Fantasy football risers and fallers

Which players are trending up and down two weeks before the NFL season opener?

Seasoned fantasy football drafters know how important it is to keep up with the latest player trends. An easy way to get an overall feel is by looking at average draft placement (ADP) charts, but sometimes the numbers aren’t as quick to respond as gamers need to a clear representation of the landscape.

Note: All ADP figures are courtesy of FantasyFootballCalculator.com and are PPR scoring, unless noted otherwise. “N/A” represents not enough selections to warrant inclusion in the ADP charts.

Fantasy football risers

QB Gardner Minshew | Jacksonville Jaguars | ADP: 13:04

Minshew’s fantasy stock has gone up incrementally over the past two months, peaking at his current ADP this week. It’s mostly a product of more gamers participating in recent weeks, thus increasing the volume of drafts in which he is being selected. The Jaguars have done a decent job of putting more weapons around him this offseason, and the play-caller is a veteran coach in Jay Gruden. Don’t hesitate investing in the second-year mustachioed quarterback.

RB Sony Michel | New England Patriots | ADP: 8:07

After weeks of seeming like he wouldn’t be activated from the physically unable to perform list prior to Week 1, Michel was indeed recalled to the active roster. He is expected to be worked in slowly after undergoing foot surgery earlier in the offseason. He also has to contend with second-year back Damien Harris and veteran Lamar Miller. The latter may not even make the final roster now that Michel is back on the field. Be cautiously optimistic for Michel servicing an RB3 or flex role.

RB LeSean McCoy | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ADP: 13:12

The news of rookie Ke’Shawn Vaughn being relegated mostly to a role on special teams has gamers willing to invest more in McCoy, despite him looking washed up in 2019. The cost of finding out if he still has something in the tank is inconsequential. Given the drastic difference in receiving ability, Ronald Jones may rarely see the field on third downs. To make things more interesting, Jones suffered a foot injury in Friday’s practice; it isn’t expected to be serious, according to Bruce Arians. As long as that holds, McCoy is a flier in PPR and a fringe handcuff to Jones.

RB David Montgomery | Chicago Bears | ADP: 4:07

A groin strain after a non-contact injury in practice will cost the second-year rusher two to four weeks. Pay close attention to his weekly status updates, since the two-week end of the range could get Montgomery back on the field in time for Week 1. Groin injuries can be tricky, and consider him no better than an RB3 on draft day.

RB Bryce Love | Washington Football Team | ADP: 11:05

Love has garnered more attention after showing well for himself in training camp. The Washington backfield is a mess for fantasy purposes, although there’s potential value to be found in Love. Adrian Peterson cannot do it forever, and he’s not going to see much action on third downs, which is where rookie Antonio Gibson is likely make his mark. Love’s best path to serious action is outplaying Peterson. Love is a reconstructed knee and a year-plus removed from a second-place showing in the Heisman race.

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RB Zack Moss | Buffalo Bills | ADP: 8:07

Despite being a rookie in this pandemic-afflicted offseason, Moss is quickly gaining steam in the backfield utilization share with Devin Singletary. Buffalo is committed to the ground game, regardless of improving its personnel in the passing attack. The best approach in standard formats is to handcuff him to Singletary, although there’s a hint of appeal for gamers buying on speculation. Cautiously approach all rookies in 2020.

WR Alshon Jeffery | Philadelphia Eagles | ADP: 14:02

Head coach Doug Pederson recently commented about Jeffery being close to returning “soon” from Lisfranc surgery last December. Unfortunately, this is a vague term and wasn’t contextualized. Nevertheless, Jeffery appears to be nearing a return and, even at 30, offers upside in relation to the limited risk associated with drafting him at this stage ADP-wise.

WR Jamison Crowder | New York Jets | ADP: 9:06

Crowder’s ADP has risen almost a full round in the last few weeks. Gamers are coming around on his utility after his WR26 season in PPR a year ago. Rookie receiver Denzel Mims has a bum hammy and is missing seriously valuable time, whereas Crowder remains a consistently reliable outlet for Sam Darnold. Yours truly has been touting Crowder’s undervalued status for two years now, and it’s nice to see more people are finally coming around.

