Risers and Fallers: Stock Up, Stock Down: Week 8
After two light weeks, the injury bug struck hard and fast Week 8. Several big name fantasy players went down, and many other defensive players saw their Week 8 end early. It was brutal overall, but actually not terrible for fantasy.
The biggest name to go down was Giovani Bernard. Bernard left during the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ Week 8 win with a hip injury and did not return. The injury does not seem serious, but it is the third game in a row Bernard has been forced out due to injury. Jeremy Hill served as the lead back with Gio sidelined and would be a borderline RB1 if Bernard is forced to miss any time.
Jordan Cameron suffered a concussion on a big hit across the middle in the second quarter against the Raiders and did not return. Cameron’s history of concussions makes this injury particularly concerning, and it is certainly within reason he is not available for Week 9. His nightmare season just keeps getting worse.
Doug Martin exited the Buccaneers’ Week 8 overtime loss to the Vikings in the third quarter with an ankle injury. He only managed 27 yards on 10 carries and may have been playing his way out of a job even before the injury. Charles Sims is eligible to be activated off the short-term injured reserve list this week and could be given a look as the lead back down the stretch. Sims is a must add while Martin is hovering around drop-ability in 10- and 12-team leagues.
The final “big name” injury was Brian Quick, who left with what turned out to be a season-ending shoulder injury in the second quarter of the Rams’ Week 8 loss to the Chiefs. Quick has been struggling lately, but was clearly the No. 1 receiver in St. Louis. Kenny Britt will see more targets with Quick sidelined, but he is not worth owning in 10- and 12-team leagues. The Rams’ offense is a fantasy wasteland.
Editor’s Note: Rotoworld’s partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week $3 Million Fantasy Football league for Week 9’s games. It’s only $25 to join and first prize is $500,000. Starts Sunday, November 2nd at 1pm ET. Here’s the link.
Stock Up
Sunday was not the gaudiest stat line Cordarrelle Patterson has put up in the NFL, but it very well could have been the best receiving performance he has produced in the league. Patterson caught 6-of-9 targets for 86 yards against the Buccaneers and made several big catches in the fourth quarter with the game very much in doubt.
Patterson did most of his damage against the zone coverage we already knew he could exploit, but he also showed well against the press-man coverage that he has struggled with all season. The Bucs showed press on Patterson on basically every play, and he made several nice moves to get off the defender quickly. Patterson got inside on a couple slant routes, and had several open back-shoulder opportunities that Teddy Bridgewater missed against man coverage. If Teddy can start hitting that throw, it could become a dangerous weapon for the Vikings’ offense.
I do not want to get too excited because I have been burned by Patterson before, but this was the kind of receiving performance that proves he can be more than a boom-or-bust fantasy option. As he and Bridgewater develop more rapport, these performances should become much more common. I am not buying Patterson as anything more than a WR3 yet, but Sunday was a promising start.
Don’t forget, for everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @RMSummerlin on Twitter. Also, purchase our info-packed Season Pass here.
After establishing himself as the clear big-back in New England last Thursday, Jonas Gray may have established himself as the clear lead-back for the Patriots Week 8. Gray rushed 17 times for 86 yards against the Bears on Sunday and out-touched Shane Vereen 17-to-8.
More impressive than the work is when it came. Nine of Gray’s carries came when it was still a game in the first quarter, and only five of his carries came in the meaningless second half. He was the lead back from the word go, and it was never really in question.
Unfortunately, that is not likely to be the case this week. The Patriots have the most game-plan specific personnel usage in the league, and it would not be surprising if Gray only saw five carries against the Broncos Week 9. What is clear, however, is Gray is the go-to guy if New England wants a bruising back, and he will likely be the goal-line vulture when the offense is in close. Gray has whatever value Stevan Ridley had before going down, and is worth an add in every league.
Mike Evans caught 4-of-7 targets for 78 yards in the Buccaneers’ Week 8 loss to the Vikings. He led the team in targets and yards, and made two big plays down the stretch.
