Jackson can stay healthy, the Ravens could be poised for a strong post-season run in a suddenly wide-open AFC.
Stock Down: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
About: Since trading for Watson and giving him a record-setting contract, the Browns have hoped to see him be a franchise quarterback. Fantasy players have hoped to see the same. Last year was something of a lost season, thanks to an 11-game suspension. This season, it’s been thanks to injury. Through the first six weeks, Watson had just 678 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, missing two full games thanks to injury. On Sunday, he went just 1-for-5 for five yards and an interception before leaving with injury again. Watson can still turn it around, but so far, it’s been an under-whelming season again.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
About: Williams didn’t have a spectacular game, but we did start to see increased usage and some separation in a three-back rotation. The game also provided the nugget that Williams had been on a snap count since returning, which has now expired. He got 15 carries, running for a hard 82 yards. Williams also caught three passes for 14 yards. For those who have waited to see Williams get a lion’s share of the workload, Sunday was a promising sign.
Stock Down: Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
About: We knew Jacobs might start slow after missing camp, but now we’re practically at mid-season. And yet, Jacobs continues to put up middling numbers as a rusher. Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 yards in 2022. Coming into Sunday, he had just 312 yards on 107 carries, a paltry 2.9 yards per carry average. Sunday, he had 11 carries for just 35 yards in a loss to the Chicago Bears. He’s used a role in the receiving game to help for fantasy in a few games, but so far, Jacobs looks to be a far cry from the dominant player we saw last year. That’s not a great sign for a player whose long-term future is far from certain.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
About: The Colts’ rookie receiver is thriving with Gardner Minshew at quarterback. We saw him take another big step forward on Sunday, catching five passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. He’s quickly surpassing second-year man Alec Pierce as the solid second option for the Colts and a player with some upside for fantasy lineups. That’s a boon to those who bet on him in the second round of rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Ridley had a huge Week 1. He returned from missing nearly two seasons and exploded with eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. He looked like the WR1 the Jaguars had been seeking. In the six games since, he has just 19 receptions for 267 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Christian Kirk has looked like the receiver you want in Jacksonville. Ridley has talent, and it’s a good offense in Jacksonville. But aside from a Week 1 splash, we haven’t seen a consistent connection.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
About: When Kincaid went in the First Round of the 2023 NFL Draft, there was great optimism that he’d be a difference-maker in the offense. There was even talk he’d be the slot receiver. But through the first few weeks of the season, there was little separating Kincaid from Dawson Knox and little reason to put either in your lineup. Sunday was a great step in the right direction. Kincaid saw eight targets, catching them all for 75 yards. It’s one week, but it’s a promising sign as we near the mid-point of his rookie year that Kincaid is poised to take a step forward in the Buffalo offense.
Stock Down: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
About: Henry started the season hot. After Week 1, he was TE1 in fantasy. He had another big game in Week 2, catching another touchdown. In the five games since—he hasn’t had more than nine fantasy points, and he’s had four games with less than five points. On Sunday, as the Patriots scored the winning touchdown, it was tight end Mike Gesicki making the big plays. What appeared to be a renaissance season for Henry has faded quickly.
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.