WR Auden Tate | Cincinnati Bengals | ADP: N/A

The Bengals briefly lost A.J. Green for a few practices this week, and rookie Tee Higgins is still learning his way. Tate has been impressive in practice and offers a huge target for Joe Burrow. The passing game will be erratic while the rookie quarterback figures out things on the fly, but Tate has late-round appeal in deep leagues. His optimal worth will come in best-ball and DFS action.

Fantasy football fallers

QB Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals | ADP: 12:08

Burrow’s ADP has fallen nearly a round in the last two weeks, which is most likely a market correction as we continue to get farther away from all-rookie drafts in dynasty leagues. Even with settings show just redraft formats since Aug. 1, his numbers fall off, as well. The 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick is a flier in best-ball leagues and shouldn’t be drafted in any single-year format of 12 teams or less.

RB Damien Harris | New England Patriots | ADP: 10:10

Michel coming off of the PUP is the worst thing going against the largely inexperienced Harris. The veteran runner underwent foot surgery earlier in the offseason, and that opened the door for Harris, as second-year back with just four totes to his name as a pro. The Pats have four capable running backs, and Cam Newton is always a threat to steal touchdowns. Toss in the loss of right tackle Marcus Cannon and this situation becomes less likely by the minute.

RB D’Andre Swift | Detroit Lions | ADP: 5:10

An undisclosed injury has the second-round rookie missing several practices, and it now appears his Week 1 status could be “negatively impacted,” according to Dave Birkett, of the Detroit Free Press. Keep close tabs on Swift’s situation as draft season reaches its crescendo.

WR Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals | ADP: 14:01

It’s not so much that Higgins is necessarily falling, per se, but more of a case where the rise of Tate has helped plateau the rookie receiver’s rising stock. He’s being chosen in only about 38 percent of drafts since Aug. 1, and there’s little upside in selecting a rookie receiver who’ll be catching passes from a rookie QB.

WR Mike Williams | Los Angeles Chargers | ADP: 14:03

The Chargers’ No. 2 wideout has a sprained shoulder and could miss the first couple of games in 2020. His draft stock already was depressed thanks to a disappointing 2019 and a drop-off in quarterback talent from Philip Rivers to Tyrod Taylor. Williams has a chance to emerge as the year wears on, so there could be a hint of late-round undervalued status going on here.

Fantasy football risers and fallers

Tracking trends of fantasy football’s risers and fallers.

Seasoned fantasy football drafters know how important it is to keep up with the latest player trends. An easy way to get an overall feel is by looking at average draft placement (ADP) charts, but sometimes the numbers aren’t as quick to respond as gamers need to a clear representation of the landscape.

Note: All ADP figures are courtesy of FantasyFootballCalculator.com and are PPR scoring, unless noted otherwise. “N/A” represents not enough selections to warrant inclusion in the ADP charts.

Fantasy football risers

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Kansas City Chiefs | ADP: 1:06

The opt-out of running back Damien Williams makes Edwards-Helaire the primary back in KC. He’s being drafted a tad earlier than gamers should be comfy with, but that’s the going rate if someone wants to find out whether the do-all rookie has what it takes during a pandemic-shortened offseason.

RB Adrian Peterson | Washington Football Team | ADP: 11:10

Derrius Guice being released after an ugly domestic violence accusation and arrest is the impetus for Peterson’s recent climb, which is still in effect and not accurately being reflected in the numbers. Expect him to net out somewhere around the late ninth round with more worth in non-PPR setups.

RB Antonio Gibson | Washington Football Team | ADP: 8:06

The rookie also is benefiting from Guice’s release, and the collegiate receiver figures to be the pass-catching option from this backfield. In some ways, Gibson has more value than Peterson, even if the elder statesman could have a 2-to-1 advantage in touches. Gibson’s PPR value is far greater than that of All Day, and the suspect offensive line also favors the rook.

WR Henry Ruggs | Las Vegas Raiders | ADP: 9:09

Another rookie on the rise, Ruggs will begin his NFL career in the slot, a position Hunter Renfrow was expected to inhabit. The Alabama burner will be able to utilize his exceptional athleticism while learning the playbook. This will be tougher offseason than usual on rookies, especially receivers, so be patient.