The game was nice, but it is basically what Evans has been doing all season. The real reason his stock is up is the persistent rumors surrounding the trade availability of Vincent Jackson. Trades rarely happen at the NFL deadline, but if a trade happens, it appears Jackson has a great shot to be involved.
Evans would instantly rise into the WR2 conversation as the target hog in Tampa Bay. As it stands, Evans is a solid WR3 with touchdown upside. He needs to be owned in every league.
Against my best judgment, it is time to start taking Brandon LaFell serious in fantasy. LaFell caught all of his team-high 11 targets for 124 yards and a score in the Patriots’ demolition of the Bears Week 8. LaFell has 30 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns over the past six games and has led the Patriots in receiving in two of those contests.
Despite the great run, it is still really hard to take LaFell seriously as a fantasy asset. He had 15 targets combined the three games prior to Week 8, and with Gronkowski back to full beast mode, the touchdown opportunities will likely be limited for LaFell.
He is a WR3 in a suddenly explosive Patriots’ offense, but he is not one I particularly trust. With the rumblings about New England being potentially interested in Vincent Jackson, perhaps the Patriots feel the same way. He needs to be owned, but I am not excited about it.
DeAndre Hopkins caught 5-of-11 targets for 95 yards against the Titans Week 8. Hopkins made several chunk plays on the day and basically ran Titans CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson off the field.
The performance was good, but the targets are the real story. The 11 targets were the most for Hopkins this season, and he now has 20 targets over the last two games after seeing 5.5 targets a game over the first six of the season.
Hopkins has been good this season but could turn into a weekly WR2 if he begins to see 10 targets a game. The arrow is definitely pointing up.
After two light weeks, the injury bug struck hard and fast Week 8. Several big name fantasy players went down, and many other defensive players saw their Week 8 end early. It was brutal overall, but actually not terrible for fantasy.
The biggest name to go down was Giovani Bernard. Bernard left during the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ Week 8 win with a hip injury and did not return. The injury does not seem serious, but it is the third game in a row Bernard has been forced out due to injury. Jeremy Hill served as the lead back with Gio sidelined and would be a borderline RB1 if Bernard is forced to miss any time.
Jordan Cameron suffered a concussion on a big hit across the middle in the second quarter against the Raiders and did not return. Cameron’s history of concussions makes this injury particularly concerning, and it is certainly within reason he is not available for Week 9. His nightmare season just keeps getting worse.
Doug Martin exited the Buccaneers’ Week 8 overtime loss to the Vikings in the third quarter with an ankle injury. He only managed 27 yards on 10 carries and may have been playing his way out of a job even before the injury. Charles Sims is eligible to be activated off the short-term injured reserve list this week and could be given a look as the lead back down the stretch. Sims is a must add while Martin is hovering around drop-ability in 10- and 12-team leagues.
The final “big name” injury was Brian Quick, who left with what turned out to be a season-ending shoulder injury in the second quarter of the Rams’ Week 8 loss to the Chiefs. Quick has been struggling lately, but was clearly the No. 1 receiver in St. Louis. Kenny Britt will see more targets with Quick sidelined, but he is not worth owning in 10- and 12-team leagues. The Rams’ offense is a fantasy wasteland.
Editor’s Note: Rotoworld’s partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week $3 Million Fantasy Football league for Week 9’s games. It’s only $25 to join and first prize is $500,000. Starts Sunday, November 2nd at 1pm ET. Here’s the link.
Stock Up
Sunday was not the gaudiest stat line Cordarrelle Patterson has put up in the NFL, but it very well could have been the best receiving performance he has produced in the league. Patterson caught 6-of-9 targets for 86 yards against the Buccaneers and made several big catches in the fourth quarter with the game very much in doubt.
Patterson did most of his damage against the zone coverage we already knew he could exploit, but he also showed well against the press-man coverage that he has struggled with all season. The Bucs showed press on Patterson on basically every play, and he made several nice moves to get off the defender quickly. Patterson got inside on a couple slant routes, and had several open back-shoulder opportunities that Teddy Bridgewater missed against man coverage. If Teddy can start hitting that throw, it could become a dangerous weapon for the Vikings’ offense.
