Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 6.
After four weeks of defense-dominated, low-scoring fantasy weeks, we finally enjoyed a taste in Week 5 of what offensive points look like, especially for quarterbacks and tight ends.
Of the 13 games from Thursday to Sunday, nine teams scored 30 or more points – three games included both teams scoring 30-plus. Tight ends came alive, too, posting a season-best 15 touchdowns and making a statement for the league’s most stagnant fantasy position.
Let’s hope it’s the start of more to come.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 5.
Through four weeks of the regular season, the percentage of points being scored by field goals is the highest it been since 1993. If you’ve noticed that quarterbacks, for the most part, aren’t throwing TDs like you’re accustomed to seeing.
The NFL has a way of self-correcting anomalies as a season goes on, but — for now — with all the long-bomb field goals being made, the right kicker may be one of the most valuable players on your roster.
The top risers and fallers heading into Week 4.
The rookie crop of high-end quarterbacks hasn’t lived up to the sky-high expectations placed on guys like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix – all Week 1 starters. Daniels has been the only one of the three who has earned being a fantasy football starter with his explosive play.
Immediate stardom – in the NFL and the fantasy world – has proved elusive. Many high-end picks eventually become stars, but more don’t.
Week 3 was a reminder that blue-chip wide receivers make a quicker and more explosive transformation to the pros. For the Big 3 – Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze – Week 1 was no great shakes. Since then?
Over the last two games, Harrison has caught nine passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Nabers has caught 18 passes for 205 yards and three TDs. Odunze has caught eight passes for 145 yards and one TD. It goes to show once again, if you’re going make a significant fantasy draft investment in a prize rookie, wide receivers are the best bet to provide a quick return on investment.
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.
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 15.
In most leagues, the fantasy football playoffs start this week. There are times when you bench players because they’ve let you down. Wrong decisions in the playoffs last for years in the dark memories of great seasons snuffed.
The players highlighted this week have earned their spots – for good reasons and bad. As those playing this week mull their first-round playoff matchups and which players are used or avoided, with each decision comes the implications of potential points left on the bench. Choose wisely.
