Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 3.
We’re only two weeks into the season and there are already a couple teams that fantasy managers should want nothing to do with – the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Just two games in, many of us have seen enough.
When critical injuries mount as the season goes on, more teams will likely be added to this poisonous list of teams you want to avoid having any of their players in your fantasy lineups.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 2.
Week 1 is always a big equalizer. For those who lose, a roster that appeared unbeatable suddenly looks vulnerable – those with Christian McCaffrey or Puka Nacua on their rosters are already apoplectic.
The good news is that if fantasy managers don’t panic, they will find out what sort of team they will have by the end of September – good, bad, or meh. However, for those off to a bad start, it’s hard to find solace.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 1.
During the season, we have real-time numbers to base decisions on stock rising and falling for players. Heading into Week 1, all we have to go on is where players were ranked and the investment needed to get them on rosters. Some players seem to be rated too low for their potential, while others are asking for a lot of faith that they can reach their ceiling.
For this week only, fantasy football risers and fallers are based on their ADPs and preseason rankings.
These are the top movers in either direction as of late August.
The latest fantasy football movers and shakers — in either direction — are important to track as we’re at the height of draft season. That said, it’s also easy to get caught up in the moment by devaluing an injury player or overrated someone nearing increased action. Let’s explore the most impactful situations pertaining to fantasy gamers.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 18.
With most fantasy leagues done for the season, thoughts are already turning to 2024 for half the NFL. Even though several games on the Week 18 schedule are “meaningless” to fans, coaches and players are looking at who will and won’t be part of their future moving forward.
With so many teams having questions at quarterback, this may be the most impactful offseason in years. That begins this week as organizations start making the critical decisions from head coaches on down as to the direction their teams with be taking.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 17.
When you make it to within smelling distance of a fantasy football league title, it leaves long-lingering memories when one guy kills what seemed like a sure championship season. Bad beats last longer than winning in one’s memory.
Amari Cooper ended pretty much every season of fantasy teams he played against. He not only had a career day with 11 receptions for 265 yards and two touchdowns but caught a two-point conversion pass to put his weekly number at 51.5 PPR.
If you’ve played fantasy football long enough, you enjoyed more success than failure but a season-ending gut-punch like that won’t leave a stain, it will leave a scar.
There’s always next year, but this year is going to linger for those who got done like that. It wasn’t the first time it’s happened. It won’t be the last time. But if it happened to you in Week 16, it will be awhile before someone else can tell a more heart-wrenching story over a couple adult beverages about how their fantasy season ended.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 16.
The list of teams that have been eliminated from playoff consideration in the NFL has grown markedly with each week. But that doesn’t mean their games are meaningless.
Pay attention to those players who are getting a look late in the season for teams that are playing out the season when the competition remains real. Often times, if somebody shines in December on a team whose season is done, get an in-road to landing a bigger role the following season.
If you’re still chasing a league title, keep your eyes on the prize. If not, put some focus to the NFL teams that have been eliminated and get an insight on their plans for next year. You may bet the edge you need to turn things around next year.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 14.
Week 13 had the chance to be a separation week for a lot of playoff contenders, but instead has created a logjam that will likely have an inordinate number of teams still in contention as the season winds down.
In the AFC, only three teams (New York Jets, Tennessee and New England) aren’t either in a playoff spot or within two games of a berth. Four teams are 7-5, three are 6-6, and two are 5-7. In the NFC, only three teams aren’t within two games of a playoff spot (Washington, Arizona and Carolina) with five teams at 6-6, two at 5-7, and two at 4-8.
The good news for those looking to nail down a fantasy championship, a lot more teams than usual will have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs and will continue putting their best foot forward until they’re mathematically eliminated.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 13.
Every season brings surprises that weren’t necessarily expected from where fantasy players were drafted. Not many would have guessed that Sam Howell and C.J. Stroud would be No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in passing yards heading into December. Few would have projected that the top 10 rushers in the league 12 weeks into the season would include Raheem Mostert (No. 2), D’Andre Swift (No. 4), James Cook (No. 6), Travis Etienne (No. 7) and Zack Moss (No. 10).
But when it comes to receiving yards, the script hasn’t changed. The wide receivers expected to be at or near the top of the charts were picked high because they’ve been there before. Of the top 12 in receiving yards, only Puka Nacua is a surprise. The other top guys were drafted as top guys – Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Stefon Diggs, Ja’Marr Chase, DJ Moore, Brandon Aiyuk, Mike Evans and Davante Adams.
As you prepare next year for your fantasy football draft, keep it in the back of your mind that receivers are much more predictable than quarterbacks and running backs for top-end value – and should be ranked as such.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 12.
The NFL gets accused of stomping on the holidays and this year that argument holds a lot of water – as both Thanksgiving and Christmas will become all-NFL-all-the-time casualties.
There was a time when Thanksgiving meant the Detroit Lions early, the Dallas Cowboys late and men in stretch pants sleeping on the couch at 7 p.m. Now, there are three Thanksgiving Day games, the first “Black Friday” game, and the slate on Sunday and Monday. Christmas falls on a Monday this year, and the NFL has doubled down.
In Week 16, there will be a game on Thursday, two on Saturday, the regular slate on Sunday and three on Christmas Day. While this is a little unseemly for having family get-togethers with hardcore fans in the house, it creates a unique scenario in which if you are heavily invested (or your opponent is) in early games, you can make chess-like roster moves during the fantasy playoffs at multiple times to bolster your roster and swing for the fences. Nobody is complaining yet. Wait until someone gets greased because of Monday roster change that helped negate a quarterback. Happy holidays, everybody.