I do not want to get too excited because I have been burned by Patterson before, but this was the kind of receiving performance that proves he can be more than a boom-or-bust fantasy option. As he and Bridgewater develop more rapport, these performances should become much more common. I am not buying Patterson as anything more than a WR3 yet, but Sunday was a promising start.
Don’t forget, for everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @RMSummerlin on Twitter. Also, purchase our info-packed Season Pass here.
After establishing himself as the clear big-back in New England last Thursday, Jonas Gray may have established himself as the clear lead-back for the Patriots Week 8. Gray rushed 17 times for 86 yards against the Bears on Sunday and out-touched Shane Vereen 17-to-8.
More impressive than the work is when it came. Nine of Gray’s carries came when it was still a game in the first quarter, and only five of his carries came in the meaningless second half. He was the lead back from the word go, and it was never really in question.
Unfortunately, that is not likely to be the case this week. The Patriots have the most game-plan specific personnel usage in the league, and it would not be surprising if Gray only saw five carries against the Broncos Week 9. What is clear, however, is Gray is the go-to guy if New England wants a bruising back, and he will likely be the goal-line vulture when the offense is in close. Gray has whatever value Stevan Ridley had before going down, and is worth an add in every league.
Mike Evans caught 4-of-7 targets for 78 yards in the Buccaneers’ Week 8 loss to the Vikings. He led the team in targets and yards, and made two big plays down the stretch.
The game was nice, but it is basically what Evans has been doing all season. The real reason his stock is up is the persistent rumors surrounding the trade availability of Vincent Jackson. Trades rarely happen at the NFL deadline, but if a trade happens, it appears Jackson has a great shot to be involved.
Evans would instantly rise into the WR2 conversation as the target hog in Tampa Bay. As it stands, Evans is a solid WR3 with touchdown upside. He needs to be owned in every league.
Against my best judgment, it is time to start taking Brandon LaFell serious in fantasy. LaFell caught all of his team-high 11 targets for 124 yards and a score in the Patriots’ demolition of the Bears Week 8. LaFell has 30 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns over the past six games and has led the Patriots in receiving in two of those contests.
Despite the great run, it is still really hard to take LaFell seriously as a fantasy asset. He had 15 targets combined the three games prior to Week 8, and with Gronkowski back to full beast mode, the touchdown opportunities will likely be limited for LaFell.
He is a WR3 in a suddenly explosive Patriots’ offense, but he is not one I particularly trust. With the rumblings about New England being potentially interested in Vincent Jackson, perhaps the Patriots feel the same way. He needs to be owned, but I am not excited about it.
DeAndre Hopkins caught 5-of-11 targets for 95 yards against the Titans Week 8. Hopkins made several chunk plays on the day and basically ran Titans CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson off the field.
The performance was good, but the targets are the real story. The 11 targets were the most for Hopkins this season, and he now has 20 targets over the last two games after seeing 5.5 targets a game over the first six of the season.
Hopkins has been good this season but could turn into a weekly WR2 if he begins to see 10 targets a game. The arrow is definitely pointing up.
Allen Robinson caught 5-of-10 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins Week 8. His touchdown came deep into garbage time, but that is where so many Jaguars’ receivers before him have made their hay.
Robinson is averaging nine targets a game over the last six games and has hit the double-digit target mark in three of those contests. He also has led the Jaguars’ receivers in snaps for three straight weeks. The Jaguars are going to be throwing this season, and Robinson should be the biggest beneficiary. He is a solid WR3 in every format.
Stash and See
These players may not be worthy of a start Week 9, but certainly are worthy of a roster spot.
Davante Adams should not be available in any league. He out-snapped Jarrett Boykin 68-to-8 on Sunday night. … Bobby Rainey could be the starter against the Browns this week. … Martavis Bryant caught two touchdowns in the Steelers’ shootout with Indianapolis. More importantly, he saw two more targets than Markus Wheaton. … Donte Moncrief dominated with Reggie Wayne out, catching 7-of-12 targets for 113 yards and a score on 40 snaps. Moncrief is a physical freak. … Michael Vick is the starter in New York going forward, for whatever that is worth. He had 69 yards rushing Week 8. … Theo Riddick had his second straight solid day with Reggie Bush sidelined. Bush will likely be back after the Lions’ Week 8 bye, but Riddick is worth a look in deeper leagues.
