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 8.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders
About: There have been a number of rookie quarterbacks given starts this season. Sunday alone there were a half dozen. But few have been put in a position to succeed like O’Connell and taken advantage of it. The rookie started a game earlier this season, but with Josh McDaniels gone and Jimmy Garoppolo sent to the bench, O’Connell gets a chance to prove himself to end the season. On Sunday, that was a winning opportunity. He didn’t toss tons of touchdowns, but O’Connell looked solid against the Giants, leading his team to the win. If you drafted him or stashed him, he’s starting to pay off.
Stock Down: Daniel Jones, New York Giants
About: Jones had a somewhat impressive 2022 season, guiding the Giants to a 9-7 record and the playoffs. He also got a big new contract this off-season. But the 2023 season has been anything but magical. Prior to Week 9, he’d played in five games, going 1-4 with 884 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions. He returned after missing the past few games and lasted less than a half, going 4-for-9 for 25 yards before leaving with injury again. Jones has been a bust for the Giants and a giant bust for fantasy players.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: White has been the lead man for the Buccaneers all season, but the running game has struggled. It struggled in 2022, also. The offensive line remains a work in progress, which doesn’t help. But of late, White has turned it around, making strides as a runner and contributing in the passing game. He came into Week 9 as RB22, averaging 12.4 points per game. In the past two weeks, he’s had more than 15 points per game. In Week 9, he had his best game of the season, rushing for 73 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries while catching four passes for 46 yards. It’s an encouraging sign that White’s production in fantasy and for the Buccaneers might be turning the corner.
Stock Down: Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
About: Johnson, the Fourth-Round rookie selection, figured to have a role in the Bears’ running game. With Khalil Herbert out injured, it seemed like a chance for Johnson to step up. But while D’Onta Foreman has looked great, Johnson continues to sputter. He has just 149 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries this season. For those hoping he’d become a weekly flex option, it’s not looking good.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
About: Dotson started slowly, but in the past two weeks, he’s been on a tear. He caught eight for 108 yards and a touchdown in Week 8, following it up with four receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown Sunday. Dotson is rounding into form for a stretch run, which could be good news for those who roster him and are looking for a boost.
Stock Down: Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys
About: The matchup between Cooks and the Cowboys seemed like an ideal marriage when he was acquired this off-season. So far, it’s been more fizzle than sizzle. Cooks has just 16 receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns this season. In a crucial game Sunday where Dak Prescott threw for more than 350 yards, Cooks had just one reception for two yards. The acquisition hasn’t panned out, and those who hoped for a boost from Cooks in dynasty should look elsewhere.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
About: Hill was a gadget player with upside under Sean Payton. For a while, he was even the team’s starting quarterback. But this season, he’s thriving as a jack-of-all-trades for a Saints team that’s now 5-4 and in first place in the NFC South. On Sunday alone, Hill was the team’s leading rusher, threw a touchdown pass, and caught a touchdown pass. Hill has become a great play for those in the streaming tight-end game looking for quick points.
Stock Down: Mike Gesicki, New England Patriots
About: Prior to 2022, Gesicki seemed like a tight end on the rise, posting back-to-back Top 10 finishes. In 2022, he failed to find traction in Mike McDaniels’s offense with the Dolphins. I thought a move to New England would return his value. But there isn’t enough consistency in the offense. Through Week 9, Gesicki has just 19 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown. That’s not good enough to trust as a starter.
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.