WR A.J. Green | Cincinnati Bengals | ADP: 6:02

Following an entire year off, Green has returned to form on the field, per recent reports. At age 32, after missing significant time in three of the last four seasons, one has to question how much he has left in the tank. Coupling injury concerns with a rookie quarterback trying to navigate the pandemic … let’s just say this is an aggressive draft placement

WR Allen Lazard | Green Bay Packers | ADP: 13:08

Lazard has become the odds-on favorite to land the No. 2 give opposite Davante Adams, filling a sizeable void in the passing game. The Packers will remain balanced, which in today’s NFL might as well be called “run-heavy,” yet someone else needs to step up. It could be TE Jace Sternberger or wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but gamers are favoring Lazard for the time being. Watch this situation develop in training camp.

RB Ronald Jones | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ADP: 5:12

Jones was named the primary back recently, and his ADP has climbed a good deal since. The Bucs added veteran LeSean McCoy, although he has seen better days. It is more than reasonable to question if he makes the team or has an active role. Jones flashed his potential in 2019 and should be better with Tom Brady keeping the offense on the field. That said, there’s notable risk in drafting Jones at his current price.

WR Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals | ADP: N/A

Like Green, Higgins is on the rise, or will be soon, but for a much different reason. He benefits from seeing extra reps in practice while John Ross tends to his sick child. It’s unclear how long Ross will miss, but if the 33rd overall pick in April’s draft impresses the coaching staff, it may be impossible for Ross to crack the top-three receiving spots. After all, he was rumored to be his way out last season. Higgins, however, is no more than a late flier in deep leagues or a best-ball gamble.

RB Damien Harris | New England Patriots | ADP: 10:10

The second-year running back was trending upward leading into this week before the Pats added veteran Lamar Miller in response to Sony Michel (foot) likely to miss several weeks of the regular season. Harris may not climb much beyond this week, which actually can work to your advantage. Which runner would you rather trust, the 29-year-old coming off of a torn ACL or a 23-year-old who started over Josh Jacobs at Alabama two seasons ago?

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Fantasy football fallers

QB Kirk Cousins | Minnesota Vikings | ADP: 14:10

This one is more of a market correction as fantasy owners are coming around to the realization that Cousins has little more than name recognition going for him in 2020. His meaningful games last year came by way of efficiency, and he lost his No. 2 receiver in the offseason. Rookie wideout Justin Jefferson replaces Stefon Diggs, yet there will be a drop-off as the first-rounder learns the ropes on the fly.

RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ADP: 9:12

The rookie is poised to begin his NFL career as the No. 3 running back behind Shady McCoy and Jones. There’s a chance he even slides behind Dare Ogunbowale. To the contrary, McCoy is no lock to make the roster as the No. 2 guy. Vaughn was activated from the COVID-19 list before missing much time, and he could present a value if McCoy doesn’t get the job done.

QB Drew Lock | Denver Broncos | ADP: 14:08

More market correction, perhaps mixed with concerns of losing his right tackle to the opt-out, in addition to having a pair of rookies as his top receivers. There’s also a fear Denver may rely heavily on the run and limit Lock’s passing attempts after signing Melvin Gordon in the offseason. Defensive regression probably dictates that angle. The second-year quarterback remains a possible breakout and comes at a fine price to chance it behind an elite starter.

RB Sony Michel | New England Patriots | ADP: 8:07

Offseason foot surgery has Michel on the mend, and he’s possibly going to miss the first six weeks of the year. It’s the Patriots, so good luck figuring out the truth behind his injury or the real prognosis. Injuries have impacted him in varying severity throughout his short career, and gamers can expect Michel’s ADP to continue to fall.

WR Hunter Renfrow | Las Vegas Raiders | ADP: 14:07

Renfrow appears to have lost his grasp on the primary slot gig, which suggests his value goes from being an intriguing sleeper candidate to basically undraftable in any conventional setting. Renfrow could emerge as the year goes along if Ruggs moves to the outside, and it’s plausible all of this was no more than coach speak. His optimal utility is in best-ball formats.