Stock Down
I labeled Tre Mason a Stock Up last week, but I was not optimistic he would become an instant fantasy starter. Mason will always have game-flow concerns as long as he struggles to pass block, and he was not guaranteed to dominate early-down work even if the Rams’ committed to the run. Despite the fact that Mason is fairly clearly the best runner on the Rams’ roster, coach Jeff Fisher and OC Brian Schottenheimer have consistently said they planned to use a running back by committee approach. That is exactly what transpired Week 8.
Mason’s eight touches were matched by Zac Stacy, and Benny Cunningham saw five touches as well. Mason had the most rushing yards on the team but was out-gained in total yards by both Stacy and Cunningham.
In a game the Rams lost 34-7, it would be easy to write Mason’s lack of work off to game flow, but that is not the case. All the Rams’ backs were involved from the start, and that appears to be the plan for the foreseeable future. Mason is still worth owning as the most talented back of the group, but he cannot be started until the situation becomes clearer.
Don’t forget, for everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @RMSummerlin on Twitter. Also, purchase our info-packed Season Pass here.
Julio Jones had his third straight lackluster day against the Lions’ Week 8. Jones caught 4-of-6 targets for 58 yards and has now failed to reach 70 yards in each of the last three games. Jones has not scored a touchdown since Week 3.
Jones’ owners were already freaking out before this week, so it is safe to bet they are losing their collective minds after another disappointing day and with a bye week on the horizon. That makes now the perfect time to strike.
Jones is healthy, still looks like a beast with the ball in his hands and has a cake schedule down the stretch. He is primed to explode following the break, and could probably be had for .80 cents on the dollar right now. Go and get him.
Michael Floyd’s week was not going well even before his 0-fer against the Eagles on Sunday. Coach Bruce Arians made it clear last week the Cardinals intend to spread the ball around all season, and that scenario played out on Sunday. Floyd was out-targeted by Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, John Carlson, and Andre Ellington against the Eagles, and is now tied with Brown and Ellington with 43 targets on the season.
Despite the lack of targets, Floyd had plays to make against Philadelphia. He had the ball hit his hands in the end zone and had another missed opportunity deep down the sideline. Both plays would have been tough catches, but they are both plays Floyd is expected to make. If he connects on those catches, this conversation probably is not happening.
Floyd is too talented a player to give up on, but Arizona’s offensive philosophy limits his upside this season. Unless something changes, Floyd is nothing more than a boom-or-bust WR3 the rest of the way.
Ben Tate saved his fantasy day with a late touchdown, but he struggled for the third straight week against a middling run defense. Tate rushed for 26 yards on 15 carries against the Raiders (1.7 YPC), and now has 140 yards on 56 carries (2.5 YPC) against the Steelers, Jaguars and Raiders the last three weeks.
With Isaiah Crowell apparently in the coaching staff’s doghouse and Terrance West not doing much better, Tate’s position atop the Browns’ depth chart is very secure. The Alex Mack injury has severely damage the offensive line, though, and Tate is almost sure to get hurt at some point. I am selling if at all possible.
The Purge
These players are unlikely to make any noise this season. They are not must drops, but can be replaced without worry.
Toby Gerhart rushed only four times for 10 yards against the Dolphins. He is clearly behind Denard Robinson. … Chris Johnson is terrible, and his role in the offense may be taken by Percy Harvin. … If Hakeem Nicks cannot be fantasy useful with Reggie Wayne sidelined, he never will be. … Brian Hartline was out-produced by Jarvis Landry for the third straight week. … Charles Clay had one yard receiving. One. You can do better streaming. … Bernard Pierce was a healthy scratch Week 8. Lorenzo Taliaferro played well in his absence. … Danny Amendola exploded for five yards on two catches against the Bears. It will be hard to cut him after such a stunning performance.
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