The 2025 regular season is in the books, leaving us for the playoffs. That’s a time for heroes to rise, players to make their mark, and for some to leave us with unsettling off-season questions. It’s all in a weekend’s work for these players as their teams fight for the Super Bowl. Wild Card weekend presented six games, most of which were great, competitive battles. But who helped their stock rise and who left us with questions based on their play? Let’s dive in!
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
About: Allen is part of a group of quarterbacks considered to be at the top of the position heading into the 2025 season. But while Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson are all home, Allen keeps on trucking. A criticism prior to Sunday’s game was that Allen and the Bills hadn’t won on the road. They erased that charge as they went into Jacksonville and outlasted the #3 seed in the AFC. And they did it on the back of Allen, often literally, as they rallied for back-to-back touchdown drives to win the game. It was a commanding performance that reminded everyone he’s the best at the position right now.
Stock Down: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Herbert is now 0-3 in his Post-Season career. Some blame his offensive line, and the Chargers certainly blamed some coaching by firing both the Offensive Line Coach and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman in the aftermath of a three-point output Sunday night. But, certainly, some blame lies at the feet of Herbert, who has completed less than 55 percent of his passes with two touchdowns, four interceptions, and 13 sacks in three postseason games. Herbert has been a great regular-season player, but he’ll continue to be on the outside looking in when it comes to elite quarterbacks until he shows he can stand up to postseason scrutiny.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Etienne is in a contract year. He had a successful season, for the most part, but certainly gave the Jaguars—and the rest of the league—something to think about in his final outing. Etienne rushed for 67 yards on just 10 carries, adding five receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. If not in Jacksonville, he figures to get a shot to be a lead back somewhere after another strong year of production on the ground and in the passing game.
Stock Down: Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
About: Mid-season, Dowdle looked like a potential league winner. After a solid 2024 season in Dallas, he moved to the Panthers on a one-year deal. Around the middle of the season, he started carrying the Panthers’ offense on his back, almost literally. But as the season wore on, his impact lessened. In the Panthers’ playoff game, he had just five carries for nine yards. Chuba Hubbard looked better on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns. Dowdle, a free agent again, complained about his role in the Panthers’ offense post-game. That leaves him heading into an uncertain off-season on a down note. If he’s on your dynasty roster, it’s best to have a plan B.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: Washington certainly made a case that he’s a valuable part of the Jaguars’ passing game. He had seven receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown to lead the team in the loss to the Bills. Despite a crowded room that includes Jakobi Myers, Brian Thomas, Jr., and Travis Hunter, Washington is showing that he belongs on the field. He’s likely earned a bigger role in 2026 and should be a nice stash in dynasty leagues this offseason.
Stock Down: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
About: It was a tumultuous season for Brown and the Eagles. He was frequently upset about his role in the offense, and when the team did decide to feature him, it often didn’t go well. The same was true in the Eagles’ Wild Card playoff loss on Sunday. Brown got into a shouting match with Head Coach Nick Siriani during the game and made some notable drops on the field. All of it was a bad look for a player with huge upside but many questions. He already wore out his welcome in Tennessee, and it certainly seems to be going the same way in Philadelphia. That leaves him with an uncertain future, team, and role heading into 2026, as it’s likely the Eagles will look to move on.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
About: It hasn’t always been pretty for Loveland, despite his draft capital. But as the season hit the home stretch, and now into the playoffs, the tight end is stepping up as a go-to target for Caleb Williams in Chicago. He had a huge day against the Packers, catching eight passes for 137 yards on a team-high 15 targets. Better still, Williams looked for Loveland when it mattered most. All of that is a promising sign heading into his sophomore season in the NFL.
Stock Down: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
About: Kittle is a beast when he’s on the field. As we saw many times during the season, he’s the 49ers’ best passing game weapon. But it’s been hard for him to stay on the field. That was true in the Wild Card game, too, as Kittle tore his Achilles tendon, ending his season. Worse yet, with the tear coming in January, that certainly puts most, if not all, of his 2026 season in jeopardy as well. If you have him in dynasty, you’re not releasing him. But he’s likely not going to be a factor during the bulk of the 2026 fantasy season. At 32-years-old, turning 33 in October, it’s fair to wonder what his career will be like in the aftermath of this injury. If you can find a deep contender willing to take a shot, I would consider moving him.
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.
